The ‘moving’ mind

Life’s experiences do not come instantly on a platter. We expose ourselves to many situations, sometimes intentionally and at times by sheer chance. And our physical and mental faculties are put to test with varying degrees of success.

One such experience of immense value and sense of purpose is the daily commuting by the Metro train in Delhi. There is more to it than what meets the eye at the hustling and bustling platforms right from the break of dawn to mid-night.

The experiences of commuting are incomplete without a clear mention of what one can read from the facial impressions and expressions of fellow passengers day in and day out. It is a treat to watch changing glimpses of mood swings often mixed with some kind of cautious optimism.

Modern gadgets often play a spoilsport while trying to strike a rapport with a presumably willing-to-talk soul. Heated conversations are occasionally picked up at a close distance. At times, one gets to learn and unlearn a lot!

The threads that one gathers range from a simple errand at home to carrying out the commands of the higher-ups or for that matter a patient in distress. It is a refreshing frame of mind to see a noble soul vacating his well-earned seat to a person with grey cells. But, alas, lately such goodwill gestures have been in short supply.

A sea of humanity rubs shoulders with one another causing e physical, social, cultural and religious diversity at one place. Perhaps the Metro network is a leveler of some sorts as far as wealth and knowledge capital etc. is concerned.

It is quite often a joyous moment as the train negotiates its path from beneath the ground track onto the over-ground, thus emerging from darkness to light. The impulse that it throws up makes one think of the age-old maxim, “From darkness, lead me to the light”. This is the way our mind should vacillate on a routine and basis.