Nurungukal

   The end of my college days did not make much void in my life as I was able to find an employment, which kept me engaged. My father was very anxious about my future because of low academic performance. Without any body’s knowledge I had made an application to the post of a commercial clerk in Southern Railways.  When the ad came in the news papers I managed to purchase a postal order for Rs. Five being the application fee. I remember this amount was arranged by pledging a small ring gifted to me a few days ago by my sister, in the Chalapuram Bank [ now Vijaya bank ]and I retrieved it with the salary from Railways.  I wrote the written test without much preparation but for the interview I was fully equipped as I took it as a challenge. There were only Tamilians in the interview board and they spoke in English. It was my first experience to answer questions in English but some how managed with out much damage. The husband of the niece of my father was an high ranking officer in Railways at that time which helped to some extent to pass through. As on today it was exactly fifty one years ago I joined railways. Now I feel so proud of my solo effort to attain a livelihood. My father was immensely happy about my achievement as he considered Railways as a legacy of the British in India. He was very emotional when I left for Trichy to join the training camp. He was reclining on the easy chair as usual when I was packing my things in a hold haul which was a convenient  travel kit of those days. It can hold most of your clothes and can be used as a bed also. At that point of time I never knew that I will never see him again because after a few days , when I was in Trichy he passed away. I received the telegram very late due to a mistake by the postal dept. And by the time I reached home every thing was over. It was the most agonising moment of my life. He was my idol. The virtues he upheld through out his life are even now guiding me. I am yet to find a person who stood by his words even in distress. A man of high ethics and principles. His loss made a deep void. Let us try to emulate them as a homage to the departed soul.