KALYANI

Sindhu was travelling from Chennai to Mumbai for attending an official conference. The office had arranged for her train ticket and stay arrangements. Since she thought that she would overstay at Mumbai after her office work was done, she had requested that she might be permitted to get her return journey ticket as per her convenience and it was agreed also. But in her daily chores and other preoccupations, she totally forgot about her return journey rail ticket reservation. Only on boarding for Mumbai, she remembered that she was yet to arrange for her return journey. What she did not do earlier, had to be done right now. She looked for reservations for the date she wanted to come back. All upper-class tickets were already booked. Not even any reservation against cancellations. She looked for air tickets. Oh! God! Rates quoted were very high and very exorbitant. She had to settle for ‘cattle class’ ticket only. She had no choice than to travel by ordinary second-class sleeper coach. She had to thank her stars that at least it was available at a short notice.

She did not have much luggage to bother about. After many years, she was now travelling by a lower class. Thank God! It was not an unreserved coach. She came early to railway station and occupied her berth. She also got some books for herself for the long journey. She was looking forward to going back and have some quality time with her children. The train chugged out and gathered momentum. The TTR – that is Train Ticket examiner also finished his round of checking. The vendors came one by one came and left. Sindhu took out the book she purchased and wrapped it in a newspaper cover and then gazed through the pages. Before she could get any grip on the story, she dozed off.

Since she was travelling in an ordinary class, co-passengers tried to get acquainted with each other and engaged themselves in pleasant chit-chats. Sindhu did not show any keen interest in befriending people, but lent an ear in what was going on. Some men folks had already got settled with playing cards in one of the cubicles. Time and again roars of laughter ripped through the air. Their jolly time. Holding the book in one hand and her mind elsewhere, she was just whiling away her time. Sometime by watching the speeding scenes through the window and sometime looking at the people inside the compartment. A variety of people, their looks, attitudes, languages and loads of luggage, a fun to watch. In a small-town station, a father came to send off his daughter and left with teary eyes. The recently married girl was going to her in-law’s place. A good ground for the co-passengers to know more about her and her in-laws. Quite a few coming and going, all in a rail journey….

Half the journey was crossed in these routine matters. By the way, half of the passengers too had changed… some had alighted and new comers had come in and occupied their berths. Another TTR had taken charge and was on his examination of new passengers in their allotted berths. He was almost completing his job, when he noticed that a small girl was hiding herself under a berth. He knelt and pulled her out. Holding her by her ears, he questioned her. She was almost in tears. Sindhu saw her and realised that she was the same girl, who, a little while ago, assumed on her own, the role of an unpaid sweeper and cleaned the surface of the compartment, a novel way of begging.

A co-passenger told the TTR that he would not mind paying ticket charges for her if she wanted. But he was not sure how it would be construed. On the contrary, he was afraid that he would be unnecessarily booked under POCSO Act (Protection of Children from Sexual Offences) for harassing her. Sindhu got interested in the meddle that was going on. Many offered comments. The urchin girl would not be willing to get civilised and fall in line with any sort of discipline, even if somebody offered to take steps. Such children often showed interest in getting free meals, money, gifts and compliments. They were least bothered about their future and were simply confined to day to day earning. Sindhu heard someone saying that in the name of cleaning the floor, which itself was not warranted, these urchins set their eyes on things that could be lifted without being caught. So, such persons should not be taken as pitiful beings. In fact, we the rail passengers had to be very cautious of such notorious thieves. No sympathy. Only caution.

TTR was still holding the girl. His job was to ensure that no outsider entered the train without any valid rail ticket. If anybody did so, all that he had to do, was to collect penalty from such persons. Otherwise such culprits had to be handed over to Railway police. But no TTR ever remained so harsh to such small children. So, they normally warn these beggars and chuck them out in the next station. Sindhu took pity on that girl and wanted to do something. She did not want the girl to fall into wrong hands and end up in a brothel or much worse, as an injured rape victim lying uncared for.

Sindhu was reminded of a similar incident in which a well-known social activist, Sudha Narayanamurthy, co-founder Infosys IT company, had proved to be very benevolent. Madam Sudha Murthy purchased a rail ticket with penalty for an urchin girl caught in the train and allowed the girl to travel with her. Also, she rang up the manager of her social organisation and asked him to pick up and take care of the girl. The girl was given proper education and later she turned out to be a meritorious student, got a suitable job and was working abroad. By chance, when the two met each other in the foreign land, Sudha Murthy was overwhelmed with joy on the girl’s growth and gaiety.

Sindhu thought of that old incidence now and said to herself that history could repeat itself again. So, she told TTR that she was paying for the girl and would take her with her to Chennai. TTR at a first glance was willing to oblige. But he on second thoughts, refused. The lady passenger’s credentials were not known, her intentions might not be good also. He bluntly asked her what she would do with the girl. Was she going to be engaged as domestic help or in any other form of child labour? Child labour being offensive, TTR would be inviting problem if he permitted the lady to take the girl with her. Sindhu got angry when she was drilled into more and more questions. She told that she was a regular donor of Udavum Kaigal, a charitable organisation which took care of destitute, orphans and old and the sick people. Sindhu said that she would hand over the girl to the organisation. The idea was good and it was no doubt a noble gesture. But, how could the TTR ensure that the lady actually did what she said. In order to safe guard himself, he called the railway police and asked them to inform Chennai police and ensure that the girl was sent to the care of the charitable organisation.

Sindhu was relieved of further questions. But she became object of public view and attracted too many eyeballs on her. So also, the girl. Sindhu got her a food packet and made her sit next to her – to which other co-passengers of same bench, objected. A beggar sitting next to them. Sindhu did not bother. She then took out her comb from her bag and tried to set her hair and make her look somewhat presentable. Initially, the girl did not cooperate, but later yielded. When asked for her name and family details, she said

“My name is Kalyani. I do not know where my parents are. Only my grandmother is there and she keeps scolding me. So, I ran away from her.” Kalyani had problem in adjusting to both local language and local food. Somehow managed to get along with other children like her.  

When train reached Chennai, some police men came to her coach in advance, before the girl or Sindhu could escape from their sight. Sindhu was delighted to see that things were taken so seriously by Railway police. Hence, she too was serious that the matter should be ended smoothly. Instead of going home straight, she went with the police to the office of Udavum Kaigal and ensured that Kalyani was admitted into their asylum. Luckily, there was someone who could talk in the same language of Kalyani’s mother tongue.

Years rolled on. Sindhu got grounded in her routines. Occasionally she would remember Kalyani whenever she made donations to the organisation. But she never found time to visit the organisation nor see Kalyani. She almost forgot all about her.

One day Sindhu had to go to Airport to send off her daughter. After sending her in, Sindhu was about to return, when she was accosted by a policeman and asked her to go with him. Sindhu was taken aback. She had not done anything wrong as to be summoned by a policeman or be dragged in public view. She demanded why and what of things. He just mentioned that he was under orders to do so. She was taken to a chamber where a lady officer was waiting. Sindhu was about to demand explanation of the excess and unruly behaviour amounting to harassment of a civilian by police. To her surprise, she found that the lady officer stood stiff before her and gave a big salute and in full attention. Then she took out her police cap and bowed with respects and even tried to touch her feet.

Sindhu though guessed, still wanted to confirm.

She asked, “Who are you?”

The officer replied, ‘Madam, I am Kalyani. The same Kalyani, whom you saved some years ago from TTR and Railway Police. Today I am here as Police official – all because of you. That day you saved me and protected me from untoward harassments and today I am standing as guardian and protector to ensure that no such untoward harassments take place in society. I indebted to you. May God bless you and your family forever and forever.”

Sindhu was in no way different from her senior mentor Sudha Narayanamurthy in the emotional exposition. She was overwhelmed with joy. A small seed of kindness sowed some years ago, had sprung up and now grown as a tall tree. Nice to see Kalyani as a well- groomed police officer.

Life is beautiful.                             Sindhu was travelling from Chennai to Mumbai for attending an official conference. The office had arranged for her train ticket and stay arrangements. Since she thought that she would overstay at Mumbai after her office work was done, she had requested that she might be permitted to get her return journey ticket as per her convenience and it was agreed also. But in her daily chores and other preoccupations, she totally forgot about her return journey rail ticket reservation. Only on boarding for Mumbai, she remembered that she was yet to arrange for her return journey. What she did not do earlier, had to be done right now. She looked for reservations for the date she wanted to come back.  All upper-class tickets were already booked. Not even any reservation against cancellations. She looked for air tickets. Oh! God! Rates quoted were very high and very exorbitant. She had to settle for ‘cattle class’ ticket only. She had no choice than to travel by ordinary second-class sleeper coach. She had to thank her stars that at least it was available at a short notice.

She did not have much luggage to bother about. After many years, she was now travelling by a lower class. Thank God! It was not an unreserved coach. She came early to railway station and occupied her berth. She also got some books for herself for the long journey. She was looking forward to going back and have some quality time with her children. The train chugged out and gathered momentum. The TTR – that is Train Ticket examiner also finished his round of checking. The vendors came one by one came and left. Sindhu took out the book she purchased and wrapped it in a newspaper cover and then gazed through the pages. Before she could get any grip on the story, she dozed off.

Since she was travelling in an ordinary class, co-passengers tried to get acquainted with each other and engaged themselves in pleasant chit-chats. Sindhu did not show any keen interest in befriending people, but lent an ear in what was going on. Some men folks had already got settled with playing cards in one of the cubicles. Time and again roars of laughter ripped through the air. Their jolly time. Holding the book in one hand and her mind elsewhere, she was just whiling away her time. Sometime by watching the speeding scenes through the window and sometime looking at the people inside the compartment. A variety of people, their looks, attitudes, languages and loads of luggage, a fun to watch. In a small-town station, a father came to send off his daughter and left with teary eyes. The recently married girl was going to her in-law’s place. A good ground for the co-passengers to know more about her and her in-laws. Quite a few coming and going, all in a rail journey….

Half the journey was crossed in these routine matters. By the way, half of the passengers too had changed… some had alighted and new comers had come in and occupied their berths. Another TTR had taken charge and was on his examination of new passengers in their allotted berths. He was almost completing his job, when he noticed that a small girl was hiding herself under a berth. He knelt and pulled her out. Holding her by her ears, he questioned her. She was almost in tears. Sindhu saw her and realised that she was the same girl, who, a little while ago, assumed on her own, the role of an unpaid sweeper and cleaned the surface of the compartment, a novel way of begging.

A co-passenger told the TTR that he would not mind paying ticket charges for her if she wanted. But he was not sure how it would be construed. On the contrary, he was afraid that he would be unnecessarily booked under POCSO Act (Protection of Children from Sexual Offences) for harassing her. Sindhu got interested in the meddle that was going on. Many offered comments. The urchin girl would not be willing to get civilised and fall in line with any sort of discipline, even if somebody offered to take steps. Such children often showed interest in getting free meals, money, gifts and compliments. They were least bothered about their future and were simply confined to day to day earning. Sindhu heard someone saying that in the name of cleaning the floor, which itself was not warranted, these urchins set their eyes on things that could be lifted without being caught. So, such persons should not be taken as pitiful beings. In fact, we the rail passengers had to be very cautious of such notorious thieves. No sympathy. Only caution.

TTR was still holding the girl. His job was to ensure that no outsider entered the train without any valid rail ticket. If anybody did so, all that he had to do, was to collect penalty from such persons. Otherwise such culprits had to be handed over to Railway police. But no TTR ever remained so harsh to such small children. So, they normally warn these beggars and chuck them out in the next station. Sindhu took pity on that girl and wanted to do something. She did not want the girl to fall into wrong hands and end up in a brothel or much worse, as an injured rape victim lying uncared for.

Sindhu was reminded of a similar incident in which a well-known social activist, Sudha Narayanamurthy, co-founder Infosys IT company, had proved to be very benevolent. Madam Sudha Murthy purchased a rail ticket with penalty for an urchin girl caught in the train and allowed the girl to travel with her. Also, she rang up the manager of her social organisation and asked him to pick up and take care of the girl. The girl was given proper education and later she turned out to be a meritorious student, got a suitable job and was working abroad. By chance, when the two met each other in the foreign land, Sudha Murthy was overwhelmed with joy on the girl’s growth and gaiety.

Sindhu thought of that old incidence now and said to herself that history could repeat itself again. So, she told TTR that she was paying for the girl and would take her with her to Chennai. TTR at a first glance was willing to oblige. But he on second thoughts, refused. The lady passenger’s credentials were not known, her intentions might not be good also. He bluntly asked her what she would do with the girl. Was she going to be engaged as domestic help or in any other form of child labour? Child labour being offensive, TTR would be inviting problem if he permitted the lady to take the girl with her. Sindhu got angry when she was drilled into more and more questions. She told that she was a regular donor of Udavum Kaigal, a charitable organisation which took care of destitute, orphans and old and the sick people. Sindhu said that she would hand over the girl to the organisation. The idea was good and it was no doubt a noble gesture. But, how could the TTR ensure that the lady actually did what she said. In order to safe guard himself, he called the railway police and asked them to inform Chennai police and ensure that the girl was sent to the care of the charitable organisation.

Sindhu was relieved of further questions. But she became object of public view and attracted too many eyeballs on her. So also, the girl. Sindhu got her a food packet and made her sit next to her – to which other co-passengers of same bench, objected. A beggar sitting next to them. Sindhu did not bother. She then took out her comb from her bag and tried to set her hair and make her look somewhat presentable. Initially, the girl did not cooperate, but later yielded. When asked for her name and family details, she said

“My name is Kalyani. I do not know where my parents are. Only my grandmother is there and she keeps scolding me. So, I ran away from her.” Kalyani had problem in adjusting to both local language and local food. Somehow managed to get along with other children like her.  

When train reached Chennai, some police men came to her coach in advance, before the girl or Sindhu could escape from their sight. Sindhu was delighted to see that things were taken so seriously by Railway police. Hence, she too was serious that the matter should be ended smoothly. Instead of going home straight, she went with the police to the office of Udavum Kaigal and ensured that Kalyani was admitted into their asylum. Luckily, there was someone who could talk in the same language of Kalyani’s mother tongue.

Years rolled on. Sindhu got grounded in her routines. Occasionally she would remember Kalyani whenever she made donations to the organisation. But she never found time to visit the organisation nor see Kalyani. She almost forgot all about her.

One day Sindhu had to go to Airport to send off her daughter. After sending her in, Sindhu was about to return, when she was accosted by a policeman and asked her to go with him. Sindhu was taken aback. She had not done anything wrong as to be summoned by a policeman or be dragged in public view. She demanded why and what of things. He just mentioned that he was under orders to do so. She was taken to a chamber where a lady officer was waiting. Sindhu was about to demand explanation of the excess and unruly behaviour amounting to harassment of a civilian by police. To her surprise, she found that the lady officer stood stiff before her and gave a big salute and in full attention. Then she took out her police cap and bowed with respects and even tried to touch her feet.

Sindhu though guessed, still wanted to confirm.

She asked, “Who are you?”

The officer replied, ‘Madam, I am Kalyani. The same Kalyani, whom you saved some years ago from TTR and Railway Police. Today I am here as Police official – all because of you. That day you saved me and protected me from untoward harassments and today I am standing as guardian and protector to ensure that no such untoward harassments take place in society. I indebted to you. May God bless you and your family forever and forever.”

Sindhu was in no way different from her senior mentor Sudha Narayanamurthy in the emotional exposition. She was overwhelmed with joy. A small seed of kindness sowed some years ago, had sprung up and now grown as a tall tree. Nice to see Kalyani as a well- groomed police officer.

Life is beautiful.