1980 December 27. While I was Circle Secretary E.III Union, Kerala, I was several times invited to Karnataka circle by our comrades to attend meetings, TU classes etc. Now the present invitation is to attend a TU class at Bantwal.
There was no train to Bantwal from Calicut. Train from Calicut to Managalore and by bus from there to Bantwal. My plan was to complete the journey to and fro in one day, as I have another tour programme next day.
Hence started from Calicut to Mangalore by train in the early morning at 03.00 AM. There was no reservation. There was heavy rush in the ordinary compartment and could not get even a comfortable seat to sit. As I had to start in the night, neither at home nor in the train I could sleep.
At last reached Managalore by at about 08.00 PM. Com.P.S.Namboodiri, union leader, was at the Station to receive me. Immediately we rushed to the Bus stand having taken a hasty breakfast. Coms. B.N.Rao, Mascaranhas, Suvarna, union leaders also joined us in the bus to Bantwal. Coms. Babu, Circle Secretary, Aswath Narayan, Sangle and others had already arrived. Some comrades of Karnataka seemed to have a feeling why the Kerala Circle Secretary is intruding to Karnataka circle. But that was only temporary.
My class was in the afternoon, if I remember correctly. I was allotted to take the class on the P and T Trade Union movement. Within two hours, I completed the class with all the salient points explained and described. Since I have to return to Calicut the same day, there was no time for rest. Immediately started for Mangalore by bus, again a tiring journey.
Our comrades managed to take me to the Railway station so that I could catch the West Coast Train starting starting at about 08.00 PM. No time to take dinner. Comrades bought some snacks and handed over to me as I was getting in to the train. Reached Calicut by 12.00 PM went home.
Next day early morning started for Mysore by bus. It was a trip already fixed to tour to Mysore by Com.P.V.Nambissan and myself with our families for four days.
I was happy to make the trip to Bantwal and meet many leaders and workers.
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 29th 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 5th/6th 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
Howrah Railway Station, Calcutta Kolkata, West Bengal, India. (Photo by Education Images/Universal Images Group via Getty Images)
During 1990s a good number of struggles were organised by the Confederation of CG Employees as also NFPE and NFTE. It was a practice to send office-bearers from Central Head Quarters, Delhi to the states to organise the struggles. Com. Des Raj Sharma, then Dy. General Secretary, Postmen & Class IV union and I were allotted to tour Punjab Circle. I was happy that there was good company.
The plan was to go directly to Amritsar, the last point, and then return to cities Jalandhar, Ludhiana and Chandigarh one after another. Desh Raj Sharma was a sincere and dedicated leader who was also very hard-working. He gave excellent assistance to Com. K.Adinarayana, then General Secretary, P.IV.
Deshraj told me not to worry about travel arrangements; he will do whatever is required. ‘You be at the Delhi railway station in time’, he said. I was in the station with bag etc. sufficiently early, as is my usual habit. Deshraj reached in time and the train also arrived. He took me to the RMS compartment. There used to be RMS compartments in all important trains to carry the postal articles and also to sort them from the train itself and deliver at the concerned stations. It was very hard work. In some RMS compartments there will be sleeping berths for the off duty officials to rest. It was early morning and we sat discussing union matters, also with the RMS staff. They liked the presence of two All India leaders with whom they can talk and know the latest developments.
I asked Deshraj why travel in RMS compartment? He told me that ‘you do not know the rush in the train going to Amritsar, the city of Golden Temple, to which place there will be large number of passengers.’
In whichever station the train was stopping, a good number of postal luggage and articles were being loaded. After some time, the space was full and we had to sit on the postal bags. At Ludhiana, which is a big manufacturing city of woolen clothes, sports articles, cycles etc. luggage after luggage were being loaded. We had no place to sit except on top of mail bags, our heads almost touching the roof of the compartment. The RMS staff was also in difficulty, but it is their duty to which they were adjusted to. I was worried, but Desh Raj was smiling. ‘You have to learn travelling during rush hours’, he said.
Somehow we reached Amritsar and got down. There was a very good meeting. It was the same in other cities also.
When returning to Delhi, I insisted that henceforth we will travel only in the regular compartments and not in RMS compartments. He agreed.
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.
1978 March 13. My journey from Trivandrum to New Delhi to attend the National Council of Joint Consultative Machinery (JCM) meeting ( Departmental Council). The first direct train from Kerala to Delhi,K.K.Express ( Kerala – Karnataka Express to Delhi ), has started running and AC compartments introduced. I was in an AC compartment, eligible for journey to attend JCM. Both Shri Kadannappally Ramachandran M.P. and Shri Henry Austin M.P. were in the same coach. Only limited number of flights were eligible for M.P.s in a year at that time and they travelled mostly by trains, keeping the flight coupons for emergency purposes. First Class and AC compartment were inter-changeable, but most preferred AC though the facilities in the First Class were more, but without AC. Since we were sitting nearby and time was available in plenty, we talked about so many things. Later they started speaking political issues, and I remained mum.
After some time, Henry Stephen gave me a small packet and spoke in confidence that he has got sugar problem and sometimes he may fall down or become unconscious due to low sugar. My job was to immediately put the sugar in his mouth. I readily agreed. I was full of tension, fearing that any moment he may become unconscious or fall down. Fortunately during the entire journey, nothing happened and I was relieved.
On the return journey, when the train reached Ernakulam, Com. K.Prabhakaran, NFPTE leader, came to the compartment and handed me an old long handed umbrella. I thanked him. We spoke for some time about union matters, he left and the train also started.
Co-passengers were curious. I told the story of the umbrella. I had forgotten the same in the train when I got down from train at Quilon on an earlier journey from Trivandrum. I phoned to Com.Prabhakaran, who is stationed at Ernakulam, from Quilon, and requested him to go to the station at Ernakulam and collect it if it is still in the compartment which I had travelled. Prabhakaran went to the station collected the same. He repaired it, put a new handle and had brought to me now. Co-passengers joked why so much trouble for a very old umbrella.The telephone call from Quilon to Ernakulam might have been costlier than the old umbrella, they told. No mobile phone at that time, only trunk call. (They might have forgotten that I was working in the telephones).
On reaching Trivandrum Railway Station, hurriedly I got down, went outside, got in to an auto riksha and reached the Lodge room where I was staying. After some time, I remembered about the umbrella. I have forgotten to take it from the train. It was very difficult to inform the same to Com. Prabhakaran, who had taken so much pains to bring the same to me, but as a matter of fact, I told him later.
When I told the matter to my wife, she was not at all impressed or surprised. She knew about my ‘great memory’ and loss of more than one umbrella, money purse etc. earlier. She told me, ‘now you can purchase a new umbrella’.
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.
I was Circle Secretary of the E.III Union (NFPTE), Kerala, during 1977-81 and stationed at Trivandrum. Stayed in a room near the Telephone exchange with co-workers and union leaders Comrades G.Soman, Divisional Secretary and Balakrishnan, both Telephone Operators. Since wife Pankajam and children Shaji and Mini were staying at Calicut, where she was working, I used to come to Calicut most of the weekends by exchanging duties. Tickets will be booked for the night trains in advance.
During the Assembly session period, there will be many MLAs from the Malabar side in the same train starting from Trivandrum. AC coaches were not introduced and the MLAs also will be in the sleeper coaches. On such an occasion, my berth was also nearby the berths allotted to some MLAs including Com. M.V.Raghavan. Com.E.K.Nayanar, then State Secretary of CPI (M), Kerala was also there. (It was many years before MVR left the party). All of them were speaking about many things, including political matters. They were sharing some interesting incidents also. As they knew me, there was no reservation in the talks. But I was not a party to the conversation, but only a silent spectator.
It was time to sleep. The berths had no cushion type covering at that time and passengers brought their own bed sheets etc. The berth allotted to Com.Nayanar was the middle one. Before we started arranging the berths, Com. MVR said that Com.Nayanar should not be allowed to sleep in the middle berth, but should be given a lower berth. Why? He started telling an earlier experience.
‘Party comrades, including Nayanar, MVR and others were travelling to Calcutta to attend a Party meeting. Nayanar was sleeping in the middle berth. By about midnight, there was a heavy thud and noise as if some heavy object has fallen on the floor of the compartment. Everybody woke up. They saw Com.Nayanar fallen to floor from the middle berth and almost unconscious. He was lifted and placed on the lower berth. After a few minutes, he was ok.’
Hearing MVR’s story everybody started laughing, including Nayanar. Most of us did not know whether the story was true or a joke but enjoyed hearing it, the way MVR told and the hilarious response of Nayanar. Anyhow, that night Nayanar slept in the lower berth only.
It was the return journey from Lucknow, capital of U.P., after attending the All India Conference of the AITEU Class III Union (NFPTE) held there in December 1966. The 6-7 delegates from Kerala planned the return journey through Agra so that the world famous Taj Mahal can be visited.
We could not get any reservation ticket for the journey. Purchased ordinary tickets. It was night and there was heavy rush. Since it was winter, all were having hold-all packs, as was the system at that time with the dresses, books etc. bundled in them. It was not a train starting from Lucknow and we were waiting for the train to arrive.
To get in to the train with the hold-alls was difficult due to the heavy rush. The train arrived at last. Its windows had no bars or glasses, so that one can even jump through it. Others rushed through the door. I, as the youngest person, was asked, to put the entire luggage inside through the window and then get in through the door. By the time I put all the luggage through the window, the train had already started and due to rush I could not get in to the compartment. However, I got in the next and last compartment where there was no rush. The train gained speed.
When I searched for a seat, I was dumb-founded. It was a Ladies Compartment. A good number of young nurses were sitting. An elder Sister came to me and asked in Malayalam whether I am from Kerala. I nodded. She told me not to worry. She said that she is the teacher of a Nursing School at Agra and is returning from Lucknow where she has brought the nursing students, mostly belonging to Kerala, to appear in the Nurse’s examination. She also said that the train will reach Agra by early morning and allowed me to sit there.
After a few hours, the train slowed and stopped. No station was to be seen. It was pitch dark. It seemed that there was some maintenance work going on in the tracks. I was standing at the opened door and looking out. The Nursing teacher came and stood beside me to look outside. All of a sudden, the train severely jerked and the purse in her hand fell down in the railway tracks. I got down carefully, but since the purse was inside the tracks it was dangerous to bend down and pick it up. I told her that I will take it after the last compartment passes and get up with the purse, before the train gained speed. She also got down, probably afraid that I may slip away after taking the purse from the tracks. The train started moving. I retrieved the purse and gave it to her. But unfortunately, she was unable to climb up the steep steps in the moving train. Both of us were stranded there in the dark.
We stood completely shocked and frightened. We saw a dim light and went towards it. Fortunately there was a very small Railway Station with an Asst. Station Master with a small kerosene lantern sitting in his room. We requested him to allow us to sit there till the next train arrives or till morning. He said that the last train has gone; he is closing the station and going home. He advised us to go outside, where there are jutkawallahs and they will take us to Agra by road which is only a few miles away. In the cold dark night with thick woolen clothes, big turbans and heavy moustaches they seemed like dacoits in Hindi cinemas. My companion was brave, she knew Hindi well, spoke with them and we got in the jutka.
The horse trotted on the country road, causing heavy jerking. We were afraid of falling down at any moment. After it seemed hours, we reached outside of Agra Railway station by about 6.00 am. I could see our comrades sitting there, probably discussing about what happened to me since they did not see me getting in to the compartment. On another side, the nursing students were also bewildered without knowing what happened to their dear teacher.
I conveyed my thanks to the Nursing teacher and joined my comrades. By seeing me they were happy. I also was happy.
As planned earlier, we visited the world famous Taj Mahal, Agra Fort and some other monuments before returning to Kerala.
(Journeys are usually pleasant and enjoyable. Sometimes may turn into nightmares also. These experiences are valuable part of one’s life. As part of union activities, I had the chance to travel a lot. Mostly these were in trains and sometimes by planes, buses, boats etc. Journeys are always interesting and thought of refreshing my memory by recalling them, though I may have written about them earlier. Let the first be about a journey six decades back.)
Visit to Jhansi Fort
My Delhi journeys started from the 1960s. Being the Branch / Divisional Secretary of the then All India Telegraph Engineering Union Class III (affiliated to NFPTE, the only Federation of P and T Employees at that time), Cannanore/ Calicut, I had to attend the All India Conferences as also certain All India Conventions in Delhi. The AICs were held annually during those days.
There was no direct train from Kerala to Delhi. One had to go to Madras first and then catch the Grant Trunk Express, the only train going to Delhi from south. There was no question of getting any reservation. One will have wait in the queue at the Madras railway ticket booking counter for hours, sometimes days to get reservation. Neither feasible nor possible for us.
The only thing that could be done was to wait in the Railway Platform, rush, get in and occupy a seat in the general compartment as soon as the train arrives. That also was not easy, as there will be heavy rush. Since some of the general coaches did not have iron bars for the windows, you will be able to jump into the train through the window after throwing your bags, hold-all etc. If you give some money to the railway porter, he may somehow manage to get you a seat. Sometimes you will not be that fortunate. Then you have to stand till somebody vacates a seat. You will have to stand for days together also.
No supply of tea / coffee in the train. When the train reaches any big station, passengers rush to the water pipe in the platform, drink water and fill it in the bottle. No drinking water bottles for sale as at present. Sometimes you manage to get a cup of tea from the tea shops in the platforms. Vijayawada was a station, where you can get meals. The moment you reach Vijayawada, get down and run to the restaurant in the station. Take a meal ticket from the person standing at the door, sit in any of the table where food is already served, eat it fast and run back to the compartment before the train starts. An alarm bell will ring one minute before the departure of the train. Whether you have finished your meal or not, you rush back to the train.
It will take more than two days to reach Delhi. By the time you reach your destination, your dress will be completely black with the smoke from the steam engine. No chance to take bath. Though the toilets were not clean, you have to manage.
I remember one such journey. Late Com. K.Bhaskaran Nair, senior leader of E.III Union, who was Kerala Circle Union President later, and me were travelling by train to Delhi for attending a Convention. Even after one full day, we could not get seats to sit. The compartment was jam packed. We were so tired that we thought of getting down, taking bath, and then proceeding to Delhi by another train. Since there was no reservation, we could use the small card type ticket for another train. We got down at Jhansi station in the early morning by about 0500 hours or so, kept the bags in the cloak room and had tea from outside. Tea was not being prepared as in our place. Here the tea dust and sugar was put in a glass of boiling milk, without adding water, taken from the large vessel kept on burning charcoals.
All of a sudden, we got the idea that why we can’t visit the famous Fort of Rani Laxmi Bai, the legend of the 1857 War of Independence, where somehow we can take a bath also. I took with me a small bag with the money in it, also with oil and soap.
We hired a jutka and asked the driver to take us to the Jhansi Fort. It was too early even to see the road clearly. The driver dropped us near an old fort. We got down, paid him and walked to the fort. It was in a very dilapidated condition. The gates were broken, muddy water could be seen here and there. Rooms were open with beds and dirty linen scattered on the floor. We decided to return without waiting to see the rest of the fort.
By the time we returned, we were surprised to see many people standing near the gate to the road, watching us suspiciously. A good look at them and we shuddered. They were lepers and the old fort was a leper’s colony. They might have thought that we had come to rob them. Any way, it was a dangerous situation. If they caught us and kept us their prisoners, nobody will know. Our families will not know where we are. We were in great danger and became panicky of thinking about being caught and kept there for our remaining years.
Bhaskaran Nair was a resourceful person. He spelt out the plan. Don’t be panicky. Appear normal. The moment we reach near the gate where they are standing, run for our lives. Don’t look back or wait for each other. They are lepers and can’t out-run and catch us. If they try to stop us, push them and continue running.
It was in fact a run for life. They did not try to stop us. We ran past them and after a few minutes looked back. They were watching us curiously. We were safe.
We got another jutka on the way. The driver told us that this is a very old fort and Fort of Jhansi Rani, the leader of the 1857 Revolt, is in another direction. He took us there. A good portion of the fort was occupied by military. We walked through the fort. We wanted desperately to take a bath, especially after the visit to the lepers’ colony. We found a small temple and a tank in a lower portion of the fort. We told the lone priest, who was there, that we are from Kerala and wanted to take bath and pray. He graciously allowed. He also told that this was the Maharani’s temple, where she prayed daily. We took bath, prayed, thanked him and gave dakshina.
While searching the bag for oil before bath, I found that the oil had spilled during our running and all the notes were soaked in it. Bhaskaran Nair told me not to worry. You put ash (bhasma) on the notes and the notes will be dry. We returned to the Railway station, got in to another train, reached Delhi without any further difficulty and attended the Convention. Exchanged the oil-soaked notes with the Reception Committee for fresh ones. Used to have bad dreams for a few days.
28th September 2024 is the 117th Birth anniversary of the great freedom fighter and Martyr Bhagat Singh, whose life is synonymous with the revolutionary activities of the Indian youth and their sacrifice. He was hanged on 23rd March 1931 at the young age of 23 along with Comrades Rajguru and Sukh Dev.
His life is always an inspiration for the young in the country. His sacrifice will not be in vain.
Red Salute to the Red Star of India, Shaheed Bhagat Singh on his 117 Birth Anniversary !
VAN Namboodiri's Blog 