Even as Bangalore basks in the glory of the Metro, for the many construction workers who gave Bangalore the Metro, this Deepavali is just like any other.
Namma Metro is Bangalore’s gift this Deepavali, making the festival extra special. Even as Bangalore basks in the glory of the Metro, for the many construction workers who gave Bangalore the Metro, this Deepavali is just like any other.
Many of these workers are from Madhya Pradesh, Uttar Pradesh and Bihar. Majority of them cannot even go home to visit their families and have to make do with phone calls. Others are busy pulling apart what have been their houses for three years as they shift to other Metro sites that are under construction.
Nazim Sheikh is a painter. One of the few who remain after the completion of Metro works, Nazim has not even taken a ride on the Metro yet. “I haven’t had the time,” he said. “I’m here for Deepavali anyway and so I have time to take the ride.”
Although he cannot go home in Maharashtra to celebrate the festival, Nazim said he would celebrate it with a friend who is coming to try the Metro at Bangalore.
“Since it is Deepavali and the Metro here is new, my friend is coming down to celebrate this Deepavali with me. We will try the Metro together,” he said. Shiva, a construction worker, is busy preparing chapatis, as he sits in his ‘sheet’ home. Even as he rolls chapatis, he cannot stop smiling. On being asked why was he so happy, he smiles a bit more and replies, “I am going home after almost two years. I am happy. I missed my family,” he said.
Although the journey is long and he will reach his home only towards the end of the festival, he does not mind. “The real celebration will be when we are all together,” he said.
Manjunath and Sharanamma, too, weren’t able to hide their happiness. They have been living in Bangalore away from their three children, who live in Raichur, for three years. “The only time we get to see them is when they come for holidays,” said Sharanamma. Although the two younger children arrived a few days ago, the family has not begun the celebrations yet.
“We were waiting for Channabasava, our eldest one, to come too. He arrived this morning and we will begin our celebrations today,” she said. To complete their Deepavali celebrations, the six (along with their grandfather) plan to take a Metro ride together.
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