Gadiyaram Ramasubramanya Sarma (grandson of Satavadhani and ప్రబంధకర్త Sri Gadiyaram Venkata Sesha Satry, author of epic Sri Siva Bharatam) and I were selected for participating in the Jambooree in Allahabad. It was an All India event conducted by Bharat Scouts and Guides. I will ink my memories of the trip as asked by him. My father suggested that a haversack (what we presently call a backpack) would be ideal for the trip. Haversacks were not available in Proddatur and we got one from Bangalore. It was a canvas bag which was weather and water proof. Since the trip was taking place during peak winter, I had to carry warm clothing, gloves etc. I even got new flannel shirts stitched. I packed all that I was to take for the trip in the haversack. Every night for 3-4 days before the trip commenced, I practiced walking with it on my back, straps firmly resting on my shoulders. The bean shaped army zinc water bottle with microporous cloth cover was also firmly in place hanging from the shoulder. It was a perfect dress rehearsal to see if everything is ok and I have no difficulty in carrying.
As a part of AP team selected for All India Jambooree (27- 31st Dec 1964), Sarma and I reached Hyderabad. We were accommodated in Stanley Girls School on the Chapel Road near SBH Head Office for the transit night halt. As it was past 10pm, Sarma and I had to manage with what we got in the close by Irani Hotel for supper. We ate the Osmania biscuits and sipped tea available there. For us both, it was a new experience. Strangely, CIBA's Distributor (the Pharma Company I later worked for) had its office just next door to that school, sharing a wall. I had to be going to that place (Distributor's Office) almost daily from 1986 to 1996 as a part of my job. Not a day passed without my remembering my tryst with that school and Irani Hotel visit with Sarma.
The next morning we left for Allahabad from Nampally Railway Station (Hyderabad) We had a special Railway Compartment booked for AP team. Since there was no direct train between Hyderabad and Allahabad, the compartment was being detached and attached to different trains at different places. So the journey was tedious and long. During to and fro travel and during our stay in Allahabad only puri, roti and chapathi were our staple food. We were strict rice eaters and found this wheat diet very difficult to consume. You can trust me when I say that after our return we didn't touch puries or chapathis for almost a year. Sarma and I were a part of AP Semaphore Signalling team of four for competing in the Jambooree. It was our tactical decision that got us to the winning stand. There was no specific message given for transmission and we were given freedom to choose a message of our own. We decided that a single sentence message would do. All other teams were busy with long messages running into several lines. They thought a long message would please the judges. We completed successful transmission of our short message in quick time ensuring our victory. I also remember winning the second spot in Woodman Cooking. Assamese won the top place by cooking rice in the hollow of a bamboo.
We visited Varanasi (remember my choice of Muskmelon seed for renunciation) and Saranath after the Jambooree got over before returning to Proddatur. I had also a dip in the holy Triveni Sangam.
Comments
Post a Comment