For an average Indian train journey was a must in those days. Lack of roads and automobiles were the main reason. I am talking about 50 years back. Only in major cities there was some semblance of public transport system. Towns and minor cities mostly had bullock carts and Jutkas (Horse drawn carts). Preparation for any train journey used to be an elaborate affair. Journey to another place meant a stay of minimum 15 days as frequent journeys were avoided in those days. This forced the traveler to carry as many things as he will need for a long stay. Buying things needed in a new place was avoided as there were no general stores or super markets in those days.
Once you arrived at the railway station usually one to two hours before departure, you could find the platform filled up with various luggage pieces. A steel trunk was a must in those days. It was a large piece made of sheet metal and weighing on its own around 2 to 5 kg. The normal size would be 3'x1.5'x1'. The other piece invariably was a 'Hold all'. It was a typical Indian contraption, originally introduced by Europeans as a sleeping bag. It would be in a roll and could assume any diameter based on its contents. It was introduced mainly as there was no provision of bedding for night journeys by the railways. But the ingenuous Indians extended its use. My mother always carried a 'Hold all' with her during journey to our native town for vacation. My sisters and I used to accompany her. We never used it for sleeping purpose. Once we get in to train it would be put up on the luggage rack. Mother would pull out some sheets and pillows from it during night and again roll it back. I used to wonder what its real use was? Once I decided to find out the truth. When we got back home after vacation I waited to see the "Hold all" opened up. To my surprise I found it was packed to the hilt with pappads, food grains, snacks dresses etc. Then only truth dawned on me. 'Hold all" was used as a kit bag to carry all excess luggage.
The most important item that accompanied all travelers in south India was called Kooja. It was actually a brass vessel with a lid and a handle to carry. It would have been the size of a thermos flask but short in height and wide in the middle. Every family in the train will have one with them. It would be normally filled with drinking water which is a must during travel in India. Potable water availability was a problem in most of the railway stations. In big stations or junctions Kooja would be used for getting water from a vendor. The other main use was to get coffee. Coffee is a must for South Indians. In fact they live on coffee through out the day. The main job of men during travel was to get steaming coffee from platform vendors. Kooja was used for getting the coffee. There used to be a small cup inside the Kooja called 'Lotta' which served the purpose of distributing the drink to various family members.
How to carry the luggage? Porters were the only means. The trunk box and 'Hold all' jam packed and weighing a lot were not at all user friendly and the use of a porter at the station was inevitable. As there were no standard rates for carrying luggage it would involve lot of negotiation before a porter would agree. One could reach home only after 2 to 3 hours.
People made fewer journeys in those days. But journeys were packed with unforgettable experiences.
Once you arrived at the railway station usually one to two hours before departure, you could find the platform filled up with various luggage pieces. A steel trunk was a must in those days. It was a large piece made of sheet metal and weighing on its own around 2 to 5 kg. The normal size would be 3'x1.5'x1'. The other piece invariably was a 'Hold all'. It was a typical Indian contraption, originally introduced by Europeans as a sleeping bag. It would be in a roll and could assume any diameter based on its contents. It was introduced mainly as there was no provision of bedding for night journeys by the railways. But the ingenuous Indians extended its use. My mother always carried a 'Hold all' with her during journey to our native town for vacation. My sisters and I used to accompany her. We never used it for sleeping purpose. Once we get in to train it would be put up on the luggage rack. Mother would pull out some sheets and pillows from it during night and again roll it back. I used to wonder what its real use was? Once I decided to find out the truth. When we got back home after vacation I waited to see the "Hold all" opened up. To my surprise I found it was packed to the hilt with pappads, food grains, snacks dresses etc. Then only truth dawned on me. 'Hold all" was used as a kit bag to carry all excess luggage.
The most important item that accompanied all travelers in south India was called Kooja. It was actually a brass vessel with a lid and a handle to carry. It would have been the size of a thermos flask but short in height and wide in the middle. Every family in the train will have one with them. It would be normally filled with drinking water which is a must during travel in India. Potable water availability was a problem in most of the railway stations. In big stations or junctions Kooja would be used for getting water from a vendor. The other main use was to get coffee. Coffee is a must for South Indians. In fact they live on coffee through out the day. The main job of men during travel was to get steaming coffee from platform vendors. Kooja was used for getting the coffee. There used to be a small cup inside the Kooja called 'Lotta' which served the purpose of distributing the drink to various family members.
How to carry the luggage? Porters were the only means. The trunk box and 'Hold all' jam packed and weighing a lot were not at all user friendly and the use of a porter at the station was inevitable. As there were no standard rates for carrying luggage it would involve lot of negotiation before a porter would agree. One could reach home only after 2 to 3 hours.
People made fewer journeys in those days. But journeys were packed with unforgettable experiences.
