Transitioning from walking to running is something I often have to do, especially when I encounter people who paid money to buy one of my books. Even otherwise, it’s quite a common phenomenon. There are various occasions when walking turns into running. In Calcutta, this happens whenever someone tries to catch a bus. You walk slowly towards it as it slows down, thinking, hopefully, that this time it will stop. But then it begins to speed up again, and you realise you were wrong. You break into a sprint. The thin young man hanging from the door reaches out his hand. You start sprinting and reach out your own. After that, it’s a question of fluid movement and split-second timing.
A variation of this is when you start running to catch a tram. A tram is the slowest form of transport known to man. The only thing it can overtake is two fat men in a hand-rickshaw. It’s the ideal form of transport when reaching somewhere on time is not an issue, which is why Calcutta is the only city in the country which has them. Catching a tram involves a brisk walk, followed by a short run, and a quick hop, which gets you on a vehicle that will move far more slowly than you. It’s an art form. Genuine experts can do this wearing a dhoti, while continuing to read Anandabazar Patrika .
Apart from catching transport, why else would someone switch from walking to running? It’s a good idea if you find yourself too close to a policeman. The Indian Penal Code Of 1860 is a rich and detailed document, listing a wide variety of crimes that the natives of that time were prone to commit. It empowers policemen to arrest you for pretty much anything, including not loving the Government, giving lifts to strangers, and, my personal favourite, ‘looking like a Maoist’. Common sense dictates that when you see a policeman, you should start running.
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