Youngistan's Jan Lokpal express

The 10.57 Churchgate local chugged off from Borivali on Saturday morning as the Jan Lokpal Express, flooded by young Anna Hazare supporters determined to spread awareness about the bill among commuters on the 23-km ride

The 10.57 am Churchgate local that chugged off Borivali station on Saturday morning wasn't your regular train. It had an identity, even a name -- the Jan Lokpal express. It was carrying a unique breed of people from various nooks of the city, all united by a common goal. Anna Hazare's supporters took the train to Churchgate from where they headed off to Azad Maidan to participate in the day's protest.


A commuter wears a Gandhi topi in the Jan Lokpal Express on Saturday

For the average commuter, this meant sharing the bogies with an additional 250 eager travellers, charged up and in the mood to cause a stir. Chartered Accountant Mayur Hardik who was on board said, "The train wasn't as crowded to begin with, since it was a Saturday, but the protestors trooped in and caused chaos. The crowd made it impossible to get on the train."

Radha Damle, a nurse, was already late and hadn't anticipated that a flash crowd would make matters worse that morning. "It was tough to wade through the supporters. Luckily, I managed to board the train and get to work on time."

For some, like HR College of Commerce student Mitali Kapoor, the crowds proved an incentive to find out more about the Jan Lokpal bill. "I am planning to surf the Net for details on both bills so as to decide for myself which works better," she said.

Yamini Pawar, who hoped to board the Jan Lokpal express at Andheri wasn't as lucky since the train started its journey from Borivali. An announcement made at Azad Maidan on Friday about the Express taking off from Andheri had caused confusion for some commuters, who had gathered at Andheri station to support the cause.

As the Express left the Borivali platform, cries of 'Vande Mataram' resounded through the bogies. The volunteers distributed pamphlets that carried information on key differences between the government's version of the bill and Team Anna's Jan Lokpal bill.

A shade tired by the time the train pulled into Mumbai Central, volunteer Suganda Ghadigaonkar said, "We will go on chanting even if we lose our voices. The cry for Jan Lokpal won't cease." At Churchgate, the platforms were flooded with Hazare supporters singing the national anthem as they went about pasting Jan Lokpal posters across the train.

A railway police official said, "We deployed over 200 police officials between Churchgate and Borivali to tackle the law and order situation. Luckily no untoward incident was reported." Reuben Mascharenhas from India Against Corruption (IAC), that calls itself a people's movement to demand comprehensive anti-corruption reforms of systems in India, said, "With the Jan Lokpal Express, we have been able to make more people aware of the cause."

A crowd of 800 marched from Churchgate station to Azad Maidan. Parul Virani, who was on her way for a job interview said, "I decided to come and show my support for the Jan Lokpal bill before going for my interview. The train ride has made me aware of the corruption that's eaten into our system."