Platform ‘Right’ at India’s Grand Central Station
Large railway stations with huge terminals built with grand edifices are a feature of all great cities.
Those were the days when a single track led trains to the Trivandrum Central station. Anxiety built up as trains neared the city - mostly behind schedule - to know the platform on which it would stop. This would help plan to rush to the pre-paid auto-rickshaw counter - whether it will be the easier first platform, or the more difficult second/third that needed climbing a flight of 30-odd steps. Depending on the platform, the train would veer to the right (for the more difficult platforms), or just stay on course to pull into the first platform.
People on the footboard would crane their necks trying to be the first to know and pass on the priceless information. Those waiting behind would go: “do we know yet?”?
“Oh no, platform 3” would be met with a chorus of dejected sighing. At the same time, preparations would have started to do the best with the available option - bags gripped tighter, standing a lot more erect and ready to move, and holding on to children.
All along the journey, the train at varying speeds would experience a jerk here or a veering there. Some of them would unsettle even the fittest while on a walk to the pantry car, or from the ‘latrine’!
In 2014, as Mr. Narendra Modi took the reins of India as its prime minister (and before that when statesman Atal Behari Vajpayee became prime minister), different sections of society faced similar anxieties. How far to the ‘right’, how soon would it be, etc. Some predicted an entirely new Constitution quickly, others gave that a lot more time - “they’re in the game for the long term”, they said.
Would extreme Capitalism snatch facilities from the poor and create a free flow of money to corporates; will the freedom to practice and propagate one’s religion face hurdles, would we be pushed into the ‘Hindu Rashtra’ terrain, or would the country be taken back to the “bullock cart age” as some politicians warned?
Necks craned and eyes strained to see the distant tracks and millions kept looking for signs from those who had any inkling or simply knew better (journalists).
All along, the sceptics/ liberals/ centrists keep their faith in the ‘Station Master’ (courts, the election commission, other institutions) to ensure things didn’t go too ‘right’. And the media if nothing, were expected to push out warning signs, and aid a push back.
In the wintry January of 2024, the train, one has to say, not just made a definite veering to the ‘right’, it has also entered that platform, and is slowing down to enable passengers disembark here, and only here. (Railway rules state that you cannot jump off onto the vacant tracks and cross over). Other Loco Pilots have to wait on this platform itself, if at all they get a chance to steer the train out of here, to the next station in the journey of the nation.
The platform the train entered onto is littered with debris of many established practices, niceties and ideas pulled down. New ones, promising much more sheen have either come up, or are under construction, or near completion, leaving enough space for more ‘development’.
Far from fears of going back to the ‘bullock cart age’, a fast paced embrace of modernity with technology in the lead, is emblematic of the new and ‘smart station’. The ‘Loco Pilot’ is now equipped with a walkie-talkie to converse with the ‘Station Master’. (Passengers who thought it may be difficult to climb those steps, are welcomed with signboards directing them to the nearest escalator; instead of only dosas-poories-vadas, today global pizza chains and ‘wrappers’ offer an eclectic mix of culinary options, right at your seat (read the godi media or ‘Whatsapp University’ as they call it) - it’s no longer boring).
But it’s not very promising either!
Think of self proclaimed ‘protection groups’ masquerading as vigilantes of “our culture and traditions” following us all the way to classrooms, parks, beaches, kitchens, and even bedrooms! Some “enterprising and enthusiastic” business houses are ensuring there is scope for more areas for them to venture into, via “pure veg mode” strategies.
Think of temples built on top of razed places of worship of other faiths, 500-year old structures pulled down “as they were illegal”, people of minority / backward communities regularly bullied (even urinated upon), threatened or even killed (for matters as unbelievable as taking water from taps meant for those from other religions). Debates rage on a lioness named Sita being kept in the same cage as a lion named Akbar (is this really for real?)!
Think of the prime minister of the country consistently presiding over religious functions only of one religion, repeatedly displaying patronising symbols of one religion, even engaging in doing the wedding rites of important people from one religion.
Think of news channels creating sets that resemble the “original pushpak vimaan” and airline crew dressed as deities of one religion at an airport inauguration.
Think of the streets that used to be draped in the ‘tiranga’ for Republic Day turned into a thick blanket of saffron coloured flags, of one religion.
Think of a string of Bollywood movies released one after the other, with wrongful information and insight frothing at the mouth, intended at creating “new” opinions - in only one direction. The colour of dress worn by actresses now have to be carefully chosen, lest ‘religious sentiments’ are hurt. Even an advertisement for a detergent powder in the context of a national festival will not escape “observers and caretakers” of religion. Don’t know if an ‘Amar-Akbar-Anthony’ can ever be made again!
Think of a cult state of sycophantic following of the one face of the government to the extent that legitimate questions are said to pose threats to ‘national security’, or are seen as international conspiracies to jeopardise national integration. But, they deride the ‘cult worship of Nehru’.
Think of attempts to impose a single language across a country that has 28 classical languages, hundreds of regional languages and several thousands of dialects.
Think of throwing out nearly a hundred and fifty members of parliament for “indiscipline”, and expelling a woman member with a strong opposing voice by throwing the rule book at her (while denying her a chance to explain). This, when members of the ruling party continue to enjoy the perks of power even as they hurl religious slurs on fellow MPs right inside the House; what’s worse, and other members of the same ruling party reel under allegations of sexually assaulting sports women who have brought ‘Bharat’ no less than Olympic glory!
Think of decisions to centralise all control with the “central government” (not the Union government), thus disturbing the federal polity of a 75-year old nation’s established system.
Think of large conglomerates pocketing large tracts of land, landing the biggest projects and influence important policy decisions to suit them. We now know these were made possible also by “bond. electoral bond.”.
Think of leading online holiday companies openly adopting positions of allegiance to the ruling dispensation and decide to suspend bookings to certain international destinations. They also openly advertise “attractive offers” for players from a particular country for losing to India in a cricket match (a ‘crawling national newspaper gladly accepts the ad and publishes it!).
And anyone opposed to the “idea” is hurled into prison, stripped off foreign funding, mercilessly targeted by online trolls, or simply thrashed.
As “2024” approaches, it looks like the impending announcement will be something this: “train Vikasit Bharat to the glorious future of vishwa guru status is ready for departure from ‘Platform Right’ in just a few moments. Passengers are requested to board the train soon, (else you will get stranded)”. Railway rules do not permit non travelling passengers to remain on the platform.
#Indigo standard time / ##spice jet