The “Boy” is none other than our very own Deepak Sapra. Traveller, blogger, writer and an active member of the Rail Enthusiasts’ Society, this now middle-aged “boy” has produced a book that is easy to read, racy and, at the same time, informative. Far from the writings of the likes of Shashi Tharoor, you will not need to refer to a dictionary every few minutes. While being a continuous narrative, each chapter can be read as a standalone and is complete by itself. As you enjoy the “boy’s” adventures and escapades, you will be surprised at the amount of knowledge you are able to pick up about the Indian Railways and its idiosyncrasies. The quintessential and evergreen rail enthusiast, Sir Mark Tully, has endorsed the book with the words: A fascinating insider’s story of the challenges and achievements, the pleasure and the pain, of managing India’s unique railways.
Like all boys, our boy’s love for trains began with a LIMA toy train set he was gifted at the tender age of three. Unlike other boys, his fondness for trains continued into manhood and blossomed into a lifelong passion. His story begins with his braving riots and curfews in Kolkata (then Calcutta) to catch a train en route to New Delhi for a UPSC interview for a railway placement. He then takes you through his initiation into the Indian Railways as a Special Class Apprentice at Jamalpur and his travails of getting posted as an Assistant Mechanical Engineer at Andal on the Eastern Railway zone of the Indian Railways. He then covers his posting at Burdwan and finally the zonal headquarters at Kolkata. At each of these postings you will read of challenges, dangers, endearing moments and farcical situations. At no stage will you want to put the book down but will continue to read. Last but not the least, our boy writes about his audacious meeting with his girl friend on a moving train, albeit for a few seconds, taking her onto an under repair locomotive and finally ending in matrimony. The couple’s stay at the Howrah station Officers’ Rest House gives a good insight into life at the station and the rigours faced by a young couple in the sprawling Eastern metropolis.
Deepak Sapra is no more with the Indian Railways and today works with an MNC in Hyderabad. But his love for trains continues.