Not remembering date and year. After Circle Conference at Khammam had to Return to Delhi by G.T.Express reaching Khammam from Chennai at about 00.30 hours in midnight. Reservation already made. Along with Com.J.Sampath Rao, P.Asoka Babu etc. reached the Railway Station in the nick of time. Train was already in the station and was starting to move. My three bags with warm clothes, union records etc.were just thrown inside my reserved compartment by our comrades, I got in and train started. I went to my berth and sat with relief.

All of a sudden, I felt something was wrong. The compartment was almost empty. GT used to be always full. One boy was sitting in the side seat. On asking I found out to my dismay it was a train to Hyderabad or so. I had to attend urgent meetings on 10th and 11th at Delhi including with Secretary, DOT. I had somehow to catch GT to reach Delhi in time. I pulled the chain but it was not moving. It was in a fixed condition. Even other wise, there was no meaning since the train has already passed much beyond the station. I realised that GT Express is yet to come. In our haste to get in we did not notice which was the train. In the hope that I will change the train at the next station after getting down and catching the coming GT, I referred the Railway Time Table, which I always carried with me. But GT will reach that station, before this train reaches there. That means, this train will stop somewhere and allow the GT to pass.

The train stopped after some time in a very small station. In the platform, there was no light. I got down with my luggage. Knee high grass was all over. I walked back to the Guard’s compartment and spoke to him. I requested him to get the GT Express stopped there so that I can get in. He ridiculed me stating that how can GT stop there, where there is no stop. He told me to get inside the train, get another train next day for Delhi. He also warned me that this is naxal area and you have to be very careful. When I insisted, he told me to go to the first platform where the Assistant Station Master will be there and seek his help. I crossed all the three tracks of railway lines got up to the platform on the other side with much difficulty. The Station Master was in his small room. No other building. It was a very small station, probably with only one or two trains in the whole day.

First he was taken by surprise seeing me like that. Then I explained and pressurised him to somehow stop the coming GT express to enable me to catch and reach Delhi in time. He was sympathetic. He contacted the control room and conveyed my request. He was shouted at by the Control room for putting such a request. The ASM, then called the Guard. Guard contacted Khammam, but GT has already left. By the time, we could see the train coming. All of us got down near the central track. Seeing us and sensing some accident or so, he slowed down to find out. In short, I was able to get in to the train and continue my journey. A woman was sleeping in my berth, but when I told her that it is my birth, she readily vacated.

I reached Delhi on 10th and could attend the scheduled meetings. When I spoke to Com. Sampath Rao after reaching Delhi, he also told that they also realised later that I had boarded the wrong train. A wrong train and a right train!

In the early days, there was no direct train from Kerala to Delhi. You had to travel to Madras  and then catch GT Express, the only train from Madras to Delhi. Then came the Kerala – Karnataka Express (K.K.Express) and later Kerala Express. Much later Mangala Express via Konkan Railway started. Going to Delhi became easier and quicker.

After I was elected as the President and later General Secretary of the AITE Union Class III in 1991 and 1994 respectively, I had to be at  Head Quarters New Delhi. Wife and children being at residence at Calicut, I had to come now and then, which I adjusted with union programmes.

On such an occasion when I was returning to Delhi from Calicut, I met  my friend, a public person and owner of Railway Restaurant and who was also having contract of canteen in the Delhi train. We talked for some time and I boarded the train when it arrived. The train left.

I drink a lot of tea and coffee in the train and this time also it was not different. Meals also supplied. The supplier will not usually collect the money then and there from  long distance passengers and will collect the total amount before they reach their destination.

Just before reaching Delhi, I asked the supplier what was my amount. Smiling he told that the Canteen Manager has told him not to collect any amount from me and that the supply is free. I understood that my friend might have told the Canteen Manager  accordingly. Even after pressure, he did not accept money. It was useless to compel him.

Usually there is a practice of giving some money to the suppliers for their good service. I approximately calculated the amount of supplied of food and adding something more, I put the money in his hand and told that this is a gift from me to him, and not for the food. He gladly accepted.

When I met my friend after returning, I thanked him for his good gesture. He might not have known what happened. But I told him smilingly not to continue this in future. Later I started carrying food packets prepared from home as is the system with many passengers.

March 1993. We were going by train to attend the three days Central Working Committee of  E.III All India Union at Calcutta from 18th to 20th March 1993. Com. Moni was the General Secretary and myself President elected from Bhopal AIC after a stiff contest. This was the second working committee and first after parallel list was floated by the disruptors. Hence a large number of observers were attending the meeting.

Com.Moni Bose was a man who wants perfection in everything. He was fond of good food and also very particular that others also should have  the same. During the period I stayed with him at Dada Ghosh Bhawan and also whenever I have gone to his house in Calcutta, I have been overwhelmed by his loving care and pressure on me to consume the best food in large quantity. Even in his old age, he used to go to the market to buy vegetables.

It was not different in the train journey to Calcutta. In addition to two  of us there were  Com. Hari Om Dutt Sharma, Circle Secretary Delhi and many other comrades from Delhi, U.P., Haryana etc.  As per direction of Moni Bose, Com. Raghubir Singh, our office clerk, has brought a large number of chappathis in a dubba, sabji, fruits and what not. Com.Bagraj Khari, Treasurer, who boarded from his Ghaziabad also brought many eatables. It was really a feast.  It was supplied to some other passengers also. The journey was a time for eating and also discussion about the holding of the CWC and other union matters. As usual, I took many cups of tea and coffee in the train.

The CEC meeting was fruitful and took many important decisions. I wanted some books to be purchased and during the lunch break on the second day I got down from the Yuba Kendra building where the CEC was holding and caught a riksha to go to the book stall. I was pondering on some issues, but after a few minutes, all of a sudden I felt that the riksha was moving very very slowly. Looking to the rikshawalla, I realised to my shock that it was not a cycle riksha. A very old weak man was pulling the riksha by his hands and slowly moving forward. It was a hand pulled riksha.

I asked him to stop and got down. I asked him what is the charge to the book  stall. He said Rs.5 and I gave him the money. I engaged a taxi  and went to the book stall. 

Even now, one can see many hand pulled rikshas in the norther cities. In some cities like Calcutta, they were offered cycle / auto rikshas by the government, but many still prefer to their hand pulled rikshas.

1976. Com.A.K.Gopalan, M.P. along with wife Com.Suseela Gopalan reached Calicut by train in the morning. As asked by Advocate Com. P.K.Kunhirama Poduval, I went to the railway station and brought them in his car to his residence at Chalappuram. AKG was very ill. Dr. C.B.C.Warrier and Dr. N.S.Venugopal came and checked the condition of AKG. He took rest in the day. Party leaders came and met him.

They were to go to Coimbatore that night itself. I was asked to go to the Railway Station and confirm the ticket. As an M.P., A.K.G. was fully eligible with one co-passenger for free travel in First Class, but the reservation has to be made at the Railway Station with a  reservation charge of Rs. 2 or so. I went to the station, met the Station Master, who immediately made the reservation, even without taking any reservation charges from me.  He said it a was privilege for him.

It was the night train going to Coimbatore side, reaching Calicut about 22.00 hours or so. According to the time schedule, we went to the station and the train was already in the platform. With the luggage, medicine bag etc. we got in to the First Class compartment, in which the reservation was made. I went first through the corridor and finding the door closed of the particular coupe, knocked. After some time, one person opened and told that both the berths are reserved from Mangalore. I was telling him that the berths are reserved for Com.A.K.Gopalan M.P., but without saying anything he closed the door. I was shocked. Coms.AKG and Suseela were standing in the corridor behind me. Both of them were very tired. They heard what was spoken by the passengers. I was expecting sharp reaction from AKG, but both he and Suseela Gopalan were standing calm. I was ashamed of myself having put them in such a difficult situation. If I had contacted the station master when we reached the railway station, he would certainly have taken it a privilege to accompany Com. AKG to the train and there would have been no problem.

I rushed out to go to the TTE or Station Master, but the train started. I helplessly looked at the train with Com.A.K.G. and Com. Suseela Gopalan standing in the corridor with their luggage on the floor. I was horrified having put them in such an unhappy situation. I ran to the station master and informed that AKG has not got the reserved berth. He assured to do the needful immediately.

I rushed to the telephone exchange and contacted our union comrades at Tirur and Shornur to go to the Railway station and to ensure the berths for Com.AKG and Suseela Gopalan.  They got in the compartment when it arrived and got the information from the TTE that as soon as the train left, the Railway Officers who were sleeping in the coupe, realised their mistake, came out, apologised to Com.AKG, pleaded to be forgiven and they themselves put the luggage inside and arranged everything.

It was with much apprehension that next day I contacted Com. Suseela Gopalan at Coimbatore. But she calmly told not to worry, they have got the berths without delay. It was then and then only that I was relieved. But still, sometime when I remember the incident, I feel guilty and can not pardon myself.