Many say that we live in a world where everything is predetermined by fate or the hand of God. People across cultures widely assume that they can experience life’s beauty more fully with the help of a kaleidoscope. A kaleidoscope is a compact tube that magnifies and distorts color patterns. To experience the vibrancy of Indian diversity, visit a railway platform. There, you will also see the evergreen colors of India.
People are in a never-ending rush on a busy railway platform. They seek survival, vacation, livelihood, family, and solace amid humanity’s chaos. The platform ticket is inexpensive. It only provides access for a few hours. Yet, it’s an essential step to experience the carnival of Indian chaos. On a few occasions, a lack of platform tickets has led to an embarrassing situation, like receiving a fine.
The constant announcement of the train’s scheduled departure brings life to the railway platforms. The arrival at specific platforms and the rush of passengers boarding the train add to the excitement. Coolies carry loads of luggage. Family reunions or goodbyes create emotional moments. Ever-nagging street-food business hawkers, newspaper and magazine sellers, and platform food and stationery stalls all contribute to the vibrant atmosphere. Suppose a writer or painter wants to capture the beauty of chaos. They can also incorporate an Indian perspective into their observations. In that case, the railway platforms are the best observatories for those social and artistic experiments.
The platform’s stall owners and the coolies constantly interact with hundreds of people every day. They experience the best of human emotions. They also face the worst of human interactions. This occurs as people rush to buy from them when the train stops briefly at the station. The persistent notion of making a good living by cheating others is prevalent among these small stall owners. Many people still seek honesty in their business dealings. Stall owners have seen the evolution of Indian families from the 90s to the current generation. They have observed this trend over time. Small-scale business vendors also experience the caring yet conservative mindset of the modern carefree lifestyle.
India is a place of diversity where all religions blossom as it’s a secular country. Yet, the ongoing political conundrum is causing division. The polarized atmosphere makes it impossible for people from different walks of life to gather together. They can’t meet in a single spot without malice. The railway platform is the only place where people gather, irrespective of caste, creed, religion, and economic background. They wait and interact with each other. They exchange information. They share mixed emotions about the train being late. They also gossip a lot in their free time.
In Bollywood, railway platforms are crucial for creating an impactful scene. Simran ran from her father in a tense moment. SRK waited on the train to grab her hand in a last-ditch effort in DDLJ. The chatty Geet caught the train at the last minute in Jab We Met. Many other everlasting, beautiful scenes have entered cinematic history on railway platforms. The Indian Serials have made many hilarious platform scenes. An entire movie, The Chennai Express, revolves around railway platforms.
Railway platforms serve as viewing platforms. They allow observers to gain a neutral perspective on the Indian way of doing things. They are a kaleidoscope of Indian culture, sentiments, and vibes.
The Witty Stride 