Fourth seat

While traveling on a Mumbai local, I sat on the only seat available : The most infamous-fourth seat. The fourth seat doesn't actually exist. It is the creation of of the imagination of the tired, frequent flyers of the Mumbai local. Where placing a single toe comfortably seems luxury...and hanging on the footboard (clutching the train roof) is acceptable, fourth seat is a revered location.

After a push and visible anger displayed by neighboring aunty, I remembered a story told by a teacher, Kishore sir. He was narrating the advice given to him by father or some elder. The occasion was his relocation to Bombay. The person said : Be careful in Bombay son. Here even if someone gets a third seat on the local train after hours of wait, he still wouldn't understand the condition of a fourth seat neighbour.

Alas! This observation is true. Not just of local trains or of Bombay but of life itself. Every one starts from the base. And may have faced severe struggle there. But as soon they reach a better situation, the trials are forgotten. A weird sense of sole-ownership of the then status prevails. As if one was always this well-off and one will never face trials again. Vicious behavior towards those dependant on him. Downright antagonism at times. This is accepted, even encouraged. The high chair minus humility, is a really ugly sight.

Just like when travelling on the local, sometimes after standing for hours when some person finally sits, he still wouldn't shift even in the slightest to make his neighbor comfortable. The seat becomes his property. To hold, protect from encroachment and bequeath. Just like so many other material thing's, which we place above other human beings. Sometimes even people very close to us.

All of us have sometime or the other experienced the deep-seated desire for something: a phone, a chocolate, a car, a brand of nail-paint. Pause and notice. More often then not, as soon as we achieve the 'thing'. We start lusting something new. Adults do behave like children in wanting a new toy but playing with it only for a few hours. It's really not worth hurting someone for a desire so temporary.

Truth is and we all know this : seats, wealth, cars, looks may last, or they may not. But the benevolence we cultivate lasts. You've truly evolved as a person when you value a smile, another persons comfort above mundane material things. This is needed.

When Congress decided to participate in legislatures held under auspices of British government, Mahatma Gandhi had one advice : Hold these offices lightly, not tightly.

This applies to all that we achieve in life. Let our achievements never be bigger than our humane sensitivity towards those who look up to us.

I for one, always try to make as much room as possible on the train.
:-)