Unlike Mumbai, the city of dreams and aspirations, Delhi is the city of cultures and traditions. I’m not going to point out differences or make any comparisons between the two because they’re both amazing in their respective terms. And this isn’t about that.
Modern Delhi, as it is known, has housed numerous kingdoms and empires in its glorious past. It has also been captured, ransacked and rebuilt several times, which makes it a cluster of a number of cities spread across the metropolitan region. This is why Delhi is sometimes called the City of cities. But this is not even about Delhi’s history.
Being the City of cities, Delhi’s culture and lifestyle have been influenced by its lengthy history and geographical proximity. It has been a host to people from myriad cultures and traditions, embracing one and all. Apart from a majority of north Indians, one can find many people from the south, the west and the east. And the best place to find them all together, standing shoulder-to-shoulder is none other than the city’s lifeline – the Delhi Metro.
It’s been more than a decade since its first section (Red Line) opened on December 24, 2002, and Delhiites breathed a sigh of relief. For them it was nothing less than a blessing in disguise! A saviour from the maddening traffic on roads, safer and cleaner than the other public transport systems. And not to forget the fully air conditioned coaches.
It was only after I finished high school that I started commuting through metro. Maintaining a seven year long relationship hasn’t been easy. My travels have taught me a lot and to some extent, have helped me become a better person. It has been a journey of mixed emotions – happiness, laughter, tears, vent outs, agitation, irritation, care, concern, respect and so on. It has not only facilitated travelling and connectivity, but it has made me fall in love with this city (yes, despite of whatever is written and heard about Delhi).
Besides that, there’s much more that it has to offer to its daily riders like myself. For instance, travelling with people from diverse cultural backgrounds is in itself a huge giveaway by Delhi Metro. At one nook you may find two smartly dressed Manipuri girls talking rapidly in their native language, and a trader with a big paunch from Chawri Bazar taking bulk orders over his phone on the other. And that is not all.
If one observes closely and carefully, a metro ride is nothing less than a typical Bollywood masala blockbuster. There’s romance (couples holding hands, coochie-cooing) and comedy. Lots of action (CISF staff dragging men out of the women’s coach and the never-ending arguments) topped with drama (women bitching about their mother and daughter-in-laws). From the fashionable and tech-savvy college-goers to the stylishly dressed office folk, the disastrous unshapely dames to the crotch scratching monstrous chaps, the book readers, the music lovers, the prayer enchanters, the loud conversationalists and the bird watchers… you will find them all.
And there is more… the emotional outbursts, the broken relationships, the cry babies, the feeding mothers, the loitering nippers who love stepping on your feet, peek-a-boo into co-passengers’ cell phones, the pretentious friends who seem to forget who you are, the super enthusiastic teenage crowd giggling and jabbering at the top of their voices, the innocent hippies and firangs, and the ultimate goal – to grab a personal space on the way to one’s destination.
And if that is not enough, then the once in a while technical defaults and breakdowns causing havoc and stampedes across densely populated metro stations. It is moments like these when the feeling of admiration for the city goes for a toss, not only because of the crowded lot, but because of lack of civic sense it possesses. The pushing and pulling, screeching and shrieking, arguments and misbehaviour… it all starts to take a toll on one’s mood and the entire day is screwed. I fail to understand the need for such ghastly behaviour. Yes, everyone needs to rush to their respective offices. Everyone has to meet deadlines. But will the inhumane attitude do any good? But who cares!
On records, Delhi Metro reported its highest ridership of 2,504,900 (a day) as on August 8, 2013, resultant of more than 2500 train trips that are made each day traversing over 69,000 km. With an ever increasing populace of Delhi and majority relying on the metro for their daily travel, I strongly feel that DMRC has been putting in a lot of efforts. But it is for the localities to understand and realise the importance of such efforts. Reckless mannerisms do nothing but get a bad name to the city and its people. High time people start taking responsibility of their actions. And as Bapu rightly puts it, “Be the change you wish to see in the world.”
