Page 13 - Seniorstoday December 2023 Issue

trains burrowed into the guts of cities and Luggage consisted of one trunk,
towns and rolled past the houses of the one holdall, one Surai (earthen water
people living alongside the tracks. One container), one bag, the holdall was
could see an India far removed from the a unique contraption a versatile and
urban towns. Every time a train chugged spacious bag in which one could fit in a
in and out of the station, one would see mattress, blankets, pillows and a lot of
little boys looking at the train in awe other stuff for which there was no place in
reminding one of Appu in Satyajit Ray’s the trunk. It was a contraption unique to
“Pather Panchali”. Every boy hoping to get India and from here was exported to other
on to the train for a better future. parts of Asia. After all the material was
put in it was rolled and firmly held by two
leather straps. It was functional, durable,
made of green canvas and lasted for a
generation. Every girl who got married
was given a trunk, holdall and Surai. Some
of these Surai were fashionable made of
copper with a cloth covering that was
embroidered.

Overcrowded trains were a common sight,
especially during peak travel seasons.
A microcosm of Indian society spanned
the train from one end to the other. Train
journeys provided a unique platform for
social interaction. Passengers engaged
in conversations, sharing stories and
experiences. The camaraderie among co-
travelers turned strangers into temporary
companions, creating bonds that lasted
for the duration of the journey. Often
exchanging addresses and promises to
write letters.

A copper/ brass surai

Wooden fittings were the hallmark of first class compart- The enigmatic holdall
ments

SENIORS TODAY | ISSUE #54 | DECEMBER 2023 13