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This is a farewell to the
Kollam-Senkottai MG line, the last sight of the tiny tots in Kollam.
This historic, century old line from Kollam to Senkottai is closed for
ever. But not in full, only the Kollam –Punalur section will be
closed. But for all practical purpose, the PUU-Senkottai link will be
of no use for the travelers from Kerala to TamilNadu.
The Asianet TV Channel has given a good report on the last journey of
pass. train from Kollam. All the vernacular papers also have given
rich tributes for the line. There was Mr.Niyaz, who is a daily
commuter in this line for the last 30 years, first as a student, then
as a job seeker and now as an employed. They are losing a Dear one,
close relative, more close than their parents or children.
This line is a part of our life and culture. It has seen many ups and
downs, rises and falls. It was a work of the British experts for the
Maharaja of the Travancore State. The line and the tiny stns had seen
the Maharajas and their entourage visiting the distant parts of their
territory (Tenkasi was a part of Travancore), their visits to the
temples of Aryancavu and Madurai, their holidays at Kurtallam and
Tenmalai. Later it saw the fall of this dynastic rule, the departure
of the British. It saw the rise of Kollam as the most important town
of this area, which was a direct gift of this line and its traffic.
When the lines to Madurai and Madras were converted to BG, the freight
trains stopped coming and Kollam began to decline , Industrially, in
agriculture and in business.Till recently, any body who know only
Tamil could live in any place between Kollam and Aryancavu without any
difficulty. The mixed Tamil-Malayalam Culture of the eastern parts of
Kollam dist. is a contribution of this line.
You know, when we used to travel by the TPJ-Kollam (MG) Exp which
arrives at the early hours of the day, we were actually enjoying the
smell of flowers. All the flowers needed for Kollam came by this
train. Now it is by buses and trucks. But in the return journey by
around 10 pm, it was the smell of fish which accompanied us.
Even when the freight trains were stopped coming, the parcel service
was very important, esp. during the festive days of Onam, Vishu and
Christmas. As such, the closure of this line is a great loss for the
traders as well as the customers here.The line and the stations saw a
great number of strikes and fights. The College in which I am teaching
is one of the biggest in India, reg. the number of courses and
students. It was established in 1947 and a stronghold of student
movement, both leftist and congress. It was the usual practice that
whenever there is a strike, the students would march to the station
and stage a dharna or block the trains. All strikes against the
Central government targeted this station And, it was easy for them to
return to their houses after the strike.
Most of the students who studied in the
colleges at that time, and even now, use this line and the trains to
come to Kollam. And after the coming of ERS-TVC BG line, they began to
mock at the small trains. I can say it for sure that almost all the
political leaders of Kollam used to take part in these strikes. No
wonder, the last pass. train in this route had a VIP with it . Our
Education Minister Sri.M.A. Baby, who is the rep. of Kundara in the
legislature. Emotionally speaking, Jimmy, Vibin, Sriram, Antony and I
were the last IRFCA'ns who made a trip through this line. Before us
VSP made a solo. All persons we talked to were against the closure of
this line as it is quite unwarranted at this time.
The line, yard, loco shed and the workers were wonderful and nostalgic
sights for us the regular passengers to kollam. The women labourers
were seen working all the time, cleaning the coaches and platform. The
platform was clean and neat always. While the BG trains from TVC run
as examples for the laziness and lack of cleanliness of our people,the
trains from Kollam to east were very clean always.It was a pleasant
sight for our eyes that the uniformed workers engaged in different
kinds of work in the MG section of the Kollam stn. This, I feel a part
of Tamil work culture, which has no parallel any where in south India,
esp.Kerala.
Thus what ends here is a symbol of the state, the area, and the town
of Kollam. The people between Kollam and Senkottai are emotionally
linked to the “ idea” of kollam and the linkage was provided by this
tiny and picturesque line.
Now this dream, the idea comes to an end. The line and its memories
may linger in the minds of the people, rail nuts like me and those who
have visited this line, lovers of this ancient line and the ethnic
spirit it has provided for us and our culture. But soon, the remaining
coaches,the machines and the accident relief equipments in the Kollam
stn will be taken away to somewhereand thus they will be lost to our
small eyes.
Good bye to the line .
Long live the memories of this beautiful dream.
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