ON MY WAY TO MY VILLAGE - 608

  ON WAY TO MY VILLAGE

நம்ம கிராமத்துக்கு போகும்           நேரம் 

Each year , the last leg of the near 75 Hour Train Journey which included a  near 15 hours of transit time at the then Madras and now Chennai        (Central and Egmore ) and finally  at Tirunelveli Junction to catch the connecting Passenger train was always a looked forward to Event .

Calcutta to Kharagpur to Chennai to  Ravanasamudram as a school going kid was always special and a most Welcome annual attraction .

 Each year had its own share of new thrills and experiences . Travelling as we did in the super comfort of the  First Class Coaches of the British Era which had individual Doors for Entry/Exit for each 4 Berth Cabin with Six Ceiling Fans , the entire journey was totally private with no one else for company during the entire journey of near 40 hours . This was thanks to the Railway Pass to which my father was entitled as a very SENIOR Railway Officer.With only the three of us during  the entire journey , meant that I could have the window of my choice from the available Six for the entire journey . The only sore point was getting your entire body blackened by the soot from the Steam Locomotive .

The journey was even more special because  the Howrah - Madras Mail came with a  Restaurant Car ( Not the present day Pantry Car ) where a Waiter in Starched White Uniform  with their trademark Highpeaked Headgear and absolutely clean White Porcelain Chineese Crockery would take orders and deliver the tasty food at the next train halt . Absolute Royal Treatment . This included both the Desi and Continental .

The highlight however was the Lunch brought to us by my Chittappa and family at WALTAIR JUNCTION which is now Vishakapatnam or Vizag . The halt was a big one as the running direction of the train was changed at this Station and the Locomotive had to change positions from front to back . Meeting my Cousins was a looked forward to event .

The Madras Central to Madras Egmore journey by the yellow painted Taxis to catch the Tirunelveli Express ( Note : No Nellai Express then ) had its own share of excitement . The taxi could be driven inside the Platform of Madras Central right upto the place of your First Class Coach .

The Meter Gauge Journey by itself  had a unique feel . The near 3 hour ride from Egmore to Vizhuppuram had the Electric Locomotive as the Engine . Since it was almost a half an hour halt where the Engine had to be changed to the Steam Locomotive, my father  would take me to the place when this operation happened . It sure was a thrilling experience .

The train would reach Tirunelveli Junction at around 10.00 am . The Shenkottah  Passenger was only in the evening at 5.45 pm . After a  Sumptuous Lunch which came from the Chandra Vilas Hotel, the last leg of the journey to Ravanasamudram was well on its way . 

The ride over the Tambarabarani River  between Kallidaikurichy and Ambasamudram made our arrival almost  complete.  The thunderous sound of the train as it crossed the River Bridge still remains etched firmly  in memory . The Huge Girders on both sides of the bridge being the reason for this thundering sound. The present day Broad Gauge Bridge has  done away with the Side Girders . The journey across the Bridge is much quieter now .

The train would chug in to Ravanasamudram at around 7.30 pm and in complete darkness . Save for a few 40 Watt Bulbs , blackened with soot from the passing Engines  shedding their incandescent dim yellow light the whole place would be pitch dark .

For a short time , the scene would be almost a replica of Biswajit arriving at Chandangadh ,  Railway  Station in the yester year horror movie Bees Saal Baad .

That though would be only for a very short while .  Sure enough , the Station  Master who also happened to be our relative  and many of my cousins with flaming torches in their hands  would also ensure that extra halt time was on hand to unload all the baggage and everything taken care .

The luggage would be loaded on to the Bullock Cart to transport   it to our place in the Agraharam. 

The cobble stoned pathway coupled with the  metal sleeve  on the bullock carts WOODEN  wheel made a loud  clanging sound and this together with the  jingling sound  of the big bell around the Bullocks neck ,  WELL AND TRUELY ANNOUNCED OUR ENTRY in to the Village in the grandest possible manner . The village  would sure enough go on to be the heaven on earth during the next month or so during  our stay in the village  .

I AM 74 NOW , THE MEMORY NEVER SEEMS TO FADE AWAY 

 UNFORGETTABLE INDEED !!!