I was traveling with my husband from Thiruvananthapuram to Kochi, sometime in 2007. We checked the reservation chart and found two side seats vacant till Palakkad. The sleeper coach we traveled was full and we were to later realize, so were the rest of the coaches, as people moved to and fro hoping to find a seat. In the corresponding berth were an aged couple (probably in early 80’s), a man with a 4-5 year old-son and four or five others. The aged couple could hardly walk and with the support of those who had come to see them off, their baggage was set in place.
At Chengannur, four aged men and a woman and two young men claimed seven of the seats to be their reserved seats, including the one in which my husband was sitting. We were taken for a surprise since in the chart, the place was mentioned differently (it happens sometimes when probably the chart doesn’t give the correct data!). What amazed us was their rude behavior.
They were from Chennai, on their way back from pilgrimage to Sabarimala. On entering they first got rid of the man with the sleeping boy, who was uncontrollably crying on waking him up abruptly and the aged couple. They could barely stand and holding each other’s hand they walked to the next slot to found a seat. Even after everyone moved out, the pilgrims were shouting at the top of their voice saying they had reserved their tickets over four months back. From their claim, it was evident they were unaware of the rules and trying to educate them on the rules went on deaf ears. They wanted their seats only for themselves and only six of them were to sit in their respective reserved seats. They weren’t ready to accept those with sleeper tickets have the right to be seated unless it’s nighttime. And here - they weren’t showing human consideration even to a couple, who were much aged than any of them.
By the time we reached Kottayam, another young man entered the scene. The aged couple occupied one of his reserved seats. He allowed them to sit there and tried to find a space in between the pilgrims. They again shouted claiming they have a ticket. He replied in Tamil telling them the facts and rules, but again it went on deaf ears! Finally, he had to stand in spite of a reserved seat! But, I was glad to see a kind person who was willing to share his seats with an aged couple rather than shooing them away.
(This isn’t a solo experience. I’ve witnessed similar circumstances during several occasions especially when there’s rush of pilgrims to Sabarimala - a season, when I dread traveling via Kottayam from Kochi to Thiruvananthapuram and vice-versa!)
At Chengannur, four aged men and a woman and two young men claimed seven of the seats to be their reserved seats, including the one in which my husband was sitting. We were taken for a surprise since in the chart, the place was mentioned differently (it happens sometimes when probably the chart doesn’t give the correct data!). What amazed us was their rude behavior.
They were from Chennai, on their way back from pilgrimage to Sabarimala. On entering they first got rid of the man with the sleeping boy, who was uncontrollably crying on waking him up abruptly and the aged couple. They could barely stand and holding each other’s hand they walked to the next slot to found a seat. Even after everyone moved out, the pilgrims were shouting at the top of their voice saying they had reserved their tickets over four months back. From their claim, it was evident they were unaware of the rules and trying to educate them on the rules went on deaf ears. They wanted their seats only for themselves and only six of them were to sit in their respective reserved seats. They weren’t ready to accept those with sleeper tickets have the right to be seated unless it’s nighttime. And here - they weren’t showing human consideration even to a couple, who were much aged than any of them.
By the time we reached Kottayam, another young man entered the scene. The aged couple occupied one of his reserved seats. He allowed them to sit there and tried to find a space in between the pilgrims. They again shouted claiming they have a ticket. He replied in Tamil telling them the facts and rules, but again it went on deaf ears! Finally, he had to stand in spite of a reserved seat! But, I was glad to see a kind person who was willing to share his seats with an aged couple rather than shooing them away.
(This isn’t a solo experience. I’ve witnessed similar circumstances during several occasions especially when there’s rush of pilgrims to Sabarimala - a season, when I dread traveling via Kottayam from Kochi to Thiruvananthapuram and vice-versa!)
Posts
No comments:
Post a Comment