KYA INGLIS HAI!
Here is a delightful piece from Hindustan Times, which I just loved for its implied and direct humour, so I am sharing it with readers:
When you gotta go, where do you go?
PULL CHAIN IN EMERGENCY.
There is a letter written in 1900 by one Okhil Chandra Sen that is in the Indian Railways archives today. It went on to compel the British Government to introduce a landmark service in Indian trains. Here’s the full text of the letter, dodgy English and all:
“Dear Sir,
I am arrive by passenger train at Ahmedpore 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 dhotie in the next when I am fall over and expose all my shookings to man, female,women on platform. I am get leaved at Ahmedpore station.
This is too much bad, if passenger go to make dung, that dam guard no wait 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 reports to papers.
Yours faithful servant,
Okhil Chandra Sen.”
Yes, the Indian Railways had been running without toilets for about five decades. Sen’s ordeal ultimately led the British Indiaauthorities to act fast and install lavatories in trains.
So do remember Okhil Chandra Sen every time you pull the chain on a train.
Jatinder ji,
What a hilarious article; But I see it this way;the man had the guts to make himself heard and understood no matter what hinglish he wrote in. I dont travel by train as I am train sick but would have made special effort if I was living in times of Okhil Chandra Sen.
I am so happy to read this. This is the type of manual that needs to be given and not the random misinformation that’s at the other blogs. Appreciate your sharing this best doc.