Japan falls in love with Indian railway story

New Delhi : The Indian Railways part of the Pavilion does not just depict the machines, it narrates. It records the experience of a system which transports 23 million people every day, through augmented reality, immersive projections and virtual tours, across mountains, plains, jungles and deserts. In this case, Chenab Bridge towering 359 meters over a raging river in the Himalayan mountain range is not just an architectural wonder; it represents a national will to survive. Another showstopper is the Anji Khad Bridge, the very first cable-stayed rail bridge of India in the Kashmir region, which is a treacherous region. Tourists stand quietly to view the video coverage of how the construction workers faced snow and landslides to finish the project. Even between these giants
in engineering, it is the emotional narration that is the most significant. One hemisphere of the exhibit is meant to look like an Indian railway station, the railway station sounding off in Hindi, the sight of chai-wallahs and the reassuring sound  of the engines
rattling. Numerous Japanese visitors experience an unusual sense of being touched
or being moved. This was a cultural moment more than a technological one. Japanese families, which are usually perceived to be reserved, are catching fire as they are not breaking the mold here. They are posing with the small models, they sit down and talk to the Indian representatives, and they even give them a chance to pronounce words such as Vande Bharat and Chenab with excited faces. Others even request to have their picture taken with the Indian volunteers, and give away some small gift or origami
cranes. There is one poignant moment when a bunch of school children bends down low, and in unison says, Namaste India, clicking a group selfie in front of the digital map of the Indian rail network.

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