Railsong: The long-awaited novel from the Hindu and the Ondaatje Prize winner
Charu Chitol grows up in the shadow of her father's railway job, yearning for something beyond the confines of Bhombalpur Workshop. When a devastating strike shatters her adolescence, she seizes her chance to flee to Bombay's chaotic streets, determined to forge her own path. What follows is a gripping portrait of a woman caught between duty and desire, as her relentless pursuit of independence collides with the relationships she holds dear. Bhattacharya weaves together the intimate struggles of family with the broader currents of India's transformation, creating something both achingly human and expansively ambitious. The novel pulses with wit and emotional depth, moving fluidly between personal heartbreak and the weight of historical forces bearing down on ordinary lives. It's a story about the cost of freedom, the pull of belonging, and the contradictions that define us all. Those who've connected with works exploring modern India's complexities and fractured families will find much to cherish here.
- Author: Rahul Bhattacharya
- Publisher: Bloomsbury Publishing
- Genre: Travel Writing & Guides
- ISBN: 978-9361313479
- Pages: 416 pages