City NGO to add colour to Pune Station

An outline at the platform, that depicts Vithoba, the deity of the Waris who can be seen carrying the sacred Tulsi plant during the Warkari procession

Following the example set by various railway stations in parts of Mumbai, Rajasthan and Chennai, Platform 6 on Pune Railway Station is all set to get a makeover as artists and amateur painters from the city will gather on October 23 to beautify the station with colourful paintings that depict the city’s heritage and culture. This is being done with the help of city-based NGO, Sare Jahan Se Acha, as part of its nationwide campaign to discourage spitting in public places.

“It has taken us a whole month to get the permission from the Divisional Railway Manager. Initially, we thought they weren’t interested but once we submitted the designs, they liked the idea and they were very cooperative,” says Padmini Panse, the all India campaign manager for this initiative.

The designs of the paintings are based on several aspects that are known to define Pune’s culture and tradition. “The themes for the paintings are based on the Warkari procession where there will be a painting of the deity Vithoba that not only symbolises spirituality but also the importance of cleanliness. There will also be a depiction of Mallakhamb, the lesser known traditional Indian sport which has its origins in Pune. The platform will also have paintings of yoga postures and poses people can do while travelling. We have also selected designs from artists who have sent in their work. There will be a representation of the Sawai Gandharva music festival and of Ganeshotsav as well,” explains Panse.

According to her, Platform 6 has been chosen because it is relatively unused and new. The platform wall stretches approximately 170 feet wide and the outlines for the paintings have already been done. “As of now, we have got 120 registrations and we are expecting people from various backgrounds from different walks of life to join the event. We will aim to finish painting the platform on Sunday itself.”

Prior to this, the organisation has also conducted several flash mobs, street plays and rallies to raise awareness amongst people, discouraging them to spit in public areas and providing them with the option of using spit cups or spit pouches.

But, can such paintings, on the walls of the station, completely stop these ill practices? Says Panse, “The spitting does not stop but it reduces. Our target is to reach out to people and even one person makes a huge difference. It is hard work to make people understand because it hurts their ego when someone tells them that they’re doing the wrong thing.”

Vijayta Lalwani