After a gap of 1 weekend and 2 days I am back at it. My narration was around the 1973. Before I move to 1973 must mention the year 1972. A very important year of world history a nation is born. This year also reflected the departure of Indian approach to World politics. of course this all is influenced by the wisdom and information which was attained in following years. A boy that I was in 1972, just 10 years old. still living in Barabanki on the periphery of the town, as an abode in town was not affordable, as I would learn it much later.
This place though isolated, still amid scattered development, gave the children ample view of the landscape. We could even see the trains coming into and going out of Barabanki. A few of us would also form a group, notably during the war with Pakistan on it Eastern extension, and go as near the railway lines which were only about 2 kilometers of areal distance from our home. Thank GOD there were nothing in between our homes and the railway lines except a few large bushes a Nallah and marshy land full of mosquitoes, frog, snakes, foxes, wolves. We were instructed from homes not to cross the main road, nevertheless we did and we did it again.
The fear of unknown was always there. Occasionally we would freeze in fear as we would see some dead bodies being burnt or abandoned. We will swear not to come there again, yet will be there as soon as the group was ready again. The older ones would make up some stories to instill more fear into the younger ones, so that we dare not disobey them and always held together. I can freely assume this instilling of fear at that time was good to maintain discipline. The landscape was not very friendly. There were unending stories of criminals and kidnappings and murders in the area near by.
These were the same railway lines which carried soldiers an tanks from to the eastern Borders and bring back wounded soldiers from that front back into the hinterlands. We will the children would go near these railway lines and I still distinctly remember to have sung some patriotic songs like Vandematarm to the passing trains or just wave. For the children the sheer size / length of those trains was fascinating and the tanks and trucks on top of it was just mesmerizing. We were totally awestruck. I remember to have been waved back by some soldiers, that was the penultimate reward that we ever sought.
Running bare footed or in bath room sleepers to the railway lines was always a fun. Our ultimate tribute to the soldiers, as we tried to run as soon as we would hear the whistling steam engines an see coughing them black smoke all over the track rising from far beyond the horizons. In the process sometime we would get tired and injured as we ran among marshy and bush lands. I must confess the feeling of reaching the railway lines just to feel the train wheezing wind as it would race past the small children with make shift flags, would wave with their small hands. The feeling was just amazing. Sometimes we would have coal entering our small eyes and for hours together we would be just rubbing our small eyes but still would not let go the greed to watch the Train as it went by.
I have not experienced such ecstasy ever since. May be the innocence or the joy arsing from an act of selflessness played the role. I can freely compare the excitement when I flew for the first time in 1975 or was it 1976.. do not remember exactly. Does that matter? May be, may be not.
In next I would also want the share the years of 1971 as the rains played havoc.. in India's one of the largest zoo's in northern part.
This place though isolated, still amid scattered development, gave the children ample view of the landscape. We could even see the trains coming into and going out of Barabanki. A few of us would also form a group, notably during the war with Pakistan on it Eastern extension, and go as near the railway lines which were only about 2 kilometers of areal distance from our home. Thank GOD there were nothing in between our homes and the railway lines except a few large bushes a Nallah and marshy land full of mosquitoes, frog, snakes, foxes, wolves. We were instructed from homes not to cross the main road, nevertheless we did and we did it again.
The fear of unknown was always there. Occasionally we would freeze in fear as we would see some dead bodies being burnt or abandoned. We will swear not to come there again, yet will be there as soon as the group was ready again. The older ones would make up some stories to instill more fear into the younger ones, so that we dare not disobey them and always held together. I can freely assume this instilling of fear at that time was good to maintain discipline. The landscape was not very friendly. There were unending stories of criminals and kidnappings and murders in the area near by.
These were the same railway lines which carried soldiers an tanks from to the eastern Borders and bring back wounded soldiers from that front back into the hinterlands. We will the children would go near these railway lines and I still distinctly remember to have sung some patriotic songs like Vandematarm to the passing trains or just wave. For the children the sheer size / length of those trains was fascinating and the tanks and trucks on top of it was just mesmerizing. We were totally awestruck. I remember to have been waved back by some soldiers, that was the penultimate reward that we ever sought.
Running bare footed or in bath room sleepers to the railway lines was always a fun. Our ultimate tribute to the soldiers, as we tried to run as soon as we would hear the whistling steam engines an see coughing them black smoke all over the track rising from far beyond the horizons. In the process sometime we would get tired and injured as we ran among marshy and bush lands. I must confess the feeling of reaching the railway lines just to feel the train wheezing wind as it would race past the small children with make shift flags, would wave with their small hands. The feeling was just amazing. Sometimes we would have coal entering our small eyes and for hours together we would be just rubbing our small eyes but still would not let go the greed to watch the Train as it went by.
I have not experienced such ecstasy ever since. May be the innocence or the joy arsing from an act of selflessness played the role. I can freely compare the excitement when I flew for the first time in 1975 or was it 1976.. do not remember exactly. Does that matter? May be, may be not.
In next I would also want the share the years of 1971 as the rains played havoc.. in India's one of the largest zoo's in northern part.
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