Magnificent Obsession

In days gone by it was customary to associate trains with Anglo-Indians. If history is a compilation of verifiable facts, it is undeniable that the Anglo-Indian of yesteryear was one of the earliest pioneers of the railway system in India. From the laying of the tracks in inhospitable terrains, to the manning of stations all down all the lines, to the provision of adequate security to this bounteous economic bonanza, it was always the Anglo-Indian in the forefront. Yet he had not met his metier, his passion, his ultimate vision, until he was perched inside the cabin of his own steam engine. Then and only then, did the Anglo-Indian take pride in his prowess, as he straddled the length and breadth of the country in and on and with one of his own magnificent machines.

If it had not been for the determination of my mother, I, too, may have ended up as a railwayman. The dream of old was fast vanishing even as I took, ultimately, a road “less travelled by”. But my fascination for those hissing, shrieking, thunderous, boisterous, juggernauts never waned. It lay brooding in me until I found that I could combine my skill with the guzzling capabilities of the proverbial Anglo-Indian.

It was perhaps only after I turned forty that I thought I could afford the occasional bottle of Scotch. Friends and relatives visiting us would often come along with a bottle or two. I usually preserved the empty bottle as well as the outer case; that is how my “steam engines” came into being. I sold quite a few, distributed some to friends who expressed a desire to have one and kept the rest. Every inch of space in my home is taken up with all my handiwork, so for the present my “engines” like the real ones, have run out of steam.

I then took up to making miniatures instead. Somewhere, either in my genes or in my subconscious, I have always known what a steam engine should look like and I went with that. At present, I am left with just two of these, but I’m sure some of my creations still adorn someone’s window or even showcase.

Once again, I urge you, dear Reader, to look around; if something catches your fancy, try doing the same yourself. It is said that when you see an object and say to yourself “I can do that”, that you are actually being influenced by the very same thing. So why don’t you find that “something”, find out what it is that attracts you, find ways to experiment with your time and your curiosity and then, bingo, your “eureka” moment will have arrived.

Happy hunting, people.