SAMIR NAZARETH - 1400 Bananas, 76 Towns & 1 Million People

ISBN 978-93-81115-80-0
Narrative: Samir Nazareth, 2014
Illustrations: Leadstart Publishing Pvt Ltd, 2014

Editing Abhijit Basu
Illustrations, layouts & cover Suhita Mitra
Printing Repro India Ltd

Published in India 2014 by
WORDIZEN
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Disclaimer The views expressed in this book are exclusively those of the Author and do not pertain to be held by the Publisher.

To my parents ~
for the gift of wings.

ABOUT THE AUTHOR

SAMIR NAZARETH is a freelance consultant whose focus lies in the areas of research and writing on socio-economic and environmental issues. He has been associated with setting up community-based waste management projects and has worked on national policies for hospital and municipal waste management. His concerns for the environment have led him to work with organisations that promote these causes, both in India and abroad. Samir has also worked with a national Hindi newspaper as Senior Editor for special projects. Someone who revels in all creative pursuits, Samir enjoys spending time in writing and cooking. He has also registered three designs with the Indian Patent Office and is working towards a Masters degree in Psychology. For Samir, travelling is all about endless opportunities to experience new places and know people. He can be reached at: 1400bananas@gmail.com, he blogs at www.onaconveyor.blogspot.com and samirnazareth.wordpress.com

ABOUT THE ILLUSTRATOR

SUHITA MITRA was born in Kohima, Nagaland a region of untouched, natural beauty. Wherever the eye travelled, there were hills, trees, flowers and wildlife. Television was still unknown and all that young children had to amuse them was the enchantment offered by the gardens, the playing fields and bookslots of story books. Such an environment was a natural nursery for the imagination. Suhita joined the National Institute Of Design, Ahmedabad, where the untrammeled imagination fostered by her childhood environment, suddenly found meaningful channels through art appreciation, photography, freehand drawing, animation and typography. With love and gratitude for the bounties of nature, she feels inspired to give something back through her work as an illustrator and designer. Suhita can be reached at: suhita.mitra@gmail.com.

CONTENTS

THE ODYSSEY BEGINS

The first step in a journey of many miles

Westward ho! Finally succumbing to the irresistible call of the great Indian yonder, I cheerily (some would say, foolishly), put in my papers and set out on a trip along Indias snaking coastline glimpsing en route the fascinating socio-cultural profiles of my fellow travellers during a quintessentially Indian train ride.

The travelling man and a train ticket

The hotel manager was visibly happy that the rucksack and tote bag accompanied me when I sauntered off to check the room offered. His cheer obviously sprang from the assumption that his hospitality was about to be accepted and would, in due course, bring its reward. This was soon confirmed by the bags being dumped on the floor and my sprawling across the bed and requesting the guest register be brought up. There was just one little fly in the ointment though. It was not the room that concerned me but the loo. The attached water closet, to put it kindly, had been well used, but still retained hope of redemption. The manager promised to get it cleaned, his tone unctuously conveying that it was a special bonus being extended to a valued guest.