How to get in the missed Train ?

I had gone to Khammam to attend the Circle Conference of A.P. Circle. Under the militant leadership of Coms. J.Sampath Rao, Circle Secretary  and P.Asoka Babu, Asst. General Secretary, the union functioned effectively and the Circle Conference was a big success in participation and deliberation. As the General Secretary of the Union, I attended fully in the proceedings.

An important event in the Conference was the donation of the Circle Union collected from its members to purchase a car for the All India Union. This was greatly appreciated by all.

After the Conference I had to return that night itself to New Delhi, since next day there was an important meeting with the Secretary, Department of Telecom. Ticket has already been booked for the sleeper. The train was to reach at Khammam at about midnight.

After the Conference and dinner,I was sitting in the IQ and discussing some issues with Sampath Rao, Asoka Babu, Samba Siva Rao, Thirumalacharulu  and a few other comrades. At about half – an hour before the arrival time of the GT, I told Sampath Rao that we can proceed to the Railway Station. I was always careful to reach the station well in time. He told me that the station is only 2 – 3 minutes from the IQ and there is no hurry. Hence some 10 minutes before midnight we started for the railway station in the car with my luggage. Since it was December or so and it was severe cold in Delhi, I had taken warm clothes and including dress, books, records etc. there were three bags with me.

We reached the platform just before midnight. We could see the train standing in the first platform, while we were in  the second platform. All the three of us took one bag each and  rushed  crossing the three railway tracks in between and  climbing to the first platform.

The train was just starting. A sleeper compartment was just in front of us. The bags were placed in the compartment, I got in and the train started. All of us were happy that I could catch train. I waved my hands to them.

When I started to search for my compartment and berth, I found out that most of the berths were unoccupied. The passengers in the occupied berths were already sleeping. I got a doubt, whether this is GT , because, GT used to be always full. That is the position even now. A young boy was sitting in a side berth and I asked him whether the train is not GT? He said no and added that it is a train to Secundarabad. The train has only moved a little distance and I pulled the Chain for stopping the same. But the chain was not working despite my many attempts. It seemed as it was permanently fixed.  By the time, the train has gained speed.

I realised that GT had not gone ahead. It will be coming behind. I can get down  in the next station and catch the same, I thought. I checked up with the Railway Time Table, which I always took with me while travelling and found that GT will pass this train, before reaching the next stop. That means, this train will stop somewhere to allow the GT to pass it.

By  this time,  the train has slowed and stopped. It was completely dark out side, but on the other side of the railway tracks  I could see a small building and light. Yes, it was a very small station.

I realized that this is my opportunity. With the   three bags, I managed to get down in the platform, which was completely dark. Grass has grown up to knee level and I walked through carefully and reached the back end of the train and met the Guard on duty. I told him that I had to go to Delhi by GT, got in this train by mistake and requested him to help by stopping the GT there so that I can get in to GT. He laughed and said GT will not stop here and nothing could be done. When I repeatedly requested, he told me to cross the tracks, get on to the platform on the other side and meet the Station Master, who will be inside the room. He also told me that this is a Naxal dominated area and cautioned to me to be very careful. I crossed the tracks, managed to climb to the platform, where not even a single person could be seen. I went to the station master’s cabin and spoke to him about my problem and the necessity of getting in to the GT to reach Delhi to meet the DOT Secretary. The young man was very sympathetic and called the control room and requested for stopping the train there, telling the situation. He was shouted at by the person at the Control Room for making such a request and said it will not stop. Now, the station master told me that he could not do anything more, but if the Train Guard, being a senior man, will be able to do something and called him. The Guard came to the platform from the other side and I told my urgency in reaching Delhi. He became sympathetic and called the Station Master of Khammam over Railway Phone who told that the GT has already left the station. Guard now called the GT Train Driver. Guard told us that the Driver is a friend of his and he has requested to stop the train here. Guard asked me my compartment number and I told him S- 13.I could hear him telling S-3 to the driver, but I did not interrupt as any compartment was ok with me. By the time, we could see the train coming from the distance.

Guard, Station Master and me got down to the tracks and waited there while the Train was coming through the middle track. It started slowing and almost stopped. I could see S – 3 on the compartment. Quickly I climbed the steps to the compartment, with the Guard and the Station Master handing over my  bags as I reached the compartment. The train has already started.  It might not have stopped even for half a minute; may be it might not have even stopped at all, but was moving very very slowly. I could not even get time to thank them.

Now I had to reach the S-13 compartment which was behind. I walked with  all the three bags and by the time I reached my compartment, I was sweating despite the cold season.

I found that a woman was sleeping in my berth. When I told her that it is my berth she did not agree. But a boy in the nearby berth told her ‘Amma, that is his berth’ and the lady vacated the berth for me.

I was hell tired and slept heavily. I could not tell our A.P. comrades what all happened as the mobile services have not started. After reaching Delhi in the morning, called Sampath Rao and told my ordeal. I also told him that I will write a letter to the Railway Minister appreciating the help of the Guard and the Station Master.

He told that as soon as the train had left, they had realised that it was not GT in which I have boarded, but could not do any thing and expressed happiness that I have reached Delhi in time. But he advised me that it will be inadvisabe to write to the Minister and instead he will go to the Station Master and thank him and also request him to convey thanks to the Guard. He did as promised and was also happy to find that the Station Master was related one of the telecom comrades there.

V A N Namboodiri  15.11.2025

The Founding Fathers of CPI(M) – 1

Com. P.Sundarayya ( (01.05.1913 – 19.05.1985)

The first General Secretary of the Communist Party of India (Marxist) , and the unquestioned leader of the Telengana Revolutionary Struggle, Com. P.Sundarayya, was born on 1st May 1913 to Venkatasami Reddy – Sheshamma couple at Alakanipadu in Nellore Distict of the then Madras Presidency. His father belonged to a rich   peasant family owning more than 50 acres of agricultural land.

He studied at schools in  Tiruvallor, Eluru and Loyola College at Madras. During his Madras stay, studied  Telegu literature and was a regular reader of ‘Young India’, journal edited by Mahatma Gandhi. Gradually  he was attracted to the Independence Movement. He started practising Yoga and physical exercises , which he continued till his end and which helped him in training volunteers, especially during the Telengana Struggle.

During this period,  he studied Marxist literature including Communist Manifesto and writings by Marx, Engels, Lenin and  others. The trial of Communists in Meerut Conspiracy case and their inspiring statements, Martyrdom of Bhagat Singh and his comrades – all made lasting impact in the mind of young Sundarayya. He decided to involve himself in the freedom struggle and left the studies and went to the villages and started work among the rural poor, especially the Dalits, the most exploited.

He participated in the Salt Satyagraha along with other volunteers and was arrested and sent to jail at Tanjore and later to Rajamundhry. He learned Hindi while in  jail. Here he met Shiv Varma, colleague of Bhagat Singh and had discussions by which he learned about their revolutionary activities. Sundarayya was released from jail in March 1931.

At this stage, he restarted his discontinued studies in college. It was during this period that Amir Hyder Khan, who has been sent to organise Communist Party in India by  the Communist International came in contact with Sundarayya and gradually recruited him to the Party along with a few others. In the meantime, he left his studies and started working full time for the party. Hyder Khan, who was underground all the time was arrested. Sundarayya’s house was raided , but he was not there.

As directed by the Party Sundarayya started working at Central Committee Office at Bombay. Then he returned to South to organise the Party. First a unit of the Party was formed in Andhra. In 1936 Party Unit was formed in Kerala with Comrades P.Krishna Pilaai, E.M.S.Namboodiripad, N.C.Sekhar and K.Damoran as members under the guidance of Comrades Sundarayya and S.V. Ghate.  Madras unit of the Party was also formed with Comrades P.Ramamurti, C.S.Subramaniam and others.   

When the Second World War started in 1939 and the Communist Party opposed war efforts terming  it as an Imperialist War, Communist leaders were arrested in large numbers and  put in jail. Com. Sundarayya went underground and organised many underground shelters. After the entry of Soviet Union and the change in the nature of the war, arrested Communist leaders were released.

Marriage of Com.Sundarayya with cOM. Leila took place in 1943. It was a quite simple declaration  in the presence of Com.P.C.Joshi, then General Secretary of the Communist Party. Later the marriage was registered.

Telengana armed struggle was one of the most important event in his life. Hyderabad was ruled by Nizam, where very big landlords were existed  like the Deshmukhs who owned thousand of acres of land. In fact 60% to 70 % of the total lands were owned by these big landlords. The peasants were forced to work long hours and free labour  called ‘Vetti’ without any wages. Artisans and other labourers were also compelled to give free service. The private army of the Nizam called ‘Razakkars’ terrorised the people. Since Mahatma Gandhi had directed that Congress Party need not be formed in native states, Congress was  not there in Hyderabad also. The conditions of the poor peasants were worse than slavery.

The firing and killing of Doddy Komaraiah, who led the agricultural and poor peasants, by Vishmuri Ramachandra Reddy, a big landlord, on 4^th July 1946, spread like wild fire resulting in strong protests all over the princedom. The martyrdom of Doddy Komaraiah was the starting point of the Telengana Struggle.

Under the leadership of the Communist Party, peasants, agricultural workers, artisans, labourers and other toiling masses were organised against the tyranny of the Nizam, the Razakkars and the big landlords. The entire Telengana  rose in revolt. The landlords fled in fear. Comrades P.Sundarayya, C.Rajeswara Rao, Ravi Narayan Reddy, Yella Reddy, Basava Punnaiah and others led the struggle. Sundarayya ,  as the supreme commander, led the struggle from the field itself.  

The armed struggle was extended to other parts of Andhra. Peasants and workers fought with the Razakkars. 20 lakh acres liberated from the landlords were distributed. Evictions from the land was stopped.Vetti (free labour) was abolished. Daily wages increased. Armed  Guerilla squads of more than two thousand fighters  and village squads of more than 10,000 were formed to resist the attacks from the landlords and the Razakkars. Peasants became owners of their land. For the first time in their life, the poor was ensured of their daily food.

India got Independence on 15^th August 1947. Since the Nizam refused to merge Hyderabad state with India even after persuasion  by the Government of India and popular demand, Indian Army was sent and the Nizam rule was over by September 1948.

The central government instead of safeguarding the interests of the peasants and the people of the Hyderabad state, turned against Telengana movement and the Communist Party asking them to surrender with arms. It also demanded that all the properties of the big landlords should be returned. This was never acceptable to the workers, peasants and the people and the struggle continued.

Unable to face the attack of the well trained Indian Army , guerrilla tactics were used by the Communists and the Telengana Movement. Com.Sundarayya personally was in the field leading the guerrilla struggle.

In the armed struggle, more than 4,000 Communists and kisan fighters were killed. More than 10 thousands were arrested and had to undergo jail terms for three to four years. More than 50 thousand people were taken in to custody and tortured. Houses were looted , women molested.

Despite all these, many  of the gains of the Telengana struggle could not be wiped out. Thousands of people got land, slavery was put to an end and so on.

The first Parliament elections in 1952 saw all the 17 seats in Telengana being won by the Communist Party. Com.P.Sundarayya was elected as the leader of the Communist Parliamentary Party. He established himself as a shrewd and efficient Parliamentarian through his speeches and interventions.

The pro-Congress, revisionist and antidemocratic functioning of the leadership of the Communist Party of India (CPI) resulted in the walk -out of 32 members including Comrades Sundarayya, B.T.Ranadive, E.M.S.Namboodiripad, A.K.Gopalan and other leaders from the National Council of the Party held in April 1964. Under their leadership, the Seventh Congress of the Communist Party was held at Calcutta from 31^st October to 7^th November 1964 , which elected a new Central Committee, 9 Member Polit Bureau with Comrades P.Sundarayya, A.K.Gopalan, E.M.S.Namboodiripad, B.T.Ranadive, M.Basavapunnaiah, Harkishan Singh Surjeet, P.Ramamurthi, Jyoti Basu, and Promod Das Gupta. Com. Sundarayya was elected as the first General Secretary of the CPI(M).

The Congress government at the Centre, which was keenly watching the developments and the formation of CPI(M) with its revolutionary approach, decided to attack and destroy the newly formed party. Just on the eve of the Central Committee Meeting at Trichur on 29^th December 1964, almost all the leaders present , except Comrade EMS and Jyoti Basu were arrested and jailed. More than thousand leaders of the Party were arrested under Defence of India Rules, They were released only  after about two years.

While in jail, Sundarayya became seriously sick and was allowed to go to Moscow for expert treatment in 1966. He was operated, became better and returned to India.

It was during this period when Com. Sundarayya was the General Secretary of the Party that CITU and SFI came in to existence.

During the National Emergency declared by Prime Minister Indira Gandhi   to escape from the aftermath of the Allahabad High Court judgment declaring her election invalid , CPI (M) leaders and other opposition party leaders were arrested and jailed. Com. Sundarayya went underground and kept the Party functioning.

In 1977, on his request, the Central Committee releivd him from the post of General Secretary and Com.E.M.S was elected to the post in 1978 Jallandhar Congress. Sundarayya then returned to Andhra and was elected as the State Secretary of the Party in which post he continued till death.

His health was deteriorating and was admitted to the Appolo Hospital Madras in May 1985. Despite expert treatment, his condition became critical. In the night of 18^th May he began vomitting blood and breathed his last in the early morning of 19^th May 1985. Thus ended the revolutionary life.

His body was placed in the T.Nadu State Committee Office, where thousands of people,including leaders of various political parties,  came and paid floral tributes. The body  was taken to Vijayawada and many people on the way  paid tributes to the great leader.

The body was kept in the Party State Committee Office at Vijayawada the next day. Thousands of leaders and workers of political parties, party comrades, people from various  fields – all came to pay homage to the leader of the Telengna struggle, who fought life-long to make their lives better. In the evening in the presence  of the PB  Members and thousands of people, his mortal remains were consigned to flames on the banks of the river Krishna.

The entire life of Com.Sundaryya  was dedicated and committed to the cause of the toiling masses. He strengthened the Party and gave inspiring leadership.

In his memory, the party  has constructed Sundarayya Vigyan Kendra at Hyderabad, which also functions as the State Committee of the Party. The convenient plot was allotted by the  state government.

During an organisational tour to Hyderabad, along with our comrades visited Sundarayya Vigyan Kendra and sent through the library and also the room where a few things connected with his life are kept. I was told by the librarian that there are about 50,000 books from the collection of  Comrades Sundarayya and Basavapunnaiah alone. I went through a few books and I could see some remarks, underlining etc  made by the leaders. In the nearby room, the simple clothes worn by Com. Sundarayya and the cycle he used at Delhi for going to Parliament etc. were exhibited. The time when  I saw  him at the Party Office in Delhi, he was wearing similar simple clothes.

Com.P.Sundarayya, the first General Secretary of the CPI(M)and the  leader of the Telengana Struggle continues to inspire the downtrodden and toiling masses of the country. Red Salute to Comrade P.Sundarayya !

V A N Namboodiri   09.11.2024

Journey in RMS Compartment

JOURNEYS & JOURNEYS – 37

Journey in RMS Compartment – 2

It was probably during the 1990s. There was a meeting arranged at Ranchi(Bihar) and I was to participate in the same. I had boarded the night train from Delhi which will reach Patna at about 10.00 hours. After a meeting there, along with Bihar Circle Union leaders will go to Ranchi by the night train starting at about 19.00 hours.

At about 06.00 hours in the morning the train stopped at a very small station. Even after a long time the train did not start. Passengers got out, started enquiring why the train ws not proceeding. We were told that two persons have been murdered / killed in the rail track somewhere near Patna and all the trains in the area,including  Patna are stopped and protest demonstrations are going on. There was very less chance of the train proceeding to Patna for some time. There was not even a tea stall in the station. There was a small road connected to the station and we saw a small tea stall about half a mile away on that road. Along with some other passengers went to the shop and had tea and biscuits.Within no time all the snacks etc.in the shop was over.

No train was coming from Patna side or going to Patna. At about 14.00 hours , the train started and was moving very slowly, because there was doubt about sabotage on the tracks. Then we saw some trains coming from Patna side. At last at about 18.00 hours, the  train reached Patna Junction.

I have never seen such crowd in any station in my life before or later. There were trains in all the 8 or 9 platforms.There was not even an inch free in the platforms and it was even difficult to get down in to the platform.It was number 4 or 5 platform.  Usually our comrades will be in the platform waiting for my arrival, but this time it was impossible for them to come to the platform not only because there was no way of intimating them since mobile services has not started so far, but even if they knew, they could not come to the platform because of the heavy rush.

Some how, I got down with my suit case and tried to proceed to the first platform  where RMS office will be there, where I can contact our comrades over phone.Inch by inch I was able to move towards the steps and then to the overbridge to proceed  to the first platform. There was so much rush and pushing between the passengers going this side and that side that I was pressed in between people without even able to breathe.I was pushed to the side of the overbridge. For a second I thought of throwing the suitcase out and jumping on the train standing still on the track through the side of the overbridge and save myself. Fortunately before I could proceed with my drastic action , a miracle happened. A big sturdy railway porter with a lot of luggage on his head just overtook me and was going forward and I took the opportunity to walk just behind him closely.This way, I was able to reach the first platform closely following him.

I went to the RMS office. Coms.B.P.Singh, Circle Secretary, Shakuntala Gond, President, S.R.Sharma and other comrades were waiting there not knowing what to do in my absence. There was no time to take bath or wash as the train to Ranchi will be leaving in a short time from Platform No. 8 or 9. Hastily had tea and some snacks and we all proceeded to the platform from where the train starts. Somehow we reached. The train was full as usual.

Our Comrades told that it will be better to travel in the RMS compartment. RMS comrades were also happy as they can discuss union matters. In addition to the seats, there were four sleeping berths in the compartment. Two berths were occupied by the family of the RMS Superintendent. Other two berths were given to us. One was taken by me. Due to extreme exhaustion I prepared to sleep.  

At this stage a police constable came and asked the RMS employees to provide a berth for their Inspector to sleep. Employees told that all the berths are occupied by RMS employees. He pointed out at us and said that we are not RMS employees. But the RMS workers stood to their position.Within minutes , the police constable came along with an RPF constable. Since the RMS workers knew the RPF constable he did not intervene and told the police constable that we are only RMS workers.

The train started moving and we thought that the problem was over. But when the train stopped in the next station , the police constable  came again and blocked the entry to the compartment. He has brought the TTI as well as the Police Inspector to create further trouble. Since we felt that it will create problems for the RMS workers, we silently got down from the compartment by the door on the opposite side and got in to an ordinary compartment from that side.( Later we were told by the RMS staff, that when the TTI, RPF  etc. checked, they could not find anybody except the Superintendent’s family and were put to shame.).

We somehow managed in the congested ordinary compartment , and reached Ranchi safely.

V A N Namboodiri  07.11.2024

JOURNEYS & JOURNEYS –  36

 Riksha ride in Jaipur.

It was sometime in the 1970s. The All India Conference of the AITEEU Class III was being held at Jaipur, Rajasthan.  Myself and wife Pankajam were delegates to the Conference. We were accommodated in a dharmasala some distance away from the Conference place. There were other delegates also.

After the session for the day, when we started to return it was already late and was becoming dark.May be around  07.00 PM. We engaged a hand pulled  riksha and told the driver our destination.

We reached a steep hill and it became very difficult for the driver to go up the hill with both of us in the riksha.Hence I got down and walked beside the  riksha pushing it  from behind, so that the weight will be reduced and he will be able to   go up the hill. Pankajam was sitting in the riksha.

I was thinking that the riksha will stop at the top and I can climb in. But when the riksha reached the top it started going down very fast. I could not get in and was stranded there.

I became panicky seeing the riksha  going fast with Pankajam in it. I shouted to the driver to stop.I could hear her also shouting to stop.But the riksha was going down very fast without stopping. I was afraid to the core that he may disappear any time with my wife.

I am not a good runner , but now ran as fast  as never have, down the hill and somehow caught up with the riksha by the time it reached  the level area. He had stopped the riksha and I got in. He apologised stating that he thought that I have got in at the top and later understood that I was not there but could not stop the riksha while  it was going down the hill.  

We reached the dharmashala  safely. Pankajam told me that she was very much afraid and was shouting to the driver to stop and was also thinking of jumping from the riksha.  

Anyway, everything ended well.

V A N Namboodiri  06.11.2024

JOURNEYS & JOURNEYS – 35

Journey in Riksha and Cycle Riksha

It was in 1993. We were attending  the Central Working Committee  meeting of  AITEU. Class III Union at Yuba Kendra, Moulali, Kolkata. I had to go to a hospital about two kilo meters away to see a patient.

Immediately after the morning section, without waiting to take meals,I hurried out of the building and got in to a  Cycle  riksha and gave the address. I was thinking about the issues to be discussed in the CWC. After a few minutes I realised that the riksha was moving very slowly. All of a sudden I understood.It was not a Cycle Riksha , but a riksha being pulled by an old man. I asked him to stop. I got down and paid him the charge of Rs. 10 which he had said at the start and said to him that I will get a taxi, as I had to go quickly and return.

He was a very old man and was pulling the rikssha with great difficulty.I thought of giving some extra money. But,  as I thought that probably it will be a disrespect and humiliation for him, I did not pay anything extra.

I got a taxi and went to the hospital, met the patient and returned in time.

Despite the introduction of cycle riksha and auto rikaha , Man Pulling Rikshas are still in Kolkata and some other Northern Cities. This system has to be abolished at the earliest by giving them alternate jobs, like providing cycle rikshas.  

V A N  04.11.204

THE FOUNDING FATHERS OF CPI(M) – THE NAVARATNAS

2024 is the Diamond Jubilee year of the formation of the  Communist Party of India (Marxist) – CPI(M). It  was formed in the Party Congress held at Calcutta from 31^st October to 7^th November 1964 which elected a Politbureau of 9 and the new  Central Committee with Com. P.Sundarayya as the General Secretary. The nine PB Members, who are called the Navaratnas, are Comrades P.Sundarayya, A.K.Gopalan, E.M.S.Namboodiripad,  B.T. Ranadive, M.Basavapunnaiah, Harkishan Singh Surjeet, P.Ramamurthi, Jyoti Basu and Promod Das Gupta.

The 24^th Party Congress of CPI(M)  is scheduled to be held at Madurai, T.Nadu, in April 2025. The Conferences from the Branch level to the state level will be completed before the same.

The Indefinite strike of the Central Government Employees and Workers in 1960, in which I  had participated and was victimised, was a turning point in my life. It was only the Left Parties, especially the Communists, which  came forward to support the strike and the victimised workers. This created a great bond first with CPI and then with CPI(M) when it was formed in 1964, and continues till date. My stay at New Delhi for 25 years from 1991 to 2017 and that too very near  to AKG Bhawan, the Central Committee Office of CPI(M), was another opportunity to meet many leaders of the Party. I could also attend the  Party Congresses held at Hyderabad (2002), New Delhi (2005), Coimbatore (2008) and Kozhikode (2012) as Fraternal Delegate. I got the opportunity to attend the Party Conference in U.K. also,  while I was on a visit there, and which was inaugurated by Com.Sitaram Yechury.

At this time of the Diamond Jubilee of the Party,   it is but natural  to remember the great leaders, the 9 PB members  elected at the Calcutta Congress in 1964. I have been fortunate to see all of them either in the All India Conferences of the E.III Union , which I started attending since 1963 or in Federal Councils of NFPTE  as also while visiting Delhi to attend the various All India Conventions organised by the Central Trade Unions or the Confederation of the Central Govt. Employees and Workers . I could personally meet  most of them and get inspired for my future activities. All of them had passed away but their contributions to the people and the Party are well remembered.

I propose to write very briefly about all these 9 comrades one by one in the next posts.

V.A.N.Namboodiri   04.11.2025

24th November 2021 is the 67th Anniversary of the formation of National Federation of P & T Employees ( NFPTE), the mighty organisation which organised many historic struggles along with Confederation, raising the just and reasonable demands of Central govt employees.
NFPTE was formed in 1954 by merging all existing unions in P&T Department. Unions in P&T were formed as early as the first decade of 20th century and organised many struggles in the first two decades and achieved important demands. Babu Tarapada Mukherjee, Henry Barton and V.G.Dalvi were the founding fathers of the three main unions. Some of these leaders also were part of formation of AITUC, the first Trade Union in the country. The epic 22 days struggle of P&T workers in 1946 in which the British rulers were compelled to concede all the demands raised, is considered as part of Independence Struggle.
Formation of NFPTE in 1954 and Confederation of CG Employees in 1956 gave a new life to the central govt employees movement. The result was the magnificient strikes of 1960 and 1968 in which a number of comrades became martyrs for the cause of the working class. The main demands were needbased minimum wage and DA according to cost of living index.
The second demand is achieved and struggles continue for the first. Of course, much improvement have taken place and the demand is now raised by the entire working class.
The heroic strike of 1974 was another mile stone. The railway workers were the real heroes who fought till the last. The strike was brutally suppressed by the government, but the demand of was achieved by 1979.
Comrades Dada Ghosh, O.P.Gupta, K.G.Bose,P.S.R.Anjaneyulu, N.J.Iyer, K.Adinarayana and many others led the movement through those difficult times.
Consequent to bifurcation of P&T Department, NFPTE was bifurcated in to NFPE and NFTE in 1986. The history of both is also that of struggles, although vaccilation took place sometimes. After formation of BSNL, the newly formed BSNL Employees Union has become the true inheritor of the valiant tradition of NFPTE in the telecom sector.

Since 1991, both the UPA as well as NDA govts had aggressively taken the disastorous path of globalisation, privatisation and liberalisation causing more and more misery to the people. Public Sector Units are being privatised. The present Modi Govt has declared that ‘ business is not the business of the govt’ and is selling the PSUs to corporates for a song. Rights of workers are being curtailed. Working class as well as Kisans are on struggles for existence. P&T workers are also part of this great struggle.

On this 70th anniversary of NFPTE we salute all those leaders and workers who lived and showed a dedicated and militant path for the future generations. Red Salute to those martyrs who sacrificed their valuable lives so that the future generations may live a better life.

( A few copies of the book ‘ HISTORY OF P&T TRADE UNION MOVEMENT’ authored by V.A.N.Namboodiri with introduction by Com.A.K.Padmanabhan, then President CITU and Com. (Late) M.Krishnan, then Secretary General Confederation of CG Employees & Workers and published by Com.R.N.Parashar, SG NFPE are available with CHQ NFPE Delhi for sale).

V.A.N.Namboodiri 03.11.2024 03.11.2024.

JOURNEYS & JOURNEYS – 34

Train Journey with a team

It was June 1993. The Central Working Committee of the All India Telecom Employees Union Class III was going to be held at Kolkata. Since the revisionists had floated a parallel list of office-bearers and created problems, the deliberations of the CWC was going to be most important. Com.Moni Bose, General Secretary , as is his usual practice, made everything ready for the journey to Kolkata, including printing of Report & Accounts etc.

He contacted the office-bearers and other CWC members in Delhi and nearby circles (states) and planned to travel to Kolkata in the same train. Some will join from the stations on the way. One or two very big steel dabbas with full of rotis (chappattis ), subji (vegetables ),fruits and very tasty sweets were arranged with the help of Com.Raghubir Singh, our office staff, and Ghaziabad Comrades. Water was stored and could be refilled from the stations when necessary . ( Water bottles system not started ). About 20 / 25 comrades were there in the same sleeper compartment. North Indian comrades usually brought food and sweets from home even otherwise. It was a very happy journey.

Next day morning when we reached Howrah Railway station and got down from the train, there were a large number of leaders and workers waiting in the open space in the the platform with garlands and shawls to receive us. All were received with welcome slogans and garlands. Not only the leaders of Telecom, but that of Postal and CG employees were also there. W.Bengal and Kolkata were always a bastion of the progressive section and the reception was an expression of the same.

V A N Namboodiri  03.11.2024

Travelling with Senior Citizen Concession ticket.

JOURNEYS & JOURNEYS – 33

Travelling with Senior Citizen Concession ticket.

It was probably in 2003.

I had gone to certain places in Maharashtra on organisational tour and was returning to Delhi. The comrades in the last station had  said they will purchase my Delhi ticket and handed over the same to me at the time of boarding the train. It was almost 22.00 hours when the train arrived. I got in to the same and the train moved.

I found out my berth in the sleeper coach, sat down and looked at the ticket, before putting it  in to my pocket.To my dismay, I found that it was a ticket reserved as a Senior Citizen Concession ticket.   At that time 40% concession was available in tickets for those senior citizens of 65 age and above. I was not 65 and was short of a few days for completing 65. The comrade who booked the ticket had not consulted me, but have booked      thinking that I am above 65. My pure white hair might have given him that impression.

I felt very embarrassed. At that time, along with the booked ticket, you had to show the Identity Card also to the TTE at the time of checking. My real age will be clear from the Identity Card, exposing that I am not 65.  If I am caught with a wrongly purchased concession ticket, it will be a shame both to me and the union. My heart was beating fast with doubts.

After some time the TTE came, checked the ticket and identity card. He looked at me and gave a charming smile and passed on. In that smile, everything was there, that he had found out my lapse, but did not want to punish this white-haired senior citizen, whom he might have thought innocent in the matter, as truly it was. I was relieved. and went to sleep.

After a few months of this incident, the Central government reduced the age for railway concession for males from 65 to 60. The age for concession to women were already 58.

Now the BJP government has discontinued the ticket concession to senior citizens, both men and women , utilising the time of Covid. Despite much pressure from the political parties and senior citizens, the concessions are not yet restored.

V A N Namboodiri 02.11.2024

JOURNEYS & JOURNEYS -32

Road side Dhabas and Midnight Tea

While travelling by road in many states like Rajasthan, Madhya Pradesh, Chattisgarh etc. you can not find any hotels or shops or even houses for miles together. After an hour or so, you may see a dhaba , usually in a temporary shed. That is the resting place for the driver as also the passengers and for refreshments.

After stopping the vehicle, the first thing is  simply lying down on the charpais ( Wooden frames with coir or jute woven bed) and take rest for some time. After 10 – 15 minutes ( according to the requirement) , go to the toilet / wash  room, refresh oneself, come back and order food required. Usually the menu will be roti (Chappati), subji and other  vegetable dishes. You get it very hot immediately after preparation, which  will be very tasty and fresh. There may be other travellers also. Most of the time , there will be customers, with vehicles parked on the road side.

You get refreshed , pay the bill and continue journey. These dhabas will be opened 24 hours. You get the service in night also. They are a great help during long journeys.

I remember one such journey. We were going through Chattisgarh in the night. If my memory is correct,  Com. S.C.Bhattachajee, Cicle Secretary, BSNLEU, Com.  Atmapoojya and some other comrades were there in the vehicle. The young driver was the son of one of our comrades. Even after  two – three hours, we  could not find any dhaba or hotel. I somehow wanted tea or coffee. Already we had told the driver to stop at any dhaba. But nothing was to be seen.

After some time, at about 02.00 in the night, the  driver stopped the van near a small building which was closed. He went to the front door and knocked. A middle-aged man opened the door and seeing the driver asked us to enter the house.  It was a residence-cum-cloth store. His wife also got up and joined. Driver told that we could not get tea on the way. Tea and biscuits were  served within no time.  They were not irritated at all. Instead they seemed happy to see us and offer tea.

After tea, we got up and continued the journey. We asked the driver how he knew the store-keeper. He told that the store owner is his friend and used to help him in bringing cloth bundles and other necessities  from the city for him.  Anyway, his  friendship helped us.

V A N Namboodiri  01.11.2024