Tracking the change

So while the Railway’s decision to extend Pune station platforms is quite recent,this Railway staff has been actively and efficiently utilising their workspace as a platform for creative and awareness-related activities for years.

“Our whole approach towards the projects has been educative. Railway station is one place where countless people visit on a daily basis. What other than the station could be the best place to reach out to masses? From simplest of the messages such as- not to buy eatables sold on platforms by strangers to changed policies of Railways such as changed deadlines of Tatkal timings,importance of not traveling without tickets from the point of view of safety of the nation,cleanliness at stations and so on,we have tried to reach out through the medium of plays. In fact moving on,we have also presented plays portraying the hazards of drinking and driving,” says Singh.

While social service remains the constant motivation behind performance,every participant has his own personal reason and memories to draw from the act. “People’s response is something that I cherish the most and thankfully,it has been overwhelming since day one. Many come to us even after the plays are over and either appreciate us or ask us more details regarding the social messages conveyed during the play,” says Kiran Hojage,traffic inspector,Central Railways,Pune division who has been portraying the character of Jamoora in the play.

While acting was a newly acquired art for Hojage,for Balkrushna Kamble,who portrays the character of Madaari,it has been a continuation of his childhood passion of acting and performing. “After the recent play on swine flu,one of the audiences came and asked us if we were not afraid of performing in public because of the swine flu scare and our answer was- their safety has been more important to us than anything else. While topics will change,the answer will always be the same,” smiles Kamble.

The specialty of the group has been the style of narration and the ability to convey the message to the masses in a language that people understand. This year’s first play of the group beautifully depicted how,the survivor of a bus accident,the sole traveler who hasn’t consumed alcohol during the journey,reaches the destination and says- The blood shed was not meant for stones and railway tracks. He then declares that he would go to various villages spreading the message of not drinking while driving adds Singh,also an accomplished poet,whose portrayal of Gangoo,the same old man of the play has struck many a chord. Here’s to a journey laden with promises.