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Monday, April 08, 2013

Glimpse of a ‘Women only’ coach in Delhi Metro

Day 7. Letter 'G'.


Back in October 2010, in the backdrop of the Commonwealth Games, Delhi Metro started the concept of ‘women’ coach with the first coach reserved for women. During one of the early days of this new idea, I was traveling in metro, obviously in woman’s coach, and the coach was getting crowded by every passing station. In that commotion, we heard two women shouting at each other in a fight to grab a seat. And then, one aunty sitting close by commented, “With the fights we know we are in a woman’s coach. Do you expect women to be in a coach together and not have a fight?”

Traveling in the women’s coach is nothing short of an experience. 

A peek-a-boo into a ladies coach of Delhi Metro shall be like: 
  • There are college-going girls, office-going ladies, and women going back home after doing wedding shopping from Chandni Chowk…
  • Women of all shapes, sizes, colors, languages, faiths, age groups can be seen squabbling for the seat  
  • Usually, they all are broadly involved in either of the 6 things while travelling – listening to music, reading a book/newspaper, loudly chatting in a group, holding a kid, alone and looking at others or sleeping
  • The books they read are usually a chick-lit, a classic Jane Austen and some are seen reading religious books
  • They all believe that they will fit in whatever little space there is on a seat (butt size no bar!). As soon as gates open and the crowd barges in, you can hear ‘please shift a little’ or ‘please adjust a little’ in many voices, baritones. They will sit uncomfortably, and so will those who ‘shifted’. But that never deters anyone from asking for a ‘shift’
  • Women, who don’t get a seat even after the ‘adjusting and shifting’ bit, keep staring at those sitting, with eyes that spell ‘revenge’! Really!
  • There is always some woman who opens her tiffin to have her breakfast (despite the ‘no eating in the metro’ sign)
  • You may find a pregnant woman or an old lady standing and looking at others to offer them seats, because the seats meant for them have been occupied by some other young girl who has her ear-plugs on and pretends she is sleeping. That way, she won’t be woken up from the slumber to vacate the seat, you know.Smart move

And when you see men standing on the boundary of second coach and looking at the coach full of women, the look on their faces reminds me of the guys who roam around a girls college to catch a glimpse of  girls or their girlfriends!

36 comments:

  1. ha ha...I have heard phone conversations(loud btw)about directing the maid to cook daal and subzi, dumping a boyfriend and talking to three boyfriends in a row ;-)
    Never a dull moment in a women's coach.

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  2. Sounds absolutely terrible to me. I can't imagine being smothered in a gaggle of women. Not that I have been on any kind of train for years.

    JO ON FOOD, MY TRAVELS AND A SCENT OF CHOCOLATE

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  3. Oh wow, that sounds like quite a sight! This was a great read, very entertaining. Thanks for sharing it!

    From A to Z, Kristen's blog: kristenhead.blogspot.com

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  4. This was an interesting glimpse of the female only metro. I enjoyed reading it.


    http://agutandabutt.blogspot.com/

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  5. LOl...you mentioned it so minutely :)

    I somehow feel very peculiar in a ladies coach...with so many women around :)

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  6. Do you think they might be as exciting as our Mumbai locals? :)

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  7. I remember my visit to the Dubai Metro and OMG how strict they were. You could not even drink water! fine of 500DHS

    I think that is what we need, a straight fine of Rs 5000/- to anyone breaking the darn rules!

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  8. Agree...however I normally do not travel by women class as women never get up and offer u their seat like few good men :)

    Ektakhetan.blogspot.in

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  9. LOL :D Enjoyed reading this post and this is so similar to the local train journeys I have had in Mumbai! It is just the same!! :D

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  10. I went on that journey with you. Nicely penned.

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  11. Ah ! Delhi Metro becoming Mumbai Local ??? is it ? :P

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  12. Naina, the scene you have described is exactly what we see in the local trains in Bombay every day, down to the hungry eyes outside the coach.

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  13. hahaha :)
    I could just imagine it all :D hope u managed a shift ;P

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  14. Aside from being separated by sex it sounds just like it is everywhere else. But, I believe if the young person pretended to be asleep is so ill mannered not to give up her sit for an elderly person or pregnant lady she should be called out on it. And I have no problem doing that. Manners people, it doesn't matter that you were there first, or what country your in.

    A-Z

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  15. I didn't know there were such coaches. Is there a rationale - that women are molested in co-ed coaches, or culturally are expected to be divided? Fascinated by a difference from my limited traveling experience.

    from John at The Bathroom Monologues

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  16. Very interesting. I like how you're titling your posts. Very vivid post. I learned a lot. Happy G Day!

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  17. Colorful glimpse into the women's only coach ride. Women can be vicious with each other.

    Play off the Page

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  18. I am surprised that in this day and age there are special ladies coaches. My husband thinks that it is a good idea for the safety of women.

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  19. Was not aware thank you so much. Love learning about how other experiences in their lifes.

    Came by from Tales of the Reborn Crafter

    http://talesofthereborncrafter.blogspot.com/

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  20. I would have trouble with the shifting of my bottom LOL and I have to say it definitely sounds interesting,something this suburban girls is not all all familiar with. Dropping by from the A-Z Challenge,Lucy from Lucy's Reality

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  21. Hahaha!!! I've been on the 'Women's Only' on the Mumbai local, didn't think anything else could be compared to it! But Delhi metro's it!!

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  22. I can imagine...the same on buses too.

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  23. I'd be the one with ear plugs pretending I'm asleep. Excellent post.
    Connie
    A to Z buddy
    Peanut Butter and Whine

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  24. Aahhh ...its the same everywhere right ???

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  25. I loved your description of the Delhi Metro. I used to live in New York City, and I know all too well the difficulties of a packed subway car. Being relatively young (at the time) I didn't really envy those who got seats when I didn't.
    Great post!

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  26. Say what you may, Delhi Metro has revolutionized local transportation...and if you think 'Women Only' coaches are bad... well the ones behind them are...lets just say more vibrant...
    Loved the post...reminds me of my awesome times in Delhi

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  27. Sounds like its going the Bombay ladies coach way :)

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  28. It really irks me when a lady doesn't offer her seat to an elderly person or asks him to move out of a seat marked for ladies. It's pathetic. Moreover in co-ed coaches, after a day's job I don't expect a man to offer me a seat either when he is equally tired as I am. I'm no weak. That's my personal belief.

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  29. Yup! The women's sections of trains and buses are usually the ones with the most drama!

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  30. A couple of years ago, I chose to travel in the 'Mumbai locals' to pursue a project. Those were the 3 most lively months. Mumbai locals depict the city like nothing else..I used to see women cutting vegetable, knitting, murmuring with chanting beads and of course the PYTs with books and iPods...The crowd was very sensitive to women with kids on their hips, old women etc...Tch Tch Tch on young Delhi culture! :-) Enjoyed reading your post!

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  31. The Warrior Muse said you needed some love, so I popped on by ..

    thriftshopcommando.blogspot.com

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  32. Travelling is a huge challenge for ladies and girls in our cities. Separate compartments may be one solution. Good post and good luck with the challenge
    http://yenforblue.blogspot.com/

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  33. Sadly Dallas, Texas where I live and the area surrounding, commonly referred to as "the metroplex", lacks a really stellar public transportation system. I have spent time in both London and New York, and public transportation is one of the things that makes me love those cities as passionately as I do. I'm sure it can become tiresome, but oh the things you learn about humanity! Thank you for such a descriptive and enjoyable post. I want to ride the train in every major city of the world. I think I would walk away from this experience knowing more about the populace than from few other experiences. Jennifer at Urban Gypsy Girl

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  34. Home shifting in delhi has now become convenient with many logistics players around.

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