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Life
of M/man in Mumbai may appear to be a glamorous one to commuters. The reality is
different. There are many close calls such as poor brake power may result in
possible overshooting corrected at the last minute by applying emergency brakes,
passing signal at danger, etc. But the incident that results in invisible scar
on them is knocking a trespasser.
No scientific study has been conducted by here are some figures that I know.
M/man Vilas Veerkar committed suicide. Age mid 40s.
M/man Ashok Jadhav died of heart attack. Age mid 40s.
M/man Edward Fernandes died of heart attack. Age mid 40s.
M/man Kulkarni died of heart attack. Age 55.
M/man Hardikar, suffers from irregular heart beats, assigned to shunting duty
only, age 55. (Now retired)
You may draw your own conclusion.
One fine morning, I was traveling with M/man Ashok Jadhav in a fast train from
Virar to Churchgate. The rake was brand new so traction power and braking were
fabulous. We approached Malad at a speed of 90 kms, the starter was green,
advanced starter was invisible due to left hand curve ahead. Few hundred feet
ahead was Malad south level crossing and many pedestrians used railway tracks to
reach station, a common site in Mumbai. Although there are four tracks, rarely
all were occupied by on-coming train so it was easy to dodge the trains by
changing tracks. All the M/men would sound horn (or hooter) to warn trespassers.
The track is covered by fence and walls on both sides leaving no room for
additional maneuvering.
That particular day was no different, or that's what we thought or expected.
A young boy, 8 - 9 years old, wearing school uniform and carrying a school bag
was trying to reach Malad station by walking on up local track. Few seconds
before we reached Malad, up local had started, M/man had sounded his hooter, the
boy looked at down local line, but a train was arriving so he jumped quickly to
down fast tracks. When up local had passed half way from where he was standing,
down fast local sounded the horn. In split second, the boy jumped to up fast
track, right in front of our train. We were hardly 30 feet away. Hooter was
sounded again and emergency brakes were applied. It takes at least 650 feet for
loaded local to stop from 90 kms. We could see the fear in those little eyes.
Then we heard the familiar but deadly thud.
We slowed at Goregaon cabin and asked cabin man to inform Malad stationmaster
about the accident. At Andheri, both of us got down to inspect the cow guard. A
school bag was hanging on buffer beam. Ashok stepped down on track, picked the
bag and came back silently, with a face full of agony, closed the door and
settled on guard's seat. He did not want to drive that rake. The journey towards
CCG, normally full of chats, a wave to incoming trains' M/men was totally silent
that day.
Few days later, Ashok and I attended the coroner's court at J.J. Hospital.
Coroner Shri Malkani asked the routine questions, did you sound hooter, did you
apply emergency brakes, was the boy facing a train, etc. Ashok answered them in
a composed manner.
Before leaving, Ashok met the boy's parents, expressed his sympathy. The mother
was in a shock but the father understood that the sympathy was genuine. When we
came out of coroner's hall, Ashok asked me to get the bag and handed it over to
the father. A tear rolled from all the eight eyes.
Soon after, Ashok had fully recovered and was back to his pleasant life style.
We almost forgot the incident.
Six months later, I was traveling with Ashok in another fast train with a DI in
the cab. When we approached Malad, Ashok shut off the master controller even
though starter was green. As we were passing the starter, he applied brakes and
slowed down to 40 kms. I looked at him, his eyes were telling me, you know why I
slowed down. I nodded. DI Shri Mendonca looked puzzled and asked what is
happening. I explained the background. He understood. He himself was a 30-year
veteran M/man, too.
Another invisible scar was discovered.
But not all the invisible scars can be discovered. Take M/man Nicholas Fernandes
for example. He and his younger brother Anthony worked as M/men. Anthony, a
jolly, laughing person had many friends among the crew. Nicholas, on the other
hand, was a loner. Rarely, one would see any colleague traveling in his cab. His
wife was exactly the opposite; she was a social worker, had many friends and was
a wonderful host and fabulous cook.
Anthony told me many times that his brother was not a loner when he joined
railway. A football player, he hosted many parties those days, during one such
party, he met his would be wife.
I traveled with Nicholas in his cab and our conversation was limited to
greetings only. My other M/men friends called me a nut for traveling in his cab.
I tried initiating conversation with him but never succeeded. At the most, he
would inform me that his wife has invited me for a party.
Well! Nicholas had the worst record of knocking trespassers. He would apply
brakes and sound hooter for no apparent reasons, like an absent minded person.
His secrets went with him in coffin when he died in early 80s, soon after his
retirement.
Or may be he shared them with St. Peter?
Same with M/man Vilas Veerkar. He was a jolly, happy person with lots of
friends; wore one wristwatch on each hand, one for Indian standard time, and the
other for Railway time that runs a few minutes ahead. I traveled with him a lot
and he came to airport the day I was leaving for US to wish me good luck.
He lived in railway quarters at Vile Parle and many times, I waved him from
train when he was standing in the balcony. His family was known to be a very
happy one.
Two years later, he committed suicide right in front of his railway quarters. My
cousin, Ratnakar Gavankar a.k.a. Shivaji Maharaj, was pulling in up local at
Vile Parle late night, he saw Veerkar standing by tracks, waved him. He thought
Veerkar was on his way to stationmaster's office.
M/man of the following train found his dead body. That was the last CCG bound
train of the day.
May the souls of these friends rest in Peace!
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