Why Air Travel sucks and Trains are awesome

Credits: Destination360.com

This Post is purely in the context of Transportation in India
Disclosure: I've traveled more on trains than by Air.
I had an opportunity last month to travel to North India for the first time in my life.  The experience was overwhelming for me.  But one thing that I am completely convinced of is that Air Travel is for those who want to travel from point A to B in the fastest time possible, no questions asked. Travelling by train is for those who want to enjoy  their journey, and see distinctive landscapes throughout. Air Travel at first was a luxury and a rare extravagance you can afford. Every single thing was  new and unique. Now for me ( who has been on a grand total of six  flights),  the process of travelling on a flight is so formal- you have to undergo a million safety checks, and then you have to "pay attention" to the flight attendant going through the same robotic motions and the announcement system blabbering about safety, which you've heard a million times, and can probably recollect by-heart.
Compare that to a train journey-you can walk into the station with no hassles, and the tea stall doesn't charge ₹100 for a cup of hot tea and two vadas. After you get on the train, you don't have to negotiate with your co-passenger for shoulder and leg-space. The view from the window side of a plane are the same monotonous clouds and the lights on the horizon- compare that to the view in a train, where you can feel the wind swish against your face, and the rain drizzle on you.
The food served on the flights can at best be described as bland, while hot biriyanis are easily available on a train.
The sounds on the train are unerringly pleasant and homely, whether it be the chaiwallah or the "tchjk-tchjk" sound that constantly drowns out every other unpleasant thing. The only sounds you hear on an aircraft is the constantly nagging voice of the flight crew telling you to switch your phone off.
And last but not least, you get to use your phone and laptop whenever you want, and you don't have to prepare for every stop your train is going to make. Trains may be slower, but they are undoubtedly more endearing to the heart.

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Special Credits to Pranav for editing.  

Fireworks, the (Hindu) religion and the Governement

The unfortunate event in Kollam has resulted in many calling for complete ban on fireworks in the state. Right from the Manufacturing of Fireworks, to their rather unregulated storage and use, fireworks has resulted in the death and injury to many. I remember an incident in Kannur a few weeks ago, when a 12 year child was severely injured and a whole house collapsed due to a stash of fireworks.[1] One can stretch his memory to such incidents to as far back as to the incident in Sabrimala in 1952. An incident of this magnitude, of course, has not happened.

Kerala has been prone to such disasters, with some 40- odd incidents happening in the last 50 years.

The fireworks that were stored in this temple was apparently for a fireworks competition. (Read more on this here.)

Credits: AFP

Shashi Tharoor listed out his three concerns after this incident-Firstly, regarding “religion as a public spectacle”, secondly, “laxity of procedure and respect for law” and lastly, “politicization of the tragedy”.  I agree with him on the second point- the utter disregard for the law has been shocking. I do not want to comment more without the full details.[2]

In his first point,  Mr.Tharoor wrote about Hinduism was about one’s personal relationship with God. I agree with Mr. Tharoor- I believe my religion to be my personal relationship with God. But I do not seek to enforce this view on others. Mr. Tharoor goes onto talk about how if “It is really necessary” for us to celebrate festivals with dazzling displays. He moves onto remark that Hinduism is a “sorry pass” if “If temples feel they have to dazzle the faithful by fireworks to retain their belief in God”. I Believe that Temple festivals are not only festivals to celebrate God’s power and Victory, or whatever reason there is, in name, to celebrate a Festival, but these are also events where the community gets together, and celebrates. A temple festival is not purely one intended for religious purposes. He does not stop there. He states: “Sati, after all, was also sanctified by tradition once: would our democratic politics have allowed for its abolition?” I do not know if it would have been, but surely, Fireworks in temples are not a social ill and disgrace like sati.[3]

Thirdly, about politicization:  I believe the tragedy went rather un-politicized, at least in a national scale. The effect of disaster tourism is rather undocumented, and you could rely ion anecdotal evidence to how a visiting politician diverted attention away from the injured, but is it wrong of the Prime Minister to visit the site? I do not believe so. The relations between the Union Government and State Government have been remarkably cordial. Those adopting an adversarial stance to this can argue this was a PR stunt. Anyway, not much politics have figured in this issue. Mr. Tharoor also states that RSS workers have blamed the Congress Government for the disasters. A Google search yielded nothing but a blog post on how the RSS & Congress have been complicit in this issue.[4] I am making no mention of the attempt to politicize the issue by the CPI(M), but only from the viewpoint of national politics.

Fireworks have been part and parcel of temple festivals. I believe with proper regulation and supervision, Fireworks in temple festivals are acceptable.

Vishu has always been celebrated with crackers and beautiful displays. This is one thing as a child you look forward to. (Of Course, money is the coolest thing.) This is has been tradition for decades, if not centuries. The Thrissur Pooram, which was devised by the legendary Shakthan Thampuran, has been celebrated since 1790 with a wondrous display of fireworks.

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The Government’s commitment to its people is according to me, to protect the society at large-  is banning fireworks the  most effective way to ensure the protection of society? I am in no ways denying that fireworks are dangerous. But was it not the executive’s failure to regulate fireworks at blame here?

One can only hope that the Laws with regards to explosives are better enforced in Kerala. Till then, we should ourselves, handle them with care and caution.

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[1] http://english.mathrubhumi.com/news/kerala/blast-at-building-in-kannur-house-owner-taken-into-custody-english-news-1.952076

[2] http://www.ndtv.com/opinion/kollam-temple-fire-3-lessons-indian-society-must-learn-1386389 ; http://indianexpress.com/article/india/india-news-india/kerala-temple-fire-kollam-temple-fire-temple-counted-on-election-politics-for-ok-kollam-officials-bullied-with-communal-slur/

[3] C’mon man, really? Sati?

[4] http://blogs.rediff.com/mkbhadrakumar/2016/04/12/congress-rss-tough-love-in-kerala-takes-a-heavy-toll/

First posted here.

Further reading

CM Says PM Modi's visit a relief

http://www.firstpost.com/india/kollam-temple-fire-tragedy-in-kerala-highlights-helplessness-of-a-weak-state-to-enforce-its-own-laws-2722310.html

Some further comments: looking through the statics of disasters caused by explosives,  one  could feel that there is a "Fireworks"  culture in Kerala.  Much like the "Gun culture" in America,  it has a huge fan following,  apparently.  But  unlike America,  the fireworks culture results in deaths by accident only,  and they too are limited.
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On Sri.Tharoor's question on whether fireworks are necessary: If we think about it,  is it necessary to follow any tradition?
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The last article referenced is regarding how local authorities have been helpless to enforce laws.  My sincere hope is that the Government takes cognizance of this broken system.
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On the environmental impact of fireworks: I did not include this originally because none of the mainstream media coverage talked about it. Air pollution by fireworks are generally a non-issue and a temporary pollutant. the issue is so under the bar that there is no single reference to pollution caused by it on Wikipedia, the Internets source of all information. (funnily enough, the page has a link to 'Tire Fire') But here are two article's advocating it's ban, but that will be stupid.Article 1; Article 2) We have more reasonable actions to take; for example, why not raise Motor vehicle emission standards right now?