We metro commuters: An Uncivilized Lot

It is quite interesting to see how the Delhi Metro has made our lives more comfortable. Everyday millions of Delhiites take to the metro for going to their offices, universities  or other daily tasks. If there is one thing that the Sheila Dikshit led government did well, it was the way they planned the different phases of the metro (although the plan was first mooted way back in 1969). Who would have thought travelling from West Delhi all the way to Noida would be a decently comfortable experience, taking into account the sheer mass of people?; or for that matter from Gurgaon to Delhi University? Be it in peak Delhi summers or winters, travelling in a metro has made all of us thankful to the governments.

However, as with almost every other state property, the Delhi Metro is only as convenient as we the people help it to be. The sheer mass of people who travel can sometimes make the experience a bit harrowing, especially at stations like Rajiv Chowk or Kashmere Gate. While i am a regular metro commuter, today's experience made me write this blog. There was nothing out of the ordinary or distinctly odd that happened. At around 2: 30 pm, i was at the Rajiv Chowk platform waiting for a train for Jahangirpuri. I had to go to my uncle's house in Shalimar Bagh. As always, today was also extremely crowded. However what i observed was an almost life and death kind of battle to barge into the train. People around me did not wait for the commuters inside to deboard and instead jostled with each other.

Of course, you might wonder what the hell is different or new in what i am describing. If this is what you are thinking, then it is precisely why i write this blog. People try to get in as if they have a battle to win. No sooner does the metro door open, that we are ready to pounce on the commuters inside, as if they were just ants to be trampled upon and dismissed out of sight. As soon a as metro arrive, people stand right in the middle of the door, not even realising, or may be rather not giving a damn to realise, that there are commuters inside waiting to get out. In spite of repeated announcements, it hardly makes any difference to us. what infuriates me even more is the smirk on the faces of people who have been able to defeat the commuters inside and gleefully share it with fellow passengers/friends. It is a seriously sickening sight to see what our society is becoming,

Something is seriously going wrong. We just don't seem to respect human dignity. We are all on our own ways, never paying attention to the comforts of others. And while we should rightfully blame politicians for their wrong deeds, it is we who must first realise the faults within. People throw trash on the metro floor without even giving a thought that there are foreigners travelling who would create a certain image of us. And in any case it is not for foreigners that we need to show ourselves as cleanliness conscious, We shout at fellow passengers over petty issues for space. It is disgusting to see the way we behave in such a public transport. We are no longer becoming uncivilized, rather WE ARE.

To give respect to human life, let us just make sure that we do not behave as if nobody else matters.
Let us not:
Stand in the middle of door.
Allow commuters inside to first deboard.
Not throw trash on the metro floor(at least leave some space dirt-free)

While i am not sure how many people would actually apply whatever is written in the blog, even if one person can take it seriously i would consider my purpose of writing this blog as served.

Monastery Market: a cozy tour

So friends, i finally ended up not going to Rajasthan as i had written in my previous blog. I was very excited for my trip, but as luck would have it, my health went for a toss. However, i made sure that i would visit some place in Delhi which i had never visited before. My mind went to a few places, like the Safdurjung tomb, or the Garden of 5 senses. In the end i decided to give Monastery market a try.

I had heard about this market a lot from friends, but was never really up for it. I used to feel, it would be just another market, i mean, what the hell would you get there, which you wont get anywhere else? However, i decided to go and give that place a visit, to see what all is available there. 

And so i picked up my tiny sling bag and took the metro. After i got down at Civil Lines station, i took an auto. The autowallah told me that most of the stock that they sell usually comes from different parts of Delhi itself. As someone looking for some unique Tibetan stuff, that came as a bit of a dampener.  But still, i was upbeat to discover a place i had never visited before, and with that thought i reached the entry gate. the gate is located under the ISBT Shahdra link flyover and on first glance it seemed quite an odd entry. As i saw a few auto-rickshaws enter, i could sense a typical chaotic sense which lot of Delhi markets give out. 

As i entered i saw a pretty narrow corridor running through up to about 700-800 metres, The weather was just perfect, with clear blue skies, Sun blessing us with its moderate rays, just the right amount you would need for a Delhi chilly winter day. On both sides of that long but tiny strip of passage, little shops with various winter clothing and accessories were lined up. It was a very colourful sight as shops were lined up selling different "brands". Almost all brands were available, you name them and they would be there. Write from Adidas, to Puma, to Nike, to Cantabil, were available, and at highly decent rates. Of course, those good at bargaining, would be able to get at even more handsome rates. 

I enjoyed my window shopping but didn't really feel like buying anything. It was just the feel of visiting this market that made me enjoy the trip. On that beautiful chilly yet sunny day, i saw a tea vendor walking with his stuff and calling out people for a garam chai. I took a cup of chai and that made my trip even more cozy. I went to a shop which sold gloves. With the winter reaching its peak, i needed a pair of gloves warmer than i had and so i finally bought something...a pair of gloves. 

After going through a set of other accessories, it was time to head home. My trip to Monastery Market was a pretty cozy one, just like the settings. 

Happy New Year

Hey Guys

Its 2015. Many of you would have partied hard at night. Others would have had a quiet evening with family at home. And many of you would have also just lazed around like me, wondering what the heck is this New Year celebrations all about. Well, it is all right to thing either which ways. the bottom line is that we have another year to look forward to. And while the year holds a lot of promise to everyone, it would be important to find out what we could not do in 2014 and start afresh. 

We all do have our New Year resolutions, so i am no different. And while i don't intend to share all those in this space, the one resolution i do feel very passionately about is to interact with more people and travel more. The other day i was thinking that in spite of the fact that i love travelling, i can count on my fingertips the places i have visited. India is such a vast and culturally versatile country that once really cant say that he has travelled the length and breadth of it. It is like a huge ocean where there are so many species to spot, and where the taste of the water seems ever so different at different places. 

Coming back to the blog's theme, i.e. the New Year, it is important to understand with what spirit should we look up to 2015. For those of  my age, guys and girls, we all would turn 29 this year, good enough to give us goosebumps of entering the 4th decade of our lives in not too distant future, However, since certain things in life are inevitable and hence uncontrollable, to hell with brooding over it. For me every new year is a starting point towards reviewing what was left unfinished. It is about living life with a renewed vigour, in spite of the harsh realities of life. It is about trying different things...it could be a different drink, a different dish, a different destination. And while i am a firm believer of not getting addicted to anything, at the same time i do feel one must try out most things in life (and not all!). 

And with that spirit i shall be off to Rajasthan, in a few days time, As i plan to undertake this journey, there is this pending job of getting myself registered for my 2nd semester M Phil in JNU, However i do look forward to meeting people i have never met before, seeing places i have not seen before and 

eating a few things, withing the scope of my current state of stomach, which is fragile, that i have never eaten before.

I hope you all, no matter how 2014 has gone for you, are able to look forward to 2015 with the same spirit of always being youthful and joyful, ready to accept life's challenges and create a new chapter in your own lives. 

Wish you all a very happy and prosperous 2015.