Rahul Bhattacharya’s Rail Song Resonates at The Hindu Lit for Life Unplugged

In a warm, book-lined corner of Crossword, Express Avenue, Rahul Bhattacharya engaged a curious audience on Sunday as he read from, and discussed his new novel, Rail Song. The session, moderated by Mukund Padmanabhan, former Editor, The Hindu, explored the book’s themes – nationalism, plurality and gender against the social currents of post-Independence India.

Set through the 1960s and the Emergency, Rail Song follows Charu Chitol, a young woman forging her path in the Indian Railways—a system itself negotiating identity and modernity. Mr. Bhattacharya, an Ondaatje Prize winner, spoke about the decade-long evolution of the novel. “The book lived with me for years,” he said, noting that three concentrated years of writing were preceded by extensive visits to railway colonies and conversations with railway workers.

He described the Railways as “a world dense with names, people and stories,” a landscape where individual journeys intersect and blur. This multiplicity, he said, mirrors the pluralist idea of India. “The Railways connect people across caste, creed and religion. There’s a sense of becoming a part of one another’s worlds—an unspoken cohesion that feels deeply Indian.”

The Hindu Lit For Life Unplugged is organised in association with Christ University. The associate partners are Akshayakalpa & Orchids – The International School, and bookstore partner, Crossword. In the run-up to The Hindu Lit For Life on January 17 and 18, watch out for more events as part of Lit for Life Unplugged. Follow @hindulitforlife on Instagram for more updates.