HUNGER....VIJAYAWADA RAILWAY STATION:-

HUNGER:-VIJAYAWADA RAILWAY STATION:-

In the eighties, there were no courier operators in India for local dispatches. Everyone was dependent on Indian Postal Service which virtually had monopoly on communication business. I was managing an Ice cream business for someone in Guntur and we were the official suppliers of Ice cream for South Central Railways. Vijayawada happened to be the headquarters for South Central Railways. I used to frequent to Vijayawada Railway station to meet their catering department personnel, have meetings with Divisional Railways Manager (DRM) a very powerful position. Another important activity apart from these, was meeting railway guards who used to travel from Mumbai to Vijayawada and bring along with them important chemicals, flavors, cheque books etc. which used to be handed over to them in Mumbai by our head office. Though officially forbidden this was the only way to get things faster and safer in 24 hours. As we had a stall in platform No. 8 they would be treated with delicious goodies for their help!

On a sunny day afternoon, I was in platform No. 8 awaiting Konark Express from Mumbai. The temperature in the town was in 40 C ranges and the platform was further hot because of radiation. On platform No. 7 there was another super fast express awaiting signal. These platforms were the nerve centers of this station and always humming with serious activities. To stand and watch people scurrying, pushing and surging ahead was my great pass time. The whole stretch of platforms used to be an amalgamation of humanity. People from different walks of life all eagerly awaiting arrival of some dear ones or waiting to bid good bye to some other dear ones, people looking forward to their imminent journey in joy, sorrow, expectations, anxiety and suspense all have some hope or lost some hope await the arrival of a train which would take them in the journey of life !

My eyes caught the sight of one beggar. He was puny with a slight hunch back, stomach which had gone virtually to size zero, why zero we can even attribute negative as the skin of his stomach was almost entangled with his spinal column indicating that probably he had not tasted anything for nearly a week. His walk was wobbly; he was sweating profusely in the armpits as sweat was literally pouring like a water fall on his rib bones. His hair was totally matted, beard was free flowing almost touching his chest. There was a loose trouser which he had tied using a black thread tightly around his size zero hip. A few plastic twine were also used to reinforce the knots as the trouser which was neatly torn and hanging loose near his knee cap one side.

He had no shirt or vest on his chest. A a torn shawl was hung loosely on one of his shoulder which was being dragged wherever he went like bride’s veil. He was asking for alms from one and all, whomsoever he encountered on this path where he was walking aimlessly. I could see that he was not successful and like a hero hanging one extra minute to achieve his goal, he did not give up. His aimless wander in platform 8, where I was standing, was about to end. He did not reach our Ice cream stall probably thinking that the place was too posh for souls of his nature!

Then he moved to the middle of platform 7 passing near the telephone kiosk. The telephone attendant shooed him away shouting choicest Telugu cuss words. That did not have any impact on him probably he did not understand the language. As he entered plat form 7 I was a bit curious and followed him in to platform No. 7. Godavari Express in platform No. 7 was hissing with anger to leave the platform as there was delay in its departure. The signal was on by now and I could see the guards exchanging signals and getting into their coaches. Travelling Ticket Examiners after striking deals with eleventh hour travelers were also moving towards their compartments.

The train was picking up speed and on account of this dust from the platform was also slowly raising like a storm and moving along with the train. I saw the beggar too started running in sprint. As he gained speed he picked up packs of Snacks, Indian Railway Restaurant vendors Curd Rice and Pulihora packets, Bourbon Air Tight Carton packs from Biscuit stall and Chocolate bars from a hawker. All these in a matter of second.The booty was bound securely using the shawl and in the last unreserved compartment he managed to hold the door and barged in!

Hunger made him to take such a mad risk which would have made him to lose precious life if he was hit by any pillar or post. If he had lost the grip of the door handle in the last compartment!!