Book Title : Platform Ticket: The Untold Stories of People Who Make Train Travel Possible
Author : Sangeetha Vallat
Genre : Memoir
Pages : 288
Publisher: Penguin eBury Press
In the milieu of a crowded railway station, one seldom gives more than a fleeting glance or a second thought to the person seated behind the grilled ticket counter or to the people manning it. In her debut novel, Sangeetha Vallat’s memoir traverses the railway ecosystem, from the bustling stations to the far-flung remote stations during the 1990’s to the early 2000s, vividly portrayed.
She starts her book with a scene of high suspense that leaves you wanting to know more. The author chronicles her experiences, spanning friendships and acquaintances to challenges and victories, over a period of 14 years. This book sheds light on commercial clerks who work late-night shifts, manage collections, and are held accountable down to the last rupee during vigilant raids.
Her subtle sense of humour, evocative narrative, and heartfelt anecdotes, seamlessly woven together, create a sense of authenticity and empathy that kept me turning the pages. However, at specific points in the book, the sudden character introductions or scene changes were abrupt.
The author’s journey from an apprehensive, excited new trainee to a veteran transcends from being a lone woman employed at a distant, desolate railway station to championing women’s rights and fighting for gender-specific toilets.
This book reminded me of the endless hustle and bustle of train travel and evoked a sense of endearing nostalgia.
Platform Ticket delivers an unfiltered, gloriously honest account of the simple acts of bravery and kindness of unsung heroes from Indian Railways.
