Let me narrate an interesting incident involving me that occurred in 1976. I was travelling from Howrah to Burdwan by an EMU local on the strength of a 2nd class monthly season ticket. This was an office time chord line local departing from Howrah at 7.20 am and reaching Burdwan at 9.45 am, well on time for me to report at the Bank before 10 am for the day's work. Naturally this train used to be jam-packed with office-goers.
After a few days of travel in crowded compartments, one day I found a compartment which was totally empty with not a single soul in it. So I boarded that coach and was soon immersed in solving the crossword puzzle in the daily...
more... newspaper Amrita Bazar Patrika, which has since ceased to exist. For about 33 kms till Kamarkundu, nobody boarded that bogie until a well-dressed middle-aged man got up and sat next to me. He was closely watching me engaged in the crossword. After I had finished, he started chatting with me and we passed the time in good conversation till the train was detained at the outer signal before Burdwan. He had introduced himself as a PW Inspector in Eastern Railways.
He casually asked me if I had a 1st class ticket and I said that I had a 2nd class monthly. He chided me for travelling in a 1st class coach with a 2nd class ticket.
I explained to him that I was not aware that it was a 1st class coach since there were no cushioned seats and the wooden seats were exactly what was found in the 2nd class coaches. The only difference was that outside the coach it was marked as "I" instead of "II" and no passengers boarded this coach anywhere. I explained to him that I had unknowingly made a mistake and profusely apologised for it. This was during the EMERGENCY clamped by Mrs. Indira Gandhi and law-breakers were severely punished.
I broke into a cold sweat and dreaded the prospect of spending the night in jail and losing my cushy bank job in the process. The gentleman realised that although I had made a genuine mistake, I was now in a state of panic. He consoled me by saying "Don't you worry, I shall take care of the matter"
The moment the train entered Burdwan station the 1st class coach was surrounded by at least 4 TTEs asking me for my ticket. The Inspector then told them "Yeh hamara aadmi hai". They immediately backed away and said "Theek hai sab"
THAT WAS HOW A GOOD RAILWAY GENTLEMAN SAVED MY DAY in 1976.
