By: A Proud Indian
17 May 2020: It was my ‘Day Number 57’ in Delhi at my dear friend’s place. My workplace being in Agartala, I was one amongst the millions ‘Lockdown Struck’ Indian who was stuck in Delhi awaiting some transportation that carried me back to may workplace. With the decision by the Government that flights resumption wasn’t to start in foreseeable future, came my resolve that I needed to start back for Agartala on my own.
This idea had regularly struck my mind during last fortnight (Lockdown 3.0); but what prevented me driving my way back was the image of our country that one had built over days of following media’s another kind of pandemic – that there being chaos on roads, migrant workers are turning violent in the absence of any support to them from anywhere; that because of this arson and loot are taking place everywhere etcetera. The fact that I needed to travel with my wife and twin teenage daughters across Uttar Pradesh, Bihar and West Bengal, which was the Naxal belt, made my decision a favourite object of criticism by my wellwishers.
Nonetheless on the evening of 17 May 20, the positive desperation of heading back to my home town overpowered my long carried apprehensiveness and I packed my bag for this adventurous journey back home.
On morning of 18 May, my dear friend who had been my host for the last two months, dropped me at Agra in his SUV. In Agra I took a Maruti Swift, that belonged to an employee of my company. The car was incidentally stuck with the car transporter who was supposed to tranship it to Agartala but was unable to do so for the last two months under the conditions that prevailed.
My journey from Agra started and I travelled across Uttar Pradesh, Bihar, West Bengal, Assam, Meghalaya and Tripura to finally reach Agartala, covering 2400 kms over three nights and four days.
My experience was vivid and revealing on many accounts. I came across hundreds of care-centers across, UP and Bihar meant for the migrating labourers set up by social organisations (including RSS), political parties, local leaders and NGOs. Then there were hordes of volunteers distributing water and eatables to those traveling and were needy out of their car boot!! .. all this while it rained or was avoidably hot and humid.
Over last few days, I smoothly crossed across seven state borders. This statistically meant traveling across 25% of all Indian States. I witnessed the sheer professionalism and dedication of Government of Assam and Tripura by the manner they were handling the incoming population and transients. Everyone I found was courteous and respectful. I finally reached my destination yesterday feeling prouder as an Indian, deeply impressed with our response mechanisms and state of affairs during this pandemic.
The lessons that I learnt over my three nights, four days Road Journey were few, nonetheless need to be shared with our countrymen:-
- There is an urgent need to have some positive news reporting, and avoid making migrant workers as villians. Even in face of such distressing conditions, I found helpful hands and smiling faces. With every single bad report of something gone wrong somewhere, there are hundreds of things going right. They need to be reported for the population to draw correct picture of country and take positive decisions.
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Don’t draw conclusions watching news stories or some videos over social media. Law and Order on road isn’t bad.
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Police across states is geared up and selflessly rendering duty and enforcing population control measures.
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Road condition in India has improved over years. With or without traffic, maintaining an average of 65-70 kilometers per hour across all these states wasn’t possible otherwise. Road trip is a beautiful way to go in such scenarios, considering the necessity of observing the social distancing norms.
That’s all ! May we all beat the virus with positive thoughts and brave response.