Skip to main content

Covid fear killing poor, no customers at dhabas, tea shops along expressway

By Vidya Bhushan Rawat*
Years ago, when I could not get a reservation to return to Delhi from Deoria, I boarded a bus for Lucknow at 4:30 in the evening, hoping that it would take me there late in the night and would then board another bus for Delhi. But the bus got stuck in the traffic jam of Gorakhpur and spent nearly five hours before moving to Lucknow.
I have never been comfortable in travelling in buses when I am alone as there is little space for legs as well as for your luggage. But more than that, it is the health issues, particularly urinating or for any other emergency.
When I was buying the ticket the conductor asked me to get the ticket for Kanpur where the bus was finally going. He said, I should get down there and that I would easily get a bus for Delhi from there. The bus reached Kanpur in the morning at about 6 am. I looked for other buses, but there was none. Everyone informed me that all the buses would go late in the evening as they took nearly 10 to 12 hours.
I thought of taking a bus to Agra and then go by another bus through the Agra Noida Yamuna Express Highway, but there was no availability. At 8 am, a bus driver indicated to me if I wished Agra. I said yes and boarded the bus. It was again the UP Roadways and it did not stop anywhere. At one place, I felt deep urge to urinate but the driver was not listening. I had to hold beyond my breath.
And finally I reached the Agra Express Highway around 3 pm. I just threw my bag after crossing the road and went to relieve myself. There was a private bus for Delhi, and I boarded that. This was the first time that I first experienced the Yamuna Express Highway. By 6 pm I was home. One may call it private or capitalist, but I would say it was a fantastic road. You reached on time and smoothly, though the total journey was more than 26 hours, and too tiring.
A similar situation arose when our train got cancelled following the coronavirus outbreak, and there was a risk through public transport, so I decided to take a personal vehicle for Delhi. We started from our Prerna Kendra early morning at 7:30 am. It was exactly 900 kilometres stretch, but what a journey it was. We reached home by 7:40 pm. Almost 12 hours. Let me explain what made it possible.
I traveled to Gorakhpur when there was no Express Highway. But right now from Fazil Nagar you have the National High Way and 360 kilometer journey we crossed in 6 odd hours. From Lucknow we had a bright new Lucknow Agra Express Highway, which passes through Unnao, Hardoi, Saifai, Mainpuri, Ferozabad and straight go to the Yamuna Express Highway from Agra to Noida. The Lucknow Agra Express Highway is one of the biggest contributions of the Akhilesh Yadav government to Uttar Pradesh. Roads are smooth and not bumpy and the locales are green.
Yamuna Express Highway is Mayawati’s contribution to state. You may critique her for different things but doing things elegantly has been her style which needs appreciation. Both these highways are world class and far superior to the National Highway, which is from Gorakhpur to Lucknow. So from Lucknow it took nearly 3 hours to reach Agra while from there to my home it took 2.5 hours.
The new modern roads are empty and people have started observing guidelines to navigate on these roads. Common people follow norms and guidelines, but, surprisingly, the government does not. Right from Kushinagar till Noida, I tried to capture the mood along the road and realised how the fear of coronavirus is killing the poor.
There were no customers at dhabas, tea shops, a few buses which were on the roads had very few passengers. It rained between Basti and Ayodhya, but all I saw were empty roads, even though India cannot really be completely locked down. Indeed, it is not possible, as you can’t really do this to one billion plus people and a highly diverse society. India has survived because this diversity. The only way for the world to survive is to respect the diversity of cultures, food habits and oppose anything that is trying to create mono cultures.
Wish all of you good health and protection. This is the most challenging time for all of us. Stay in, be creative, write more, and share more, do spent quality time with your family. Corona may be bad but it might bring good habits in us all… the feeling of togetherness, the warmth, affection, caring and sharing despite distancing. It means that you can also care and love people by maintaining a bit of distance. So keep physical distance but allow your heart open to all, keep out all the narrow mindedness, only then we will be able to enjoy the fruits of modern science.

*Human rights defender

Comments

TRENDING

Global Ambedkarites in deep shock over killing of Buddhist Ambedkarite youth in Nanded

Joint  Ambedkar International Mission and Ambedkar Association of North America statement on killing of an Ambedkarite Buddhist youth for celebrating Dr Ambedkar Jayanti (birth anniversary) in his village on 1st June 2023 in Bondhar Haveli village, Nanded, Maharashtra: *** Every single public event hosted by any social or political organization in Maharashtra is not completed without citing Dr. Babasaheb Ambedkar and yet an Ambedkarite Buddhist youth, Akshay Bhalerao was brutally murdered for celebrating Dr Ambedkar Jayanti in the village Bondhar, Nanded, Maharashtra by dominant caste goons. Caste Atrocities are common in such villages where the Scheduled Castes and Buddhists are daily humiliated, mocked, or abused with caste slurs and women subjected to sexual violence. 

How this top Maoist leader couldn't extricate completely from the Left adventurist line

By Harsh Thakor  On the 31st of May Katakam Sudarshan, known as Comrade Anand, breathed his last, at the age of 69. Anand was a member of the Politburo of the Central Committee of the Communist Party of India (Maoists) and an important leader of the revolutionary movement of India.

Discussion on making school education meaningful to vulnerable communities

ActionAid note on workshop to boost National Curriculum Framework operations: *** Leading educationists and activists striving to make education meaningful to vulnerable communities gathered in Delhi to discuss the National Curriculum Framework for School Education (NCFSE). Acting in response to the call of the NCF Steering Committee appointed by the Ministry of Education, Government of India, ActionAid Association had organised the meeting to gather feedback on the draft NCFSE. This is part of ActionAid Association’s commitment to promote inclusive and gender-responsive education. The two-day national workshop titled ‘NCF Perspectives: Seeking Feedback on National Curriculum Framework (NCF)’ on May 30 and 31, 2023, was held at India International Centre, New Delhi. The workshop aimed to ensure a structured approach to gathering feedback from key stakeholders and enhancing their active participation in shaping the response sought by the Government of India. Stakeholders representing e

Abrogation of Art 370: Increasing alienation, relentless repression, simmering conflict

One year after the abrogation by the Central Government of Art. 370 in Kashmir, what is the situation in the Valley. Have the promises of peace, normalcy and development been realised? What is the current status in the Valley? Here is a detailed note by the People’s Union for Civil Liberties , “Jammu & Kashmir: One Year after Abrogation of Art. 370: Increasing Alienation, Relentless Repression, Simmering Conflict”:

Release of dabang neta: Rule of law can't be allowed to be slave to political rhetoric

By Vidya Bhushan Rawat*  When we look to politicians for solutions and politics as the 'final solution' for every evil then we are disappointed most of the time. In politics, we knowingly or unknowingly become part of the propaganda tool of the ruling elite which exists everywhere across different castes. We often provide issues and talk about them in binaries which suit our elites. The minorities among the marginalised who have no political space and representation rarely get heard by these majoritarian parties whose agenda remain power communities. Every political party in today's time is following the 'successful' formula of 'democracy' which is keeping the 'powerful' 'jaatis' with them leaving aside the marginalised one. The BJP started this but yes they cobbled together all other communities too through a diverse narrative.

J&K RTI activist denied opportunity to address audience, bring forward critical issues

Statement by Er. Irfan Banka, Founder of J&K RTI Foundation and convener of the Nalae Ferozpora Bachav Movement, regarding the incident of official misconduct during the My Town My Pride Jan Abhiyan Program and communication to Raj Bhavan: *** Er. Irfan Banka, a prominent RTI Activist and advocate, has come forward to address an incident of misconduct that occurred during the My Town My Pride Jan Abhiyan Program held at Mugam Town Hall in  Budgam. Additionally, Er. Irfan Banka has communicated the matter to Raj Bhavan, seeking appropriate action. During the event, Er. Irfan Banka was denied the opportunity to address the audience and bring forward critical issues concerning the people and services in the community, including waste management, traffic management, and the achievement of sustainable development goals. The incident involved the Additional Registrar Co-operative Kashmir, who not only prevented Er. Irfan Banka from speaking but also subjected him to public humiliation. E

Why are 17 Indian cos, including Sterlite, blacklisted by Norway bank

By Venkatesh Nayak* Readers may recall the gory incidents that took place at Thoothukudi (Tuticorin) in Tamil Nadu in the southern part of India on 22 May, 2018. Thirteen protesters died on the spot when the police opened fire to disperse an assemblage of thousands of local residents and representatives of civil society groups. They were protesting against the adverse environmental impact of the industrial operations of Sterlite Copper which runs a copper smelter plant in the area. Accusations against the company have ranged from polluting local water resources to plans for expanding the installed capacity of the plant without the necessary environmental clearances. A ground report published in The Wire recently, mentions the decision taken by Norges Bank a few years ago to not invest funds from Norway’s Government Pension Fund Global (GPFG) in Sterlite “due to an unacceptable risk of complicity in current and future severe environmental damage and systematic human rights violations

Sengol imbroglio suggests reason why Modi, BJP don't respect modern Indian history

By Vidya Bhushan Rawat*  The new parliament building opened on February 28. It looks it is not the Parliament but part of #Pratinidhisabhas ' started by earstwhile #princelystates in India. The #BJP for long has been acting as if India is a #Kingdom and Modi ji the new #King of India. Even at the coronations of Kings, you find a large number of people, and dignitaries but look at the opening ceremony we have only one face as if he build everything. Is it the dream of a republic.

Danger ahead: Smartphones making teens sexually smart, but mentally disturbed

By Harasankar Adhikari  We live in a digitally globalised society. Bombarded consumerism and imitation of foreign cultures and practises reshape our everyday lives. Life choices and lifestyles are the driving forces of modernity at present. People of almost all ages are within this realm and rhythm of consumerism for happiness.

Cave of Spleen - a feminist perspective: Status of women in early 18th century England

The Cave of Spleen: Aubrey Beardsley's illustration for Pope's “The Rape of the Lock” By Pragya Ranjan  "The Rape of the Lock" by Alexander Pope published in 1712 is a mock-heroic narrative which satirically glorifies trivial incident of cutting of locks of protagonist Belinda. This poem was written in the Augustan Era (1660-1784) which is marked by the period of scientific reason and rationality, whose effect can be seen on the writers of those times. This timeline is particularly important to analyse the episode of the Cave of Spleen.