Dogs do ‘it’ on a pole Kanpur-ians do ‘it’ on wall
My recent visit to Kanpur was after a long time. Being my home town I was very excited about it. My journey started from New Delhi railway station on ‘Mahabodhi express’. This train leaves at 2 pm in the afternoon and as usual Delhi platform was packed as if the whole population of India has made a permanent habitat here. Against my expectation train was just late by ten minutes from its starting platform; my all anxieties came to rest when I found that my reservation was in a coach which was all kanpur-ian and there were neither extra passangers nor any waiting list passenger in my coach. My reserved seat was an upper berth so I just hopped on my seat and after a long time was able to enjoy undisturbed deep scanning of TOI , followed by a nap. I reached Kanpur at 8.10 pm which was also the right time of train. For the first time in history of northern railways I felt proud about it and I wished to congratulate the driver and all the people who were responsible for this great achievement.
My happiness did not lasted long because as soon I kept my foot on the platform the rough and rude crowd welcomed me with pushing and ?pulling, because everybody was in hurry and I felt if I did not rushed out of here by pushing others I will become a victim of stampede. But the problem was that I had a long way to go. The all kanpurian inhabited coach was quiet far from the main platform and the platform was on its ruins. The floor was broken and everywhere there was mud and holes. If one was not careful he was very liable to fall. In this congested and broken floor I somehow managed to walk-run to the nearest staircase which could have led me out of the platform, but soon I had to put brake on my speed because just beside the staircase (which could have taken me out of this confusion) were lying two bulky people with their legs wide spread and blocking the way of people who were hastily approaching the train to ascend the train. So most of the people who had just alighted from the train were bound to form a single line squeezing ourselves between the narrow passage between the train and those sleeping giants. The other way around the staircases was also blocked by the office of railways which was just below the staircase, but for their own convenience they had put large blockades so that people may not pass through and reach the other side.
Finally I was able to reach the staircase but as we started ascending that dimly lit staircase some one from sitting above warned us shouting that this was a fake staircase and was broken at many places the way above was blocked. I was wondering why railway was so busy not to put any board/sign that this way was not in use neither were there any blockades here. May be the blockades used by railway office below staircase was meant for this. I need not be too optimistic. While walking on platform rather all north Indian platforms one hand should be always in close proximity to your pocket, because you can be pick-pocketed anytime. So the same rule applies here also. But the problem in Kanpur is that if you have only two hands then you are at great risk, because suppose with one hand you are holding a bag/water bottle/etc. other hand is close to your pocket then pathway to one of your most vital sense is at stake that is your ‘nose’. Railway tracks and platforms stink as if you are entering a severe manhole; rats and mosquito are merry making everywhere. In-fact Kanpur railway station seems to be biggest breeding ground for all kind of rats; one can find all shapes and sizes and may confuse these big fat rats with reptiles of other kind. Dust, filth, animal waste (stool) is lying all over the place. Dogs are permanent citizen of Kanpur platforms.
Somehow I found my way out and as soon as I was descending the platform a sharp ammonical smell of human urine vibrated my nostril. The whole place was filled with human urine and the characteristic thing was that a men urinal situated close-by was barely being used. Everybody was urinating on the wall of station which was near the exit. Seeing this site smelling this horrible odour vivid imagination of pre-Gandhian time came into my mind when people did not had proper drainage system and they had to use a room in the house for their toilet needs. Seeing this scene I had just this thought at that moment in my mind that ‘dogs do it on a pole kanpur-ians do it on wall’.
For those unaware about Kanpur city, Kanpur is a major, large, densely populated city of Uttar Pradesh. The state which has given most honourable chief ministers as Mulayam Singh Yadav and Mayawati to this country. Those who wish to visit Kanpur can see a lot of listed things mentioned in tourist guide book but most importantly this is the city of largest open urinals, and tourist who are visiting Kanpur are adviced to ascend from city side because here you can see people in line urinating on the walls of station and whether you like it or not you are highly probable to feel the buttocks of these committed urinators while reaching the exit of railway station. Statutory warning to fainters, convulsers, hystericals : “do not walk through without your known friend beside you, you are most likely to faint, convulse or vomit for days to come”.
My recent visit to Kanpur was after a long time. Being my home town I was very excited about it. My journey started from New Delhi railway station on ‘Mahabodhi express’. This train leaves at 2 pm in the afternoon and as usual Delhi platform was packed as if the whole population of India has made a permanent habitat here. Against my expectation train was just late by ten minutes from its starting platform; my all anxieties came to rest when I found that my reservation was in a coach which was all kanpur-ian and there were neither extra passangers nor any waiting list passenger in my coach. My reserved seat was an upper berth so I just hopped on my seat and after a long time was able to enjoy undisturbed deep scanning of TOI , followed by a nap. I reached Kanpur at 8.10 pm which was also the right time of train. For the first time in history of northern railways I felt proud about it and I wished to congratulate the driver and all the people who were responsible for this great achievement.
My happiness did not lasted long because as soon I kept my foot on the platform the rough and rude crowd welcomed me with pushing and ?pulling, because everybody was in hurry and I felt if I did not rushed out of here by pushing others I will become a victim of stampede. But the problem was that I had a long way to go. The all kanpurian inhabited coach was quiet far from the main platform and the platform was on its ruins. The floor was broken and everywhere there was mud and holes. If one was not careful he was very liable to fall. In this congested and broken floor I somehow managed to walk-run to the nearest staircase which could have led me out of the platform, but soon I had to put brake on my speed because just beside the staircase (which could have taken me out of this confusion) were lying two bulky people with their legs wide spread and blocking the way of people who were hastily approaching the train to ascend the train. So most of the people who had just alighted from the train were bound to form a single line squeezing ourselves between the narrow passage between the train and those sleeping giants. The other way around the staircases was also blocked by the office of railways which was just below the staircase, but for their own convenience they had put large blockades so that people may not pass through and reach the other side.
Finally I was able to reach the staircase but as we started ascending that dimly lit staircase some one from sitting above warned us shouting that this was a fake staircase and was broken at many places the way above was blocked. I was wondering why railway was so busy not to put any board/sign that this way was not in use neither were there any blockades here. May be the blockades used by railway office below staircase was meant for this. I need not be too optimistic. While walking on platform rather all north Indian platforms one hand should be always in close proximity to your pocket, because you can be pick-pocketed anytime. So the same rule applies here also. But the problem in Kanpur is that if you have only two hands then you are at great risk, because suppose with one hand you are holding a bag/water bottle/etc. other hand is close to your pocket then pathway to one of your most vital sense is at stake that is your ‘nose’. Railway tracks and platforms stink as if you are entering a severe manhole; rats and mosquito are merry making everywhere. In-fact Kanpur railway station seems to be biggest breeding ground for all kind of rats; one can find all shapes and sizes and may confuse these big fat rats with reptiles of other kind. Dust, filth, animal waste (stool) is lying all over the place. Dogs are permanent citizen of Kanpur platforms.
Somehow I found my way out and as soon as I was descending the platform a sharp ammonical smell of human urine vibrated my nostril. The whole place was filled with human urine and the characteristic thing was that a men urinal situated close-by was barely being used. Everybody was urinating on the wall of station which was near the exit. Seeing this site smelling this horrible odour vivid imagination of pre-Gandhian time came into my mind when people did not had proper drainage system and they had to use a room in the house for their toilet needs. Seeing this scene I had just this thought at that moment in my mind that ‘dogs do it on a pole kanpur-ians do it on wall’.
For those unaware about Kanpur city, Kanpur is a major, large, densely populated city of Uttar Pradesh. The state which has given most honourable chief ministers as Mulayam Singh Yadav and Mayawati to this country. Those who wish to visit Kanpur can see a lot of listed things mentioned in tourist guide book but most importantly this is the city of largest open urinals, and tourist who are visiting Kanpur are adviced to ascend from city side because here you can see people in line urinating on the walls of station and whether you like it or not you are highly probable to feel the buttocks of these committed urinators while reaching the exit of railway station. Statutory warning to fainters, convulsers, hystericals : “do not walk through without your known friend beside you, you are most likely to faint, convulse or vomit for days to come”.
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