Splendid People in the Delhi Metro

For Delhiites, metro indeed is a comfortable and efficient mode of public transport but for commuters like me, who spend almost three hours to and fro from work, it’s the biggest travel one has done so far. No doubt, the transport offers you a convenient and fast ride cutting the traffic-choked city but nowadays it has become a fun-filled ride for people who maintain to adorn a beautiful smile on their face after a long tiring day at work.

Taking you for a voyage, to savor every bit of Delhi and NCR for that matter, metro turns out to be a jading ride for those who have to travel long. Devoting so much time to the metro and observing people around, I have managed to discover some of the categories these commuters fall into.

Me First - One can witness a glut of people who are so full of themselves, not only do they want to be the first one to enter the metro but the first ones to exit as well. Out of all the vacant space near the aisle, they choose best to stand right in front of the doors. These travelers, without paying any heed to the constant announcements made during the journey, almost manage to block people who want to board and de-board the train.

Corner Crackers - Even before the doors get opened for people to enter, their target is set. ‘That is where I am going to sit’ is what the first thing that comes to their mind, while peeping in from the window of the metro. Despite scuffling hard for a seat all they are able to fetch for themselves is a corner near the doors. Satiated with their share of possession to laze on, they at times succeed in taking a nap leaning there too.

Unaffected Ones - A few are those who are so busy banging their head listening to the ardent music on their gadgets that they miss-out on a heated argument between two of the commuters sitting right in front of them. Usually such people go un-noticed unless they themselves give others an opportunity to notice them. Sometimes it is the loud music which can be heard by the fellow passengers from their hands-free or people bellowing on their phones, loud enough to be heard in the adjacent compartments.

Staring Masters - Not only do guys but many women play chiefly in making the fellow commuters uncomfortable with a simple stare. These people are so perfect with the act that they make the person conscious and start flicking through themselves if everything is in place. Guys are often seen crossing the boundary set for them beyond the general coach and if that is not feasible their intense gaze is enough to make a couple or girls standing nearby feel uneasy.

Free-to-do anything - Almost every day you come across several of the kind who are the rulers of this public transport. Putting all the rules at stake, breaking queues and pushing the guards as and when the metro arrives is the trend these people follow. All that which has to be followed as per the rules is what these commuters tend not to follow. Whether it is about throwing garbage around, leaning on the doors or walking out of the queue, they violate them all.

Smell-so-good - An interesting category of people whom you across in metro are those who ditch their deodorants in summers and are superb in making the passengers uncomfortable with their bad body odor and sweaty clothes. Despite some of them belonging to a refined class of people, personal hygiene is what these people fail to maintain. These are people who you hate secretly and can’t do anything more than throwing at them strange and annoyed looks.

And lastly, very few are the Hopeful Travelers, generally like you and me who board and de-board metro twice or thrice to reach their desired destination wishing there was one direct metro to their home. With the hope that with the advancement in technology, Delhi metro serving people for over 11 years will run a metro line running directly to their place, offering them a more comfortable and smooth ride.

Well this is what I have seen and experienced while traveling in the metro. If you have anything to share, please do write your experience or comment. I would like to listen you all.

Traditional Art Forms Sustaining Poor in the City

Her heartfelt smile invited me to start a chitchat session. But it was her sheer talent at her job that left me flabbergasted. I saw her at Dilli Haat where she sells self-made Papier Mache art-pieces. From attractive utility items like pen stands, paper weights, envelopes boxes and jewelry boxes to decorative artifacts like animal and bird figures, she has a wide range of products.

Originally from Bihar, Puneeta Devi resides in Delhi to earn her livelihood. She moved to Delhi in order to support her family financially and now it’s been more than 15 years. Her family including four kids and a husband are also involved in the business. Her children assist her backstage in making art-pieces. At Dilli Haat, famous for its traditional artwork, she works with her brother who has his own shop of Madhubani paintings. Although she sells her stuff here but her random business visits to ongoing art fairs in and around Delhi help her fetch some more clients. While talking to her further, I could feel her pain in trying to make ends meet every day. She told that Papier Mache is a less recognized art in India and there are times when she sells nothing.

For many of us who don’t know about Papier Mache, here comes the basic information of its meaning and origin. 

Papier Mache or Paper Mache is a French word meaning “mashed or chewed paper”. It is a composite material consisting of soft paper pieces, hardened with textiles, bound with an adhesive, such as starch or glue.

Papier Mache as an art form originated during 105 A.D from China; the inventors of paper itself. According to studies, they used Papier Mache to make helmets of all things, which they toughened by many layers of lacquer. From China, the interest in the art passed on to Japan and Persia, where it was used in mask-making and festival activities before it eventually spread across the globe.

Undoubtedly the Moguls contributed a lot to Indian art, but one of their greatest contributions was to introduce Papier Mache to Indian craftsmen. This art was greatly favored by Mogul emperors who came from Central Asia in the 15th and 16th century and ruled India for almost 200-300 years.

After much evolution, today, it has become extremely stylized with the use of real gold and silver paint and by the addition of intricate decorations. The designs of Kashmiri Papier Mache, generally in the form of flowers and birds, have a strong Persian flavor. The Papier Mache artifacts are usually made in every Indian village but that of Bihar are famous, in particular, due to its painting style. Artisans of Bihar make beautiful crafts with colourful paintings on them. The most interesting fact about the art form is that it is considered as a great recycle craft and serves as good means of business for many poor and landless people across India.