OFFICE
My superviser came and asked me: have you got al the returns? I was quite taken aback. I knew the word as a verb. He then explained that it is a statement detailing the vouchers attached. I had to check telegraph vouchers. In those days, people would use railway facility of telegraph and pay for it. I found it somewhat interesting, calculation of charges after counting the words.
One day a fat short man came and snatched my chair, without any warning. I could have fallen, but somehow balanced myself.I t was Gupta, who had gone on inspection.
I met Baljith Singh Nag, younger to me, tall and slightly stooping in his gait, who was one batch senior and had completed his training in Bombay.
Workkshop audit
Before long, I was transferred to Worksop and Stores Audit, some two miles from GLO. There I was given the work of receipt and despatch work, normally done by a lower division clerk, in addition to some regular audit.
We were some five members, Satya Prakash Arya being the senior. He always used to abuse our supervisor, Beharilal, behind his back. At lunch break, we all go to some hawker selling dhal and some north Indian preparaions, distasteful to me, but I kept quiet. Mulgund, a Mysorean, was my company in this respect.
I was regular in reading English news paper. In our absecne, during lunch break, some one from the Accounts branch was reading it, when some Audit Officer happened to see it. He thought I was reading and reported it to my officer.
For the first time, I bought a book, RAPTAKOS (not certain about spelling) , a brilliant story about slave revolt. One Ajit Singh from Ratlam office, who had come for Audit inspection of some unit, took it from me and never returned it!
John, in the office of Inspetor Of Works(IOW) was our friend. Though married, he lived the loose life of a bachelor. It seems many women liked him. HE WAS VERY HELPFUL TO ALL.
That time I started preparing for the departmental examination for promotion as Auditor, known as Subordinate Railway Audit Service or SRAS exam.
The books dealing with departmental rules and regulations are boring to read, but there is no other way. I had shaved off my hair to be quite free. Kamala, who used to come carrying Nag’s daughter Madhu (Guddi) would poke fun of my clean head!
In the mean time, K.K.Narayanettan had initiated action for arranging my marriage. I welcomed it at heart but was shy of discussing it with friends. Luckily, Vasudevapphan’s daughter Santa, who liked me very much, was given in marriage to Sankaranarayanan of Muthukurssi mana. She suggested to her husband my name for his sister‘s marriage. I did not know anything about it. Parakunnam, my mausi’s husband, was my guardian for this purpose.
In my absence, every thing was settled by him.
A very foolish action on my part, in the meantime, resulted in my transfer to construction Division at Dohad (I got construction allowance by this transfer) and then to Kota, but in a separate establishment where we were given newly constructed quarters, meant for class four staff, with a single room with kitchen etc., but no fan. My boss was Kunjuvareed, who occupied the quarter next to mine. Afterwards, Nag and Mirchandani also joined our construction group, along with Shivpoojan ram. As they were already having quarters, they did not have to come to our area in the workshop colony.
JAIPUR
When I returned alone, a feeling of desolaton overcame me. I felt listless.the town, then the hills and the dry river beyond.
I met some Keralites , whose names I cannot recollect, one Koshy among them, who was more attached to me.week, the stubble growing slowly during the week.
I too was called inside the cabin.
“How are you, Mr. Subramanian? You are alone without any body to look after you? At least today you could have shaved, to respect the Chief Auditor. Or, you grow a beard like me, ha ha.”
He was a jolly type. He would stop his car on the road side and buy nuts or plantains. He had only one hand, with which he could drive recklessly – these were the stories about him.
One day I had a trunk call from the admin. section at H.Q. I could not understand anything except the words KOTA. I promptly said yes.
I knew that I would get a quarter if posted at Kota, Alex my friend, had told me. George had applied for transfer to Bombay. So the chain depended on me. I got the order in a week.
My things were bundled together in a sac and Durgadanji, Deputy Director in the state and a relative of Mataji, staying in the house, arranged a vehicle to take me to the railwa station. All, including Shakuntala’s parents,were sorry at my sudden departure. I too felt sad; we meet as strangers, depart as friends! Who said that?
AT KOTA
At Kota Alex, Mirchandani and Nag were my olleagues; Bannerjee was the L.D.C., all working under Lodha, the Auditor. One Dasgupta was the Audit Officer located at Ratlam. Our quarters were at the same place, earmarked for our department. I stayed with Alex who was unmarried, even though one was allotted to me. The office peon Shivpoojan Ram was the cook and shared the quarter free.
I was given contractors’ bills and compilation of accounts (audit only)
George gave his bicycle, for a sum settled by our colleagues, even if I did not know cycling. I seated myself on it and Nag wheeled it for some distance along the road and left it. I hit the cycle on a country woman and she started beating me with her hands, abusing me all the while, though it did not pain me! All were laughing. That is how I learned cycling.
Our colony was on the east side of the railway line and the officce just near it, on the west side. At 11 A.M the fronter mail comes from Bombay, carrying the dak which is sent by “railway dak” in the luggage van where it is sorted and unloaded at each station.
Nag and Mirchandani used to collect it, even if it is the peon’s duty. I too went to give company.
The Chambal river was very near. I liked to walk towards its bank.
After passing the first examination, I had to cross one more hurdle; part two, with accountancy, constitution of India and railway tariff rules. The first two, I liked. The last one is interesting, if we have to get a general idea only. For instance, for the same quantity of salt and marble, we have to pay different amounts, much less for salt, grass, food grains etc. being essential for life, for tranportation by the railways. So there is something like a dictionary, where we should locate the item, to see its classification. Then there are special rules for transportation of camels, elephants, their escorts etc. We have to carry a trunkload of books for reference in practical papers. There are so many things to remeber. In fact we have to work like a goods clerk in the railway station. Very boring. I failed in the first two attempts, almost gave it up.
In the mean time, K.M wanted me to coach him. At the last moment, I too decided to appear in the exam. We both appeared at Delhi centre. The accountancy paper was too lengthy and, by the time I finished profit and loss account and balance sheet, of which I could add up only the assets side, the whole time for the paper was almost over and I hurried by writing the rest of the answers in very short paragraphs.
I lost hope and told K.M about my predicament.
That year, I was the only person to qualify from Western Railway Audit! Congratulatory messages poured in. I could hardly believe it. In February 1970, I was promoted and posted as Auditor, in independent charge of” workshop and stores audit”at Bhavanagar.
RAT TEA
When I was working in the costruction office of the Railway Audit wing at Dohad, temporarily set up in connection with the Godhra-Ratlam doubling project, Kunjuvareed was my boss and Pitkar my clleague. All of us stayed in a shed, partitioned to make quarters for us. I was a bachelor and my boss’s wife at home for periodic delivery.
K wakes up early. He will make tea and offer it to me, too. In turn, I do the cleaning of vessels.
In the evening, when we return home, all three of us once remained in K’s quarter, where I was staying during his bachelorship, chit chatting. Now, it was my turn to make tea. After tasting tea, Pitkar commented that he had never tasted a better tea! I felt elated.
When I was cleaning the thermos flask later, I felt something inside and held it to light to see better. I was shocked to see the ears, of some animal and showed it to K, WHO CONFIRMED IT WAS A RAT!
This is how it happened. When he placed the flask, after taking the milk for the morning tea, before placing the lid, the rat must have fallen into it,while trying to see what is inside. The hot milk killed it and it was swollen during the period before I took the milk for making the evening tea, which was so much praised by my friend!
K panicked and we went to see a doctor. The doctor only laughed! Are you not a non-vegetarian, he asked K.
At that time our Deputy Chief Auditor was one Miss Swamy who smoked and took black tea without sugar. (The Audit Officer commented conteptuously: wo beedi peethee hai!) Once she visited our office and wanted a ride in the loco engine. There was a loco shed there. It was the era of steam engine and K fixed it up. Staff at the shed asked afterwards: where is Chief Auditor? They thought it was his daughter.
It is in forest area and once our peon, a tribal, led us to his dwelling, quite far away in the hills. The hut was clean. A young man illustrated his skill in archery, by lying down and holding the bow with his feet and drawing the arrow with both hands. The bow became almost circular and then he released the arrow which flew higher and higher, until we could not see it any more. After some minutes, it struck the earth a few feet away!
On the way, we were shown a temple with erotic sculptures. This must be common in those days.
I was riding my bicycle, when it was barely dark. The police whistled and stopped me: where is the light of the cycle?, something which never occurred to me. The local law required it.
I used to buy eggs from a fellow who comes every day. Once he had no change and I had given him ten rupees. I was going to Keralam and so I bought all the eggs and boiled them. It lasted for some days, even after I came home!
MY MARRIAGE
I took a railway pass with wife included in the return journey and came to Keralam in June 1963. As we had no place to live, mother was with her sister at Prakunnath mana at Trichur. I first went there. Prakunnam told me that marriage was fixed for 26.6.1963. I got a snap of her, but did not know her name. It was easy for me to go to my cousin Santa and demand a meeting with the bride, something I did not have the courage to countenance. I was too shy. I only wished that, somehow the whole drama was over, and we boarded the train for Kota.
I met all relatives and handed them the formal invitation letter. On the appointed day, we reached her home at Shoranur by train.
I was asked to take bath in the pond.Then I had to wear the formal vastram (a very long cloth, to be worn in such a way that it served the purpose of underwear as well as loin cloth). I did not know how to. Some -how made a pretence of it. I heard a comment: it seems he does not know it.
During the elaborate ritual, she is covered in a white cloth as men folk should not see her. Narayanettan, who had seen her, I don’t know how, told me she is tall. I am only 5 feet 3 inch. Afterwards, we used to argue about who is taller.
There was no first night. She slept with other women folk.
Normally, the husband can see the bride only on the fourth night. Till then, she is offered to different gods. All gods have more than one wife. Is their sexual appetite not satisfied, even after enjoying millions of brides for such a long time?
I requested Vasudevapphan to avoid this. I must return early, as my leave is short.
He agreed to talk to them.
I saw her in the dim light of the oil lamp, with just a loin cloth and blouse. No ornaments, no sari, no make up. I liked it this way.
There were two Kerala style beds, rectangular sac filled with silk cotton, spread on the floor, a little apart.
I asked: how do you feel, now that we are married?
Happy that I don’ have to study. You are exactly as Santa edathy told me.
I am working in Rajasthan. Do you know where it is?
Isn’t it in Gujarat?
This was enough to know her. We pushed the beds, to bring them together and lay down.
I asked her about her family details and she told me. In five minutes, we felt as if we knew each other for years! She was quite calm, but I was too excited to sleep. When I tried to remove her cloth, she protested: oh, no.
She went to sleep, with her head on my chest.
I spent a few sleepless nights, without reaching any conclusion. V.B.S had cautioned against haste. I Remembered the poet’s words- cosummation is a thing to be devoutly wished!
Earlier, I was bored, waiting for an invitation to the ‘nuptial chamber’. None minded me. The whole day I waited in vain, for a glimpse of her. Her sister, about thirteen, came often to enquire whether I needed anything. She was quite bright and smart.
Only Santa came once and we did not talk much, as I seldom talked to girls, not knowing what to say.
The upstairs room where we spent our first night, was demolished during remodelling of the house which was a three storied old building, with rectanglar opening in the middle. We call it nalukettu.
The next day we went to Guruvayoor temple, along with my mother-in-law. I had never been there. It was almost quiet then, just like Mammiyur now, and we made several rounds of the sanctum sacntorum, the place where the deity of Lord Krishna is installed.
Afterwards, we went alone to see our relatives, including maternal grandmother, who was still alive. She was warming some leaves and fomenting her bare chest with it. I felt sorry for her. She said my wife should not part her hair into two braids! She was staying at Amballore, with my uncle Guptan bhattadiripad, after her eldest son passed away, six years earlier.
We returned to Kota by early July 1963. She was still a virgin.
When we began our life in the railway colony in 1964, there was no cooking gas facility . Initially we depended on kerosine stove. Coal and cinders were available, as it was the age of steam engines, for burning which, specially made buckets with thick clay linings were locally made. This was very cheap. Poor people used to steel coal from goods trains waiting for signal. I helped my wife to initially light up the coal, which came in big pieces. First, a small fire is made of twigs and paper etc., then small pieces of coal and finally the big ones. In winter, the whole kitchen became warm.
The market was on the other side of the rail line. My cycle was useful, but I had to be careful not to fall down. My legs are short. This was a handicap.
Wheat was purchased in bulk from the farmers who brought it in the colony, though I did not like wheat. Rice was scarce and costly.
Sudha was small and her mother used to smear her body with coconut oil, allowing her to play for some time, before washing her.
As water supply was limited, we built a small tank inside the bath room to store water. The toilet was outside the house, inside the court yard, without water tap. We had to carry water in a mug.
Some times, news reached us about a train carrying buffalows, and people rushed to get good quality milk at cheap rates.
Often I would invite Nag and Kishan Mirchandani (K.M.) for an evening, when dosa,the favourite south Indian dish, prepared with rice and udud dhal, soaked in water overnight, ground into a paste and fried over a hot plate, smeared liberally with oil, will be served. As there was no electric grinder, myself and my wife would grind it in a manual grinder, the day before, an exercise lasting at least one hour!
Some other day we all meet at Nag’ house, when some north Indian preparation would be the item. On a Sunday, K.M. who was a bachelor, would invite us to share mutton, prepared by himself with great care, as the rest of us are denied this pleasure.
He lived in a house in the market, we call bazaaria, with his old father, who retired as Travelling Ticket Examiner. The rent was only Rs.13. He had a sister who was a Gandhian , used to wearing simple cloths. How I would have liked to meet her, had she been alive!
This way, time passed quickly, during the period I worked in the Railway Divisional Office, Kota.
BHAVANAGAR
The DEE was so pleased that he allotted me a type four quarter, with three (or four?) bed rooms , from his pool!
We had only Sudha, aged six and Sudhir, aged three and practically no furniture.
At that time, I put my daughter in the first standard. When she failed to return from the school, the very first day,I went there and found her cool and playing!
One day my wife told me to buy sugar. I sent Sudha with proper instructions for crossing the high way, connecting Rajkot and Bhavanagar, as the shop was on the other side. Time passed and there was no sign of her coming back. My wife lost all patience and started accusing me. At last, she came with the packet of sugar. There were many customers. WHEN ALL LEFT, THE SHOPKEEPER ASKED HER WHAT SHE WANTED. That was the reason for such a long time
If you look at the railway net work in Saurashtra region of Gujarat, you will be surprised. It is really a net. So the coaches of trains are shuffled and reshuffled at every junction, as each one will have a different destination.
Our branch Officer was headquartered at Rajkot.
There are many stories about this gentleman, one Bhatnagar. One night he was coming to Bhavanagar on monthly visit. At Jatalsar (or some other junction) he got down from the train, had tea, pan etc. and loiterd on the platform, to while away the time, as the halt was long, for shuffling of coaches. At last, he entered the train, got into his first class cabin and went to sleep. In the morning, he found no peon waiting for him. Then he looked around and found that he was back at Rajkot! When he was loitering on the platform, another train, going to Rajkot, had come there.
His peon took away his luggage from the empty berth at Bhavanagar and informed Saheb on phone.
Once, he returned from office and sat down in his drawing room, reading the newspaper, as was his wont. Coffe was brought. Sipping hot coffee, he went on reading. At last, when he was entering his room, he noticed some change, when his friend’s wife told him that his wife was waiting for him, in his own bungalow!
During a routine visit to Jamnagar workshop, I enquired whether there was somthing worth seeing in the town. Some body suggested the shamshan (crematorium). I thought they were making fun of me, but my assistants told me otherwise.
When we reached there, IT WAS A PLEASANT SURPRISE TO SEE A BEAUTIFUL, WELL LAID FLOWER GARDEN, WITH A NUMBER OF STATUES OF GREAT MEN , from Shreeram to Nehru; all this, the work of a single person! We stayed there for quite some time. In the end, I enquired whether dead bodies were burnt there. Then they showed the wood stocked at the back. The philosophy behind the attempt, was that we should bid farewell to the dead, smiling, and not with tears.
At Junagad, we went to the foot of the huge stone hill, from the summit of which, one can see the sea.We climbed some steps, just for the joy of going up. People at the top could be seen like ants. I was told that, daily, Jain nuns brought water all the way up, to their temple, some distance down from th summit. It was my great wish to scale the mountain once.
Sudha was always suffering from cough. A young child specialist told us tht it was due to worms! After deworming, there was much relief.
I had plans to visit Veraval, Dwaraka,Gir lions,Palitana etc. What is the hurry? I have a life time to spend here, I thought.
Kota was malaria infested, but I escaped till now. Here I was shaken with fever. I felt as though my end was near. I did not have friends like Nag or K.M. I felt depressed.
When a chance came for transfer to Kota, I grabbed it.
My superviser came and asked me: have you got al the returns? I was quite taken aback. I knew the word as a verb. He then explained that it is a statement detailing the vouchers attached. I had to check telegraph vouchers. In those days, people would use railway facility of telegraph and pay for it. I found it somewhat interesting, calculation of charges after counting the words.
One day a fat short man came and snatched my chair, without any warning. I could have fallen, but somehow balanced myself.I t was Gupta, who had gone on inspection.
I met Baljith Singh Nag, younger to me, tall and slightly stooping in his gait, who was one batch senior and had completed his training in Bombay.
Workkshop audit
Before long, I was transferred to Worksop and Stores Audit, some two miles from GLO. There I was given the work of receipt and despatch work, normally done by a lower division clerk, in addition to some regular audit.
We were some five members, Satya Prakash Arya being the senior. He always used to abuse our supervisor, Beharilal, behind his back. At lunch break, we all go to some hawker selling dhal and some north Indian preparaions, distasteful to me, but I kept quiet. Mulgund, a Mysorean, was my company in this respect.
I was regular in reading English news paper. In our absecne, during lunch break, some one from the Accounts branch was reading it, when some Audit Officer happened to see it. He thought I was reading and reported it to my officer.
For the first time, I bought a book, RAPTAKOS (not certain about spelling) , a brilliant story about slave revolt. One Ajit Singh from Ratlam office, who had come for Audit inspection of some unit, took it from me and never returned it!
John, in the office of Inspetor Of Works(IOW) was our friend. Though married, he lived the loose life of a bachelor. It seems many women liked him. HE WAS VERY HELPFUL TO ALL.
That time I started preparing for the departmental examination for promotion as Auditor, known as Subordinate Railway Audit Service or SRAS exam.
The books dealing with departmental rules and regulations are boring to read, but there is no other way. I had shaved off my hair to be quite free. Kamala, who used to come carrying Nag’s daughter Madhu (Guddi) would poke fun of my clean head!
In the mean time, K.K.Narayanettan had initiated action for arranging my marriage. I welcomed it at heart but was shy of discussing it with friends. Luckily, Vasudevapphan’s daughter Santa, who liked me very much, was given in marriage to Sankaranarayanan of Muthukurssi mana. She suggested to her husband my name for his sister‘s marriage. I did not know anything about it. Parakunnam, my mausi’s husband, was my guardian for this purpose.
In my absence, every thing was settled by him.
A very foolish action on my part, in the meantime, resulted in my transfer to construction Division at Dohad (I got construction allowance by this transfer) and then to Kota, but in a separate establishment where we were given newly constructed quarters, meant for class four staff, with a single room with kitchen etc., but no fan. My boss was Kunjuvareed, who occupied the quarter next to mine. Afterwards, Nag and Mirchandani also joined our construction group, along with Shivpoojan ram. As they were already having quarters, they did not have to come to our area in the workshop colony.
JAIPUR
When I returned alone, a feeling of desolaton overcame me. I felt listless.the town, then the hills and the dry river beyond.
I met some Keralites , whose names I cannot recollect, one Koshy among them, who was more attached to me.week, the stubble growing slowly during the week.
I too was called inside the cabin.
“How are you, Mr. Subramanian? You are alone without any body to look after you? At least today you could have shaved, to respect the Chief Auditor. Or, you grow a beard like me, ha ha.”
He was a jolly type. He would stop his car on the road side and buy nuts or plantains. He had only one hand, with which he could drive recklessly – these were the stories about him.
One day I had a trunk call from the admin. section at H.Q. I could not understand anything except the words KOTA. I promptly said yes.
I knew that I would get a quarter if posted at Kota, Alex my friend, had told me. George had applied for transfer to Bombay. So the chain depended on me. I got the order in a week.
My things were bundled together in a sac and Durgadanji, Deputy Director in the state and a relative of Mataji, staying in the house, arranged a vehicle to take me to the railwa station. All, including Shakuntala’s parents,were sorry at my sudden departure. I too felt sad; we meet as strangers, depart as friends! Who said that?
AT KOTA
At Kota Alex, Mirchandani and Nag were my olleagues; Bannerjee was the L.D.C., all working under Lodha, the Auditor. One Dasgupta was the Audit Officer located at Ratlam. Our quarters were at the same place, earmarked for our department. I stayed with Alex who was unmarried, even though one was allotted to me. The office peon Shivpoojan Ram was the cook and shared the quarter free.
I was given contractors’ bills and compilation of accounts (audit only)
George gave his bicycle, for a sum settled by our colleagues, even if I did not know cycling. I seated myself on it and Nag wheeled it for some distance along the road and left it. I hit the cycle on a country woman and she started beating me with her hands, abusing me all the while, though it did not pain me! All were laughing. That is how I learned cycling.
Our colony was on the east side of the railway line and the officce just near it, on the west side. At 11 A.M the fronter mail comes from Bombay, carrying the dak which is sent by “railway dak” in the luggage van where it is sorted and unloaded at each station.
Nag and Mirchandani used to collect it, even if it is the peon’s duty. I too went to give company.
The Chambal river was very near. I liked to walk towards its bank.
After passing the first examination, I had to cross one more hurdle; part two, with accountancy, constitution of India and railway tariff rules. The first two, I liked. The last one is interesting, if we have to get a general idea only. For instance, for the same quantity of salt and marble, we have to pay different amounts, much less for salt, grass, food grains etc. being essential for life, for tranportation by the railways. So there is something like a dictionary, where we should locate the item, to see its classification. Then there are special rules for transportation of camels, elephants, their escorts etc. We have to carry a trunkload of books for reference in practical papers. There are so many things to remeber. In fact we have to work like a goods clerk in the railway station. Very boring. I failed in the first two attempts, almost gave it up.
In the mean time, K.M wanted me to coach him. At the last moment, I too decided to appear in the exam. We both appeared at Delhi centre. The accountancy paper was too lengthy and, by the time I finished profit and loss account and balance sheet, of which I could add up only the assets side, the whole time for the paper was almost over and I hurried by writing the rest of the answers in very short paragraphs.
I lost hope and told K.M about my predicament.
That year, I was the only person to qualify from Western Railway Audit! Congratulatory messages poured in. I could hardly believe it. In February 1970, I was promoted and posted as Auditor, in independent charge of” workshop and stores audit”at Bhavanagar.
RAT TEA
When I was working in the costruction office of the Railway Audit wing at Dohad, temporarily set up in connection with the Godhra-Ratlam doubling project, Kunjuvareed was my boss and Pitkar my clleague. All of us stayed in a shed, partitioned to make quarters for us. I was a bachelor and my boss’s wife at home for periodic delivery.
K wakes up early. He will make tea and offer it to me, too. In turn, I do the cleaning of vessels.
In the evening, when we return home, all three of us once remained in K’s quarter, where I was staying during his bachelorship, chit chatting. Now, it was my turn to make tea. After tasting tea, Pitkar commented that he had never tasted a better tea! I felt elated.
When I was cleaning the thermos flask later, I felt something inside and held it to light to see better. I was shocked to see the ears, of some animal and showed it to K, WHO CONFIRMED IT WAS A RAT!
This is how it happened. When he placed the flask, after taking the milk for the morning tea, before placing the lid, the rat must have fallen into it,while trying to see what is inside. The hot milk killed it and it was swollen during the period before I took the milk for making the evening tea, which was so much praised by my friend!
K panicked and we went to see a doctor. The doctor only laughed! Are you not a non-vegetarian, he asked K.
At that time our Deputy Chief Auditor was one Miss Swamy who smoked and took black tea without sugar. (The Audit Officer commented conteptuously: wo beedi peethee hai!) Once she visited our office and wanted a ride in the loco engine. There was a loco shed there. It was the era of steam engine and K fixed it up. Staff at the shed asked afterwards: where is Chief Auditor? They thought it was his daughter.
It is in forest area and once our peon, a tribal, led us to his dwelling, quite far away in the hills. The hut was clean. A young man illustrated his skill in archery, by lying down and holding the bow with his feet and drawing the arrow with both hands. The bow became almost circular and then he released the arrow which flew higher and higher, until we could not see it any more. After some minutes, it struck the earth a few feet away!
On the way, we were shown a temple with erotic sculptures. This must be common in those days.
I was riding my bicycle, when it was barely dark. The police whistled and stopped me: where is the light of the cycle?, something which never occurred to me. The local law required it.
I used to buy eggs from a fellow who comes every day. Once he had no change and I had given him ten rupees. I was going to Keralam and so I bought all the eggs and boiled them. It lasted for some days, even after I came home!
MY MARRIAGE
I took a railway pass with wife included in the return journey and came to Keralam in June 1963. As we had no place to live, mother was with her sister at Prakunnath mana at Trichur. I first went there. Prakunnam told me that marriage was fixed for 26.6.1963. I got a snap of her, but did not know her name. It was easy for me to go to my cousin Santa and demand a meeting with the bride, something I did not have the courage to countenance. I was too shy. I only wished that, somehow the whole drama was over, and we boarded the train for Kota.
I met all relatives and handed them the formal invitation letter. On the appointed day, we reached her home at Shoranur by train.
I was asked to take bath in the pond.Then I had to wear the formal vastram (a very long cloth, to be worn in such a way that it served the purpose of underwear as well as loin cloth). I did not know how to. Some -how made a pretence of it. I heard a comment: it seems he does not know it.
During the elaborate ritual, she is covered in a white cloth as men folk should not see her. Narayanettan, who had seen her, I don’t know how, told me she is tall. I am only 5 feet 3 inch. Afterwards, we used to argue about who is taller.
There was no first night. She slept with other women folk.
Normally, the husband can see the bride only on the fourth night. Till then, she is offered to different gods. All gods have more than one wife. Is their sexual appetite not satisfied, even after enjoying millions of brides for such a long time?
I requested Vasudevapphan to avoid this. I must return early, as my leave is short.
He agreed to talk to them.
I saw her in the dim light of the oil lamp, with just a loin cloth and blouse. No ornaments, no sari, no make up. I liked it this way.
There were two Kerala style beds, rectangular sac filled with silk cotton, spread on the floor, a little apart.
I asked: how do you feel, now that we are married?
Happy that I don’ have to study. You are exactly as Santa edathy told me.
I am working in Rajasthan. Do you know where it is?
Isn’t it in Gujarat?
This was enough to know her. We pushed the beds, to bring them together and lay down.
I asked her about her family details and she told me. In five minutes, we felt as if we knew each other for years! She was quite calm, but I was too excited to sleep. When I tried to remove her cloth, she protested: oh, no.
She went to sleep, with her head on my chest.
I spent a few sleepless nights, without reaching any conclusion. V.B.S had cautioned against haste. I Remembered the poet’s words- cosummation is a thing to be devoutly wished!
Earlier, I was bored, waiting for an invitation to the ‘nuptial chamber’. None minded me. The whole day I waited in vain, for a glimpse of her. Her sister, about thirteen, came often to enquire whether I needed anything. She was quite bright and smart.
Only Santa came once and we did not talk much, as I seldom talked to girls, not knowing what to say.
The upstairs room where we spent our first night, was demolished during remodelling of the house which was a three storied old building, with rectanglar opening in the middle. We call it nalukettu.
The next day we went to Guruvayoor temple, along with my mother-in-law. I had never been there. It was almost quiet then, just like Mammiyur now, and we made several rounds of the sanctum sacntorum, the place where the deity of Lord Krishna is installed.
Afterwards, we went alone to see our relatives, including maternal grandmother, who was still alive. She was warming some leaves and fomenting her bare chest with it. I felt sorry for her. She said my wife should not part her hair into two braids! She was staying at Amballore, with my uncle Guptan bhattadiripad, after her eldest son passed away, six years earlier.
We returned to Kota by early July 1963. She was still a virgin.
When we began our life in the railway colony in 1964, there was no cooking gas facility . Initially we depended on kerosine stove. Coal and cinders were available, as it was the age of steam engines, for burning which, specially made buckets with thick clay linings were locally made. This was very cheap. Poor people used to steel coal from goods trains waiting for signal. I helped my wife to initially light up the coal, which came in big pieces. First, a small fire is made of twigs and paper etc., then small pieces of coal and finally the big ones. In winter, the whole kitchen became warm.
The market was on the other side of the rail line. My cycle was useful, but I had to be careful not to fall down. My legs are short. This was a handicap.
Wheat was purchased in bulk from the farmers who brought it in the colony, though I did not like wheat. Rice was scarce and costly.
Sudha was small and her mother used to smear her body with coconut oil, allowing her to play for some time, before washing her.
As water supply was limited, we built a small tank inside the bath room to store water. The toilet was outside the house, inside the court yard, without water tap. We had to carry water in a mug.
Some times, news reached us about a train carrying buffalows, and people rushed to get good quality milk at cheap rates.
Often I would invite Nag and Kishan Mirchandani (K.M.) for an evening, when dosa,the favourite south Indian dish, prepared with rice and udud dhal, soaked in water overnight, ground into a paste and fried over a hot plate, smeared liberally with oil, will be served. As there was no electric grinder, myself and my wife would grind it in a manual grinder, the day before, an exercise lasting at least one hour!
Some other day we all meet at Nag’ house, when some north Indian preparation would be the item. On a Sunday, K.M. who was a bachelor, would invite us to share mutton, prepared by himself with great care, as the rest of us are denied this pleasure.
He lived in a house in the market, we call bazaaria, with his old father, who retired as Travelling Ticket Examiner. The rent was only Rs.13. He had a sister who was a Gandhian , used to wearing simple cloths. How I would have liked to meet her, had she been alive!
This way, time passed quickly, during the period I worked in the Railway Divisional Office, Kota.
BHAVANAGAR
The DEE was so pleased that he allotted me a type four quarter, with three (or four?) bed rooms , from his pool!
We had only Sudha, aged six and Sudhir, aged three and practically no furniture.
At that time, I put my daughter in the first standard. When she failed to return from the school, the very first day,I went there and found her cool and playing!
One day my wife told me to buy sugar. I sent Sudha with proper instructions for crossing the high way, connecting Rajkot and Bhavanagar, as the shop was on the other side. Time passed and there was no sign of her coming back. My wife lost all patience and started accusing me. At last, she came with the packet of sugar. There were many customers. WHEN ALL LEFT, THE SHOPKEEPER ASKED HER WHAT SHE WANTED. That was the reason for such a long time
If you look at the railway net work in Saurashtra region of Gujarat, you will be surprised. It is really a net. So the coaches of trains are shuffled and reshuffled at every junction, as each one will have a different destination.
Our branch Officer was headquartered at Rajkot.
There are many stories about this gentleman, one Bhatnagar. One night he was coming to Bhavanagar on monthly visit. At Jatalsar (or some other junction) he got down from the train, had tea, pan etc. and loiterd on the platform, to while away the time, as the halt was long, for shuffling of coaches. At last, he entered the train, got into his first class cabin and went to sleep. In the morning, he found no peon waiting for him. Then he looked around and found that he was back at Rajkot! When he was loitering on the platform, another train, going to Rajkot, had come there.
His peon took away his luggage from the empty berth at Bhavanagar and informed Saheb on phone.
Once, he returned from office and sat down in his drawing room, reading the newspaper, as was his wont. Coffe was brought. Sipping hot coffee, he went on reading. At last, when he was entering his room, he noticed some change, when his friend’s wife told him that his wife was waiting for him, in his own bungalow!
During a routine visit to Jamnagar workshop, I enquired whether there was somthing worth seeing in the town. Some body suggested the shamshan (crematorium). I thought they were making fun of me, but my assistants told me otherwise.
When we reached there, IT WAS A PLEASANT SURPRISE TO SEE A BEAUTIFUL, WELL LAID FLOWER GARDEN, WITH A NUMBER OF STATUES OF GREAT MEN , from Shreeram to Nehru; all this, the work of a single person! We stayed there for quite some time. In the end, I enquired whether dead bodies were burnt there. Then they showed the wood stocked at the back. The philosophy behind the attempt, was that we should bid farewell to the dead, smiling, and not with tears.
At Junagad, we went to the foot of the huge stone hill, from the summit of which, one can see the sea.We climbed some steps, just for the joy of going up. People at the top could be seen like ants. I was told that, daily, Jain nuns brought water all the way up, to their temple, some distance down from th summit. It was my great wish to scale the mountain once.
Sudha was always suffering from cough. A young child specialist told us tht it was due to worms! After deworming, there was much relief.
I had plans to visit Veraval, Dwaraka,Gir lions,Palitana etc. What is the hurry? I have a life time to spend here, I thought.
Kota was malaria infested, but I escaped till now. Here I was shaken with fever. I felt as though my end was near. I did not have friends like Nag or K.M. I felt depressed.
When a chance came for transfer to Kota, I grabbed it.
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