This was my first book of 2019. I accepted the challenge to read 52 books in 52 weeks. I and author (Biswanath Ghosh) have too many similarities. For starters, we both belong to Kanpur and we both are connected to West Bengal (Biswanath being a Bengali and my wife being born in Kolkata). The similarities do not end here. We both love train travel and love to watch the people around us. I have always been fascinated about small city living and this is what this book is all about. The book speaks about the small cities which grew around major train junctions. The junctions on the north are Jhansi, Mughal Sarai, Itarsi. The junctions on the south are Guntakal, Arakkonam, Jolarpettai and Shoranur.
The book is presented in simple language and makes you aware about India and it's small cities in an interesting way. Author travels by train to multiple places to explore it. He stays there for a day or two, talk to the local and pen down his experiences. He has articulated things in an easy to remember way as well. I was taken back in past remembering the small cities and places there. Author at one time speaks about the snack shop in Mughal Sarai which are attached to the wine shops. I have attended these snack shops multiple times in Ghaziabad. Although, I have stopped drinking alcohol, but I did transported back to my college days.
Author also told interesting and easy-to-remember facts about these small cities. Like itarsi is a combination of two words - ita (rock) and rasi (rope). Jhansi is famous for Rain Laxmi Bai and Dhyanchand. Some rational on why Mughal Sarai have this Sarai suffix. Jhansi is also close to my heart as one of my good friend belongs to Jhansi and I have been to Jhansi and the polytechnic college there.
The book is presented in simple language and makes you aware about India and it's small cities in an interesting way. Author travels by train to multiple places to explore it. He stays there for a day or two, talk to the local and pen down his experiences. He has articulated things in an easy to remember way as well. I was taken back in past remembering the small cities and places there. Author at one time speaks about the snack shop in Mughal Sarai which are attached to the wine shops. I have attended these snack shops multiple times in Ghaziabad. Although, I have stopped drinking alcohol, but I did transported back to my college days.
Author also told interesting and easy-to-remember facts about these small cities. Like itarsi is a combination of two words - ita (rock) and rasi (rope). Jhansi is famous for Rain Laxmi Bai and Dhyanchand. Some rational on why Mughal Sarai have this Sarai suffix. Jhansi is also close to my heart as one of my good friend belongs to Jhansi and I have been to Jhansi and the polytechnic college there.
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