India, March 11 -- By Dr. R. Balasubramaniam

There is something deeply philosophical about Indian Railways. It does not merely transport people from one city to another. It transports them from one version of themselves to another. I know this because many years ago, I made the Bengaluru to Delhi journey in an unreserved compartment and arrived a changed man. Not improved, necessarily. Just changed.

The Karnataka Express was scheduled to depart Bangalore City Station at what the time-table described as a specific time. Indian Railways treats time-tables the way some of us treat new year resolutions. The intention is sincere. The execution is aspirational.

The train finally arrived - itself a personal victory. I joined the surge toward ...