Raj

Madras Central Station, with its Red Façade was a welcome sight for us, studying in Madras Christian College School and going back home for annual holidays! Dad, an Army Officer was posted in Nabha / Patiala, right up in UP, and it would take all of 5 days by the Grand Trunk Express to reach home! Traveling First Class in the GT was always an experience. The whole coach had just 4 berths and its own private toilet, in One coach!! A steam engine chugging its way, all across the country was truly unique. Summer used to be particularly hard as we crossed Andhra Pradesh, and being the Big Man he was, Dad had organized huge chunks of ice to be placed in the Coach, to cool us down!!! An alternate to Air-condition!!

After the long journey, you reach home, sprayed with coal dust!! Its one big scrub by Mom, with my German Shepherd Rani wagging her tail, with an occasional Woof, telling Mom that she is waiting for me to come and play!! It was play time in the park. None of the kids would come over, being the new kid in the block and of course the scary sight of Rani, the friendliest dog in the world!!! We had all the luxury with Dad being the Commanding Officer, so came Bahadur!! Our Chief Operating Officer!! He knew everything about Dad’s wants from the Polish on his shoes to the Drink at 7 PM sharp!! Bahadur was a Nepali, and devoted to only One Master and that was Dad!! To Ma’s chagrin.

Chinese war broke out suddenly and Nabha was declared a non family station. We left home leaving Dad to defend the country. Today so many years later, I feel that was the one instance that brought the National fervor in me. Maybe the reason why I cannot differentiate from a Malayali to a Mumbaite … We are Indians first and Indians Last !!!