My Journey to Car Nicobar - Part 2

 My Journey to Car Nicobar Continues...

 ROSS ISLAND:

    On our last few hours of our maiden ship journey, we could see an island with ruined brick building amidst thick forest. We could see few spotted deers running, peacocks busy feeding insects, and many birds chirping. Surprisingly, we could see no human settlement structures like house or any complete building, except the light house. Yes, it is an non-habituated Island. This was called Ross Island, which is now called as Subhash Chandra Bose Island. The island is full of historical ruins, which makes the Island a tourism destiny for many who are interested in History, Archaeology and nature.

Then we reached Port Blair, the capital of Andaman Nicobar Islands.

 Port Blair: Land of Values

After we landed at the harbor, we walked for few minutes to get a hired vehicle to reach Guest House, pre booked for us. Then to refresh we started unpacking leisurely. Later, maybe after 3 or 4 hours, one girl started crying, my suitcase is missing. Guest House staff said positively not to worry. There is no theft practice in Andaman and Nicobar Islands. No house has a lock here. Immediately our Sir, one boy and that girl reached harbour area, and found the suitcase untouched. All three returned happily.

The reason behind the Value system of the people is Nature supplies most of the people's need. People depend on nature and nature supplied their need (not Greed). I remember, a food outlet, it was like umbrellas like structures as roof and four chairs under each umbrella. Along with tea, we were served with green peas masala in a cup made up smoothened (shiny) coconut shells and coconut leaf pieces as spoons. I got a feel that I have entered into an alien land (abroad).

I remember, few teachers (my well wishers) told me, the islands will be full of tribal people, and the stay for two years would pull you back to a decade. Also the ship captain spoke with a similar note, had a dilemma going inside, have I made a wrong decision, a thin thought process was going on inside me. But incidents like the suitcase recovered from harbour area, guest house and its cleanliness and staff behaviour, the place we had snacks, all gave me encouragement for deciding to say YES for the migration.

 MINI INDIA:

One more point I felt super excited was, Port Blair was like a MINI INDIA – I could see people speak Tamil, Malayalam, Telugu, Punjabi and Bengali. Most of them were speaking in Hindi, but you were speaking in Tamil, one or the other there will come to speak you in Tamil. I, being born and brought up in an Urdu speaking family, I could easily understand and communicate. Language was not a barrier not only to me but for the entire team of migration students.

After independence, many government offices were established and to fill the job vacancies and to develop the islands, people from all over India were recruited. Those families were given accommodation and their children were given good education by constructing schools and colleges. Such establishment of government machineries gave employment and education to native people too. We could see many turban-worn Punjabis, Madisar Mamis, Bengali men in Kurtha with a dhoti. People from different cultures, speak different languages and have different faiths. Yet they live happily together. This strikes a close resemblance to our Indian community where we live peacefully in our diversity. Unity in Diversity is obvious in Andaman and Nicobar Islands, with people of various states live in harmony.

From morning to evening we were having visiting few places, all we could see was dense forests, mountains / hill like, coconut trees, every building we visited had aesthetically designed plants and maintained greenery in their surroundings. The land was not disturbed much in the name of development. Though there were buildings, nature was not disturbed. Yes, Andaman and Nicobar Islands are naturally blessed with such an ecosystem, home to 96 wildlife sanctuaries, nine national parks and one biosphere reserve.

In the evening around 5.00 PM, we boarded another ship. This ship was half the size of the previous one and facility wise also less than half. It was an inter-island ship (local people call this as boat). MV Nicobar ship had different classes of seats like Bunk, second class cabin, first class cabin, deluxe cabin and each class had their own cafeteria and differences in facilities offered in the ship. This ship had no such discrimination. All had similar facilities, though it was not sophisticated as MV Nicobar, it was neat and clean. The food provided here were of a mix of North Indian and South Indian. ChapattiDal, followed with Rice, Sambar and vegetables. 

Hutbay Island:

The next day morning we reached an island called Hutbay. As it was an inter island ship, many people from Port Blair, got down at Hut Bay Island and few people boarded to travel till Car Nicobar. We had an opportunity to get down and go around the island for an hour or two, I don’t remember exactly. But the Greenery there and fresh flow of water like a fountain; people received us very happily and offered tender coconuts and Rasagulla in cups made with leaves (like Thonnai). Hope someone had told about us, to them, or they themselves were parents of some students who are studying in Car Nicobar or Port Blair Navodaya. After the given time we boarded back into the ship. Our ship travel continued.

 Ten Degree Channel:

We could see many palm plantations.  We also saw the Asia's second highest lighthouse beside the Ten Degree Channel. When ship crossed this Ten Degree Channel, we could feel the Thud due to ocean current. I remember, Mr. Hussain, our art sir of JNV Car Nicobar, used to encourage us, if any student feel low due to any reason, "You have crossed Ten Degree Channel, this is nothing to overcome. Have a Fresh Start."

            Ten Degree Channel is a channel (underground water current) that separates the Andaman Islands and Nicobar Islands from each other in the Bay of Bengal. It is most turbulent area of Andaman Sea, situated in the Bay of Bengal, 10 degrees north of equator. It is of tempestuous in nature. Almost all sea vessels feel the drag of the water turbulence.

            The next day morning, we reached Car Nicobar. Surprisingly, the ship did not reach the land or any harbor. The ship was anchored few kilometers away from the island. Little boats called Ferries (Wooden Planks bordered with safety protection, so as to prevent men and material from falling) reached near the ship. People from the ship were asked to carefully unload the things first and then people are requested to come down carefully using the strong rope stairs hung from the ship to the Ferry. First people unloaded vegetables, groceries, big bags. The bags were equally distributed and placed, as they used to do it regularly. We with much fear came down using the rope stairs and landed the Ferry. The Ferry took us to the land, Car Nicobar.

My Journey to Car Nicobar - Part 1

 

Prelude: 

 Let us have a time travel to the year 1991. Please remember those years where there were very few televisions were there in Karaikal. Our house had no television at that point of time, but school had one. DD National was the only channel available. The programmes we saw were very less.

First Luxury Bus Journey:

Sitting in the window side of the Thiruvalluvar Bus (The Luxury Bus of our days), crossing Karaikal, that too Northern side, it was my maiden journey. Going away from family or native place, was like I was travelling into a new world full of excitement. When the bus entered into Thindivanam bus stand, there was an Arun Ice cream parlor. I had never seen that before. All I knew was Ice Vandi, an ice cream vendor / hawker with a loud announcement - Iceuuuu, paal ice, semiya ice etc for 50 paise was a luxury. I was literally shocked to learn the ice cream with 4 or 5 colors (Casatta Slice) was Rs. 25. With heavy heart I gave him one of the two, One Hundred Rupee notes. It was the money my father gave me (hard earned and long saved money) supposed to be for six months till I reach home back for half yearly holidays. I never knew the pain of earning money or value of money those days. All I knew is a BIG portion of money is out of my hand. But for this ice cream I did not spend anything as all expenses were taken care of by school escort teachers.

We 4 girls and 8 boys are travelling from Karaikal to Car Nicobar on Migration during our 9th class. One Male and one female teacher were the escorts of the migration students from Karaikal to Car Nicobar, to stay there for a period of two years.

Mighty Madras:

We reached Madras (now Chennai) after a day long journey. It was my first visit to Madras. All we see in movies, of a villager looking as an extraordinary thing was true in my life too. It was literally breath-taking moments to see the buildings with greater heights (LIC building was the only tall building of those days). We stayed in a 3 or 4 floor lodge, near Harbour area. Our PT Sir (Anban Sir) was one of our escorts. When he pressed a button, the lift moved. I could not believe, we can move vertically. I thought we had entered into a magic world and PT Sir had the wand. Having travelled only in bus, not even seen a train, all things were giving me out of world experience and excitement.

Floating Heaven:

The next day we entered the ship, MV Nicobar. It was a brand new, fully air-conditioned Passenger ship. The ship was Gigantic, sophisticated, built in Poland. When we entered, it looked like another expensive hotel. But after few hours, ship started sailing, most of our friends were vomiting and started feeling drowsy. They were all sleeping till our ship journey ended at Port Blair. Only I among girls and Rajkumar among boys were awake through the entire journey. We got the food tokens, and we behaved like guards of our sleeping Beauties and Princes. As we both were roaming a lot, once got into the vision of The Captain. He asked about us. I proudly spoke about our school. He commented, usually Islanders go to Mainland to pursue education of better standard, but it’s reverse here. He gave us handful of chocolates to us as a token of appreciation for the Bold Decision.

Food Experience:

For lunch, we were given a token for full meals. As a part of the lunch, we also received a paper cup (Complementary dish, I guess!). I was wondering what to do with that paper cup. One crew member showed a machine and instructed me to place the cup before my favorite flavor. The word Pepsi, I had never heard or seen before. There were 6 flavors. I placed my cup before some flavor I don't remember. More than the liquid and its taste, the fact that, when the cup was placed on the machine, it gets automatically filled, surprising till its rim, but not overflowing, kept me astonished. I could not believe the magic. So I asked the crew person there, how I can get more cups. He said, the token for a cup of cool drink is Rs. 6. I paid Rs. 6 to get a cup, I placed it in another flavor. It also automatically fills it to brim but not over flowing. Again I could not not believe, ultimately I tried all the six flavors, the outcome is the same. Now I look back how childish I was, to accept or believe the latest technology which I never heard before.

All the three meals a day was a surprise for me. For dinner, we received vegetable fried rice one night and Vegetable noodles another night. Both Fried Rice and Noodles were very new dishes for me. I am hearing the names for the first time and taste was very much different than the regular food we were eating at home or school.

Exploring the Ship:

Life in ship would have become boring if I had not located the Library. The rule of the library was to deposit Rs. 100 and get two tokens; it was refundable before we leave the ship. I can take 2 books at a time. You know, I read The Tale of Two Cities and Sherlock Homes Stories. Both books were enough for me to keep in engaged, also the sofa and ambience was Luxurious with expensive furniture.

I roamed a lot, to keep myself away from unhygienic Bunk Class toilets and I was not comfortable in bunk class. Bunk class was the portion lies below the Plimsoll Line or Water line. The Plimsoll line is a reference mark located on a ship's hull that indicates the maximum depth to which the vessel may be safely immersed when loaded with cargo. So when I keep roaming in the Bunk area I could enjoy watching school of fishes through the glass windows. Once in our maiden ship journey, a shark accidentally struck and broke to thick glass. Kudos to the crew who gave alarm messages to stay away from that area. They explained the incident through speakers and kept us informed then and there. Immediately that area was taken into confinement and with hydraulic system that area was evacuated. In few hours the ship was brought back to normal condition. Though it was only few hours, it looked like our end of our life very soon felt Life saved.

There were different class of tickets – Bunk, located at the bottom of the ship (below water level) the least cost ones, a dormitory type stay place with common toilets and bathrooms. Cafeteria was different with a different menu. There was a Cinema Theatre with shops to buy cool drinks and snacks. The next level was second class cabin. The room had four beds (two lower and two upper) with an attached toilet and bath. Their cafeteria and menu were better than bunk class. The next level was Deluxe Cabin which had two beds (can be made as double bed), full furnished luxurious room with a television and a telephone. 

The ship also had a Hospital with qualifies doctors and nurses, enough first aid medicines and two beds for causality and two for patients under observation. Once, our classmate had breathing trouble. I was the one who stayed with her in the hospital area. The hospital was on par with any renowned multispecialty hospital.

The whole day, I kept exploring maximum features of the ship. The ship also had a helipad. One day some officials came and most of the sailors of the ship gathered to see a helicopter landing on the helipad, and many Men in White Uniform Marching and saluting the Officials. Though I had walked every nook and corner of the ship, as a small girl, I never knew the real meaning or value of the wonderful journey filled with unfathomable experiences, seeing a varieties of fishes, natural sceneries, climate, different lifestyles and much more till I saw the movie Titanic. Anyone can see Titanic as a movie screening a ship journey with a romantic couple onboard. For me each and every scene of the film reminds of my journey to Car Nicobar. For the benefit of readers to understand what bunk class is, its where Jack, the male protagonist travels. Deluxe Cabin is where Rose, the female protagonist travels.

After three days and two nights, we reached Port Blair, the Capital of Andaman Nicobar Islands.

 

.........to be continued.....