NURUGUKAL……..
I never had such a boring rail journey than the one which
I had a few days ago in an a/c chair car to Thiruvanathapuram. A pin drop silence
prevailed through out from start to end , except the occasional call of the
caterers. All the heads irrespective of age were bend and meddling the heavy
mobile phones incessantly, completely unaware of what is happening around.
Occasionally one by one got up to attend to their nature’s call which they had
to at regular intervals as each one was emptying the mineral water they had
procured from a hawker as soon as they got in. I was the only one trying to engage
in conversation with a like minded co passenger but in vain, more so with a
passion to rewind my fade memories of similar travels, during those days when
reaching social media was not an essential feature of our daily routine.
Most of my
travels during the pre mobile days were much more enjoying and engrossing. Interactions between strangers provided
valuable informations on current affairs.
There were
regular entertainers singing popular songs with improvised instruments. Among
them I remember one was an expert in tapping a pair of wooden pieces holding
between his fingers, another a north Indian on a coconut shell violin, or bamboo
flute. A blind man using his belly as a drum and his daughter singing Hindusthani
melodies yet another on a harmonium hung on his neck on a sling. I wonder many of them if properly trained fine-
tuned as in the case of present day Star Singers might have earned much more
supporters and laurels. But alas they have all vanished into obscurity
fighting for a livelihood. Hawkers selling eucalyptus or lemon grass oil and
safety pins etc. appeared to meet your needs at regular stations. They were the
best sales men, using impeccable style of marketing, creating a crave for their
goods.
Usually the
journey was culminated by a ride in a horse ridden Governor’s cart relieving
the fatigue unlike the one now in a ---- or
--- taxi .
