The other day, while waiting in the platform for the
arrival of my train, I was talking to the porter (we call them coolies) whom I
had hired for carrying my two piece luggage. I asked him how much does he earn
per day. Immediately he started pouring out his tale of woes.
“These strollies which every passenger is using these
days have killed our business Sar. In the old days, I used to earn on
an average Rs. 600 to Rs. 700 per day. These days I am lucky if I earn Rs 300 to Rs 400. With high costs how can
I manage my family sar?”
`Is that why you demand unreasonable amounts even for
light luggages” I asked.
With a weak smile he said, “ What to do sar. We would like to get the maximum
amount from any client who hires our services.”
As a practice I always
hire a coolie even to carry my strolley and the hand bags as I find it a strain to walk long distances in
the platforms with them. It certainly is a nightmare to climb up and down
stairs in stations with the luggages.
These days , with aching limbs & creaky joints , I also find it difficult
to lift the bags and put them on the luggage racks inside the compartments.
I have a simple system of dealing with coolies. If
they demand exorbitant amounts I just
walk away ignoring the guys. I don`t
believe in negotiations or to have fights with them. If a coolie demands a
reasonable amount, I hire him and invariably
tip him some extra amount without his asking. The happiness I see on his face
when he gets the unexpected bonus, makes my day.
If you have travelled abroad, especially to Western
Countries you will realise that the concept of porters or coolies at the
stations do not exist there. You have to carry your own bags, however unwieldy
they are. And since most of the stations are located below ground level, it
becomes a challenge carrying your baggages
It is a
nightmare when your travel involves changing trains! Once at Hamburg station,
though I was given clear instructions by the station master about the platform
number on which .the train would arrive
and the precise location of my compartment,- I decided to recheck the platform number with another Indian on the platform who misled me and I found myself on the wrong platform when the
train was streaming into the station.
How I ran up the steps with the heavy baggages in
hand and reached my compartment just in
time is a story by itself! As soon as I dumped my bags inside and got into the
train, the doors closed behind me and the train started. I literally fell on
top of my suitcase and was panting for the next ten minutes. I could clearly
hear my heartbeat and was sure I was going to die of a heart attack that day.
That was the day I realized the value of the services provided by the
coolies back home. And I am continuing
to avail of their services however light I travel.
( This article appeared in
Adyar Times issue dt. 7-14th February, 2016 under my column `Rajan`s
Random Reflections`)
here is one experience of mine which i would love to share with you. we were travelling to kota from chennai and had to change train in Bina a small town. our train reached bina at 11 pm and our connection train was at 12.30 am. we had to wait for one and a half hour in the waiting room which was in platform no. 1 and our connecting train was to arrive on platform no. 4. we had engaged the service of a coolie. the coolie waited and carried the luggage to the train put them in our compartment collected the amount of rs.100 agreed and went off. just before the train was to roll out of the station the coolie came running panting and puffing. rushed into the compartment and handed over a 500 rupee note and said "aapne 500 de diya saab". that was honesty beyond compare. imagine our surprise and shock at that late hour to find somebody to whom rs500 could mean a lot more coming and returning the amount.
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