Science in Shackles?

Science enriches the mind of those in its pursuit. Science and the knowledge it generates are invaluable to human society and its collective progress. But whither to? Should the direction of scientific progress be predetermined before it’s too late for the greater benefit of all?

Go(l)d's Own Country

Welcome to nature’s heaven (once upon a time?), the land bequeathed with nature’s beauty and charisma of backwaters, a small state with diligent people (diligent only outside the boundaries of their native land).

The meandering rivers and the roads alike, speak of the skewed march towards urbanization, rivers are on the verge of death due to undue exploitation and transforming to high-rising flats and multistoreys, proclaiming aloud the influence of land mafia and powerful real estate dealers. Nila/ Bharatapuzha is no more than a trickle even after heavy monsoon showers. The river bed is exposed resembling fine sands of desert. The richness remains in the imaginations of the poets and writers of the past. (similar to R.K Narayan’s portrayal of the Vaigai river of Madurai in ‘The River’). The roads pathetically become rivers after the slightest showers. A blend of revolutionary thinking and conservative approach? The land of most literate and politically active people shines equally well in male chauvinism and parochial attitude towards development.

Welcome to Kerala, God’s own country with lush green vegetation, nostalgic mossy, wet walls and tiled mansions. Huge hoardings on the highways welcome us to 'God’s own country'. Even the trains to Kerala bear the pictures showcasing the natural beauty and rich cultural heritage of the land. Yeah, we depend on imported money, money from foreigners or tourists and that from the gulf. Aah, here comes the chain of advertisements when you open the idiot box for entertainment. A series of jewellery shops advertising day and night for loads of gold to be purchased. One even goes to the extent that womanhood itself is about possessing gold and ornaments (‘Pennayal ponnu venam’ in Malayalam meaning 'a girl should own gold'). Hoardings on the highways, roads, railway stations, bus stations, junctions and everywhere…..as some great poet has remarked 'turn and see any where you will find'……, instead of 'trees in bloom', advertisements for gold jewellery shops and sometimes textile shops. In railway stations, in between the announcements of arrival and departure of trains, bangs in the advertisements of gold jewellery shops. Film stars are busy inaugrating jewellery and textile shops that have mushroomed in every nook and corner of cities. The popularity of cine stars can be judged by not the cinemas they have acted in, but by the number of jewellery shops they have inaugurated. Palatial luxurious mansions are marks of the inflow of gulf money into the state.

What will one do after buying gold? Eat it? Kerala is predominantly a consumer state. For the day-to-day necessities like food grains, vegetables, milk, eggs, flowers etc, the state shamelessly depends on the neighbouring states, those which are not blessed with natural resources as the state .

Kerala has many virtues and firsts to its credit, high literacy rate, low female infanticide, so and so.... Wonder if it is our optimism which makes us feel that everything is fine. We stand first in health care and law-enforcement as per the reports of a national weekly. True, these are the things Kerala should be proud of, as there is a silver lining somewhere .The political awareness of the people is far high when compared to any other state. But isn’t it also true and equally odd that the same politics is eating into the very economy of the state that, implementing any development programme is never possible in the state. No entrepreneur is willing to start any thing novel in the state. Keralites do very well in every sphere but only outside Kerala. Those who get bugged up by the system move on to make their fortunes elsewhere. Competition is very tough and being confronted with severe challenges, we are confident of winning the toughest outside.

Regarding female literacy, it’s true that women are educated and respected in our societies, but what’s the reality? Shashi Tharoor’s article in the Sunday magazine of “The Hindu” ‘Kalyanikutty’s Kerala’ is worth mention in this context. Is the same education helping us to reduce the number of cases of molestations or verbal abuse or gain regards from the male counter-parts? Impolite people dominate, impolite in attitude, behaviour and speech. In some families ladies are the sole earning members of the family who take care of every need of the family inspite of being abused by their drunken husbands. Ladies never go out alone after 6 P.M, for safety matters. Kerala is one of the states where scandals in which high-profile politicians are involved are prominent, thanks to the highly alert and competitive journalism. The liquor mafia continues to put the life of many at stake with the whole-hearted support of our politicians whose vote banks and bank accounts are on the rise. Kerala tops in suicide rate. Domestic violence and divorces are increasing. Such contradictions are in plenty. We receive education at least till the age of 25 years. This is to be considered a boon when we compare with those of our kin in other parts of the country, where a girl child is killed before birth and the spared ones do not have a voice but to live a life equivalent to death. But what after receiving that education? To be married with loads of jewellery to some one as something is being sold out? It is ridiculous. Young girls become a prey to the filthiest dowry system. The system is not so severe but still exists. Marriage is a display of the false pride, power and pelf of the families than a union of two individuals/ families.

Things surely ought to change, rather the attitude needs immense discretion and change. Truly “gold’s own odd country”!!!

What is in a DAY?

What is in a DAY? Given the propensity of celebrating each and every day as world/ universal/ national/ international ‘D’ days, this is no exaggerated remark.

Usher in every new day with open arms, for each day is unique or special. Each day of the year is dedicated for a cause/ purpose, for us to stop and think on certain grave issues. For example, March 22 is ‘World Water Day’, April 22 is ‘World Earth Day’, June 5 is ‘World Environment Day’, February 4 is ‘World Cancer Day’, June 8 is ‘World Brain Tumor Day’, September 21 is ‘World Alzheimer’s Day', September 27 is ‘World Heart Day’, August 31 is ‘World Road Safety Day’, October 16 is ‘World Food Day’, April 23 is ‘World Book Day’ etc. A day is devoted for a particular cause/ concern when it deserves urgent attention of people for drawing creative solutions. Each and every day seems rather a celebration/ festival.

A single day sometimes signifies for more than one cause. November 14 is ‘Children’s Day’ (in India) as well as ‘World Diabetes Day’. New Year day is both ‘Global Family Day’ and ‘World Day of Peace’. But global peace alone seems to be elusive and sacrificed every year. The alarming statistics of mass murders, terrorist attacks, communal riots, wars and bomb blasts, summarized by the culmination of a year depicts the extent by which global peace is thwarted. The month of May begins with the ‘Labour Day’ and ends with ‘World No Tobacco Day’. Indeed, these are some good reasons to celebrate !!

Certain "days for a cause” fall on a particular day of week of a particular month. For example, last Saturday of April is celebrated as ‘World Veterinary Day’, first Sunday of May is ‘World Laughter Day’. Same day (for a single cause) is celebrated in different times of a year in different parts of the world. First Sunday of May is celebrated as ‘National Grand Parent’s Day’ in US while the same is celebrated during first Sunday of October in UK. With only twenty-four hours a day and with ever expanding issues/ causes, we have a limited 365 days in a year, to dedicate for each. Dedicating each hour or specific period of a day will be not a bad idea either due to the dearth of days in a year.

Why only dedicate days for a cause? Each year (all 365 days) can be dedicated for a cause. The year 2004 was the ‘International year of Rice’, 2007 was the ‘International Year of Dolphin’ and 2009 was dedicated for Astronomy. The year 2010 is for Culture, Communications and also is the ‘International Year of Biodiversity’.What special achievement was made by such dedications is still not clear.

Is a cause to be dedicated to a day, because the cause is unique or because it is more frequent? If it is because of the latter, then we should first and foremost have a ‘World Treaty Day’ when all the treaties could be signed and all the lengthy never-ending discussions, talks and negotiations between disputing nations could be finished off in one single day with (or without ?) a possible positive outcome.

‘Valentine’s Day’ is a celebration, though many a times turning to be controversial celebration. Seminars, symposiums, demonstrations, high profile meetings, etc are conducted or organized at the international as well as national echelon, without fail, on the particular day dedicated for environment. Activism is more fashionable now-a-days and there is no paucity of self-serving activists. But no euphoria is associated with other petty causes.

The significance of celebrating special days mitigate, as each and every day becomes special, in one or the other way. A person of average memory should never risk loading all the dates and their significance into his/ her memory hard disk for the sake of general awareness, to avoid turning insane. It is better to look for which day is yet not dedicated/ celebrated. Hardly, there will be a few.

What can be the possible difference between ‘International Children’s Day’ (June 1) and ‘Universal Children’s Day’ (November 20)? What is the significance of ‘World Dance Day’ or ‘World Sleep Day’ (March 17)? Hope no one is expected to keep on dancing or sleeping throughout the particular days. Heard anything like an ‘International Kiss day’ (July 6) or ‘International Picnic Day’ (June 18) or ‘International Talk Like a Pirate Day’ (September 17)? Sounds funny sometimes? Not some times, but most often!

Given all these very special days, let there only be a “World No-More-Nonsense Days Day”, to stop celebrating each day for simply silly causes. So watch out, ‘What is today for’?

Hunger Pangs

The drama of life, for a majority of population is all about quenching this demon, the inevitable hunger, ironically, even in this era of advanced technological developments. A grave as well as a predominant issue of concern which is to be addressed is “Food for all”. But who is to take care of this issue or who is to address? Who is to be made responsible? You or me or a third party or officials or the governments? We have innumerable schemes and projects sanctioned every year, some times renamed (old wine in new bottles) with the objective of appeasing hunger of millions. The driving force of life, governing all our activities such as earning money, is to appease this feeling. Life becomes dreaded and miserable than death itself.

The hunger demon keeps torturing hapless millions, some xy% of the population (statistics and estimations, let them find a place only in official records, maintained diligently for formalities and for launching yet another worthless scheme bereaving the public fund to further the interests of so-called ‘beneficiaries’). What is significant and thought-provoking is that even when our great nation is progressing with ‘so and so’ % growth rate in GDP and economy, a majority of population still doesn’t have means to satiate hunger. The privileged (minority) are engrossed in their own world of merriment or preoccupied with trivial issues, gossips, personal affairs/ exaggerated sensational news of celebrities, soap operas and reality shows either unaware or not really bothering to be aware of the saga of real life. This is no reality "show", but reality itself, for which unfortunately, the audience is sparse. India is shining or made shining by shutting eyes to such harsh realities of life, plaguing millions. There is no wide media coverage on this aspect, for it doesn’t interest the readers nor there is any sensationalism in the routine affair. Such dreaded stories remain in dark, in the backyard. We are not oblivious of this reality but purposely insulate our selves from the miseries of the empty stomachs and opportunistically forget/ be oblivious of such sufferings. But reality doesn’t vanish or cease to exist by closing the eyes. Let’s look around, watch/ pay attention to our premises, our own neighborhood, the people we know, the less privileged, for whom poverty and hunger are part and parcel of life.

Hunger, what is that? For those in ivory towers, for those who can afford all luxuries of life, who live an extravagant life of richness, a life of posh and pomp, for those who check diligently every now and then on their calorie intake/ find ways out to burn out the extra fat deposits on their obese frames for maintaining their glamour quotient., hunger and poverty belongs to some alien world. Pangs of hunger are best understood only by the hungry, people who struggle for a morsel of food! How many of us have remained hungry for even a day, since we cannot afford food or otherwise?. Hunger pangs are to be felt to understand why and what for people fill their stomach with water, mud and ash (as a recent report goes).We are fortunate. The food wasted everyday in urban households can otherwise feed million mouths.

Armchair philosophies will never suffice to solve/eradicate the deadly disease of poverty and hunger. Conferences, consortiums and meetings are held even at international levels but without a creative solution. “Education is the manifestation of perfection already in man”, goes the famous words of Swami Vivekananda. But ideologies, theories and philosophies are not for empty stomachs and the 'less perfect' lives. Education is for enlightenment, but education for the poor is a means to find food, at least for once a day. ‘Daily meal programme’ in schools have to an extent helped the children from poor families. But, what after such a glorious education? Child labour is one of the severe forms of human agony in the society. It exists with the informal approval of even the authorities who are responsible to curb the menace. Children are employed to do petty jobs or sometimes dangerous jobs as they need to be paid less for the same lump of work and can be exploited/ harassed without any complaints. The attitude of the privileged towards food in this context deserves mention. Narrating facts from real life is going to raise many eyebrows and fetch some amount of enemity. But to be frank, those students/ future diplomats/ HiFi educated class, and future scientists responsible for the food security of the nation, need to introspect when in hostels they shout for food from a particular state/ region or complain of the bad taste.

A meagre amount/ food given may be a silver lining for at least one in a million. Let good things begin with each one of us.

From ‘Jeero’ to ‘Seero’: Speaking English the Indian way

Wondered anyone, why you don’t have the privilege to read a word as it is written in English? Certain words have to be pronounced altogether in a different way, different from how these are spelt/ written.

The word education is to be read as ‘ejucation’ and not ‘edewcation’. Mirage is not ‘mi-rage’ or ‘miraage’ but ‘mirash’. Rendezvous is ron-day–voo. The word Director is to be enunciated as Director or ‘Diarector’? The dictionaries do often guide us on how a word is to be pronounced. Certain letters are silent whereas certain letters need to be emphasized. If a letter is to be silent while pronouncing, why at all it is inserted in the particular word in the first place? Foreign origin of the words may be one of the reasons for the unimaginable way of pronunciation. The British should acknowledge us Indians for contributing nearly or more than 700 words to their vocabulary!!! The words such as jungle, bungalow, catamaran, curry, ghee etc of Indian origin, have found a place in the Oxford dictionary. The Indian authors who write in English have equally contributed to this enchanting language. Think there still will be more additions to the dictionary, given our obsession with English.

We are obliged to the British for this beautiful, enamoring, universal language. Though officially Hindi is our national language, a major chunk of urban India communicates and connects through English. Speaking English is considered to be a matter of pride. If you are educated, you should definitely know English, irrespective of your knowledge on the subject of study or irrespective of the fact that you have studied in a regional language. Infact, if you happen to be a student or even parent of a student studying in a private school, you will learn to respect English by always speaking English. If you dare to talk in your mother tongue, you will be fined or punished. Dressing up to the occasion in a gathering is not enough to command reverence and to be considered as polished/ refined. You should utter only English or wherever possible, even if others fail to make anything out of what you speak. Such is the “colonial” influence. Speaking English is a symbol of education, dignity, prestige and superiority.

India has 28 states and 7 union territories. But more than 1500 languages exist in India, with 22 languages being classified as “official” languages in the Eighth Schedule of the Constitution of India. One need not speak the regional language to make out his/her place of origin. The extensions added to the “English” words in the local slang or speaking the local version of English, can effectively identify the region where the person belongs to. Non-functional syllables may be mutated in local languages to evolve into myriad words which symbolize the same thing, thus enriching the English vocabulary. The word zero can take any form from ‘jeero’ to ‘seero’ depending on the region/ locality. It can be i-ron rod or an I(r)on rod, the letter ‘r’ being silent in the latter but correct version. In the Eastern parts of India, ‘O’ and ‘B’ are more predominant in places of ‘A’ and ‘V,’ respectively, while pronouncing words containing the latter group of letters. However, in southern parts, ‘O’ is opportunistically forgotten and replaced with the first and foremost ‘A’. The letters ‘ed’ often added to signify the past tense of a word, is pronounced separately to sound something like ‘learn-edu’ or ‘learn-idd’. For many, ‘the’ is ‘Da’/ ‘Dha’, ‘against’ is ‘aginist’…..so and so. These are not exaggerations. There are numerous such examples of mispronunciations (?) sometimes drawing chuckles if one carefully listens. No wonder, some of our abroad-educated ministers always land in a soup/ controversy for exhibiting their english skills., we the colonial Indians failing to grasp the ulterior meaning of such comments/ slangs.

We are Indians and can never be expected to speak the British English and show our still-persistent servility. After all, it is 62 years of independence from the British!! So we have our own version of English. It may be hinglish, binglish, benglish, gunglish, punglish, tamlish, manglish, kanglish etc. But it is a fact that we fare off well when compared to people from other non-English speaking countries of Asia.

With all such confusions, does any one of us speak the language the way it is to be spoken? After all, a language is meant for communication. Why bother of the jargons when it can serve its purpose of conveying messages and as long as we can understand only our own version of English. So let’s leave the pronunciations to the literary circuits or language experts and enjoy speaking English, the Indian way….

We, The People....

WE, THE PEOPLE OF INDIA, having solemnly resolved to constitute India into a SOVEREIGN SECULAR DEMOCRATIC REPUBLIC and to secure to all its citizens:
JUSTICE;
LIBERTY;
EQUALITY …….. and fraternity……….. and everything written and promised in/as per the constitution.

All these terms are but interpreted according to the whims and fancies of each and everybody concerned, be it an average citizen, a corporate billionaire, the working class or a professional, a student/ students group or politician or any political organization. We the people of (Global) India … enjoy freedom ‘unlimited’, freedom to do what ever we want ….… at any cost.

"Me” first and all else can follow later!!! Rules are made for others and only to be blindly as well as unquestionably abided in ‘other’ countries which strictly impose those for the common good. Ideals, morals and altruism are meant only for lip service. Discipline and order have paved way to utter chaos. Is democracy the culprit? How much of the individual interests can be restrained to sustain a social cause/ social justice? How much of individual responsibilities account for the collective social responsibility?

Welcome a new day with cheers and hopes!!! Nay, a new dawn now is ushered in with anxieties and uncertainties. Surfing the daily newspaper is enough to bring in all those tensions and conflicts of the big bad world. Start your day with a cup of tea/ coffee/ milk, a complete food…... milk is a complete food and has xy% of protein, abc% of fat, vitamins, minerals, so and so…... “Milk is an emulsion of fat in water”. Sorry, that’s textbook information. Please set your facts right. Recheck the scientific facts. ‘It’s milk in water and not water in milk’!!! Well, what’s new in that? It is quite usual!!! Or else how can the milk vendor survive in times of spiraling prices? He has a huge family to support and expenses to meet. The problem is ultimately with the one who raises the question of why and how such things happen. And here in floods all advices. Please try to adjust, learn to live, be wise, be practical, do not expect too much, this is the way it has been, do not try to change the system and land yourselves in trouble …..Well, the ones who made such “wonderful” systems are forever anonymous and unknown.

“Always eat fresh fruits and vegetables for health”. All that glitters is not gold. Make sure to select ones that are little damaged by pests to avoid consuming hazardous pesticides in raw and in total. “Green” peas once soaked in water turns dull grey with the supernatant assuming bright green colour. This is not a ‘new chemical reaction', but a routine scorching example of the extent of adulteration in foods.

Economic theories also have to be revamped. “Demand for a commodity decreases with increase in price and supply increases with increase in price as well as demand”. How can that be? Supply has to be decreased/ restricted first for scarcity of commodities (hoarding) and for increasing the prices. Prices can only increase and not vice versa, irrespective of demand or supply. Anyone can choose to increase/ fix the price of locally available (unlabeled/ non-branded) commodities. Prices can be increased in small increments week by week so that at the end of the month you end up paying double the amount for the same commodity. It depends on the smartness of the customer/buyer to update him/herself of the prices prevailing in the market to avoid getting duped.

Natural resources are scarce as well as fast depleting and scarcity adds value to a product. So is the case with petrol and diesel. With all scientific and technological advancements there still is no feasible alternative to these and to solve the problem of fuel scarcity. It has become imperative to hike the fuel prices and no government can function effectively without fuel price hike. Meters of autorickshaws run faster than autos themselves, Rs. 4 or Rs. 5 has to be paid as ‘tip’ in addition to the meter charge, for every journey. If one is wise enough, it is to be practiced without objection to avoid verbal abuse and conflicts. The excuse is soaring fuel price and inflation. Such day-light robberies are very common.

Do you exercise regularly? If you do not find time due to a hectic schedule, make sure you travel in state- run buses. You may run for at least 100 metres as no buses do stop at the designated bus stops. May be our successful athletes had come up this way. Also beware, buses only slow down and don’t stop. You can learn all the balancing acts in a packed bus, moving through congested, potholed roads and turns in full speed. Passengers traveling hanging from the window is a common scene. Tiny kids are even experts in foot-board ride. Seen anyone getting into the bus with patience and in a queue? You can only squeeze your way in by pushing fellow passengers. A free training is obtained on boxing, wrestling and gymnastics by choosing a bus travel. Three in one!!!! It may take years to widen highways for easing traffic, but only to be dug out and damaged by public works authorities in a few days. Another long year has to pass before it assumes the previous form. Private vehicles can be parked on public road sides, again narrowing down them to a trickle.

Rules and regulations are flouted in case of VIPs and VVIPs. Security checks can be evaded at one’s own convenience as had happened recently in case of a millionaire private airline owner. What more? We do expect such privileges in other countries also, like the famous bollywood actor. Loopholes in our terror surveillance and lack of alertness have resulted in the country witnessing a spate of terror attacks with greater frequency. The common man’s life is a casualty. Who is bothered, when Z and Z+ category of security, convoy and body guards are provided for those in power, those who make policies for the public..... policies for the rest, to be followed by the rest…. All are equal. Some are more equal.

Freedom of expression (expression of opinion, anger, frustrations etc) and protest happens in a public space on public organizations and on public property. One needs to be loud enough to be heard and so are these ways to be heard causing nuisance to others. Hartals (most popular phenomenon or form of protest in a politically active state like Kerala) have assumed the role of an already banned “bandh”. For the success of hartals, atleast 10 vehicles as well as public buildings have to damaged and at least a few innocents have to be attacked and injured for daring to travel on a hartal day. Rights are prioritized than responsibilities.

Regional political parties in the name of ideology have in a self-styled manner made themselves responsible for preserving the so-called culture and morals in a society. May it be barring education in the national language or forcing education only in the regional language, imposing a dress-code on women etc…. Goons and hooligans of such parties play havoc by threatening and exploiting the public in the name of region, language, culture, caste, gender etc and leash in vandalism. Their priorities seem to be silly when there are other burning issues. Why there are no organizations which work to ensure the right to live, right to have basic amenities like clean air, drinking water, food, shelter, etc? Why men are excluded from moral values? Why not these organizations make sincere efforts to efface eve-teasing, alcoholism and smoking which are more prevalent among men? Puffing away at others face in public place seems not a matter of concern at all. Passive smoking is more injurious to health. No one can dare to stop anyone from smoking in public. There will be protests; demonstrations etc and such decisions to ban smoking in public will be declared undemocratic. Culture and morals are sacrificed in the era of technological advancements. Certain states run solely on the funds provided by liquor barons and so is their powerful clout that their activities are but promoted at the cost of social morals and health. The right to spit where ever as one pleases is a ‘birth right’. No questioning of that privilege. Think the great men who framed our constitution didn’t possess enough far-sight. Else the 'right to spit' would have been included as a fundamental right. The walls, stairs and corners of old public mansions are always stained with paan (An article in a magazine bearing the picture of an aircraft with paan stain as a design is still vivid in memory). More disgusting is the habit of dumping wastes and urinating in public space. Even main roads are not spared. Savagely or beast-like instincts?

Practising faith is purely the choice of an individual. But coercing others to practice the faith or exploiting in the name of religion is to be condemned. Devotion is no longer a peaceful and calm personal dialect, but has to be proclaimed aloud in high decibels using loud speakers, damaging the eardrum and hampering all normal activities. Again who is bothered?

Justice delayed is equivalent to justice denied. Injustice by the affluent prevails when justice is for sale. Better bear with injustice than knock the doors for justice and emaciate in the long chase of the mirage. At the end of the day, the culprits get away with minor punishments using their political and monetary smack, making a mockery of the whole system. Crores are spend on a terrorist/ gunman who in broad day light murdered innocent civilians. Is it to exhibit our rich tradition of tolerance and virtues before the world? This is only an example of how we are projecting ourselves as fools. Trial goes on till a criminal dies of old age. Criminals should be given their due within a time-frame and speedy justice has to be ensured rather than entertaining stupid dramas.

It's 62 years of Independence and we are happy celebrating the hard fought freedom as we wish, as we choose and as we please !!!!.

Indian Railways : On the Right Track?

The Union Minister for Railways, Ms. Mamta Banerjee, deserves applause for her strong convictions and to stand on her own terms surmounting the political pressures, to protect the interest of the common man. A hike in fuel price will lead to rise in prices of almost all commodities. Already an average Indian is finding it difficult to survive due to the inflation and price hike of essential commodities such as food. Bringing down the prices may be a Herculean task after allowing for a hike.

“Social viability should be the priority than commercial viability for measuring projects", as stated by the minister herself. But society is not restricted to only the minister’s state. Patronizing the interests of only the constituencies/states of the MPs/ministers forgetting the fact that they are Union Ministers has become a predominant phenomenon in Indian poltics. None to blame. MPs are answerable to the people who have elected them and so all the sops.

Certain matters require urgent attention if the minister is really concerned of the society and a common passenger.

1. Improve cleanliness of the coaches and ensure proper maintenance of coaches. (Rats, cockroaches, ticks and noxious insects are co-passengers in a second class compartment and wonderfully even in AC coaches).

2. Toilets in trains have to be cleaned before the start of every journey and twice a day (at least once a day) in case of long journey trains. The unbearable smell from the toilets due to lack of cleaning makes the journey suffocating especially for the passenger seated at either end of the coaches.

3. Use of technology to avoid the human waste in railway tracks can be given a thought.

4. One or more waste bins can be provided in all coaches irrespective of the class and these should be emptied at regular intervals at certain chosen stations to prevent spilling. Passengers have to be strictly advised and penalized if found to take rules for granted.

5. The rusted coaches have to be replaced by good ones. The iron protrusions of the windows, doors and jammed panes are life threatening.

6. Hygiene of food served from the pantry has to be ensured. In most trains, the food purchased from outside (sometimes stale depending on the fortune of the passenger) is served in the pantry at a higher rate as per the imagination of the person in the pantry.

7. There should be a public grievance system/ feedback system for every journey and a system to take appropriate action or address such grievances.

8. The availability of tickets for crowded trains/routes has to be ensured by allowing more trains in such routes. Innocent passengers are exploited and looted by the immoral TTEs/ railway employees. Corruption by the TTEs and other railway personnel should be strictly prevented by strict penalties to the guilty.

9. Proper monitoring system should be employed to avoid the unreserved passengers occupying the reserved seats and unauthorized sale of tickets to ‘influential’ passengers undermining the merit under the reservation system. Some ‘smart’ passengers take a general compartment ticket and enter even into the AC and enjoy the journey by bribing the TTEs when most others have to cancel their journey due to non availability of tickets/ seats.

10. The tatkal reservation scheme should be opened atleast 5 days prior to start of the journey instead of 2 days to facilitate for reservation for 'to and fro' journeys in case of emergencies. This can be implemented for long distance trains.

11. Senior citizens, disabled and sick persons should be provided with facilities for mobility/lift for moving from one platform to the other or for boarding the trains since climbing the stairs and walking through the crowded and lengthy platform will be difficult. Underground subways may be a viable alternative. Also provisions have to be made to reserve the lower berths to senior citizens (if any) in the compartment.

12. In case of long distance journeys, the safety of passengers has to be ensured by employing adequate and efficient police personnel. A facility for complaining about mis-behaviour of co-passengers (if any) has to be made available for ensuring safety of lone/lady passengers.

13. It would be extra sweet if a medical practitioner(s) and medical shop is provided within the train itself.

14. Smoking and drinking by the passengers and railway personnel/ pantrywalas should be strictly prevented.

All these rules/ ethics have to be enforced uniformly across the country. There are more serious problems in some parts of the country like burning the trains by hooligans to mark protests, mangling the railway tracks by bomb blasts, train accidents due to carelessness or climatic factors such as fog and flood, looting of passengers by antisocial elements, delay in journey by hours due to heavy rail traffic etc. The problems are numerous and practical solutions may require cooperation of other departments/ministries as well.

It is not easy and as simple as it looks for the largest public enterprise to make the train journey comfortable. At least the minister can address the basic necessities (comfort is a word of distant future). The public will be more than happy to give a few rupees as fare if the services are good. All is well when said but in practice…?.

Travelling in train should not be at the risk of one’s health and life. HAPPY JOURNEY INDIAN RAILWAYS!!!!!