|
On
Record
"I
am arrive by passenger train Ahmedpur station and my belly is too much
swelling with jackfruit. I am therefore went to privy.
Just
I doing the nuisance that guard making whistle blow for train to go off
and I am
running with 'lotah' in one hand and 'dhoti' in the next when I am fall
over and expose
all my shocking to man and female women on platform. I am got leaved at
Ahmedpur station.
This
too much bad, if passenger go to make dung , that dam guard not wait train
five minutes for him. I am therefore pray your honour to make big fine on
that guard for public sake. Otherwise I am making big report to
papers."
Okhil Chandra Sen wrote this letter to the Sahibganj divisional railway
office in 1909. It is on display at the Railway Museum in New Delhi. It
was also reproduced under the caption 'Travellers' Tales' in the Far
Eastern Economic Review.
Any
guess as to why this letter is of historic value? It apparently led to the
introduction of toilets on trains!
•
•
• • •
•
| 
Previous
