JOURNEYS & JOURNEYS  – 6

 

Train Journey with Com. EMS and Photo of Babu Tarapada .

It was in the 1970s, probably in 1976.

P and T Co-ordinating Committee (NFPTE),  Mangalore was organising a big convention and they wanted former Chief Minister of Kerala and veteran CPM(I) leader Com.E.M.S.Namboodiripad to inaugurate the same. I spoke to him and he agreed.

Com.E.M.S. reached Calicut Railway Station from Trivandrum by the early morning train. I received him at the station. He was accommodated in the Railway  Rest room already reserved.

All the available morning papers were purchased and were handed to him as required. While watching him reading all of them quickly, a doubt arose in my mind. How is he managing this? (Days later, the idea struck me. It might be that he has trained himself to grasp the important and required portion at a glance, just as we look at a photo and grasp the details. May be right, may be wrong. But there was some extra-ordinary capacity in him that allowed him to read a lot of books and materials, remember them all and quote when necessary. It also came to my mind that how  Adi Shankara is reported to have dictated verses to four disciples at the same time one after another on four different subjects. Remembered what Com.M.P.Veerendra Kumar, M.P. and well known writer  admiringly told me once: ‘Com.EMS is a human computer’).

Usually, food was being arranged from Kidson Tourist Home in the town. But when tea was brought, owner of the Non- Vegetarian Restaurant at the Railway Station requested that he may be allowed to arrange the breakfast for EMS. While agreeing, told him that no salt and oil, as advised by doctor. After some time, he came back with the food.

While taking breakfast EMS told that a little bit of salt and oil are there in the food. With a smile, he said that the restaurant owner might have thought that how a person can take food without salt. He was not angry at all.

After some time, we started for Mangalore. He was in the First class as already reserved by us. I travelled in ordinary compartment. In between the journey  I went to his compartment, saw him writing and did not disturb. When getting down at Mangalore, he entrusted me a cover addressed to Chintha Weekly and asked to post the same after putting the postage stamps. It was his regular weekly article for Chintha written while in train. It was posted in the RMS as soon as we reached  Mangalore.

Large number of P & T workers was present in the meeting held in the Post Office. His inaugural speech was very educative as usual and comrades were very happy.  There was a framed photo of Babu Tarapada Mukherjee fixed on the wall. On his asking, we told that it is the photo of the founder leader of Postal Union, Babu Tarapada Mukherjee. ‘Good. You display union leaders’ photo in Post Offices?’ he  was surprised. It was the first time I also saw a union leader’s photo in the Post Office. Later, I could see the same in some other Post Offices also. A great tradition.

V.A.N.Namboodiri  15.10.2024