The article takes readers on a journey aboard the Himsagar Express, illustrating the stark contrasts within Indian society as represented through train travel. The author encounters Ganesh Rajwar, a young man traveling from Jharkhand to Vijayawada in search of work, embodying the struggles of many in a rapidly developing nation. The cramped conditions highlight the lack of luxury in contrast to the ongoing social disparity, prompting reflections on India's progress, freedom, and the meaning of hope amidst economic struggles.
"This was not a luxury train, but even here, as in Indian society as a whole, the distinctions between the haves and the have-nots were clear."
"By the time I met Rajwar, around nine on a Wednesday morning in early August, I had been on the train for roughly forty hours."
"Upon reaching Vijayawada, Rajwar would call the numbers on his palm and tell whoever picked up that he was waiting on platform No. 1."
"The train was moving fast through the state of Maharashtra with a rocking motion, but Rajwar was sitting easily."
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