Thursday the 17th was a memorable day for all the wrong reasons. Had planned to leave Jaipur for Jodhpur (of riding trouser fame) at 11.50a.m, but after delay, and further delay finally left at 5.15 p.m.
Hence spent most of the day watching the timetable; wondering if we would ever get out of Jaipur.
The platforms were full all day; thousands of people both Hindus and Muslims alighting, and boarding trains to unknown destinations, AND amongst the masses lay a woman (possibly in her 40's) half naked on platform 2. I have never witnessed, and never wish to see again at close quatre the fly invested, skelatal lifeless body of a human being in the last stages of life being surrounded by so many people, but being so alone as her life ebbed away in 45 degrees centigrade.
Briefly, I went to a train managers office (no more than 10 metres away from the semi-corpse), and explained in no uncertain terms how I felt about the scene outside his door. Only when I explained that the lifeless woman could easily be his wife, or daughter did he finally manage to lift his 'butt' out of his chair for a quick glance on his platform. He then begrudgingly told me that he would telephone a colleague. Infact his exact words were ' It's not my duty', you can imagine what my response was!!!!!
Whether Hindu, Muslim, Christen or a complete non-believer; it is extremely hard to understand how so many people can witness such a horrific scene, and pass bye. In such a religious country I am truly shocked at our fellow man's behaviour. It makes you think very hard indeed!
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