Platform Ticket

Experience teaches a person a lot. I thought sharing these things with others will atleast warn them to be on guard. Those were the days of " National Emergency" imposed by Ms. Indira Gandhi, ---I am not going into the merits or otherwise of the State of Nation in those days. There was a sense of discipline in everything,--trains were on time, people were scared of taking bribes,.
We used to stay in Factory Quarters situated near Kirkee Railway Station ( it was called Kirkee in those days later changed to Khadki). I used to go to Factory with one of my friends on his Scooter at 7.30 AM daily.Also I had the habit of collecting Magazines from Railway Bookstall.There was never any problem earlier. But on that fateful day, as usual I collected the magazines and was about to come out of the Platform and I failed to notice that Madras- Bombay Express ( those cities were known by those names only ) was about to leave and quite a number of passengers got down. Suddenly there was tap on my shoulder and the menacing voice demanded to show the ticket !! I meekly told him I didnot have one. He literally pushed me to a Room like thing and pulled my hand and almost snapped the handcuffs shut. Did you ever see hand cuffs ? They can be used for a pair of hands whether of a single human being or two different characters !!! There were 7 chaps already caught without ticket, and one part of
a handcuff was idle and they wanted to take all these captives to Pune Railway Station Court.
I was supposed to be that unfortunate 8 th batsman !!! Just before he snapped the handcuff shut, I started pleading innocence and tried to prove that I did not travel from Madras.
There was lot of shouting and believe me I had the closest brush with the Law on that day and short of crying , I tried to prove my honesty. To my good luck and on hearing the commotion in the Room, their Boss has entered and enquired . I repeated my story and informed him that I was on my way to Factory and , shown my ID card, even shown & offered the hot contents of my Tiffin Box ( affectionately called Dubba ). He asked a simple question whether I can prove that I had not got down from that train. He was not convinced with all my explanation and finally I offered to take him to my Residence which was behind the Railway Station. Meanwhile
the police brought another character in Rags to complete the Quota of 8 persons & 4 Handcuffs !
Now that ,Day's target of rounding up ticketless travellers was achieved, the Inspector was kind enough to give me a discourse on Railways and that he was letting me off as I looked like a gentleman etc.... ( only moments earlier I was about to be packed off and paraded in the august company of 7 chaps !!) . He enlightened me about the Flying Squad on the Trains and their job is only to identify ticketless travellers & hand them over to the police and ensure to snap the handcuffs shut. These can be opened only in the court !!! In fact lot of beggars volunteer to get arrested as they are assured of a square meal in the prison !! I nearly became part of History on that day. The Inspector then advised me to purchase a platform Ticket or atleast take permission from the TT at the gate. The idea is when caught in an embarassing situation there should be atleast one soul to identify , otherwise be prepared to spend time in Lock up Room of Railway police.
Now it is 32 years and I never step out on Railway Platform without a valid ticket.

Keeping things close to chest

It was in the year 1970--there was only one train from Hyderabad to reach Pune.There used to be 2 Tier Sleeper cum sitting Coach. The ticket holder has invariably go to the upper berth for sleeping and the lower berths are given for sitting. I was travelling from Hyderabad and to keep my possessions (like I card, Ticket, Purse with whatever money you have, which was always meagre !!) safe, I used to keep them in a plastic cover and place the same in between shirt & Banian with the shirt tightly tucked in. It was - I realised later-- a false sense of security !!!.
I was blissfully sleeping and the lower area of the Berth was fully packed .One hardly had any place for a foothold. Still, I had to get down and go to the loo . Forgetting totally that all my "valuables" are there , I pulled up my shirt and the plastic cover has jumped and gone through
the moving train you know from where.... By the time I realised the gravity of the situation, the train has travelled some kilometers . .I lost my entity in a flash. I was left with my suitcase and the dress I was wearing. Tension started building and I was scared of any Person in Black Coat& White Pant assuming that it must be the Ticket Collector & I will be pulled out from the train any time for travelling without ticket. It appeared the train was taking ages to reach Pune.
After reaching Pune it was another adventure to come out of Railway Station from Platform No 6, avoiding all Black Coats...
Moral of the story... Never keep things too close to your chest...

Medical Examination

I thought I will write something about Medical Examination, one has to undergo on various occasions during one's career.
The first one I had to face was in 1963 at the time of joining Service in Ordnance Factories.In those days getting a job was not that difficult. I got mine when I was just 18. I came from a very typical area in Andhra Pradesh--Konaseema. Our area was surrounded by Godavari on three sides and Bay of Bengal on the fourth side (literally an Island). We had to cross the river by Boats( I was always scared of this ). I had my School & College Education in my native place only,--hardly going out into the " Wild Wicked World". So when I when I set " Sail" to join my First ( in fact the only , Job I was ever found fit !!) you can imagine my "emotional & intellectual " levels !!
When I reported with my papers at High Explosives Factory, I was told that my appointment was subject to my Medical Fitness, and they asked me to present myself to Medical Officer.
After waiting for quite some time the Doctor called me in.He was such a huge personality all of 6 feet plus and I looked like a midget.
The drama started.... he asked me to take off my clothes, I obeyed and took off my pant& shirt.No he was not happy and asked me to stand stark naked, now the pulse rate has gone mad.I was just wondering why the Doctor was interested in my hidden "assets " for a job in the Factory !!He was checking with Stethascope in one hand and pulse with the other.
Heart beat & pulse rate had gone haywire. He promptly sentenced me " Medically unfit "
Then it stuck me ---how can I go back to my town and show my face ?. I started crying and the Doctor got very embarassed--- this is the first time he came across a funny character like me !!
I told him my predicament and told him that it was the first time I ever Stripped in Public and that was the reason for the Supersonic Performance of my Pulse & Heart. He was good enough to appreciate & gave me a sedative & checked me during my Semi Conscious state and found me " Fit ". In fact he was not there when I regained conscousness-- I was told by his assistant that "Doctor Saab found you fit and signed the certificate ". I never met him again !!

That was my first " Exposure " !! My eye sight is not exactly anything to boast about !! In subsequent Annual Medical Examination held during next 9 years, they were only cursory--just check whether the Heart is beating and declare fit. So I never had either the need nor occasion to check my eyes.I was always finding it difficult to read the " Censor Certificate" and even the PMT bus Numbers. I was married by that time, so I was pretending that I missed out or something and my poor wife out of Pathi Bhakti was accepting it !!
The Medical Officer in 1973 was a tough guy, I was told by my colleagues that Eye Test also will be done. Now my game will be up !! But I didnot give up !! I went to the Medical Room and mugged up all the alphabets on the Visual Checking Display Board !! So when the Doctor asked me to read I started reeling off all letters. He was very pleased and almost signed the certificate.
Just for confirmation he closed one of my eyes and asked me to read the Fourth Line. I was caught with literally my pants down . I then admitted that "leave alone 4 th line , I cannot read even the first line with my eyes wide open ". He gave me two options, one is to leave the Job voluntarily or get my glasses fitted in a week. I preferred the second option obviously !
When Dr. Masters has checked , he was wondering how a visually impaired person was appointed! My Prescription read -5.5 for both eyes.
The First day I got my glasses it was a great day and everything on the Road was coming at me including the PMT buses !! When I went out in the evening with my wife I was casually mentioning about the lights on the Hill etc.. Wife coolly said that they were there for ages !! I thought it was safe to keep my mouth shut and went for the movie "Ankur"at West End. I made it a point to read everything loud( It was the first time ever I could enjoy a movie) and wife had to tell me " Shut Up".

Maiden Quiz

On Sunday 18 th March, I teamed up with my son Harish to participate in the Quiz on "Indian Cinema". Last year also we participated but failed to qualify. I agreed to accompany Harish, not with much hope ! I dont doubt his capabilities, only I am not sure of myself !
We were the first to reach the Venue, and after waiting for quite some time, people started to trickle in. In fact we were wondering whether the Quiz will ever start !! Anyway the elimination prcess started and to my sweet shock, we qualified !!
Now this is the second time in my whole life of 63 years , to "participate" in something. The last time I ever went on stage was somewhere in 1954. My father was the Head Master of the High School ,I was studying and the Drama Team was obliged to give me a portion in the Drama that was being staged. The portion was that of a Police Inspector who fortunately did not have any dialogues to deliver !! That much for my " On stage Performance " !!!
Now coming to the present--suddenly the Girl who was anchoring , asked Team A (thats us) to introduce ourselves. I took all the courage and did the formality.
Being Team A , we were asked the First Question and started off in style-- with the audience clapping etc..
We answered almost all direct Questions and some " Passed ones", but failed to cash on the Buzzer ones. The reason , I feel is that I could not get the " feel" of the atmosphere !!
When they were flashing theQuestion on the Screen, I was taking some time to read and Harish "controlling" me not to say too loud so that the other team does not overhear, we missed a lot of Sitters.
At the end of it all, we were Runners Up. Not a bad performance for a "Debutant "
Next time I will try to improve upon this and do justice for the faith Harish had in me.