During my stint in Anandalaya, I had to travel by the Navajeevan express to reach Anand. My journey from Nellore to Anand or from Anand to Nellore took nearly 30 hours. I always looked forward to this journey with excitement and eagerness. Part of the thrill was about going on a train which has its own romance, meeting new people, discovering new places and landscapes, lazing on your berth, listening to music or playing cards, eating your meals sharp on time and enjoying banter with your friends. The rocking motion of the coaches and the unidirectional thrust of the engine into future space was the high that spurred me unconsciously. When the train crossed a massive bridge or cut through a raw forest, I would watch the scenery and imagine myself in the middle of uncharted territory, a la Billy Biswas waiting for treats of exotic fruits and enchanting people.
When the train halted at unknown stations for a crossing or a clear signal, I would look at the forlorn station, the winding forest paths, the forked village roads and imagine the mystery that the road not taken could unleash. For me the solitary station master was like a tremulous warrior, negotiating the forest spirits. Stations meant eats and eatables. Although I never ventured to eat new foods mostly out of fear, I would let my eyes gorge on the delectable samosas, kachoris or jalebis which oozed taste and sweetness.
Train journeys during winter were more fun, especially drinking tea from a clay cup on a cold night or a chilly morning. The freezing night air that flew in through an opened window when the train dissected a long plateau gave shivers and sent us scampering for the warmth of a rug. On these journeys eating was a big pre occupation. Being a bachelor I depended mostly on the train fare. The Gujarati family that occupied my adjacent berths on my first journey kept finding several eatables from their tiffin carrier constantly through the journey. They dug out sweets, snacks, chapattis, boiled eggs, and many other eatables, making eating a ritual. This was reiterated for me after my stay at Anand; that the Gujaratis loved their sweets and snacks. During my brief stint, I tried to learn a few words and phrases of Gujarati.
Later when I reflected on my observations I felt I was playing the outsider, trying to discover the other, making specific observations to suit certain preconceived notions and archetypes which is what the outsider is mostly trying to do. My urge to discover the other was all about certifying for myself certain ideas handed over to me. Idealizing and discovering therefore was under a need for consistent re examination.