Tag Archives: metro

Poem: The Other Side of Hometown … by Kamlesh Tripathi … published on 9/11/25 in The Goan Everyday newspaper.

November 17, 2025poem, POETRY, Uncategorizedflyovers, friends, kamlesh tripathi, malls, markets, metro, schoolmates, shravan charity mission, the other side of hometownshravancharitymission

Enjoy my poem. We all feel led down in our hometown at times, and this poem is an outcome of that.

Written and posted by Kamlesh Tripathi

Author, Poet, & Columnist

https://kamleshsujata.wordpress.com

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Shravan Charity Mission is an NGO that works for poor children suffering from life-threatening diseases, especially cancer. Our posts are meant for our readers, including children and adults, and have a huge variety of content. We also accept donations for our mission. Should you wish to donate to the cause of cancer? The bank details are given below:

NAME OF ACCOUNT: SHRAVAN CHARITY MISSION

Account no: 680510110004635 (BANK OF INDIA)

IFSC code: BKID0006805

***

POEM: THE OTHER SIDE OF HOMETOWN by Kamlesh Tripathi

October 6, 2025poem, POETRY, Uncategorizedcity, kamlesh tripathi, karma bhoomi, metro, playing fields, poem, poetry, schools, shravan charity mission, skyline, the other side of hometown, townshravancharitymission

You thought your hometown was your favourite town,
But the hometown had something else to convey,
Upon your return after decades.

Though the name of the town had remained the same,
Everything else in it had changed.

The spires and minarets were dwarfed by skyscrapers,
Schools had become colleges,
Shops had become malls,
Parks had become dump yards.

Barren fields had turned into housing societies,
Playing fields had turned into gated communities.
All around, the view was different,
Where the docile town had turned into a bustling city.

Early friends had become senior citizens,
Roads had become flyovers,
The skyline now had a metro,
Locations had a new look.

Eateries had new banners,
Markets had a new behaviour.

Childlike had metamorphosed into adultlike,
It was when I returned to the city after decades.

From a pleasant child’s face,
I had now become an unknown and grown-up face.
So, everywhere in the hometown,
I was required to introduce myself.

It was the same town you had left with hope,
That someday you would return as a familiar face.
But that was not to be,
For the hometown had its own fortune to make.

Though your name was in the air,
You had now become an unknown face.
Though you remembered the names of your friends,
Their faces, too, had changed.

It was now your karma-bhoomi versus your hometown,
One had given you identity,
The other had given you a career opportunity.
One had given you fond and affectionate memories,
The other had given you a professional name.

So was it a letdown?
To return to your hometown?
Yes, in some ways.
So don’t have blind faith,
Whether it is your hometown or your workplace,
For both have their own legacies to make.

“The biggest permanence of life is change.
Don’t expect your hometown to be the same as it was when you left it decades ago.
So return if you have to, but with a pinch of salt.”

***

Written and posted by Kamlesh Tripathi

Author, Poet, & Columnist

https://kamleshsujata.wordpress.com

Like it and Share it

Shravan Charity Mission is an NGO that works for poor children suffering from life-threatening diseases, especially cancer. Our posts are designed for our readers, including children and adults, and feature a diverse range of content. We also accept donations for our mission. Should you wish to contribute to the cause of cancer research? The bank details are given below:

NAME OF ACCOUNT: SHRAVAN CHARITY MISSION

Account no: 680510110004635 (BANK OF INDIA)

IFSC code: BKID0006805

***

Article: SHAMMING IN DELHI METRO- JUST FOR A SEAT

January 27, 2015columncheat, chhatarpur, crowded, delhi, Delhi metro, dhaula kuan, gurgaon, malviya nagar, metro, new delhi, office hours, rajiv chowk, rush, seat grabbing, senior citizens, youthshravancharitymission

Some men are crooks, but most women are holy angels. But nothing is sacrosanct as trends could be changing, especially in Delhi Metro, and that too just for a seat. For on a day when I was travelling from Rajiv-Chowk to Huda-City-Centre, Gurgaon in a crowded metro, I witnessed something quite demeaning.

I had just boarded the over-crowded metro from Rajiv Chowk when a lady appearing in her mid-thirties, more from the rural background came and stood next to the vestibule. Not very far from where I was standing, but very close to the two-seater generally reserved for senior citizens or the differently-abled, near the vestibule. She suddenly squatted on the floor, when people thought she was perhaps unwell. Mind you,Delhi metro otherwise doesn’t allow you to squat on the floor. And after a short while she started nudging the old man on the senior citizens seat, to vacate the seat for her, as she was not feeling well.

The frail looking senior citizen looked at her, somewhat dismayed. And in all sincerity and to help the young lady; he offered his seat by getting up. The lady without losing any time and even without a word of thanks or a grin or even a twitch on her face slipped into the seat by just sliding up like a snake from a squatting position as if she was not able to walk. I surely found this weird. All this happened just around Central Secretariat station. She then just closed her eyes to dose off. And this gave me a feeling as if I was watching some kind of a skit. The old man then moved to where she was squatting and rested himself against the side of the metro while standing.

In the jam-packed morning metro no one had the eagerness to notice anything like this as everyone was too busy thinking about the day ahead: thus planning for it; barring the old man who perhaps was troubled, and me who just by chance happened to witness the proceedings happening in very close proximity.

By now the metro had come out of the underground, and had moved ahead, towards Qutub Minar station, as if to welcome the morning sun in the freezing winters of Delhi. Just then I churned myself a bit, more to comfort myself, as I was brutally sandwiched between passengers, is when I had an eye contact with the old man who seemed quite uncomfortable. But then I thought, being uncomfortable is definitely a lower priority than being unwell. And the woman was still resting, with her eyes closed.

On seeing her, I too decided to shut my eyes for a couple of minutes while standing. Thinking it will give some comfort and will make me feel fresh. Just then the metro announced ‘Chattarpur station’ and started slowing down. With the announcement the lady opened her eyes, she was now wiping her face with her hanky trying to look fresh and even applied some perfume out of a miniature. She then gathered her shawl and coolly started inching towards the exit door by nudging men to make way for her. And by then the metro had stopped at Chhatarpur station. Where, she got off and started running ahead of men, to catch the lift. No one could have said she was unwell. I glanced at the old man, only to realise he was where he was. I then looked at the seat vacated by the lady. It was occupied, but this time, it was an old lady–thankfully a senior citizen.

And, all is not fair in love and war. For, once when I was returning from Huda City centre, Gurgaon to Rajiv Chowk. I was again standing near the vestibule, where, the two senior citizens seat were occupied by two girls, perhaps college going. One out of them appeared to be all by herself and apparently from North-East. The other appeared to be a local with her boy friend; and while she was seated, her boy friend was standing right in front of her, in quite a lovey-dovey mood early in the evening; surely not gelling well with the ambience around.

At MG Road, an elderly looking senior citizen couple got in and walked towards these girls–rightfully for the seat. While the girl from North-East coolly got up and gave the seat to the elderly lady; the boy friend of the other girl told the elderly gentleman ‘she is not well so she won’t get up.’ The poor old man had little choice but to keep standing.

But the boy friend’s lie was more than evident when every now and then, and under some pretext or the other he was groping his girlfriend. Trying to hold her around the shoulders, fondling her lips or even caressing her hair, and the two were making the ambience look sick.

After about twenty minutes they both got off at INA market and disappeared holding hand in hand. That clearly showed she wasn’t sick. The empty seat this time was immediately occupied by another young lady but without a boyfriend; even before the senior lady who was already occupying the seat could pull her senior partner to occupy the vacated seat. So he remained standing again.

And this is what came to my mind. Some men are crooks, but are most ladies angels? Or is it that some men make some ladies crook? Or ladies now want to compete with men in crookedness? That apart, but what is more saddening is, just to grab a seat and that too for a while one can fraudulently declare herself sick and go the extent of snatching the right of a senior citizen. So are most women Angels? Can I say no?

Glamour, showbiz, One-upmanship- the veiled face of Facebook

January 8, 2015articlebengaluru, delhi, executives, Facebook, girls, glamour, hyderabad, metro, mumbai, networking, professionals, showbiz, showoff, social media, social networking, students, tvchannels, twittershravancharitymission

Kamlesh Tripathi

‘A steadfast and voracious facebooker’ – is what I called him, till I met this old friend of mine Harish, recently in Mumbai, is when I came to know he’s gone off Facebook. I swallowed what he told me with a pinch of salt as it sounded quite incredible. Did he? I reminisced. And asked why? He replied.

‘Because you brag without being asked to. For how does it matter where you’ve been for a holiday, which car you drive, in what kind of a house you stay, how well connected you are both professionally and socially. How many jobs you’ve changed, how exquisite your new office looks, how you look in that dress, how many promotions you’ve got, your career path or even your designation. Or how grand was your birthday party, how well groomed and aristocratic you look while standing in that plush lounge of Mumbai or John F Kennedy airport or in that swanky lobby of a five star; and the number of flights you may have undertaken last week to show how busy you are, or how big and pedigreed is your dog or for that matter the brand, colour and size of your underpants?’ As all of this is fairly bugging.

‘But then what is so wrong about bragging? One can only brag, if one is accomplished and has possessions and achievements to show around.’ I enumerated.

‘Definitely, but not by making a public announcements. It’s like inviting everyone to snoop into your worthy life. I value the privacy of my achievements and possessions and would like to limit it to my family, relatives and some close friends. But in the Facebook, I find most talk only about their newly acquired possessions and achievements of life, and that to just for some digital ‘likes’ and appreciative comments.

CULT OF FACEBOOK

Point made by Harish had rattled me for a moment, as there was a point in his point. Is Facebook taking us away from our vedic and ancient culture of sadgi (simplicity). And will Bapu, the strong supporter of non-violence and sadgi like and approve of this. I thought for an instant, as all websites have a domain culture; where members of Facebook appear to be drifting away from simplicity. Facebook, allows anyone above the age of 13 to open an account, and after registering the users can create a user profile, post status updates, pictures, share videos and receive notifications when others update their profiles. Also, users may join common-interest user groups, organized by workplace, school or college, or other characteristics and categories such as people from work or close friends. So the intent is very noble, exciting, knowledge building, innovative with perks of a global reach. But, I guess the gravity is moving towards mere showoff and showbiz. And, it is about time the members come up with something more mentally nourishing where Facebook can chart the way. Remember what our ancestors always said, ‘don’t brag and showoff- nazar lagti hai

IS BRAGGING … GRADUATING TO A REIGNING CULTURE IN FACEBOOK?

Yes as most notifications in Facebook, are about self aggrandizement and digital announcements of achievement and accomplishments. Perhaps the longing vent of modern day etiquette better understood in otherwise traditionally starved India; and that insinuates about Facebook’s gravitational pull towards newfound consumerism of India. I guess it is now a war of between two cultures; the ancient aging culture of India that teaches you sadgi versus the materialistic web-culture mobilized via Facebook. Sure enough the soft world is taking on the hard world and maybe reason enough for China to ban Facebook?

A converse point of view also describes the young emerging India through Facebook that brings along day to day transparency by digitally describing even minor activities through notifications, pictures and videos which at times might even put your spouse in trouble for those occasional furloughs. And, last but not the least.

Harish needs to get back to Facebook. But no one shall tell him when, as he will figure out for himself, the smart bloke he is. I know him well enough and he is not the sort to give up something so easily- and that too his first love, Facebook. For I know he will still login at broader intervals to see how the war of cultures is brewing and the day he feels the tangy slant of cultures has lessened he will write again, what’s in his mind. To once again bring cheer, laughter, knowledge, information and accomplishments to others and that too in abundance.

#DAUGHTER-IN-LAW IS YOUR #DAUGHTER TOO

October 3, 2014article, short storyairport, cancer, coffee, corporate, daughter, daughter-in-law, delhi, flight, friendship, metro, mumbai, personal account, snacks, teashravancharitymission

I was once taking an evening flight from Mumbai to Delhi. At the airport I met Vikram, an old friend and colleague of mine. We were in college together and thereafter joined the same company as Management Trainees. But after working for a couple of years we parted ways in pursuit of a better future. Yet our friendship continued with all its warmth, incommunicado. It was an exciting moment to have met him after an aeon. When the electronic charts and flight announcements conveyed, that flights were delayed due to inclement weather, and that gave us some time to catch-up, as much had flown under since we had met last.

We took to a cozy two-seater overlooking the tarmac, at the airport restaurant as half an hour is what we thought we had before the flight would be announced. There was positive inquisition and friendly eagerness building in both of us to know what all that had gone by. Coffee and hot snacks were now on the table and the ambience more than conducive for a tete-a-tete.

I decided, in the interest of time, to come to the point straight away by asking Vikram about his corporate journey over the last thirty years or so. Also about his wife and kids. And, I wasn’t surprised as he was quick to respond.

‘Arrey Yaar, over the years I changed five jobs and each time for betterment. I also went around several cities while serving in these companies but now I am stationed at Hyderabad as a General Manager with a finance company. He simultaneously handed over his crisp visiting card.’ I commended his achievements.

‘And how is your family?’ I enquired softly, as I munched a mouthful and sipped some hot coffee that made me feel better in that freezing ambience.

‘Well my wife is a qualified doctor and she works for a renowned hospital in Hyderabad. I have two kids, a son and a daughter. My son is married. He is now in the US with my daughter-in-law. And my daughter is in her last year of her engineering. But how about you; don’t be so quiet.’ He asked in a chirpy tone. I took another fill of snacks and a gulp of coffee and said,

‘Oh boy, it’s wonderful to know you have done so well both professionally and personally in life. Now let me tell you about myself. After you left I continued in the same Company for a couple of years till I got a decent break. Thereon, I too didn’t look back. The amazing part was the amount of exposure I got in terms of knowledge, skill building, places of posting and the foreign travel was fantastic. And I enjoyed every bit of it. Today, I am with a retail company as a Vice President, posted in Delhi.

‘How many jobs did you change to reach the level of a Vice President?’

‘I think … four.’ In spontaneity.

‘And, what about your family, I mean your wife and kids?’

‘Well my wife is a professor; she teaches English.’

‘And how many kids and what do they do?’ He, like, reiterated his question, drawing my urgent attention. Just then we saw in the electronic chart; boarding was announced for the Delhi flight. I gestured at the waiter for the bill.

‘So what are your children doing?’ He asked again, but this time the tempo was low. Perhaps, he thought I didn’t want to answer, when I decided to reply.

‘I have two children.’

‘Oh wow that’s great and I’m sure by now they must have grown up. In college or in some profession?’ he asked in genuine excitement.

‘Oh yes. Both are qualified and working in London.’

‘So how often do you go to London? It’s a beautiful place. I like it better than your Delhi. I’ve been there thrice on business.’

By now the waiter had got the bill. I offered to pay. Vikram, interjected,

‘No way, I’ll pay. Since, my flight is not announced. I’ll sit here for some more time. So you carry on. But before you leave, quickly tell me more about your kids. I’m sure even my wife would love to know. Let’s be in touch hereafter.’ He said in a pleasant tone. I decided to quickly tell him about my kids before leaving.

‘Boss I have two kids. Both are in London, and both are doctors, doing well. They passed their MBBS from Delhi and decided to leave for higher studies. Once there, they decided to settle there.’

‘But then you and your wife must be alone in Delhi, and don’t you miss them?.’

‘That’s true, but then, that’s also life, so you can’t just crib about it.’

‘So, you have two sons?’ enquired Vikram, trying to refresh old memories.

‘No.’

‘Oh-oh, but I vaguely remember someone telling me you have two sons.’

‘No I have a son and a daughter.’ And, just then my flight was announced on the PA, when I started looking for my belongings to leave. But Vikram continued.

‘Are they married?’

‘Yes.’ I replied.

‘And what is your daughter-in-law and son-in-law doing? Are they also doctors?’

I hesitantly collected my bag, my mobile and gingerly came around as I got up.

‘Vikram I have two kids. One is my son and the other is his wife. You were right when you said I had two sons but then we lost the younger one to ‘brain cancer’ after which our world had crashed. One day when our elder son was getting married, his fiancée came up to us and said,

‘Dad now on I am your daughter and not “daughter-in-law” and you have two kids to take care of. And that one sentence changed our world. Indeed your daughter-in-law is your daughter too, and we realised this after having lost our younger child.

On hearing this Vikram froze for a moment. He got up from his chair and hugged me. And after a few moments I was slowly walking up to my flight.

*****
By Kamlesh Tripathi
(It is a personal account- written to honour 26th September- daughter-in-law’s day)
About myself: Senior Corporate Citizen, freelance writer, author and social activist working for ‘POOR CHILDREN SUFFERING FROM CANCER.’
Mob: 99714947945
Email: kamleshsujata@yahoo.com

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