Railway Men: Is Imad Riaz Based On A Real Person? Is He Dead?
Selflessness is the ultimate virtue, and The Railway Man highlights a few individuals who exemplified this. Station Master Iftekar Siddiqui and Loco Pilot Imad Riaz showed courage and humanity during the Bhopal gas tragedy. Showing that courage does not need an apology, they risked their lives to save others. Young Imad was also an adult beyond his years, selflessly working for the safety of strangers. His arrival at the Bhopal station on December 1, 1984 was out of a deep sense of duty.
The character of Imad Riaz is not based on one person but represents the unsung heroes who risked their lives that night. Journalist Rajkumar Keswani had warned of a security lapse at the Union Carbide factory where Imad once worked. Imad was removed after he questioned the lack of safety equipment to deal with hazardous chemicals. His character symbolically represents former employees like Bashirullah and Shankar Malviya, who helped Keswani, and the actual railway employees who helped Station Master Ghulam Dastagir
Imad’s understanding of Union Carbide’s negligence was strengthened when his friend Mohammad Ansari died from a gas leak. He knew the plant was ignoring safety protocols and putting workers and the city at risk. When he sought equipment for his own protection, his request was denied and rejected. Imad wanted to expose the exploitation of labor by American capitalists, but before he could react, a gas leak occurred, trapping him in a state of chaos.
In The Railway Man , Rati Shankar called Imad a fool for risking his life in a polluted place, but Imad felt it his duty to save others. He could have escaped or stayed safe but driven by a sense of sacrifice, he chose to help people like Iftekar. Tragically, Imad died on the tracks after making sure the two trains did not collide.
Imad’s character, though fictional, honors the courage and valor of those who risked their lives during the Bhopal Gas Tragedy, reminding us of the many unsung heroes who made a difference that night.
