Chai, Chai: Travels in Places Where You Stop But Never Get Off

by Bishwanath Ghosh

India can have no better symbol for national integration than the railways.

Bengalis, on the other hand, rarely carry food: for them, the train journey is another excuse to eat out. After eating, they would compare if the chicken curry was as good as the one served on Rajdhani Express six months ago.

it is not often that you find yourself to be the sole commuter on the mighty, five-hundred- years-old Grand Trunk Road—the lifeline of India, the highway of the Hindi heartland, the tar thread that runs along the Gangetic Plain to connect Punjabi aggression with Bengali intellect.

when you are too eager to avoid a situation, you invariably end up stepping on its tail,

The chaatwallah is a very important person in north India. He adds spice to your mundane life. He represents a break from routine.

In states like Uttar Pradesh and Madhya Pradesh, alcohol is also packaged in 90 ml bottles called bachcha, or child, which comes to your rescue when you are struck by the I-am-still-one-drink-short syndrome.

The river is considered to be a cleanser for mankind, but the steps leading to it must now be cleaned manually.

If only history had provided mankind with a TV screen and a rewind button to watch what was going on, at exactly the same spot you stood on, on dates of your choice!

It is, however, not the thought of your own death that makes the sight of the biers so terrifying: it is actually the thought of your near and dear ones being carried away in that fashion. It is a thought you consider secretly in the deepest crevices of your heart, not even sharing it aloud with your own self.

the sight of the samosas being fried makes you hike the number of pieces you would have originally intended to buy.

This is SO true!

Hum kis kis ki nazar to pehchaane, sabki nazar mein rehte hain Kismat hi kuchh aisi payi hai, har waqt safar karte hain.