Train No 12603

This document has been shared with me by a very special friend, and whose gleanings about the subject of life and love is a constant fount of wisdom for me. 

 The  Train No 12603 – A Travelers Journey beyond the Physical

Realms

           

              “We travel, some of us forever, to seek other states, Other  

                                              Lives, Other Souls.” 
                                                                                                                    - Anais Nin

             I’m sure most of us love traveling by Train either with Family, Friends or alone. These train journeys have several tales to tell, some last as long as the journey and some last forever. Every Train, every compartment, every seat has its own unique tale of the passengers who had traveled. Just imagine the number of stories every train has in store. Some stories strike a chord and this one is close to me. My story begins with a journey of a girl on train no 12603.

            The girl (well, lets name her as T) was on her way to her new home in a different city. The look on T’s face was one of gloom and sorrow. It looked like she was running away from some distress which was clogging her mind and thoughts. On that fateful day, she was unable to acquire an AC coach for herself as it was a public holiday and an extended weekend, which added to her misery. As she was sitting inside the Train lost in some thoughts, she felt the only consolation now was the fact that she was going home to meet her parents. T had a side lower berth and the seat opposite hers was empty for the first 1 minute after the train had started. The next minute there comes a guy (let’s name him Z) huffing and sweating and catching on his breath, relieved that he made it. T looked at her new neighbor very briefly that she hardly saw his face completely. By the time the guy settled down, T had already immersed herself in a book, written by Khaled Hosseini. T’s seat felt the turmoil in her head as she seemed to be reading, but her mind was entangled like a barbed wire.

             Z seemed tired and he glanced shortly at T once…. twice… thrice. T felt that the guy opposite was staring at her and she dint want to glance back at him. Z noticed the dress T was wearing, the caption on her Tee, the flat slip on, the title of the book and her Ipod. An hour passed nobody spoke a word. T was not in favor of talking to co passengers on her travels as she was an introvert and liked to keep company with herself. Z was flashing a glance every now and then. At last T’s mobile rang and it was a call from home, she ended her conversation with her mother stating that she wasn’t sure what time the train would reach the destination. The conversation was loud enough and after the call Z at last spoke, saying that the train reaches by morning 6, smiling gently. Z asked T whether she was traveling to her destination for the first time and from there on the two passengers hit it off on their interesting conversations which lasted till 1.30 am in the night. There was nothing stopping them from their never ending stories of each other they had in store. Z was a doctor, who was passionate about his work and helping his patients. He felt serving people was like serving God. He was an ambitious and a well read person who spent few years in UK. Z was a good looking man with something unique about his eyes. Something inside T told her that she had known this person before but she very religiously suppressed that thought and went to sleep. One of the common factors between these two passengers was that they could never sleep in a train. T went to the upper berth and Z was semi sleeping in his lower berth. These two individuals had no idea whether they would ever see each other again. The next day morning when the train reached the destination after an hours delay, T was feeling very heavy to leave Z for some strange reason. Z had spoken a lot on the previous night and he had touched somewhere the chords of her heart. She put away that thought, exchanged Email ids and waved goodbye to her unique, special co passenger who left his mark, of whom she could never forget.

              As days went by they started mailing each other and there were circumstances where she met him as a doctor in the hospital he was working. Though T would be sick when meeting him, but somewhere down her heart she would feel happy to see him again. I am reminded at this moment of the famous quote by Tagore:

     “Days and night Pass and Ages Bloom and fade like a Flower.”

Days passed into months, months into years and millions of things took place individually in both their lives, some where happy, some were disastrous; some were gloomy, some where challenging.

Both their lives were occupied with various things but T could never let his thought inside her fade. It looked to her as if he was holding one string of her Heart.

             The journey itself had a hidden message which nobody could apprehend. T believes that meeting Z was no accident or coincident, it was a choice the soul had taken long back. T couldn’t express her feelings till date to Z. It was neither an infatuated flick at first meeting, nor any flimsy imagination. It was just not Love, it was and is much more than that, in the spirits. It has no shape, no design, no letters, no gifts; it is something more than the earthly things. The intense feelings in its own have a thousand stories to share but unexpressed, suppressed and fear of disappointing Z.

          When T feels these feelings for him, she feels closer to God; she feels the goodness of Life. She feels complete. It’s a platonic relationship she shares with him and will remain with her through out all her lifetimes. It’s more of a metaphysical experience. This journey of T was just not a physical journey from one place to another, but a journey inside her soul and beyond the realms of this earth and recognizing the other through the eyes which is the window of the soul. The journey of these two souls doesn’t end here in this plane; it is a continuous journey of unconditional love which eventually will go back to its Source. T’s love for Z is the same till day.

         This article is dedicated to my Twin-Soul who I am profoundly in love with and will always be for the lives to come. I wish this lovely Soul is filled with the happiness that the world could ever hold for anyone. Today I know what love is. It is YOU.

        “He's more myself than I am. Whatever our souls are made of, 

                                    his and mine are the same.” 

                                                                       - Emily Bronte
                                                                                                                  

                                                                          

    

Victoria Technical Institute

A Unique Gift.

The Victoria Technical Institute

Victoria Technical Institute has a 124 year old history behind it. It was opened in Victoria Memorial Hall, Pantheon Road, Egmore, in the year 1889 in commemoration of the silver jubilee celebrations of Queen Victoria. The Victoria Technical Institute was moved to Mount Road in 1956. What began as an Institute which was mainly concentrated on creating a social impact and upliftment of the rurally-based artisans, continues even till today its legacy of patronizing thousands of them.

 Handicrafts

Handicraft opens the doors to ethnic India, with its attractiveness and utility. Different types of clothes ranging from baby frocks to Bed Spreads, Indian Paintings, Wall Hangings, Indian Jewelry, Sculptures, Pottery, Handcrafted Furniture, Home Decoration etc can be found here at Victoria Technical Institute.

Handicrafts at VTI

The vision of VTI is to showcase true colors of Indian culture that is embraced by people of all ages, religion and regions. VTI with its legacy lasting more than a century, even today is dedicated to provide with high quality genuine handcrafted products directly from its base and in the process provide fair wages to the artisans.

An Artisan and the VTI

Art is the nectar of human life. An artisan has a capacity to reproduce what he has seen his ancestor passing down to him, and this is what a new generation artisan gives to VTI even today – says Mr P. Vijay, CEO at the Institute.  People enter the Institute and see different techniques, handicrafts and a huge variety of art which elevates them to a different plane. The quest of art and culture of India for a foreigner comes to an end when he enters into this building. And most importantly, he can also take along with him a culturally rich experience of India. This collection has come from different villages across the country right from Hoshiarpur to Mysore. An aritsit in Hoshairpur shows their talent in making a detachable dressing table of enamel inlay work, whereas an artisan in Mysore specializes in making bronze idols of Lord Vishnu and Ganesha.  When I enter the Institute, what catches my attention is this arresting piece of handicraft of a decorated elephant which one witnesses while watching a royal parade in Mysore. I am left astounded as I discover that it is worth a huge sum of Rupees Sixty Lacs.

VTI as a Charitable Institute

 This VTI is also a charitable institute which seeks to encourage differently abled children and  refugees of Srilankan Women’s Organization. A vast variety ranging from embroidery work on different types of clothes ranging from small baby frocks to Bed Spreads, ornaments and stone and pearl-studded ornaments are just some of the creative expression of  people from the organizations.  I got engrossed and went to third floor, I saw items made out of rosewood such as dressing tables and dining tables as well as pooja ghar, jhoolas, and idols of gods such as Vishnu and Shiva and laughing Buddha,, Tanjore Paintings of Lord Krishna all of these created by the indigenous artisans in the remote villages of India. The foldable dressing table my personal favourite is from Hoshiarpur, Punjab and Mr P.Vijay tells me that it  furniture work that they have been procuring from the district for years. Rosewood furniture here is so elegant and has made its way into the homes of  an informed buyer in such a way that the turnover this section alone made last year of over a crore itself.

I ask Mr P.Vijay if they find many visitors attracted to the Institute, “You will be amazed when I tell you that many customers keep coming back here. Apart from repeat customers, we also have people coming from other numerous walks of life often giving us orders from abroad to ship these furniture items.   

    

“We have training centers wherein the artisans are trained to hone their skills in training centers located at Mahabalipuram and another at Kumbakonam. Apart from this the Institute also organizes a competititon in October every year on the occasion of Gandhi Jayanthi.       

     

Insights from the Modern Buyer.

Surguna, Operational Manager at Tata Consultancy Services, Chennai tells me that he is drawn to a second time visit to VTI because he can walk out with a purchase of value topped up with feeling of total satisfaction. He in fact brought along with him a friend who wanted to take home with him a slice of Indian culture to gift someone.     

Handicraft items can be the best gift for occasions says Tasneem, who was a regular customer, and when she visited this year the Institute almost after ten years, still feels connected to the Institute in the way of the items that it offers.

A visit to Victoria Technical Institute will allow you to connect yourself to our rich heritage which we can proudly carry with us into the future.  

- Alifia M.B.V

       

Shopping In Parry's

TRAVEL SERIES IN PARRY'S

Parry’s Corner 

 Shopping In the by-lanes of Parry’s

If you have the time, knack and patience to navigate through the honking of scooters, amidst the rickshaw-pullers, to keep in sync with the haphazard way in which share-autos maze their way through, while the rickshaw-puller tries to catch up with the pace, then welcome yourself to Parry’s for an unforgettable shopping time, and having saved enough money, as a bonus.

With the Khadi-Kraft Bus Depot, a hop and jump away from the main shopping area, you will find lined-up shops that sell apparel catering to different tastes and ages –T shirts sometimes with amusing lines, or delightful children’s clothes, all vying for attention even as they welcome you at the bus depot.

Khadi-Kraft, which has occupied a pride of place at this juncture for years and years – beckons one to quickly check out the handicrafts and buy Indian goods – while it once or more stages Navratri dolls exhibitions or seasonal Sale periods, all of these catching up well with the audience as their staff makes an effort to help the visitor feel at ease and make an informed choice.

Diagonally opposite, on the NSC Bose Road, you will find men/women vendors who line this busy stretch with human activity buzzing about them. Perfumes, apparel –both new and second-hand, home needs, stationery, fancy items, CD-stalls, or vada and tea stall, fresh-juice carts, all find a place here.

The showcase at this busy N.S.C bose road will now invariably prepare you for what lies inside – really an Alladin’s cave for every one who loves shopping. As you set out to discover more points to shop at, you cannot miss the Olympic’s multi-storeyed building at the Anderson street – a one-stop that offers dedication solution for your wedding preparation.  

Wholesome Prices at Whole Sale Shops

Roopam Fancy Store’s owner Vimlesh says that many people come to shop in Parry’s. Culture, socio-economic and geographical aspects, none of these factors stop the crowd that constitutes the customers I get here, he says. As individual streets specialize in one particular product, it is an important factor that helps the bulk buying process, he adds.  

The Anderson street and Malayaperumal street specialize in paper and plastic wares,  you can find shops dedicated to different aspects of the product - gift wrappers, diaries and school notebooks, fancy and expensive hand made paper. You can buy at wholesale prices stationery goods from shops at closer vicinity such as the Office Equipment stationery shop. It is wise to navigate through the perennial rush in the busy interiors on Tuesdays as the church crowd is at its peak,  incase you want to finish a quick shopping.

Arshad who runs a shop - Popular Plastic Pack says business is at its peak during the wedding season in town and there is otherwise a great demand from hotels and caterers for everyday items such as plastic cups, spoons and plates. At Kasi Chetty street, on the other hand, is where you can see the latest in everything –from  key chains, toys, cosmetics and gifts to leather products.

On the other side of these narrow lanes, is the optical paradise. Shops, big and small such as Mahaveer Optical,  Amar  or Sri Karni Mata line Broadway most of these are open well beyond 7.30 pm. Broadway occupies monopoly status in the business of optical wear. And in order to stay in the game, some of the big brands such as Vijay’s Optical have sought to open their shops here in order to b e a part of the game.

 Rattan Bazaar, at the other side of the N.S.C bose road, has an enclave of textile shops lining at the main road itself. Some of the well-known of them for so many years being the T.Mangharam’s, whereas a recently opened showroom, Vijay’s Tex is as popular for women’s dress materials and ready-made wear.  But even today, if you want to indulge in the sheer texture and color of textile, once in a lifetime visit to the Elephant Gate Street and the Godown Street is a must!

It is here that you find established names such as Ethirajulu Naidu, M.A Jacob’s and Vishweshwara. If you are adventurous, then you will go exploring the small shops in the interior of the busy Rattan Bazaar area, where you can pick imported version of all your home needs at a bargain price.  

The business of life that is in Parry’s

Perfumes, apparel – new and second-hand, home needs, stationery, fancy items, Cd-vendors, mosambi and cut-mango sellers, all find a place in the busy by-lanes of Parry’s. With so much human activity buzzing about, you wonder what makes it special for all these men and women to go about their business of life day after day here.

I speak to a second-hand clothes seller at the N.S.C bose road, and this is what he tells me. “Of the more than ten lac footfalls that the road sees everyday, about a few would definitely show some interest in my wares. To see what best the day would bring to me, is what keeps me coming here everyday,” he says.  

Even as I have a great fascination for fragrances, I have my skepticism about the long-lastingness of them even as you can see so many of them having stacked up in every major by-lane here. I anyway did check out the fragrance that was in the fancy green POISON bottle – that the shopkeeper was ready to give me a bargain price.

And even though the perfume on my wrist, did not linger for a long while, I took home with me the smile of the perfume-vendor, which has been the best experience of shopping in the by-lanes of Parry’s.

- Alifia M.B.V

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