“Those were the days of Helen”

Mid sixty were the days of modest plenty. Those were the days when Indian Railways was not on the map of Jammu & Kashmir State. Those were the days when the nearest railway station for J&K State was at Pathankot in Punjab. Those were the days when there was no internet. Those were the days when there was no television. Those were the days when the Telegraph, Telephone and the Post Office were one department. Those were the days when the fastest mode of communication was telegram through Posts & Telegraph department. Those were the days when each word of telegram cost Rs.0.25. Those were the days when text of the telegram used to be too brief to bother for grammar and complete sentence. Punctuation marks were counted as words, hence never used. Those were the days when specific numeral numbers were coded for specific greeting or condolence messages. Those were the days when address of the addressee on telegram was too vague to be located. Those were the days when the Ambassador & the Fiat were the only makes of cars in India. Those were the days when Kupwara and Bandipore districts were part of Baramulla district. Those were the days when ration ghats were at the river ghats. Those were the days of Helen. Those were the days when any film with Helen on its cast was a box hit film. Those were the days when in mid sixties, the messenger from the telegraph department Baramulla was too excited with the word Helen to be normal. The telegram read: “Reaching on third arrange boarding lodging Helen”. The telegram was addressed to 969 Army Engineers Baramulla. The messenger in excitement disclosed the contents of the telegram to every Tom Dick and Harry. People with great fervour waited for third anxiously. Two days wait seemed to them a wait for two years. On third, Baramulla Bus Stand wore a festive look. Since morning people trickled in their festive dresses meant for festivals to have a glimpse of Helen from a safer position. Local police took note of the situation and positioned jawans in adequate number to ensure that there was no stampede. Mid day Panna Lal arrived in a local bus. Alighted from the bus, Panna Lal said to the Army staff car driver on wait: “Who is coming? For whom staff car is on wait? Why is local police here to control the restive crowd?” The staff car diver said: “Helen is coming. In this context 969 Army Engineers received a telegram from Simla.” Panna Lal opened the door of the staff car, sat in the rare seat and signaled the driver to move. Before the driver would reprimand him, he said: “I am Panna Lal Helen Head Draftsman from Simla".