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[VMenon]

Two Interesting Years

Interesting Year 1981
1. Prince Charles got married
2. Liverpool crowned soccer Champions of Europe
3. Australia lost the Ashes
4. The Pope died


Interesting Year 2005
1. Prince Charles got married
2. Liverpool crowned soccer Champions of Europe
3. Australia lost the Ashes
4. The Pope died


Lesson to be learned:
The next time Charles gets married, somebody warn the Pope.
 

[VMenon]

Ever heard of Okhil Chandra Sen? May be, you have not. Most had not, till the chance discovery of his letter addressed to the Shainganj Divisional office West Bengal, written more than a century ago. In the first 55 years of operation of the Indian Railways, there were no toilets in trains. On July 2, 1909, an aggrieved Babu Okhil Chandra Sen lodged a complaint to the then Transportation Superintendent, Sahibganj. Mr. Sen incidentally deserves a pride of place in the history of Indian railways for being the man whose ordeal moved the British enough to introduce toilets in all coaches. Prior to this, the passengers were left to their own ingenuity. So, here is the graphic description penned by Sen himself (without any editing, as you would notice) as it appeared in the railway directory:

Dear Sir,
I am arrive by passenger train at Abmedpur station and my belly is too much swelling with jackfruit. I am therefore went to privy. Just I doing the nuisance the guard making whistle blow for train to go off and I am running with lota in one hand and dhoti in the next.

When
I am fall over and expose all my shockings to man and woman on platform. I am got leaved at Abmedpur station. This too much bad, if passengers go to make dung, the damn 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.


Yours faithfull servant


Okhil Ch Sen




The letter, which brought 'relief' to all rail passengers now, reportedly, forms part of the rail-museum. After this, the railway authorities had no other option but to introduce toilets in all lower class carriages in trains running more than 50 miles. And Mr Sen became the man behind the introduction of toilets in Indian trains!

[WicketView]

Both have been previously posted on the DG!

[RicePlateReddy]

Interesting content though WV - I hadn't noticed either of them prior. Thanks VMenon.

[VMenon]

Interesting content though WV - I hadn't noticed either of them prior. Thanks VMenon.

I was just making this very hesitant comeback to the DG after a long layoff caused by general disinterest in this place and fatigue caused by cricket overdose.

I found that two of the first three posts were dismissed for "maximums" with disdain and was just about feeling like Shoaib Akatar might have felt bowling to Sehwag at Multan.

Will be more circumspect in future.

[Blwe_torch]

Thanks VM!.....nice posts. Thanks for keeping our spirits high!

[dextrous]

Interesting content though WV - I hadn't noticed either of them prior. Thanks VMenon.

I was just making this very hesitant comeback to the DG after a long layoff caused by general disinterest in this place and fatigue caused by cricket overdose.

I found that two of the first three posts were dismissed for "maximums" with disdain and was just about feeling like Shoaib Akatar might have felt bowling to Sehwag at Multan.

Will be more circumspect in future.

Don't let the rudeness bother you...we all get used to it and take our chances
and there are always others who enjoy them

[WicketView]

Interesting content though WV - I hadn't noticed either of them prior. Thanks VMenon.

I was just making this very hesitant comeback to the DG after a long layoff caused by general disinterest in this place and fatigue caused by cricket overdose.

I found that two of the first three posts were dismissed for "maximums" with disdain and was just about feeling like Shoaib Akatar might have felt bowling to Sehwag at Multan.

Will be more circumspect in future.

When I wrote that post, I certainly did not mean to come across that way.
On reading what I wrote now,  I admit that I clearly have. My sincere apologies to all concerned.