Autobiography of Adhyatma Ratna Kumbakonam C N Guruswami Sarma Chapter 14- My first Train Journey

AUTOBIOGRAPHY OF 

ADHYATMA RATNA KUMBAKONAM C N GURUSWAMI SARMA (1900-1968)

CHAPTER 14

MY FIRST TRAIN JOURNEY

A tempest occurred in our little household in a few months time. My maternal grandfather was getting old and and it was decided that my uncle was to be married at Chingleput soon. One day, all of us packed off to Madura and put up in a train. That was the first time I saw a train and an engine. Its cooing caught my fancy and even today when I hear the distant whistling of a Railway engine the craving goes up into my heart to get into the train and travel. 

The passenger carriages in those days were heavy and were made of wood. Large and broad benches opposite to each other formed a compartment which was separated from the next by a partition of wooden scantling with interstices between two compartments. The lighting was by a wick and oil glass lamp at the middle of the top portion. It was not a readable light but there was a dim lght enough to distinguish one man from another. We had two or three compartments adjacent to each other probably reserved for the surging crowd never attempted to enter these. We carried hampers of prepared food and water and bedding. My big grandfather fully occupied one bench and I was curled up in the corner near the door for I don't think there were  windows for the carriages. We were about forty strong and for the first time I was shown my or rather my mother's relatives. There was one brother of my grandfather who was logic professor whose son in fact was getting married. (Ref 1). They all appeared to big and they scarcely engaged themselves in parleying with me. The train moved slow and very steady giving up large quantity of dark smoke and crowing whistles as often as it could. It sopped at every station and something or other was being vended at each stop, mostly eatables. The young amongst the group purchased a few of them and distributed. Soon the charm of this slow travelling  with a snorting engine faded and as the night drew  most of the group slept. Though I was desirous to keep awake and see everything outside Melur I think I also slept for when woke up some body was blaring with a loud noise "Thanjavur" and ringing  incessantly a handbell in a repeated fashion. some vendors -brahmins- were vending Iddlis etc but much noise about coffee was not heard or probably I do not remember. Old men meticulously performed Sandhya from tumblers of water taken from the Kujas. None bathed for ought I know. There were no pipes visible on the platforms. All the youngsters were asked not to get down from the train though it stopped for hell of a long time at every station and was unwilling to proceed at any signal or whistling or waving of flags.The engine then grunted. there was a loud noise as if thunder has struck and slowly some speed was gained but even before that the next station was sighted and the same process was repeated. At last after journeying throughout the day and night  the word "chingleput" was loudly screeched from the plat form. There were five or six men outside in the platform and all of us slowly got down and stood on earth. One interesting feature about this station was a busily running vendor who was yelling out "Panchangam" "Panchangam". He was a lean little old man with a big cloth bound parcel on his head and one bundle under each arm which he was hugging and other loose things in his hand. he had tolerably a good sale at 4 pies a Panchangam (Ref 2) . while I was wondering at the crowd, wearing different kinds of dresses and women dressed in varigated coloured sarees one man suddenly drew me apart and said, "Guru! How are you? Your sister is awaiting you". For the life of me , I didn't recognise him but my grandfather said that he was my sister Chellammal's husband Doraiswami and he was employed at that place along with his brother whose wife is my mother's sister. (Ref 3)  . All this meant not much to me. I have vaguely heard of a sister who was being "Vadakke" (வடக்கே ) that is -in the north- at Madura and wondered  whether it was the sister that was referred to. Strange to say that I was attracted to my brother in law whpo seemed to be a strong and sturdy man in whom all confidences can be reposed and I stuck to him holding his hand.

----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------Editor's note:
1. Little bit of confusion as the bridegroom is referred  to as "Uncle". There is one Uncle in the story who is in Melur house and having a clerk's job. it is possible that this Uncle is getting married in which case this person is not own son of the grandfather of the writer but his brother's son. 
2.  Some things have really changed.The journey from Madura to Chingleput which is described seems to have taken approximately 24 hours. Today Vaigai Express would take about 8 hours to cover this distance.  Panchangams (They are sold only in March or April because Tamil new year is in April. So this journey probably was in March/April 1st week.) were sold for 4 pies. Today, the same Panchangam costs Rs 30 approximately 750 times more and no one, to my knowledge,sells it in Railway station now. 
3. It is difficult to place every one correctly in matters of relationship. However, Let us say Mr A got married to my grandfather's mother's sister. He must be the elder person in the family. His younger brother Mr Doaiswamy  married  Chellammal the eldest sister of my grandfather.  Since it is written that he has vaguely heard of her being in north, she could have been married when my grandfather was small. One can safely assume an age difference of 10 at least in that case between him and his first sister. .    
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