TRAIN TO PALAKKAD

 In the late 70s we enjoyed visiting Palakkad , Kerala.  I remember for the first time we took a long rail journey with family to Palakkad after a gap of a decade.  I still wonder why we did not venture out for so many years.

It needed lot of planning.  It is a long journey.  Almost three days travel.  No direct train connectivity to Palakkad  then.  The only train  was G T (Grand Trunk )Express up to Madras .  G T Express terminates there and the Kerala compartments stay in the Platform till a Train Trivandrum Express comes to get it attached to these compartments in the Evening.

 Those days in Delhi there used to be a Bakery shop near our house. They  used to make nice biscuits for you .  You need to give Maida flour, ghee sugar etc. and the Bakery  makes biscuits and put it in a big Tin for a  some small amount as service charges.  You could see all your friends at this Bakery who were going on vacation .  These biscuits are not only for consumption during the journey but to give it to your relatives down there. Amma starts her busy shopping things for her sisters there in in Palakkad  

All of us were so excited to undertake the long Train journey and the trip to Palakkad.  The count down starts a week before.  

Two days before the journey Amma used to visit nearby friends and ask them if they want anything from Palakkad and brings a big list adding to already full load of luggage on return. Amma would quickly make Ribbon Pakora to eat during the journey. So tasty it used to be.

The Big Day arrived. The Train was at 7.30 AM . We took a taxi with lot of luggage. Those days every household had  a "Holdall" in which you can put all your sleeping stuff like pillows etc. It can "Hold All".  This is required for sleeping during the journey as there was no practice of providing by the Railways to Three Tier Sleeper class. Reached New Delhi station. Engaged a coolie. Every one used to engage coolies. Amazing to see the capacity of the Coolie who takes all the stuff on his head, shoulders hands etc. Need to tell him the coach no train name etc.and run behind him so that you don't lose him.

 You need to look up for your names in the List put up in the compartment.  The compartment was so neat and we occupied our seats .  As the Train started to move , we started looking up at our co passengers who looked so cold faced.  After an hour or so, Amma started talking to the co passengers and soon we all got engaged with them as if we knew them so well.  Out the biscuit tin, the pakora etc. Amma gave handful of that to the co passengers, She had big hands and very generous.

Sister confined to her usual  book reading. Amma arattai arangam (gossips) appa newspaper, brother and me looking out of the window and enjoying the scenic beauty. The Tea guys came "chai chai "and all had them.  It used to be good those days.  I used to note down all the stations passing by till  my co passenger showed me the Railway Time Table which contained all the names.  Thali Lunch for all.  Appa used to enjoy this.  Very good food those days served by Railways.  No debit'/credit card /Paytm , all cash only exact change.  Used to wonder how the pantry guys remember each customer account.

We were thoroughly enjoying the train journey. I used to buy all snacks whatever the pantry car guy brings.  Tea Coffee whenever wanted.  When the train halted at Vijayawada , we heard one vendor selling "Biriyani Biryani "" Amma asked him to give two packets.  I said that was chicken biryani.

Day 2nd same routine.  3rd day we reached Madras Egmore station around 2 PM .  We had to sit in the compartment as GT Express terminates there.  Compartments for onward journey would get connected in the evening to Trivandrum Express.  WE used to sit inside the compartment for such long hours without having any guts to venture out lest the train would move off.  I was trying to pass time by just coming out of the compartment and since the compartment was in the last platform, I could see a Circus troupe camping in the adjacent ground.  They were washing clothes, cooking etc. both children adults and lot of wild animals around. I started thinking about their rough lives for making a living. I sat down in a bench in the Platform and started observing people moving around.  

We reached the next day to Olavakode (Palakkad)  station early morning. Just 50 kms before reaching, we could see the diversity of extreme change between a concrete jungle New Delhi station and the ambience of lush greenery of Kerala, everything so different, the place the people , astounding.

We were received by relatives from Amma's Mama house .  Mama was a very wealthy and powerful person in Nurani in Palakkad where Amma's mother also stayed. Two Mattu Vandi(Bullock cart) was there to take us.  Even that was too fascinating .  No seats in that . Just sit on the plain cloth covered on it.  By the time we reached Mama's house, the entire village came to know about our arrival.  While enroute   people would stick out their neck and see us with a smile.  Delhi according to them is a very rich place and far and they all used to think that we were all rich.  WE only knew what we were.  On arrival, Mama's entire family (a big family of 5 sons and equal no of daughters ) welcomed us to their spacious house.  Such a big house it was with cows and Mama's staff (adi all) taking care of us .  Coffee arrived after we took bath .  Not a small cup, it was a lotta for each of us.  So much qty of filter coffee.

My mother's mother was hugging my mother, very fair lady, big eyes and they had not met for 10 years.  Amma started into the village to visit all her relatives and friends.  We were getting little uncomfortable at the generosity and affection showered on us by them.  In the village people were quick to receive and welcome us to their house.  Mama's house for a normal eating at least 20 people are there like a festival.  We were all poor eaters.  It was a daily routine where we were served heavy breakfast ,lunch and dinner.  I one day got fed up of this and escaped and went to a restaurant nearby.  I was about to eat when two guys came and took me back to Mama's house saying I should not eat anywhere.  No one in the village could go for a night show without Mama's permission,  Such was his power.  But he used to help every one and used to take care of them well. 

In the next few days, we visited several places, temples, shopping etc. and suddenly found that our holidays are coming to an end.  Back to the same routine.  We were not interested at all to go back to Delhi.  Such was the care and affection they showered on us.  The day one villagers would receive you so nicely and ask you when we were planning to return.  You tell them a date just like that and they remember and if we don't leave by that date, they would conclude that we have lost our jobs.

The day of our return journey came.  All were so sad that our holiday was over, in bad mood.  We had double the luggage on our return as I found Amma had bought a wet Grinder weighing like hell, adding to the misery.  Suddenly the thought of office starts worrying you as you were totally out of touch with office and the monotonous routine  life ahead.  

WE cannot still forget our first visit.