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Tuesday, Feb 19, 2008
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Azadi Express defaced by graffiti

Staff Reporter

People have written their names, addresses and phone numbers on the train

Photo: Lingaraj Panda

A visitor taking a look at the writings on wall, depicting the important events of the freedom struggle, inside the Azadi Expressin Berhampur on Monday. —

BERHAMPUR: Graffiti scribbling vandals have not spared the Azadi Express, an unique exhibition on wheels.

This train, which is on a mission to make people of the country proud of their freedom fighters, cultural heritage and present developments has entered Orissa after travelling through 22 states. Its first station to halt was Berhampur after it reached Orissa from Andhra Pradesh. It would also halt at Bhubaneswar, Cuttack, Sambalpur and Rourkela stations. The well decorated 12 compartments of this moving exhibition carry the heritage of the spirit of Indian Independence and development.

Favourite spots of vandals

It is an irony that the walls of this unique train also bear the graffiti by people, who visited the train earlier. The graffiti are in different languages, speaking of the cultural diversities of the country. It seemed as if the graffiti writers wanted to make their names immortal along with the great names displayed in the exhibition as they have scribbled up their names, phone numbers and addresses at many places.

A large display bearing the pictures of famous sportsmen like Saniya Mirza and Mahendra Singh Dhoni has become favourite spot for these signature makers. Old habit dies hard. So, most of these graffiti could be found at the corridor joining two coaches and the places where bathrooms are located in real railway coaches, although these areas are decorated and used for other purposes in the Azadi Express. Curious vandals had also damaged some decorative displays on walls of the train by scrapping them with their nails. The repair work has already started. The authorities with the Azadi Express said they are trying to colour up portions that are mutilated by graffiti by the visitors. They were extra cautious about graffiti makers in Berhampur. The volunteers of the Nehru Yuva Kendra were deployed inside the train to advise all visitors keep their hands crossed on their chest during their journey through the compartments of Azadi Express.

The train would complete its journey throughout the country to reach Meerut. It would start its last leg from Meerut to Delhi on May 10, 2008 - the day when sepoys declared mutiny and went on a Delhi yatra in 1857.

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