32.Return to REC Calicut

 After completing the 3 years leave sanctioned to do research, I was supposed to join REC in end of July 1981. But schools in Kerala reopen in June and therefore children have to be  admitted to the schools  before June. My daughter was seeking admission to Std 5 and son Std 4. The sisters  in Providence  school were   kind enough to admit our daughter as they had a soft corner  for children  from REC and being a girl coming from Delhi and  with reasonably good marks,  her admission was easy. But the boy’s admission was not certain.  When Sri. Kolappan Pillai approached Silver Hills School, the Rev. Father Edakkara in charge said he can be admitted only if a new division is started this year. They were trying to get adequate number of students for the new division.

Anyway, we decided to travel in the last week of May to Calicut. My wife and myself tried to dispose off whatever we have purchased during the last three years keeping only the most essential things with us. The things left were a collection  of books and cooking vessels. Indian Oil Company had brought out a new highly energy efficient kerosene stove called Nutan. A few friends from the campus had asked for this stove. We purchased three of these and eliminated all nonessential things.  Brother in law of Kolappan pillai, Sri.Krishna Pillai who was working in a construction company  in Delhi  was  the only help available. Among the furniture, a folding cot with  plastic tape-wound cot , two folding chairs, and the refrigerator were to be transported. Krishna Pillai brought two big wooden boxes and a crate  for  keeping the  fridge.  The wooden boxes were good enough to carry all the cooking vessels and books and we could keep some clothes also inside it safely. All put together, the total weight was much more than the permissible limit for two full tickets and two half tickets.  

Even then, the only train from  Delhi to Kozhikode was  the Jayanti Janata  Express train from  Haszrath NiIzamuddeen,   Delhi to Mangalore. Haszrath   Nizamuddeen was a medium size station.  Someone in the parcel service station said, if we want to get our luggage at Kozhikode along with us, it has to be kept in the  brake van. The porters and the parcel staff together wanted a reasonably big amount for keeping our luggage in the brake van.  They loaded the luggage in a van and showed us the van and asked us to note the van number. Only my family was travelling and we did not have any other friends travelling with us. Sri.Kolappan Pillai had returned to REC a year back and he had promised to wait at the station with a mini-lorry to take the luggage. On the way at Nagpur, I wanted to make sure that our van is moving with  us. But on our search, I found that the van is missing. On enquiry, the guard of the train informed me that the  said van is an ordinary parcel (VP) van which will be disconnected at main stations,  some pieces of luggage taken out and new set loaded and the  van may take at least a month or more to reach Calicut. Moreover, the guard said, one half of the train is to reach Cochin and the brake van will be taken to Kochi, not Kozhikode. This was another stab on the back of the Madrassi, the porters and parcel staff  had looted  a clean sum, cheating us..   

In short, when we reached the campus, we did not have many essential things including cooking vessels as these were kept in the big box. Essential clothes, Nuthan stoves for friends only were available. Porters kept ready for unloading the items were sent off with some tips and the  mini-lorry booked  from REC  was sent back. WEe took a taxi and reached the campus. Just  like we  spent the first few days in Sri.Kolappan Pillai  sir’s house in Delhi, we stayed with him here in the campus also.

Now, search for a place to stay  was on. One D-type quarters  was available  but as I have  not re-joined  and am still on leave, it could not be allotted. Therefore, I cancelled my remaining  period of leave for higher study and re-joined the department. The available quarters (remained vacant as there was severe leakage from the  roof ) was allotted  to me. The furniture kept in different quarters when we left to Delhi were collected and started living in D9B staff quarters just near the milk booth. Even though there were some leakage problems which the engineer in charge assured that is being attended to soon, the location was quite convenient. It was near the main road so that the children could go to the school  in the city by college bus easily and for my wife, shopping centre was nearby.  We purchased essential   cooking vessels from the city and got the gas connection  restored. Children were both admitted, daughter in Providence Girls School and son in Silver Hills School as  they had  enough students  to start a new division.  With timely help from Sri.Kolappan Pillai sir everything was set right. As my wife and kids are in the campus, they will be able to manage themselves with help from  my friends, I was certain.

Only worry was about the luggage in transit. Every day I was going to the station to check but when I had  to go back to Delhi to complete writing my thesis and submitting it, I entrusted a porter  to  inform  my wife  if the luggage arrives  in the station. An addressed post card was given to him for this purpose. While moving through the parcel office, I saw several refrigerators with broken compressors lying there which was brought through the train and prayed almighty that the same fate will not fall on our refrigerator too. Railway has limited number of helping staff for loading and unloading and so these damages to the transported items do happen due to careless handling. Things were lying there only because of dispute for damages. Anyway, we could get the luggage only after my return from Delhi by end of July. Fortunately, none of the items were damaged due to the careful packing, thanks to Krishna Pillai, brother in law of  Kolappan Pillai Sir.