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were employed in the A.Gs Office not far. When it was
departure time for Madras mail to start its journey at 9 o’ clock
and announce the departure by means of long whistle I would
become home sick and I would feel a twinge in my heart as the
train was carrying all others to my home town but leaving me
behind away from my parents and brothers. Earlier while
awaiting my shift to Bangalore to join the new office of Atomic
Energy my father took me to the famous draper and tailor Gani
and Sons and got me a pant stitched with sharkskin material of

yellowish cream colour and a terylene shirt of light blue colour.
My father took great interest and pride in finding for me new
dress and a wrist watch to boot-a favreleuba watch.The three
band National transistor which my father bought for me was of
immense help as it was the sole means of my passtime.I would
eagerly wait for Carnatic music concerts aired from Madras and
Delhi stations of All India Radio on Tuesdays and Saturdays.
He also had a practical bent of mind in the matter of keeping me
adequately financed when I was on touring job changing camp
every 10 or 15 days. So he opened a joint account in Indian
Bank in Parry’s corner in Madras and whatever cheques or
demand drafts were received from Atomic Energy office in
Bombay he used to credit the amounts to our joint account.
From this account he would draw money and remit to me by
money order required amounts to my last known camp address.

My first train journey to a town called Tarikere in Shimoga
district was picturesque. When I passed through station called
Mundre I could easily relate the endless boulders covered with
lichen with the description of glacier age conglomerates of
Shivpuri described in the text book..It was exciting to imagine
that this valley of Sharavati would have been covered by vast
sheet of glacial ice! The journey from Bangalore to Tarikere
was my first exposure to red tape phenomenon. Though year
after year geologists would be moving in the Guards’
compartment of the train their field equipments like tent, field-
kit like the G.M counter,etc on every occasion of the field party
requisitioning booking of these equipments the Railway Guard
would insist on inspection of the equipments and production of
State Government order authorizing the Geologist to tour any

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