Special coach dedicated to Mahatma Gandhi highlights his connection with Railways

In the heart of Delhi, at the serene Gandhi Darshan complex in Rajghat, a humble train coach stands still, but its significance in India’s history is vast. Inaugurated on Wednesday by Union Minister for Culture and Tourism, Gajendra Singh Shekhawat, this exhibit, a meticulously restored railway coach, serves as a tangible reminder of Mahatma Gandhi’s deep connection with the Indian Railways.

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This is no ordinary train coach. Inside the coach you’re greeted by statues and cutouts of passengers, with the unmistakable figure of Mahatma Gandhi seated in his humble simplicity. The coach will take visitors back to an era when Gandhi’s rail journeys were a vital part of India’s freedom movement.

As you walk into the Gandhi Darshan exhibit, the journey begins with a replica of an old railway station sign reading Delhi Shahdara Junction, where Gandhi’s last rail journey ended. Right beside it is the train coach, now symbolising the powerful role that the Railways played in Gandhi’s life. While Gandhi was initially sceptical of the Railways, seeing them as a tool of colonial exploitation and even blaming them for the spread of epidemics, his most significant moments were spent on these trains.

In fact, Gandhi’s relationship with the railways began dramatically. It was a cold night on June 7, 1893, at the Pietermaritzburg railway station in South Africa when Gandhi, despite holding a first-class ticket, was thrown off a train for refusing to move to third class due to his skin colour. This single incident, as recalled in the exhibit, sparked a fire within Gandhi, one that would lead to the birth of Satyagraha — his non-violent resistance against oppression. “This coach represents that transformative moment in Gandhi’s life,” explains Vijay Goel, Vice-Chairman of Gandhi Darshan, as he stands beside the iconic railway coach.

Gandhi may not have been a fan of the Railways initially, but as India’s struggle for independence intensified, the Railways became one of his greatest allies. He travelled across the country in third class, connecting with the common people. In the coach at Gandhi Darshan, sculptures depict him sitting alongside fellow passengers — men, women and children from different walks of life.

“Railways were more than just a mode of transportation for Gandhi; they became a vehicle for understanding India in its entirety,” Goel reflects. “It’s through these train journeys that Gandhi observed firsthand the struggles of his people. The Railways allowed him to stay close to the very public he was fighting for,” he added.

One such journey stands out in particular. During a trip from Madras to Madurai in 1921, Gandhi’s fellow passengers told him that they were too poor to afford khadi clothing. Deeply moved by their plight, Gandhi immediately decided to abandon his Kathiyawadi attire, choosing instead to wear a simple loincloth for the rest of his life — a gesture to align himself with the poorest of the poor. This moment is also captured in the exhibit, a testament to how Gandhi’s rail travels shaped his philosophy.

The final rail journey Gandhi took was from Calcutta to Delhi Shahdara Junction in 1947. It was a time of turmoil, with the country torn by communal violence. Gandhi came to Delhi to heal the wounds of the city. This train coach, now preserved at Rajghat, marks the end of that journey — his arrival in Delhi, not just as a leader, but as a healer of a fractured nation.

At the inauguration, Shekhawat called the exhibit “a landmark moment” in preserving Gandhi’s legacy. “This train coach is a symbol of the event that forever changed Gandhi’s life. The renovation was done with the aim of explaining Gandhi’s vision in a practical way. We all need to move forward with the resolution to integrate Gandhiji’s philosophy into our lives,” the minister said.

For Ritik, a history honours student from Delhi University, this exhibit is more than just an artefact; it’s a link to the stories he’s read about. “Knowing the stories of Gandhi on the trains, I had to come and see the coach for myself,” he says. “Gandhi spent so much of his time on trains, close to the general public, inspiring them throughout the independence movement. It’s incredible to see it come to life here.”