West-coast Train Ride
Greenery greenery and more greenery… That is all what I see out of the window. As I type this, the train I am in is halfway between Pune and Mumbai. My flight to Stockholm is from Mumbai, on 15th August. That’s right, its Independence Day, folks ! Dunno why I always travel around Independence day or Republic day. (Guess I am cursed to get extra jabs with the metal detector in the hands of airport security !)
This is the first time I am travelling this West coast route by train. I was stupid enough to pack my camera deep into the big suitcase am carrying. Too much work unlocking and unpacking to retrieve it.
The yellowish tinge of the train window and the perfectly overcast skies enhance the magical effect of South-West monsoon on these parts. The fully grown trees, beautiful hills, valleys, lush green carpet of undergrowth that covers the whole place, open fields, lakes, small boats, age old bridges, some not-so-famous forts (or maybe I don’t know about them !), low hanging clouds that cover the hills, tiny stations that come all the way, people walking at leisure, a primary school with tiled roof, small puddles of rainwater, a boy shaking a small tree and making it rain all over his friends…..
God, is this part of a plan to reinforce the fact how beautiful this country is, how much is still unexplored and how much is still unknown? Is it an attempt to mock at me for going away from this country, from these very monsoon days in which I grew up to become whatever I am today ?
God, listen, the plan is always to return here. There is no change in that, it is just a matter of time. Anyways, this train trip is making sure that I will do all that is in my power to make sure I return home soon. Yea, Stockholm is my home for now, because I chose it to be. But the only place I will call home forever is my own sweet India.
PS: This blog turned out to be an Independence Day special !! Seriously, what is it with me and National holidays ? Is it because my birth date is close to Gandhi Jayanthi ?!
This is the first time I am travelling this West coast route by train. I was stupid enough to pack my camera deep into the big suitcase am carrying. Too much work unlocking and unpacking to retrieve it.
The yellowish tinge of the train window and the perfectly overcast skies enhance the magical effect of South-West monsoon on these parts. The fully grown trees, beautiful hills, valleys, lush green carpet of undergrowth that covers the whole place, open fields, lakes, small boats, age old bridges, some not-so-famous forts (or maybe I don’t know about them !), low hanging clouds that cover the hills, tiny stations that come all the way, people walking at leisure, a primary school with tiled roof, small puddles of rainwater, a boy shaking a small tree and making it rain all over his friends…..
God, is this part of a plan to reinforce the fact how beautiful this country is, how much is still unexplored and how much is still unknown? Is it an attempt to mock at me for going away from this country, from these very monsoon days in which I grew up to become whatever I am today ?
God, listen, the plan is always to return here. There is no change in that, it is just a matter of time. Anyways, this train trip is making sure that I will do all that is in my power to make sure I return home soon. Yea, Stockholm is my home for now, because I chose it to be. But the only place I will call home forever is my own sweet India.
PS: This blog turned out to be an Independence Day special !! Seriously, what is it with me and National holidays ? Is it because my birth date is close to Gandhi Jayanthi ?!
Comments
INDIA ... INCREDIBLE INDIA...!!
Jai Hind...!!
I think our eyes sees only what we want to see. I was back to chennai from kumbakonam by train yesterday. What I saw was totally contrasting to what u saw..all I saw was garbage, feces & slums all the way and the train smelled like pee all over.
I somehow seem to have a mental block to look at India beyond all this :(