Is the commuter rage in Thane over the disruption of rail services an indication of the dystopian society that we inhabit? The near marginalisation of the middle and working classes, long distance commutes in near sub-human conditions, rising stress levels and lopsided development where infrastructure fails to match rising population have led to the region becoming a simmering pot threatening to blow up at the slightest provocation.
For a city which attained its pre-eminence as urbs prima in Indis (India’s premium city) due to the railways, a natural port, textile mills and an engineering industry, its gradual downfall is best seen through the super dense crush load in its railways which see 16 people jostle for a square metre of space in a local train. Development of textile mill and engineering industry lands have also changed commuting patterns.
Travails of 75 lakh rail and 40 lakh public road transport users in Dickensian Mumbai have led to employers and even the state government changing work schedules. From January 1, the employees in the administrative headquarters of Mantralaya will be able to avoid rush hour by coming to work an hour late but working an extra hour.
Exponential real-estate development in Mumbai’s extended suburbs has led to the working and middle classes, (the victims of the politician, babus and developer nexus), commuting for hours to work. The resultant stress, physical exertion and pressures of a fast-paced life have led to them going on a hair trigger, lashing out at others at an individual level or against a system at a mass level, as demonstrated during Friday’s violence.
“This gradually affects society,” pointed out PG Jogdand, dean, faculty of arts and head of the department of sociology, MU, pointing out that life on a treadmill has led to the blunting of finer sentiments, selfishness, collapsing interpersonal relationships, rise in individualism and decline in social bonding, and a propensity to violate rules.
He noted that pressures of commuting often forced people to act, without regard to needs of the aged, women, children and disabled and give vent to their personal tensions. “People are not willing to sacrifice and fight for others, they want to protect personal interests and those of their families. A sense of belonging is almost over,” said Jogdand.
“Pressures of urbanisation translate into mental health problems,” said Dr Sanjay Kumavat, former deputy director (mental health), government of maharashtra, pointing to the need to focus on anger management to manage violent reactions. He added that instigation of even a single authoritarian man could trigger violence. “Patience and tolerance reduces because of fast-paced lives while frustrations rise,” noted Kumavat.
Shaileshkumar Darokar, associate professor, Centre for Study of Social Exclusion and Inclusive Policies, TISS said, “This is a case of over urbanisation. We are victims of lopsided development.”
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