the kanpur connection

sadhuji · Sep 18th, 2004, 21:45

Children of any generation and of any country are fascinated by the trains. Like Apu and Durga in Pather Panchali, I also was thrilled when I boarded a train for the first time. I was fifteen and had just finished the last examinations of school. My aunt who was a Nurse in the Railway Hospital took me along with her for my first ever train journey – from Howrah to Palta, the next station. The year was 1959.

It is not that I had not seen locomotives earlier to 1959. There used to be a railway track running parallel to the Jessore road for quite some distance. When going by bus from Shambazar to Barasat, we could see the steam engines filling up water at the Belgachia yard. I wonder if anyone can recall those scenes!

As is known, those who live in Calcutta proper are experts at boarding and alighting from moving buses and trams. I was no exception. Just by managing a toehold, I like others of my time, used to move from one corner of the city to the other. Hence, it should come as no surprise that I boarded a train for the first time at the ripe old age of fifteen!!

Since that memorable day, I have traveled all over the country – mostly on company expenses (TDs) – by rail, by road and by air. With every travel, I have been rediscovering India. The experiences that I have gained over the past fifty odd years are enormous and varied and it is only appropriate that I share them with you, my fellow bloggers.

Let me start with my Kanpur experiences.

I was in Kanpur for a couple of years from 1963 to 1965. In those days, a general III class unreserved bogey used to be attached to the Toofan Mail from Kanpur. Most Bengalees traveled by that train when moving on short notice. The journey from Kanpur to Howrah used to take around 24 hours. But, I preferred the Kalka mail. It was super fast, had limited halts and completed the journey in 16 hours – leaving Kanpur at 4 in the evening, it would enter Howrah by 8 next morning. The reasons for my preference lay in the fact that when the train rolled into Kanpur, it was evening tea time and the dining car was the obvious choice for any young man. By the time one finished a leisurely high tea, it was dinner time. After dinner, a couple of rupees ensured that the waiters looked the other way and not disturb me till morning. Dining cars of the sixties were a place where reasonable secrecy was guaranteed where one could cherish each and every course. Not like today when meals are compressed into tiny aluminum casseroles and thrown at you.

During Puja vacations, my friend and I used to take pride in doing some social service like obtaining reservations for our seniors. Once the message is received that so-and-so dada has decided to go to Cal for the Pujas, our hearts would start fluttering. On such occasions, we would finish our dinner early and leave our mess in Chakeri on bicycles. Powered two wheelers like scooters and motor cycles were few and far between. One of my friends managed a motor cycle on his marriage! He was from Bihar where early marriages was and still is quite common.

On arrival at the railway station, our team would set up camp in front of the booking counter so that, when the counter opens in the morning, we would be the first in queue. We used to carry an adequate supply of playing cards, cigarettes and, of course, rum bottles. Our mission, in some cases, were to get two tickets for a newly married airman or four tickets for a family of an MWO – two of the family were two young and attractive girls!!

In the seventies, I moved over to Nasik.

other interesting links :
http://peekayjee28.blogspot.com
http://peekayjee29.blogspot.com

Sep 18th, 2004, 21:45	#1
sadhuji Maha Guru Member Join Date: Sep 2004 Location: nasik, maharastra Posts: 1,261	the kanpur connection Children of any generation and of any country are fascinated by the trains. Like Apu and Durga in Pather Panchali, I also was thrilled when I boarded a train for the first time. I was fifteen and had just finished the last examinations of school. My aunt who was a Nurse in the Railway Hospital took me along with her for my first ever train journey – from Howrah to Palta, the next station. The year was 1959. It is not that I had not seen locomotives earlier to 1959. There used to be a railway track running parallel to the Jessore road for quite some distance. When going by bus from Shambazar to Barasat, we could see the steam engines filling up water at the Belgachia yard. I wonder if anyone can recall those scenes! As is known, those who live in Calcutta proper are experts at boarding and alighting from moving buses and trams. I was no exception. Just by managing a toehold, I like others of my time, used to move from one corner of the city to the other. Hence, it should come as no surprise that I boarded a train for the first time at the ripe old age of fifteen!! Since that memorable day, I have traveled all over the country – mostly on company expenses (TDs) – by rail, by road and by air. With every travel, I have been rediscovering India. The experiences that I have gained over the past fifty odd years are enormous and varied and it is only appropriate that I share them with you, my fellow bloggers. Let me start with my Kanpur experiences. I was in Kanpur for a couple of years from 1963 to 1965. In those days, a general III class unreserved bogey used to be attached to the Toofan Mail from Kanpur. Most Bengalees traveled by that train when moving on short notice. The journey from Kanpur to Howrah used to take around 24 hours. But, I preferred the Kalka mail. It was super fast, had limited halts and completed the journey in 16 hours – leaving Kanpur at 4 in the evening, it would enter Howrah by 8 next morning. The reasons for my preference lay in the fact that when the train rolled into Kanpur, it was evening tea time and the dining car was the obvious choice for any young man. By the time one finished a leisurely high tea, it was dinner time. After dinner, a couple of rupees ensured that the waiters looked the other way and not disturb me till morning. Dining cars of the sixties were a place where reasonable secrecy was guaranteed where one could cherish each and every course. Not like today when meals are compressed into tiny aluminum casseroles and thrown at you. During Puja vacations, my friend and I used to take pride in doing some social service like obtaining reservations for our seniors. Once the message is received that so-and-so dada has decided to go to Cal for the Pujas, our hearts would start fluttering. On such occasions, we would finish our dinner early and leave our mess in Chakeri on bicycles. Powered two wheelers like scooters and motor cycles were few and far between. One of my friends managed a motor cycle on his marriage! He was from Bihar where early marriages was and still is quite common. On arrival at the railway station, our team would set up camp in front of the booking counter so that, when the counter opens in the morning, we would be the first in queue. We used to carry an adequate supply of playing cards, cigarettes and, of course, rum bottles. Our mission, in some cases, were to get two tickets for a newly married airman or four tickets for a family of an MWO – two of the family were two young and attractive girls!! In the seventies, I moved over to Nasik. other interesting links : http://peekayjee28.blogspot.com http://peekayjee29.blogspot.com

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