Training in Secularism: United we commute

“We conduct the pooja for communal harmony and safety on the train,” says G G Khalifa, MST holder and an active participant. “The feeling of communal harmony is bolstered by organising such functions,” he adds.

Uniting under the Gujarat Queen Up-Down Group banner, the members donate Rs 10 every month and are able to collect aroundRs 5,000 to spend on the annual pooja.

Nilesh Patel, another pass holder, says during the month of Ramzan the Hindu commuters in the nearly 30-strong group are served snacks in the evening and later join their Muslim brethren for the iftaar.

The members start decorating the compartment — thoughtfully spared by the Railways for the holding of the pooja — while it is still parked in the yard. The ceremony begins as soon as the train arrives at the platform.

The pooja is over by the time the train reaches Mehemadabad where blessings and prasad are handed out. At all the stations from Ahmedabad to Vadodara, people stand in front of the compartment to offer prayers.

The scene at Ahmedabad station this year is one of organised chaos; an announcement about the pooja is being made over the public address system — well before the train leaves at 6:10 pm. Pandits are busy reading shlokas and the organisers bustle around, seeing to the arrangements.

Says Shafi Vohra, “The Hindu and Muslimmembers are now like a close-knit family.” Pradeep Patel and Ashok Upadhyay, both from Vadodara, say members of the group are always ready to help each other.

I B Pathan of Nadiad adds that besides holding poojas and iftaar parties in the compartments, the daily passengers also hold farewell parties for fellow travellers who are about to retire or are being transferred. One MST holder even dispatches his leave application with another.

The group also gets together during religious functions, marriages or deaths at a member’s place and helps organise the ceremonies.

And if that is not enough reason to stick together, there’s always the odd argument with `other’ passengers — where it helps to have someone on your side!