ON WAY TO MY VILLAGE -827

             ON WAY TO MY VILLAGE

   நம்ம கிராமத்துக்கு போகும்  நேரம் 

                       हम चले अपने गांव 

Calcutta / Kharagpur to Chennai and then to  Ravanasamudram as a School going kid was always special and a  most welcome annual  event .

          22 Platform Howrah Train Station 

Each year , during the Summer Holidays the  near 75 Hour Train Journey which included 15 hours of transit  at the then Madras and now Chennai Stations   (Central and Egmore ) and finally the long wait  at the Tirunelveli Junction station  to catch the connecting Shencottah Passenger train was always a much looked forward to Event .

Single platform RAVANASAMUDRAM 

 Each year had its own share of new thrills and experiences . Travelling as we did in the super comfort of the British Era  First Class Coaches  which had individual Doors for Entry/Exit for each 4 Berth Cabin with Six Ceiling Fans and fancy light fixings . All the Brass Fittings , polished and shinning to the core and  at their sparkling best . 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 seat of my choice from the available Six for the entire duration of the journey . The only sore point was that being seated near the window for most part of the journey meant  getting your entire body blackened by the soot from head to foot by the flying charcoal particles from the Steam Locomotive .

            British Era First Class Coach 

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 items 

 Train Restaurant car of the olden days 

The highlight however was the Lunch brought to us by my Chittappa and family at WALTAIR JUNCTION which  now goes by the name of Vishakapatnam or Vizag . The halt was a pretty long half  as the running direction of the train was changed at this Station and the Locomotive had to change positions from the front to the  back . Meeting my Cousins was a very much 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 right  inside the Platform of Madras Central upto the place of our Reserved First Class Coach .

The Meter Gauge Journey by itself  had a unique feel . The Meter Gauge near 3 hour ride from Madras  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 . There were only two pairs of trains in a day during those times . One pair in the morning and one pair in the evening . 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 with its steel girders 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 Incandescent Bulbs , blackened with soot from the passing Engines  shedding their  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 Hindi  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 else taken care .

The luggage would be loaded on to the Bullock Cart to bring it to our place in the village . 

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 75 NOW , BUT THE MEMORY NEVER SEEMS TO FADE AWAY 

 UNFORGETTABLE INDEED !!!