Where there is a will, there is a way. If anyone was ever looking for an example in real life for this proverb, they do not need to go anywhere else. Ananya from Ranchi provided an example that would have surely rattled a few in the railways and administration but provided common people with a lesson that if you have strong willpower nothing can stop you or mend you as they want.
Ananya boarded the Rajdhani Express from Mughalsarai travelling to Ranchi. The train was stopped at Daltenganj due to the ongoing agitation on railway tracks in Tori in Latehar district. The authorities initially thought the agitation would get over and the train could be then started for Ranchi. But with agitation continuing, the Railway Board Chairman was informed and he ordered that the passengers be sent to Ranchi by buses and the train to be parked at Daltenganj. All the passengers got off the train but Ananya was unmoved. She argued that is she had to go by bus, why would she have bought a train ticket. She said that she has a ticket of Rajdhani Express and it is railways’ responsibility to take her to the destination. The railway officials were taken aback. Ananya said that the train was parked in Daltenganj for hours. All the passengers started getting off when officials told them to take buses for Ranchi. The coach attendants also got off. Ananya kept stating that it is the responsibility of Railways to take her to Ranchi and they cannot run away from their responsibility. They were not ready to listen but she did not move from her seat. Many officials came to her and asked her to get down, asked her to not be stubborn and said that the train will not run only for her. She though did not give up and made it clear that the railways would have to take her to Ranchi.
Ananya was the only passenger on the train. 929 out of In 930 passengers had got down at Daltenganj and left for their destination on buses. Railway authorities even offered to arrange a car for her to go to Ranchi but she did not budge. Finally, they had to bow down to stubbornness. The Railway Board Chairman was informed and after deliberations, he directed the DRM to send Rajdhani Express to Ranchi with strong security arrangements. The train had to come directly to Ranchi from Daltenganj. The distance from Daltenganj to Ranchi is 308 km but the train had to go via Gomo and Bokaro to Ranchi so the distance increased to 535 kilometres. The Rajdhani Express started from Daltenganj at around 4 pm and left for Ranchi via Gomo and Bokaro. The train reached Ranchi railway station at around 1.45 am. This is probably the first time in the history of the railways that Rajdhani express has travelled 535 kilometres for a single passenger.
25 RPF personnel were waiting for Rajdhani Express at the Ranchi station. The doctors and staff from the railway hospital were on the platform wearing PPE kits carrying thermal screening machines and sanitizers. HEC assistant manager Mukesh Prasad Chaudhary came to pick up his daughter with his younger son Aman. The Rajdhani train reached the platform at 1:45 am. Ananya was asleep on B3-51 berth. As the train stopped, RPF jawans on the platform reached near her seat and knocked on the window glass. Ananya got up and was informed that the train had reached Ranchi. The RPF jawans opened the door of the coach and Ananya’s father and his brother went in. Ananya and family then came out with the luggage. Thermal screening of Ananya was done on the platform and they were given sanitizers. RPF officials also questioned Ananya and then finally at 2 am, Ananya left for Dhruva with her father and brother.
Ananya is pursuing LLB from BHU and is in her final year. She passed high school from Kendriya Vidyalaya, Sector 2 and completed her graduation from Marwari College. She aims to become an advocate after completing her LLB. Ananya’s father Mukesh Prasad Chaudhary is an assistant manager at HEC. Ananya’s younger brother Aman Bhushan is preparing for IAS after completing his BBA.
