PINAKI MAJUMDAR
Jamshedpur, July 21: Jyotirmoyee Ghosh, an eminent freedom fighter flagged off the 12810 Howrah-Mumbai CSMT Mail from Howrah station’s, new complex last night as a part of the celebration of “Azadi Ki Rail Gadi Aur Stations” to commemorate the 75 Years of Independence.
The train travelled through Tatanagar and several other stations under the Chakradharpur division of the South Eastern Railway. Prasun Banerjee, MP from Bengal was present on the occasion and thanked the railway authorities for honouring the freedom fighter.
Mahua Verma, principal chief personnel officer, South Eastern Railway, and several other senior railway officers were present during the flagging off ceremony.
Joytirmoyee Ghosh, born in the year 1927 at Barisal, now in Bangladesh, was arrested by British Police for her association with the revolutionaries when she was only 13 years old. She was also arrested for six months for her support of the Dandi Movement. She was closely associated with the revolutionaries during the freedom struggle.
The 12810 Howrah-Mumbai Mail, which was flagged off by Joytirmoyee Ghosh is the oldest running train of the South Eastern Railway and commenced its maiden journey on September 25, 1893.
The train is in service for more than 128 years connecting Kolkata with Mumbai via Tatanagar, and Nagpur and at present is running with an upgraded LHB Rakes.
Significantly, the Indian Railway is observing the iconic week of “Azadi Ki Rail Gadi Aur Stations” from July 18 to July 23 to highlight different stations and trains having historical importance.
Altogether, 75 stations have been identified as freedom stations throughout the country of which four stations are in the jurisdiction of South Eastern Railway viz. Chakradharpur, Tatanagar, Ranchi and Balasore. This apart, 27 trains have been identified for spot lighting which is being flagged off by freedom fighters or their family members.
