The Jackfruit Letter

The (in)famous Jackfruit Letter-

There is a very persistent legend about a letter purportedly written by an irate railway passenger suffering on the account of the premature departure of train. The letter is claimed to have been written around the year 1909 (a precise date of July 2^nd,1909 is also sometimes claimed),addressed to the divisional office of the East Indian Railway or the Transportation Superintendent at Sahibganj, West Bengal, or to the railway board.

The letter is said to have been discovered in railway records in West Bengal, or in the Railway Board's archives in New Delhi, or to have been published in the August 1909 issue of 'Indian Railways' (published by the Railway Board). It is very likely that this letter is a legend or joke, even if it was reproduced in an official publication. The text of the letter follows.

Dear Sir,I am arrive by passenger train at Ahmedpore station, and my belly is too much full of jack fruit. I am therefore went to privy, Just as I doing the nuisance, that guard making whistle blow for train to go off and I am running with lotah in one hand and dhotie in the next hand. I am fall over and expose my shockings to man, females, woman on platform. I am get leaved at Ahmedpore station.

This too much bad, if passenger go to make dung, that dam guard no wait train 5 minutes for him. I am therefore pray your honour to make big fine on that guard for public sake, otherwise I am making big report to papers.

Your faithful servant,Okhil Ch. Sen

Note:The grammatical errors made in this letter is not the mistake of the publisher. It is an original letter with no changes made.

Letter obtained from [http://www.irfca.org] - the Indian Railways Fan Club.