A bit of delay by train

We left Varanasi by train on Friday night, hopeing to reach New Delhi early next morning. About 7 AM the next morning, we slided to a stop on a siding about 40 miles outside of New Delhi. This often happens when a train approaches New Delhi, letting the Express Trains head out fast.

But we didn't start up again. We just sat there. An hour passed and then another. Eventually cell phone calls allowed news to trickle in.

There was rioting in the town ahead of us, and some Gujjars had torn up the tracks.

And so we sat, as the hours went by, the temperature soared, and water ran out.

The girls did remarkably well, and eventually we did move out, arriving in New Delhi some time after 5PM.

Good thing we had planned for delays.

And why were the Gujjars rioting? Well, why indeed!

India has an Affirmative Action kind of program for the Low Caste/Dalit/ and Tribal Peoples. A certain percentage of government jobs, Medical School openings, etc, is reserved for them.

So there is a certain advantage to being classified as a "Backwards" or "Oppressed" group.

Well, the Gujjars are somewhat poor, and somewhat oppressed, but not nearly as much as the Dalits or OutCastes, so the Gujjars do not qualify for the same Reservations of Government Jobs.

They had, several years ago, filed suit to be included as Poor and Oppressed. The Supreme Court finally heard the case, and recently made the decision that -- while the Gujjars are not exactly rich-- nevertheless they were NOT poor and oppressed.

When the Gujjars found out, they started to riot all over Northern India.

And that is why we sat in a Railroad siding for ten hours on Friday.