Calicut – Calcutta – Calicut

1981 December. All India Conference of All India Telecom Employees Union Class III (NFPTE) was to be held at Calcutta from 29th December 1981 to 2nd January 1982. Starting the conference in the last week of the year and ending in the first week of the New Year was the tradition with NFPTE and affiliated unions for a long time. The Second Federal Council at Calcutta (28.12.1955 – 02.01.56), Third Federal Council at Hyderabad ( 26.12.1956 – 01.01.57), Fifth Federal Council at Jaipur ( 26.12.1958 – 31.12.58), Eighth Federal Council at Madras ( 27.12.1963 – 01.01.64) are some examples.  It will be very cold in the northern India, but it is the time for marriages, festivals, conferences etc. It is the time of holidays also. With layers of warm clothes and good food, it is time for enjoyment.

I was the Circle Secretary of the major Telephone District, Calicut. (For a few years, major Districts were  treated as Circles). This AIC was going to be very important, since decision was to be taken for participation in the first All India Strike called by the Central Trade Unions on 29^th January 1982. It was a well known fact  that Com.O.P.Gupta, GS, E.III Union was not in favour of the strike. Hence, we, the progressive section,  had to put maximum pressure. For that more number of delegates from our side were required. We in Kerala decided to attend AIC in large numbers. From Calicut District alone 38 delegates.100 delegates from Kerala. E.III AIC was never much strict about the number of delegates and hence no problem for extra delegates. Most of the AICs were having about 3000 to 4000 delegates. 

Delegates from Calicut started on different dates according to availability of train reservation. Myself, wife Pankajam, P.A.Velayudhan, Janaky Kutty and M.Kalliani started by the Howrah compartment in West Coast Express leaving for Madras at 00.15 on 25th December. Reached Madras at 14.30 hours. Howrah Coach, in which we were, was kept in the shunting yards till 20.00 hours. Lady Comrades went to a relative’s house, took bath, had food and returned. Myself and PAV remained in the compartment and took bath there itself. A few snakes were moving uninterrupted in the thick grass in the shunting yard. We were afraid whether they will get in to the compartment.

The coach was connected to Corramandal Express which  started for Calcutta by about 20.00 hours.  Ate sweets and snacks brought from home. There were a lot of other delegates also in the Coromandal Express. Reached Howrah in the early morning of 27th. Coms. M. Balasubramanian , Punnassery Balan and other delegates who reached earlier were waiting in the station. We travelled  by bus to AIC Reception Committee office, took meals from exchange canteen and met senior leaders of Calcutta including Com. Ananata Bhattacharjee, General Secretary, Reception Committee. Next we went for a tour of the city in a bus. Visited many places including Botanical Gardens. Com. Kalliani lost her bag in the bus, but we managed to get it back after going to the head office of the bus, where it was kept safe.

AIC was addressed by Coms. Jyoti Basu (CITU) and Indrajit Gupta (AITUC). Mammoth procession in town in the afternoon. Heated discussion about participation in the national strike. Coms.Moni Bose, PVC, myself and many comrades strongly demanded for participation in the strike, while OPG and followers tactically opposed. At last it was decided to strike ‘wherever possible’. I was elected as a Federal Councillor. New Year was celebrated in a big way by the delegates. On 3rd January, some of us went to the residence of Com. Moni Bose, Union leader and had tea and sweets. All of us had a detailed tour of the historic city and visited many heritage sites. Fortunately we could hear Com.EMS Namboodiripad addressing a mammoth rally in the historic Parade Grounds in connection with the W.Bengal State Conference of CPI(M). Fortunate to hear three stalwarts of the Left in a few days.

Return journey became a big problem. Although we had booked return tickets from Calicut itself, some were in the waiting list. Immediately on reaching Calcutta, we had checked in the station, but they were still in W/L. Every day some of the delegates went to the railway station to find out whether  tickets  are confirmed. No. But at the same time, those who booked return tickets after reaching Calcutta had got reservation. There was something very fishy going on. Even on 3rd January when enquired, no confirmation. We had to start by 17.00 hours on 4th.

Without confirmation, it will be almost impossible to travel. Tickets had got to be  confirmed. I went to the Railway Station in the morning and enquired. Tickets were still not confirmed. Waited to meet the Chief Superintendent of the Railway Station. Went to his office on the 5^th/6^th floor, but he has not arrived. The attendant there started going down the lift with a wheel chair, stating that the officer is arriving. I went along with him in the lift. The officer was sitting in the car. He was differently-abled and was helped to sit in wheel chair, for which I also assisted. He was assisted to the lift and then to his room, myself also helping. On reaching his office room, he told us to leave. I understood that he has to arrange himself to sit in his chair, which he wanted to do without help.

After a few minutes I was called to the room. I told him that even after one month of booking, our tickets are not confirmed, while even those booked by delegates after reaching Calcutta have been confirmed. First he said nothing could be done as it will be according to rules. I had to tell him that we are from telephones and will complain to higher authorities. 

Then he asked me to wait outside. In the meantime, I went to the Railway Union Secretary and told him about the difficult situation. After some time, I was called by the Superintendent. He had got all the tickets confirmed, but in different compartments. OK,   at least all tickets are confirmed. Since all tickets were got confirmed  did not complain to higher authorities.

We waited in the platform for the Coramandal Express to arrive. There was heavy rush of passengers. Train arrived and  not much time to start. We rushed to the respective compartments, got the comrades to their respective berths. Somehow managed to board everybody in the train.

By evening next day reached Madras. Got down. Visited some places in the city. Stayed in a hotel. By 11.30 on 5th January started for Calicut by West Coast Express. Deep sleep in the night. Reached Calicut next day. Everybody tired, but happy and satisfied.

V A N Namboodiri  16.10.2024