Achronology: 005
Start Date: May 15, 2012
Achronology:
Being part of a team which involves inspection, approval, technical services means one thing. You need to travel a lot at odd hours and at a time when you really do not like it. I had tough time on this particular issue. When I talked to my mother about it she was wondering why I feel that way. In fact being a school teacher she taught all the historically important places. She also went on to say that she could not visit the places which she taught. However I have (or had now I moved away from that job) a chance to visit those places.
I travel to places like Jaipur, Bikaner which are tourist places in Rajastan. However I am not a tourist but on official duty. I find less time to visit places of interest. I have stayed close to about 3 months each in both Jaipur and Bikaner. Most of the time I was in Bikaner which I am sure is more than three months individually. But over all I have spent only three days on personal tour in Jaipur and Bikaner. One day tour in Jaipur, once and two one day tour in Bikaner. I undertook the second oneday tour in Bikaner as my reporting officer came to visit and we had a holiday in between.
I stayed in Bikaner for about a month at a stretch and was frequently travelling between Delhi and Jaipur to speed up my work. I was supposed to inspect and clear mineral raw material for one of the ongoing project in Gujarath. Finally I got what I needed the most. A permit to go home. I was happy like hell i.e. moving away from my cell (my hotel room) to my home.
I booked a ticket to Delhi and from there to Chennai and both are confirmed. So I am more than happy I am quite joyful. So on that happiest day I got into the railway station in the evening when there was still day light. I walked into my compartment placed my suitcase and changed to a comfortable dress, the traditional or non-so traditional dress called lungi. This is similar to dothi but it is stitched. Quite a comfortable outfit for a country which is both hot and humid.
As there is still time for the train to start I started to take a walk in the platform. I saw many happy faces around the train. There were sound of drums, singing and lot of laughter. Then I realized that it is a marriage party. I am not sure on the status of marriage but definiteyly it is a marriage party. A big crowd sourredns the train with drums and drinks, sweets were distributed. In fact whenever this train entered into a major railway station till late night, thee is always a cheerful crowd greeted the them. I just don’t how they managed to do it. They timed it so nicely and care got extended. It started with chilled drinks in Bikaner with some sweets. Then it went on. In fact in one railway station they were given hot milk. Even they offered it to other passanger who are not part of the marriage party. I somehow politely refused when offered. I am bit shy type.
This hospitality of these people still lingers on my mind. But what got my attention to write this down happened in Bikaner railway station even before the train started to move. This was the second article which I thought I will write. But there again it took me more time to pen it or type it down.
Back in the Bikaner railway station I am quite happy myself and I can see lot of happy placed all around the station. The marriage party is making a big hue and cry and visitors were pouring in. I am not really sure how many of them are travelling and how many of them came to see them off. But I think it must have been 50-50.
In that group I saw an elder person probably in 60-70’s and all those belonging to this marriage party took blessing from him. Everyone went and touched his feet and took the blessing. I was amazed by the site of it. I never did even at home. But these people do it in the railway station not minding that some guy is looking at them. This went on for long. My perception and respect for the people of Rajastan especpecially Bikaner went up. I took pride in the saying Mera Bharath Mahan. My India is Great. True my India is great who cherish their tradition and respect their elders.
I was thinking again how everyone irrespective of their age and size went upto him to take his blessing. That elederly person I would say a little over weight. He is of very good height must be above 6ft and has a big belly. He remained cheerful and he blessed young kids, teens, married couple and middle aged people also took his blessing.
It was a nice to see a bunch of happy people who gather around an elder person seeking his blessing. Also that they do are not worried much about the place but interested in doing what they like. I am also appreciating their nature especially the togetherness.
But the day remained young and is awaiting to show me more beautiful things which I need to see. There was some rustling and excitement happened in the railway station. I turned towards the marriage entrance and I saw a older man must be over 80 or close to 90. He is also tall but very lean and weak. He was supported by two persons on either side to help him walk on the platform.
The entire marriage party rushed to his side in a hurry. Once again the whole routine started they bend down touched this elder man’s feet for his blessing. He is more than eager to bless them all. My surprise climbed up. This elederly’ man paying a visit to the railway station to see of a marriage party. Wow! When I went on my honey moon trip only my inlaws family came to the railway sation numbering 4. So this is a great site to watch and I felt as if I belong to the marriage party.
Then I saw the other relative elder person from whom all took their blessing before. He also rushed to this old man. Must be old friends that is what I thought. But surprise again. This man though heavy with a big belly bent down and touched the feet of the most elderly person who arrived.
I was shocked to see such an act and never expected it. But it happened right in front of my eye. Though he blessed all others and he himself is around 60-70 but still he wish to pay his respect to his elder. He forgot about where he is. To be hones he was unable to bend completely but he still did it. The other elderly person did bless him.
My mind once again stopped and it tried to understand what is going on around it. I understood the true meaning of respect for elders there. These Rajastani people shoed their true color of joy and respect to me on that day. An elderly person needs to be respected applies to all. They did not carried their rule book which they referred when they did it. But all these things were in-built over years and years.
To conclude what I saw on that day I can only say My Bharath is Great and I found it and cherish in the railway station of Bikaner.
Thursday, May 17, 2012
An Old Kid who I saw in train
Achronology: 002
Start Date: May 4, 2012
End Date: May 15, 2012
(Dates are only …..,)
I loved Bangalore from my school days. Our school organized a tour to Bangalore the charge was very limited. At that time I studied in Don Bosco (Vysarpadi, Chennai). Many of us turned out but eventually it was cancelled (that is one great joyous moment as we assembled only to be disappointed, I will write that separately). Instead we were taken a tour of Velankani and returned. Or it may be my mind is now clouded it might be the little Velankani in Santhome Chennai. However I remember or still believe that I missed my first chance to Bangalore.
The second was when we were in IXth standard again the plan was to go to Bangalore. This time I moved to a bigger school Don Bosco (Perambur, Chennai). But the program itself got cancelled. The third time I missed Bangalore was when we were in XIth in the same school. But instead we went to Octy a very memorable event (should write on that too).
So having missed the three trips to Bangalore made me more anxious, when I got the first opportunity to go to Bangalore I felt that I was a kid once again. I was sent by my Company Coromandel Prodorite at that time for an inspection activity. So I went by bus in the night and reached Bangalore. We never plan our return ticket as long as I was in Coromandel that was the basic thumb rule. You know your onward date normally it is either today or it should have been yesterday or even could be the day before yesterday. That is what my SMO ALS (Mr. A L Subiah) told me once when I requested him about my travel plan, he simply replied well prabhakar (my name is prabhakaran, but many use to miss that soft guy called “an”) you should have been there in site day before yesterday.
So I went to Bangalore and met the supplier made the first MOM in my whole life. I am just kidding; in fact I raised the issue you know like a very big inspector / surveyor. I proclaimed to minute the days activity. The other person who happens to be the MD of that company called upon his secretary. Then he looked at me pointedly and said will you give the note or can he take up the same. I was clean bowled, and I just gestured as sort of a good will and replied why not please go ahead. I know damn well that if I have done the minutes on that my career would have been on ruined on the same day. To be honest I did made one correction after all it is my call and I am there to audit my supplier.
So having done all the work I made a request to my customer if he can drop me at the railway station so that I can catch the train to Chennai which leaves by 14:00 hours. Indian Standard Time. Here I must salute the Indian railways that follow IST especially at the commencement of the journey. Unlike most of our guys who always looks for an excuse to start our daily work, that extra 5 minutes to punch in. So I take this time to salute my Indian railways I am really so proud of you. I always mention railways whenever I take training on subjects related to punctuality.
I came to the railway station got a ticket, went into the station. There was board which said “May I help you”. I reached that place and found that it was confirmed ticket booking on wait list or so I thought. The person who was sitting in the open railway corridor looked at me and asked do you want ticket. I showed him my open ticket which he took it looked into his papers and given me a confirmed seat. Wow I am in heaven now, confirmed ticket on the very last minute so I happily walked into train and sat.
So far I thought I was kid once again and enjoying my day in Bangalore but not for long. The train started to move out the railway station and people started waving to their friend’s relatives. An elderly person who must have retired couple of years ago sat just opposite to me. The train moved out of the railway station and the visitors and started to speed up. I was enjoying the view through the window as it is a day train and I got a window seat.
The total travel hours are about 6 hours so I settled down to enjoying my travel. I love to stand at the door in a speeding as it is a super fast express I went and stood at the door.
As the train passed I saw kids who cheered and waved to the passengers in train. They are quite delighted and joyful in their act even better than those who waved off their friends and relatives at the railway station.
But as you all by now know that I am a grownup who never wishes to cry when my Grandpa passed away. I just looked on them and kept watching through the window. After some time I went and sat in my seat opposite to that little old man. I saw that little old man (little old because he must have just retired) was waving his hand enthusiastically back.
I just wondered on what is happening around. Kids normally wave at train and even to air planes which flies way above your head. I have done exactly the same thing when I was a kid. But now, I was just wondering.
But this man he waved to every single kid quite merrily and quite happily. Probably that is the reason why so many kids are waving at the train. He was more cheerful than those kids who are watching this train go by. I am not very sure whether the kids can see this man waving them back, returning their joy, happiness. Probably the kids can see his hands which he kept outside the window and started waving.
Trust me he kept waving till there was no kid on the other side. The train started by around 02:00 p.m. from Bangalore and he was quite cheerful and waving. He did not failed to wave back not even to a single kid who happens to be watching these trains go by. In fact he even waved to kids who did not responded, but he did not mind it.
But I can see some happy faces on both side of the window a little kid who just retired and enjoying his life. Many kids who loved to wave at a passing train and for a change the train waved them back through a little kid. Most of the kids would have seen him waving because their waving gesture increased by seeing some response.
My mind once again recollected my travel time. The last time when I ever waved at a passing train, passing air craft. My mind was blank. The last time I really felt happy about Christmas, leaves, Sundays, hopping, singing while walking. No nothing came out. That little kid in me died long time back, but not in everyone.
Even today I do not wave not as cheerfully as that little old kid. But I do, if I see a kid who happens to wave when I travel I wave back a bit. The little kid in me should grow to become a real kid who can forget about everything and enjoy life as it is. I still have 20 years to get retired as per Indian standard so I wish, hope and pray that I will become a kid once again.
Start Date: May 4, 2012
End Date: May 15, 2012
(Dates are only …..,)
I loved Bangalore from my school days. Our school organized a tour to Bangalore the charge was very limited. At that time I studied in Don Bosco (Vysarpadi, Chennai). Many of us turned out but eventually it was cancelled (that is one great joyous moment as we assembled only to be disappointed, I will write that separately). Instead we were taken a tour of Velankani and returned. Or it may be my mind is now clouded it might be the little Velankani in Santhome Chennai. However I remember or still believe that I missed my first chance to Bangalore.
The second was when we were in IXth standard again the plan was to go to Bangalore. This time I moved to a bigger school Don Bosco (Perambur, Chennai). But the program itself got cancelled. The third time I missed Bangalore was when we were in XIth in the same school. But instead we went to Octy a very memorable event (should write on that too).
So having missed the three trips to Bangalore made me more anxious, when I got the first opportunity to go to Bangalore I felt that I was a kid once again. I was sent by my Company Coromandel Prodorite at that time for an inspection activity. So I went by bus in the night and reached Bangalore. We never plan our return ticket as long as I was in Coromandel that was the basic thumb rule. You know your onward date normally it is either today or it should have been yesterday or even could be the day before yesterday. That is what my SMO ALS (Mr. A L Subiah) told me once when I requested him about my travel plan, he simply replied well prabhakar (my name is prabhakaran, but many use to miss that soft guy called “an”) you should have been there in site day before yesterday.
So I went to Bangalore and met the supplier made the first MOM in my whole life. I am just kidding; in fact I raised the issue you know like a very big inspector / surveyor. I proclaimed to minute the days activity. The other person who happens to be the MD of that company called upon his secretary. Then he looked at me pointedly and said will you give the note or can he take up the same. I was clean bowled, and I just gestured as sort of a good will and replied why not please go ahead. I know damn well that if I have done the minutes on that my career would have been on ruined on the same day. To be honest I did made one correction after all it is my call and I am there to audit my supplier.
So having done all the work I made a request to my customer if he can drop me at the railway station so that I can catch the train to Chennai which leaves by 14:00 hours. Indian Standard Time. Here I must salute the Indian railways that follow IST especially at the commencement of the journey. Unlike most of our guys who always looks for an excuse to start our daily work, that extra 5 minutes to punch in. So I take this time to salute my Indian railways I am really so proud of you. I always mention railways whenever I take training on subjects related to punctuality.
I came to the railway station got a ticket, went into the station. There was board which said “May I help you”. I reached that place and found that it was confirmed ticket booking on wait list or so I thought. The person who was sitting in the open railway corridor looked at me and asked do you want ticket. I showed him my open ticket which he took it looked into his papers and given me a confirmed seat. Wow I am in heaven now, confirmed ticket on the very last minute so I happily walked into train and sat.
So far I thought I was kid once again and enjoying my day in Bangalore but not for long. The train started to move out the railway station and people started waving to their friend’s relatives. An elderly person who must have retired couple of years ago sat just opposite to me. The train moved out of the railway station and the visitors and started to speed up. I was enjoying the view through the window as it is a day train and I got a window seat.
The total travel hours are about 6 hours so I settled down to enjoying my travel. I love to stand at the door in a speeding as it is a super fast express I went and stood at the door.
As the train passed I saw kids who cheered and waved to the passengers in train. They are quite delighted and joyful in their act even better than those who waved off their friends and relatives at the railway station.
But as you all by now know that I am a grownup who never wishes to cry when my Grandpa passed away. I just looked on them and kept watching through the window. After some time I went and sat in my seat opposite to that little old man. I saw that little old man (little old because he must have just retired) was waving his hand enthusiastically back.
I just wondered on what is happening around. Kids normally wave at train and even to air planes which flies way above your head. I have done exactly the same thing when I was a kid. But now, I was just wondering.
But this man he waved to every single kid quite merrily and quite happily. Probably that is the reason why so many kids are waving at the train. He was more cheerful than those kids who are watching this train go by. I am not very sure whether the kids can see this man waving them back, returning their joy, happiness. Probably the kids can see his hands which he kept outside the window and started waving.
Trust me he kept waving till there was no kid on the other side. The train started by around 02:00 p.m. from Bangalore and he was quite cheerful and waving. He did not failed to wave back not even to a single kid who happens to be watching these trains go by. In fact he even waved to kids who did not responded, but he did not mind it.
But I can see some happy faces on both side of the window a little kid who just retired and enjoying his life. Many kids who loved to wave at a passing train and for a change the train waved them back through a little kid. Most of the kids would have seen him waving because their waving gesture increased by seeing some response.
My mind once again recollected my travel time. The last time when I ever waved at a passing train, passing air craft. My mind was blank. The last time I really felt happy about Christmas, leaves, Sundays, hopping, singing while walking. No nothing came out. That little kid in me died long time back, but not in everyone.
Even today I do not wave not as cheerfully as that little old kid. But I do, if I see a kid who happens to wave when I travel I wave back a bit. The little kid in me should grow to become a real kid who can forget about everything and enjoy life as it is. I still have 20 years to get retired as per Indian standard so I wish, hope and pray that I will become a kid once again.
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