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htcity MY CITY
ME AND MY CITY THROUGH THE LENS
SEE
Caught unawares A myna captured on lens holding on its her perch, atop a Gulmohar tree in the Capital. PHOTO: KAMAL KISHORE /PTI
DIL SE Dear, I deeply respect ur feelings n decision, but pls nvr say my msgs were fake. U shd nvr demean some bdy’s inner feelings which is sacred n pure. —Ur past Rohit, At night I’ll love you. In the morning, I’ll still love you, a splendid day is what I wish you. From the bottom of my heart this is what I pray for you. Please come soon —Shweta Dear, How do I prove that I love u to the world u may be someone but to someone you r the world u mean
everything to me plz talk to me. —Only yours Hey Smita, Intzar Rehta Hai Har Shaam Tera,Din Kat Raha Hai Le Le ke Naam Tera,Muddat se Baitha Hun Ye Aas Pale,Shayad Ab Aa Jaye koi Paigam Tera, Plz yrrr talk to me.I miss you Smita. —Ravish Dear Bhavz, I know the recent things that happened were really hard for both of us. Things will be fine soon, don’t worry about it. I love you. Shutti
EVENTS
ADVENTURE
BEYOND GENDER BARRIERS
Gurgaon Rapid Metro’s young female train operators narrate nuances of their ordinary yet extraordinary profession
EH AFAQUE/HT
PHOTOS: ZABE
‘It has been an emotional journey’ ‘Acha, ladki chala rahi hai!’ Naina Arora
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or 25-year-old Priya Sachan, a train operator with Rapid Metro Gurgaon, her job is like any other job, which requires her dedication, focus and confidence. “It’s been five years now,” says Sachan, who is from Kanpur and joined Delhi Metro as a trainee in
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CULTURE
CAMPUS
HINDUSTAN TIMES, NEW DELHI WEDNESDAY, JULY 12, 2017
My family said it was up to me to either do masters or take up a job. I chose a field that was new and different, and my parents feel proud because of the [kind of] attention I get PRIYA SACHAN, TRAIN OPERATOR
2012. “I never planned it but the entire experience has been an emotional journey. It’s very difficult, you need to concentrate continuously for more than six hours. It has taught me to be patient, and has made me mentally strong. We are working for a very crucial public system and safety is of utmost importance here,” says Sanchan, an alumna of Delhi University’s Rajdhani College. “My family is quite cool. They said it was up to me to either do masters or take up a job. I chose a field that was new and different, and my parents feel proud because of the [kind of] attention I get,” says Sachan adding, “It has always been education-first in my family.” She says she had to clear a few exams and medical tests before. “We attained technical skills and were given first-aid training along with fire and safety trainings. I was also trained in simulators, signalling systems.” She also shares that due to her shift timings (7am to 3pm), she is able to pursue her passion for dance.
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k train operator ko train operate karni hai toh apni responsibility pe karni hoti hai,” says Gayatri Singh, who joined Rapid Metro a year back. Following her campus selection at DN Polytechnic, Meerut, she took six month training to become a train operator. Back home in Meerut, her choice of profession surprised many. She says, “My extended family was happy with my choice as they always wanted me to become a successful, independent woman. Today, it feels wonderful when I take my parents for a metro ride, whenever they visit me.” Ask about the reactions she gets from the commuters, and the 22-year-old says, “Acha, ladki chala rahi hai! (Oh, it’s a woman driving). This is a very common reaction that I get from passengers.” There are many incidents that have stayed with her. “Once a group of friends took turns to crosscheck if I was the one driving the train. It was as if they couldn’t believe their eyes... Hum apni job kar rahe hai, ladke bhi toh drive karte
hai (We are just doing our job. Men drive too). It will take time to change perceptions.” So, what keeps her going? “Safety and coordination is immensely important in my job,” adds Gayatri. naina.arora@ hindustantimes. com n
My extended family was happy with my choice of profession. It feels wonderful when I take my parents for a metro ride, when they visit me GAYATRI SINGH, TRAIN OPERATOR
A mini-museum of Bollywood posters
A store in Hauz Khas Village has kept the essence of Bollywood’s bygone era intact through vintage posters, vinyl records and photographs — some of which belong to 1930s and 1940s
Nikita Ghai
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or many a Delhiites, Hauz Kaus Village is the go-to place for socialising and clubbing. But not many would know that here lies a treasure trove of good old Bollywood film posters, vinyl records and everything that still holds charm of the bygone era — a visual arts shop called All Arts. The place can entice any passer-by with its recherché handpainted posters of Bollywood blockbusters. The store also has catered to popular faces such as Bollywood actor Vidya Balan. “She has been to the store once and bought a tray,” informs Deepak Jain, who has been running this minimuseum of Bollywood posters since 2005 out of sheer obstinacy, despite getting only a handful of regular customers. “The younger generation doesn’t have a sense of buying or keeping these posters and vinyls. Rather, they buy for those who have witnessed the era,” says Jain. While scrupulously showing the numerous music records of films, Jain informs he also has memorabilia dating back to the ’40s and ’50s. He says, “Most of the posters have been lost.” He feels those who care for these posters, especially from the younger generation should make an effort to revive the interest. Otherwise, these posters, especially the ones belonging to the ’30s and’40s, will be lost. “I used to run this shop out of passion initially but then the customers started demanding more. That made me interested in continuing,” he adds. The shop also has some old manuscripts dating back to the British era. “The business actually started with books and some printed documents and then people started demanding more. It’s very hard to maintain these original items due to climate conditions of India. It will be hard to find the original posters as they do not make
(Clockwise) Posters of cult classics such as Mother India, Deewaar and Trishul; (below) Shop owner Deepak Jain poses next to the vintage hand-painted posters of Bollywood blockbusters.
PHOTOS: RAAJESSH KASHYAP/HT
them anymore, and they will not be there in the archives either. Even the [national] film archives might not have them anymore, and whatever are left might be in a very poor condition,” he adds. n
htcity@hindustantimes.com
People who frequent the store, prefer posters of Amitabh Bachchan’s movies. People often come from Japan and ask for posters of cult films such as Sholay and Mother India DEEPAK JAIN, OWNER