JOURNIES & JOURNEYS – 4

TRAVEL WITH A CELEBRITY

After being elected as the Kerala Circle Secretary of All India Telecom Employees Union Class III (NFPTE) in 1977 at Kottayam Circle Conference, I was nominated to the Circle Council of Joint Consultative Committee (JCM), of STR /STP Circle  with  head quarters at Madras. I was nominated to the Joint Consultative Machinery (JCM) meetings at departmental level at New Delhi also. The meetings were expected to be held every three months, but some times it may be delayed. In these meetings, as a Member, I was to participate.

It was for such a meeting I was going to Madras. Since JCM Members are eligible for I Class travel, I had booked ticket in the first class. AC compartments have not been introduced. I was in waiting list, but  was allowed to travel in first class. It was a four berth coupe. By about 10.00 pm all were ready to sleep. Since I had no berth, I spread a sheet on the floor and started to lie down.

There were two Europeans, one gentleman and one lady in the compartment, may be husband and wife, may be not. But they told me that they will sleep in one berth (the first class berths are wide enough) and I can sleep in the other. I was surprised by their generous offer and of course accepted and thanked them. Had a good sleep.

While returning from Madras after the meeting next day, I was alone in the first class compartment till the last moment. All of a sudden, there were a lot of people rushing to the compartment with much luggage and a bundle of  journals. Except one person, all others left as the train started. With surprise I could recognise that my co-passenger was none other than the famous cine star Shri Prem Nazir. The other two berths were vacant. Probably he might have booked them also.

A chance in a life-time. I introduced myself and we started discussing many matters. He was going to Calicut for some programme. The large number of magazines he had with him showed  that he was much interested in reading. He was happy to continue conversation. No up-man show or ignoring the co-passenger. We talked freely.

Then I asked him whether there is any intention on his part to enter in to  politics, as reported by the news papers at that time. He laughed and told me ‘no such plan’. He added that Kerala is not like T.Nadu, where many cinema stars entered  politics.

In the morning I got down at Tirur Railway Station to attend a meeting there, after saying good bye to the actor. I was told later by friends that at Calicut Railway Station, he was given a grand reception.

V.A.N.Nambodiri    13.10.2024