Sonal Singh On Sonal's Table
Platform Ticket isn’t just a memoir- it’s a soulful tribute, a heartfelt tapestry (of Indian railways) of the unsung lives behind the railway window. Sangeetha Vallat takes us behind the grimy glass of the ticket counter, offering not just a peek into the machinery of our largest transport system, but into the lives and souls that keep it running.
With warmth, wit, and striking clarity, she draws you into a world of quiet resilience, everyday travails, and deeply human stories. Each page pulses with nostalgia, humour, and heartache – capturing what it truly means to live and serve behind the glass.
With unflinching honesty and a wry sense of humour, Sangeetha recounts her journey as a commercial clerk—bringing to life the chaos, charm, and contradictions of life at the railway station. Sangeetha recounts every story with authenticity, from irate passengers to curious beggars, from ant-covered corpses to office pranks, from chitranna tiffins to chai breaks (with dunked MilkBikis) standing on a dusty platform, under a pendulous fan, creaking its protests. You feel her fatigue, her triumphs, and the many moments of quiet learning.
I haven’t enjoyed reading a memoir as much as I enjoyed reading this book. Sangeetha’s voice, rooted in reality and laced with memories, quietly yet stubbornly earns our respect. Rich with the knowledge of a life, lived well, aching with the loss of those gone, and rife with chuckles and laughter- this book warms the cockles of the heart. It is a ticket to cherished memories of bygone days wrapped in the scent of nostalgia. It is a reminder that sometimes the most profound stories come from the humblest of places. Life writes them. We only narrate them.
So, pick this book up. Sit with it in the quieter moments and read it slowly. Don’t rush. This isn’t a racy novel. This is someone’s life on paper. Give it the respect it has earned by savouring the words on each page slowly. Let them seep in and percolate. Let them linger as they tickle your memories.
Trust me, this book is a journey worth taking!
It’s one train you cannot afford to miss (with or without a ticket!)
