Off late have commented on the joys and pains of my commute in Mumbai locals, this blog is in continuation of those experiences.
If Indian railways contribute towards national integration, am sure Mumbai locals integrate Mumbaikars, literally! They represent Mumbai. I remember in my campus interview at Pune, the interviewer had told me that unlike here, where you might see 100 people at a time, in Mumbai you will have 1000's. I didn't take him seriously.
7 years since I must have taken first journey on the locals. New to the City, I had to find out any relatives staying in Mumbai. I did find one, they having shifted from Andheri to Virar recently. So, I had an PHD even before I could graduate a degree in the subject of local commute.
The 3 lines
The City has been divided by the Western, Central and Harbour lines (lines not routes). Took some time to adjust to the count, names and the directions of the platform to get down at the stations on the Central line (apart from Kurla, I know there is an station which has platform on both sides, err which is that??).
Dadar
Of all the stations, Dadar, to me, is the kumbh of Mumbai (and am thankful and fortunate of not experiencing Kurla!!). You walk with some one talking and am sure you would bang atleast 10 people on the way, either you go their way or they come yours. When you do manage to reach, you have already lost the other person and end up calling him to check his location.
A colleague from Delhi had to visit Dadar (e) for some work from Dadar (w), and I suggested her to go via Dadar station. Next day, she mentioned that she has never seen so many people at one place, it was like purani Delli!!
Common spots
Mumbaikars, have common places to wait for someone at the station. Be that the Ist class towards Thane (or VT) or the erstwhile UTI bank ATM (since changed to Axis bank). The UTI ATM was one common spot, I remember always being used.
The compartment mix
Western line, to my knowledge, is dominated by Gujratis and Marwaris...Central line to my knowledge is also dominated by Gujaratis and Marwaris (haha, no offence meant to my Gujju and Madu friends, this is just an general observation).
Then come the Maharashtrians; these guys I think, stay faraway places for no reason but for the fact that they have sold their belongings in Town and shifted to make place for the more business minded classes (again an general observation, no offence to Maharashtrians). No wonder you can easily get a Jain dish at any place in Town but no Maharashtrian food, and we call this the Capital Maharashtra.
Commonly, I admire the cheerful Guju groups from the stock exchanges playing cards and noting points scored by each member at the end of every game till Ghatkopar. I have always wondered, how do they settle the game at the end, if at all they decide to wind up...is that in cash?
Maharashtrians, I have noted, always tend to take the doors. They will have friends across the compartment and will make a point to say bye to each of them while getting down, and at the top of their voice.
The compartment fights... mc, bc the lingua franca!!
I remember an incident, was getting up in the compartment with people following me in the peak rush morning hour. During all the pushing and shoving, couple of them got into an argument. The shorty of them started saying, 'uncle, chalo andar, jaga banao'. The taller though was not budging, the shorty kept on saying 'uncle chalo, uncle....'. The other guy burst...'b*****d, uncle kisse bola, teri umar ka hoon!!' Till date, this has been the funniest argument I have witnessed, really made my day. Saying so, have seen punches galore in Men's compartment but only heard of the cat fights...
The compartment places...standing, sitting, sitting balcony and AC
The trick is how well you manage to get in the compartment. There are a few places to the liking of commuters.
Rush hours, if you get a place to sit in or stand comfortably, you really had a good day. But, there are these other two spots that have always intrigued me...
Sitting balcony: this spot is the one adjacent to the ladies coach. For non commoners, there is usually an wire mesh between the 1st class gents and the 1st class ladies coach. The sit am referring to is the one adjacent to the window opposite the ladies coach. Sitting here, one has the view of the beautiful compartment and the much needed air to soothe (the standing spot is famous as much, but is more obvious).
Standing AC: This one is the best, standing at the door (1st place though). Plug your earphones, forget people with their usual business on the tracks and enjoy the loneliness. Only thing to be kept on mind is to make way people to get down at crowded stations and pray that no stone comes your way.
And, points to consider
Firstly, give a damn to the pressed shirt and the polished shoes. Secondly, even if you had a bad day, dont forget to use the words 'sir or dost', while getting in or out of the locals compartment. And, lastly, graduate to cars (just that u need to have ample patience with the traffic jams and the pot holed roads).
Jai ho.
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