• Double – decking it to Bangalore – Part 2

    Where had I left off ? Ahh…when we exited SR and moved into SWR – on leaving JTJ! As for the MAS-JTJ portion, please refer https://ashwinkumar1989.online/2018/01/10/double-decking-it-to-bangalore-part-1/ . Any difficulties understanding technical terms and station codes, please refer to the legend right at the bottom (Can’t promise to resolve all doubts though!). 12610 SBC-MAS Intercity entered JTJ…

  • Double – decking it to Bangalore – Part 1

    As the title suggests, I was to take 22625 MAS-SBC DD express from Chennai- the day being 27th Dec. It was to be a one-day outing to Bangalore; the return being by 16022 MYS-MAS Kaveri express. As ever, please refer to the legend right at the bottom for all technical terms (won’t be covering all, though!) and…

  • Year-end mini-vacation to Chennai – Part 2

    I resume from where I had left off – regarding the account of my train journey by 11027 Mumbai Chennai Mail starting on Dec 23. Here is Part 1 https://ashwinkumar1989.online/2017/12/26/year-end-mini-vacation-to-chennai-part-1/ . As always, refer to the legend right at the bottom for all technical terms and station codes (haven’t included all, again!). Our electric loco from…

  • Year-end mini-vacation to Chennai – Part 1

    After a memorable trip to Chennai the previous month, it was time for yet another such trip in the final month of the year. I was to take 11027 Mumbai Chennai Mail (yet again! 😀 ) on Saturday 23rd night. I had booked an AC 2 Tier ticket, which was originally RAC3 and then became…

  • Liberals and the complicity in casteism – Part 2

    This is a continuation of my rant about the casual casteism of liberals from Part 1 https://ashwinkumar1989.online/2017/12/12/liberals-and-the-complicity-in-casteism-part-1/ . I am sorry for the long gap in between, but well; I was busy with work – to compensate for the end-of-the-year vacation that I am gonna take. Like I mentioned earlier, I am an ex-liberal. Like most…

  • Liberals and the complicity in casteism – Part 1

    I am from a conservative Tamil Brahmin family, which has always leaned to the right (supporting BJP, RSS etc.). I  am privileged in four ways – gender (male), religion (Hindu), caste (Brahmin) and class (upper middle – class). I have been blind to most of these privileges. Because of the patriarchal structure of my family…

  • A Return Journey To Remember – Part 2

    This is Part 2 of my account of my train journey by 11042 Chennai Mumbai express on Nov 25 – sorry to keep you waiting; was busy with work over the last few days! Here is Part 1 if you haven’t read it yet! https://ashwinkumar1989.online/2017/12/03/a-return-journey-to-remember-part-1/  As always, please refer to the legend right at the bottom…

  • A Return Journey To Remember – Part 1

    After a rather enjoyable trip of Chennai of a week, during which I met my maternal grandparents, relatives and friends; it was time for me to return to Mumbai – again by train! Oh, and for my account of my train journey from Mumbai; please refer https://ashwinkumar1989.online/2017/11/22/a-two-night-sojourn-to-chennai-part-1/ and https://ashwinkumar1989.online/2017/11/23/a-two-night-sojourn-to-chennai-part-2/ . This time, I took 11042 MAS CSMT…

  • A Two Night Sojourn to Chennai – Part 2

    Like my journey by 11027 Mumbai Chennai ‘supercrawler’ Mail, my blogs also tend to be long; thus necessitating a split into two or more parts. Sorry to keep you waiting so long for Part 2! Here is Part 1 if you have not read it yet! https://ashwinkumar1989.online/2017/11/22/a-two-night-sojourn-to-chennai-part-1/  Again, for technical terms and station codes; please refer…

  • A Two Night Sojourn to Chennai – Part 1

    I was hugely lucky to benefit from the 15-day leave policy of my company; which I made full use of – to plan a week-long trip to Chennai in order to meet my maternal grandparents, relatives and friends. As the title suggests, I took the legendary 09 Down Mail (now 11027 Mumbai Chennai Mail); a…