A Historic Letter

Okhil Babu's letter to the Railway Department:


"I arrived by passenger train in Ahmedpur station and my belly was too much swelling with jackfruit. I therefore went to bathroom. While emptying this nuisance, guard made whistle blow for train to go off and I ran with 'lotah' in one hand and 'dhoti' in the next. I fell over and exposed all my shocking to man and female women on platform. Finally, I left Ahmedpur station.


This is too bad, if a passenger has to make dung, why that dam guard cannot wait train five minutes for him. I therefore pray your honour to make a big fine on that guard for the public sake. Otherwise, I am going to maka a 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 "Travelers Tales" in the Far Eastern Economic Review. Any guesses why this letter was of historic value?


It apparently led to the introduction of toilets on trains