Bade Miyan Chotey Miyan

On October 1, 2003, a race was organised by the North Western Railway (NWR) of India. The race, called Bade Miyan Chotey Miyan was held between a metre gauge and a broad gauge train running parallel. With destination as Jaipur, the trains were flagged off from Jobner (50 kms south of Jaipur). What made it special was the fact that both these trains were run by steam engines, dating back to the 1960s. I was there, flinging my excited body from one train to another.

Bade gave up midway

Sanket Upadhyay

After a 45-minute halt near Babos, the driver sent a wireless message to a senior engineer. “Saahab! Bade ko diesel engine ki zarurat hai. (Boss. Bade needs the help of a diesel engine.)” The 1965 model, wearing dandy make up, won the hearts of many, but could not win the race.

Many who had boarded the broad gauge beauty confirmed a victory in their mind. Though all enjoyed the event till the end, the sorrow of not winning was evident.

“I talked to the driver and he said Bade’s engine is more powerful. We knew that it would win. I pushed my entire family into this train. All were interested in travelling by the other. But it’s ok. At least we had good fun,” Ram Kishan Meena said as he consoled and apologised to his grandchild for being persistent.

The bigger steam machine was not producing enough steam to run till Jaipur. It covered less than half the distance to finally cry help.

Seven-year-old Sakshi Mathur, explaining the reason for the halt told Hindustan Times that Bade Miyan had more bogies and was carrying more passengers. She accused Chotey of cheating, as it did not stop when Bade got stuck. Though Bade had stopped when there were some glitches in Chotey’s engine earlier in the race.

These veteran celebrities were flagged off one after the other, Chotey being first, from the Phulera Junction. The race finally started near Jobner when the two chugged past each other simultaneously as metre and broad gauge tracks run parallel till Jaipur.

The competition was close in its first half. Within fractions, one train overtook the other and that not only made children but also men and woman aboard shout out from both trains: “We will win!”

The bogies from outside could catch a blind’s eye with a picturesque depiction of the entire state. Instead of the usual S1, S2 or S3’s, these bogies carried different names. While the metre gauge carried names of places like Nahargargh and Mehragargh, its counterpart carried names like Ghumar, Jodhana, Mumal, Dhola Maru.

While some of them carried handmade paintings on the wall, others offered a mobile exhibition featuring information about old steam engines.

A relaxed railway department enjoyed the excitement built by the event. “It gives me immense pleasure to see such an overwhelming response from people here. They have lifted our spirits high,” said North Western Railway’s (NWR) general manager Rakesh Mohan Aggarwal after he finished dancing to a Rajasthani folk number being played by various artists.

He urged that Rajasthan Tourism or some Private party should take interest in organising this rail event to make it a regular feature.

Veteran commentator, who was on board Bade Miyan, described the ride as Rajasthan on wheels. “The dances and songs performed by these artists depict what the state has for all of us. Both trains reflect the nomenclature of the entire state,” he said.

The race began at 3.40 pm and ended at 7.30 pm when Chotey reached Jaipur junction. Bade arrived half an hour after the latters arrival.