In
this beautiful World, often you feel people are not sane ! – the mobile phones
have added to the chaos, with people speaking, walking, talking, and doing
everything else, but not caring about the road traffic. Similar is the scene in Railway stations too
– and why would people risk their lives so ? – no answer !! – with smart phone
cameras, another got added – the “Selfie” !! – primarily it is an expression of human desire,
that of feeling noticed, appreciated and recognized in society. It is at arm’s length - slant your head, push
your hand, keep it raised, face the camera of the phone, click – far easier
than those days when the phone had no front camera.
Suddenly
there was buzz – the basic human desire, selfie was considered mental
disorder. It spread like wildfire through social media,
instantly becoming a Facebook and
Twitter phenomenon stating that the American Psychiatric Association (APA) had
officially classified taking ‘Selfies’ as a mental disorder. In fact, the
announcement also stated that the APA also claimed to name the disorder
‘Selfitis.’ Eventually it was only a
spoof !
Oxford
officially named ‘Selfie’ the word of the year in 2013. In recent times, there occurred everything –
some even lost their lives trying for the best selfie to post. One woman took selfie fully aware of a suicide drama underway on the Brooklyn bridge ~ the bridge
may be a perfectly logical extension of modern tourism's obsession with the
selfie –
but not when somebody is attempting to end his life and one takes a
photo to capture for her posterity. ….
Crazy !!!
Moving
away to faster lane, to another interesting topic – Indian Railways. I have
travelled by train to New Delhi by GT Express, Tamilnadu Express [2 nights and
one whole day] and by Rajdhani Express. Rajdhani
Express is a series of express passenger train services connecting New Delhi with
other State capitals. The Rajdhanis are among
the fastest trains in India. Surprised to read that Rajdhani Express was
introduced in 1969 ! New Delhi station
for Howrah station to cover a distance of 1,445 km in 17 hours 20 mins. Rajdhanis are fully air-conditioned; complimentary meals get served. These trains have fewer stops than other
express trains and halt only at prominent stations. The Chennai Rajdhani Express (12433/34) was introduced in 1993 and runs twice a week from
Delhi and twice from Chennai. It covers a distance of 2176 kilometers in 28
hours 10 minutes as compared to 33 hours covered by Tamil Nadu Express and 35
hours taken by Grand Trunk Express.
The
latest news is - Maharaja will soon come to help wait-listed passengers of
Rajdhani trains as such travellers will be provided with the option of taking
an Air India flight to their destination by paying marginally extra. Air India
and IRCTC have entered into a pact for
the proposed arrangement which is expected to be in place "within a
week", the carrier's chief Ashwani Lohani told news agency PTI. Under the
proposed arrangement, people who have unconfirmed tickets across classes on
Rajdhani trains would have the choice of boarding an Air India flight, provided
the airline has services in the particular train route chosen by the passenger. Air India tickets would be offered to such
passengers through IRCTC; the wait-listed passengers of AC First Class of
Rajdhani trains would not have to pay any additional amount in case they decide
to take an Air India flight. In the case of those booked on Rajdhani Second and
Third AC classes, the passengers would have to pay up to Rs. 2,000 per ticket
as additional amount for flying Air India, it is stated.
-
… .. and to
conclude the arrest – first ‘selfie’ arrest of Uttar Pradesh. MailOnline reports on what could be the
first ‘selfie’ arrest in Uttar Pradesh, three young men detained for halting
the Rajdhani Express to take selfies.
The
incident took place in the Firozabad district neighbouring Arga on Wednesday,
when the teenagers aged between 13 and 16 blocked the railway track at the
Tundla - Etmadpur over bridge. The youths reportedly used stones, bricks and tree
branches to block the track in order to take a selfie with the Rajdhani Express. Their motive for the blockage was to take
selfies with the Rajdhani Express. Soon after they blocked the track in the
afternoon, the Patna–New Delhi Rajdhani Express arrived. When the loco pilot
noticed the obstruction, he applied the emergency brake.
“The
pilot informed the RPF personnel who were escorting the train and the youths
were arrested. We recovered a digital camera and smartphones from their
possession,” RPF commander said. “We
also found dozens of pictures (selfies) of the youths with trains in the
background from the camera and mobile phones,” he added. The youths gave a
shocking explanation for their dangerous act. During interrogation, they
reportedly told that they had clicked pictures with many trains, including
passenger and good trains, but as Rajdhani runs on a high speed, they were not
successful in clicking selfies even after repeated attempts for the past few
days!”
The
youths were produced in the juvenile court of Mathura district later on
Thursday and were released on bail with a stern warning. According to RPF
officials, the teenagers were booked under Section 154 (endangering safety of
persons travelling by rail by rash or negligent act or omission) of the Railway
Protection Act. Just as you utter that it is mindless
insanity, mind recalls that (in)famous
selfie at a funeral service – not that of ordinary people. Denmark's Prime Minister Helle Thorning
Schmidt appeared to hold out her smartphone for a three-at way selfie at a
service honoring Nelson Mandela in Johannesburg. Obama, who sat to her left,
and British Prime Minister David Cameron, who sat to her right, leaned in close
for the snap.
I cannot say – Selfie is expression of
sick mind – for me too had bit the bullet – what about you….
With
regards – S. Sampathkumar
27th
May 2016
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