A.K. Srivastava 01.02.2025
Lucknow: Chhota Hazri was featured not only in the memoirs of Jim Corbett and in the daily routine of public schools but was also prominent in railway timetables and the menu of railway refreshment rooms. Oudh Tirhut Railway (OTR)’s timetable (which beckoned its patrons to the Lucknow Refreshment Room) in the closing years of Colonial days (1943) on its timetable advertised Chhota Haazri and can also give us a clue, about what it cost you and what it included, if you strayed into Refreshment Room of Lucknow Station. OTR Timetable tells us that Chhota Hazri includes, a small pot of tea, two slices of bread/toast, and butter and will cost you only 10 Aaana (62 paise). However, if a paying customer wants to add two eggs to his nourishment, he would l have to shell out exactly one rupee. Railway refreshment rooms were offering even a choice of bacon or ham. Along with bacon, it would cost One Rupee and eight Aaana and ham was pricier, One Rupee and 14 Aaana. And mind you there is no bar, everyone who can pay is welcome.
Like a specialty coffee shop nowadays, the refreshment room those days offered so many choices. You want coffee as part of Chhota Hazri, sure Sir, just will cost you 2 Aaana more. Want to replace butter with jam or marmalade, why not? And for those who prefer to have only tea to begin the day, the railway is at your service and it is your choice to have tea in a small pot, large pot or already mixed for a small charge of two Aaana. Real customers delight.
Chhota Hazri featured not only in the OTR timetable but also featured prominently in BB&CI (now WR) and BNR (SER) timetables among others. BB&CI in 1927 charged only 8 Aaana for Chhota Hazri and with a differential pricing. Rich will be charged more. 8 Aaana in the 1st class RR and 6 Aaana in 2nd class RR. In Frontier mail, Chhota Hazri was served for 8 Aaana. But this class distinction was not observed by BNR (1924 timetable) which charged both 1st class and 2nd class passengers Chhota Hazri, a mere 6 Aaana. And anyone can also demand coffee instead of tea, without shelling out anything extra.
Some rudiments of it survived when we joined railways in the early 1980s. On my first posting at Samastipur, a proud inheritor of OTR, I was befuddled with an acronym with which the chart was replete. BBT messages. And some good Samaritan cryptologist deciphered it for me,’ Bread Butter and Tea messages’. And one more railway mystery was revealed to me. When a waiter dressed regally like a Siberian crane, waltzed from coach to coach, balancing a tray in one hand, putting a trapeze artist to shame, these messages were the key. And I was reminded of one of many witticisms of my course director at RSC/BRC (RIP), another proud inheritor of OTR, ‘If someone is moving from coach to coach in a running train (non-vestibules days), he will be either a blind minstrel or a waiter’.
If you want to look at the Lucknow Railway Refreshment room of the late 19th Century (the 1880s), just tighten your belt, loosen your purse strings and do a time travel with Mr Aazad,
“Strolling on, Azad went into the station. When he saw the restaurant, he grinned widely with pleasure. “Oh my, how orderly and neat it is– the walls and doors are simply oozing cleanliness!” Everywhere it is like a world of light. From one side to the other were tables surrounded by chairs, with glasses laid out. Lamps and shaded candles glowed everywhere. Azad too went and planted himself in a chair: “Bring me something to eat! But let there be no wine in it, and let there be no taint of swine flesh anywhere around it!” A waiter, dressed in neat, clean clothes, wearing a fancy turban like that of a herald, came and stood before him: “Your honour, there will be no wine, but what else did you command?” Azad said, “Let there be no swine-flesh” — whispering– “that is, no pork in it.” The waiter replied, “Oh no, your honour– how could there possibly be!” With these words, the waiter brought all kinds of English foods in extremely costly, immensely expensive plates. Azad, using a knife and fork, ate them with great relish, and drank soda water and lemonade.”
(Fasana-e-Azad: Vol. 1 Ratan Nath Sharshar)
Portals of Railway refreshment rooms were open for everybody, irrespective of race, religion, caste or sex.
Pic. Excerpt from OTR Timetable 1943
Ratan Nath Sharshar
