OUR COUNTRY ON WHEELS

        1)          We pushed one another in usual strain
               Our simple way to get into the train
               A loud cluttering of steps with confounded noise
               Someone yelled farewell at the top of his voice
               Some people ran after the leaving train
               Shouting instructions with stress and strain.
               Some latecomers hurried and stepped in haste
               Some missed their train and cursed their fate.
                 
   2)         As people settled down in their crowded cells
               Two beggars came singing and ringing their bells
               Meanwhile a vendor showed his sundry ware
               Promising benefits beyond compare
               Young boys wielding a bunch of brushes and shoeshine
               Came in to polish people's shoes in the train.
               A woman with a child entered and began to plead
               To help her starving family to feed.




      





















   3)         Displaying a row of glittering things
               Neatly arranged in trays, a hawker brings
               New brand watches, bangles and rings
               Hair pins and cosmetics-- all foreign things;
               He sells them cheaply at a throw-away price
               No loss, no gain-- his pleasure lies in people's service.
               A loud commotion with competitive bargain
               To grab more things with maximum gain. 

 4)          A country doctor came flourishing his store
              Of herbs to cure all complaints up to the core
              Lecturing on his search for rarest things
              On distant hills as if he went for nectar to bring
              He showed his photos with all leaders of the state
              With proofs which praised him as the doctor great
              The young and old fell to his mesmerizing talk
              Within no time he sold away his herbal stock. 

5)          Amidst this multifarious enterprise,
             As people bargained with shrewd words wise
             A few plain-looking crooks procured their gain
             By picking purses without any strain
             While vendors shouted with loud ringing voice
             While children whined to get things of their choice.

6)          A blind beggar sang an old filmy song  
             Led by an orphan to help him along
             Rubbing the floor, a boy with a dirty rag
             Asked some coins for his self-employed service
             For making floor more dirty with his dirty piece.
             Denizens of poverty with dry brown hair
             Struggling for bread with bodies bare.

       










7)         Some talked about rackets and scams of the state
            About fake promises of the leaders great
            About soaring prices and corruption vile
            While ladies talked about their fashions and style;
            Some viewed videos, some chatted on their mobiles
            While kids played games on their lap-tops with smiles
            Others dwelt on their shares and careers' rise
            A jovial discussion held by college guys.

8)         Some snored, some laughed while children shouted with glee
            Some played loud music, unconcerned and free;
            Some littered floor with bits of paper and food
            Smoking and spitting some near the corridor stood
            Some left the  doors of closet open with leaking taps
            Some slept on the bare floor, poor begging chaps;
            Some sneaked into the cells with aggressive stride
            And ran away robbing the people inside.

9)         A rich medley of people here one finds
            From places and regions of various kinds
            A huge collage of human feelings do We see
            A rich diversity with kindred legacy
            Our nation here in true dimension seen
            Yet seem not so concerned, caring and clean
            Let our journey be comfortable and serene
            Let our surroundings be neat, pure and green.

                  +++++++++++++++++++++++++++


   13th March, 2016                                 Somaseshu Gutala

    strain = manner (predisposition or tendency) , neat= clean pure= pollution-free, green= Eco-friendly, medley= varied mixture, collage= combination

   Note : The Indian Railways is one of the largest railway networks in the world. Started as an intercity service between Mumbai and Thane on April 16th 1853; it has developed by leaps and bounds into a gigantic organization having more than 1,15,000 kms of track covering a distance of nearly 65,800 kms. It carries more than 23 million passengers every day. More than 1.4 million people work in this prestigious organization. Both spatially and technologically many changes have occurred in the field of transport. Information technology and electronic equipment have changed the style of functioning and improved the means of speedy and effective communication and provided better service facilities and amenities to passengers. Yet there is a long way to go to see that the fruits of this development reach common man who travels in the general compartment. Prompt action, good maintenance, cleanliness and comfortable surroundings should be the  prime objectives to make this department more people-friendly and corruption-free. The passengers should also have concern for other fellow-travelers and should be accommodative in their attitude. They should not cause loud disturbance and throw things all over or damage railway property.