If we ever
talk about the history of railways in India, we are to revolve anywhere around
Mumbai, as common people we are to only understand that the first train ran
between Mumbai and Thane in 1853, but we have so far failed to explore within
Mumbai of how the railway expanded within Mumbai or how did the iconic
structures such as the Victoria Terminus came into existence or the importance
of the history behind the stations within Mumbai beyond their contribution to
the suburban system of Mumbai. This is where the book Halt Station India by
Rajendra B Aklekar plays a very important role in helping us fill the gap left
behind by various authors when trying reconstruct the history of Indian
Railways.
The book has been systematically stitched to understand the people
and the challenges behind the expansion of India’s railway and how the rail
line was constructed and the periodic intervention of pictures and account
excerpts of men who were actively involved in the construction. But what forms
the fascinating part of the book is detailed description of the stations that
fall within the suburban lines. It is not very abruptly described, which means
that the while reading through the stations, the very words, “as the train
moves” makes one feel as they are really moving through stations and as the
train is slowing down at the station and one taking a stroll station for the
time as one reads the story of the station involved in the reading.
It is more of a train journey that takes you through the stations
through the harbour Line of Mumbai or be it in the historic period of BB&CI
(A private railway company under the guarantee system of railways).
But the reading is not completely passive. The author also keeps the
readers aware about the contemporary developments along the stations which are
today’s lifeline for the suburban railway, thus linking the nostalgic history
and the ruthless contemporary development, which is slowly diluting the essence
of once iconic stations. The very important observation in the book is while
reading the book, one at times feel that the very reading has become slow, but
it is the slow-paced reading what makes the reader involved and helps grasp the
information, though the very volume of information is slowly absorbed through
multiple readings, it escalates the interest in readers with every reading.
Mr. Rajendra did a commendable job of conveying the history through
simple, concise and lucid language, making history accessible to even people
who might hold little or no interest in the field of railways. The book is an
instrument to arousing interest in the railways and evoking the awareness in
people on the rich history that the railways share alongside also reflecting on
the dynamism of railways.
Thus, at the end of the reading, the reader takes alongside a rich
culture, history and an enhanced understanding of the dramatic tale of India’s
first railway line. Mr. Rajendra’s research and narrative style is highly
commendable on a subject as unique and complex as that of India’s first railway
line which goes beyond Mumbai and Thane.
Contributed by Chitresh Shrivastva
Comments
Post a Comment