'Magnificent. Railsong treads so lightly, and yet has such depth to it. I would follow Miss Chitol to the ends of the earth for the continued joy of her company.'

Kamila Shamsie, author of Women's Prize winning Home Fire

'Rahul Bhattacharya is an extraordinary writer, and Railsong is a majestic yet profoundly tender novel. Vigorously alive to the currents of national change as well as to the tragedy, daring, humor, and love experienced in one woman's days and years, Railsong bids us to observe the worth and intricacy of one person's journey.'

Megha Majumdar, New York Times bestselling author of A Burning

'Few works capture, with such effectiveness, the profound political and social transformations of the last decades of the twentieth century – tracing their impact from the grassroots to the highest levels of society. Negotiating the subtle, intricate bond between the language of lived experience and the language of narration, Rahul Bhattacharya meets that challenge with remarkable assurance, Railsong a testament to the depth and brilliance of his craft. Charu's solitude permeates the novel, even when she is surrounded by people, even when she performs every duty with care. Rarely has writing so comprehensively, and precisely, captured this haunting feeling – the silent burden of the missing – that stands as the novel's greatest achievement and its most profound triumph.'

Vivek Shanbag, author of Ghachar Ghochar

'Rooted in the social history of the seventies to the nineties, when women's lives were vibrant with change as they started to take their own decisions, the song of Charulata's life on the railways is a simple but strong, echoing quest for freedom. Rahul Bhattacharya's prose is so lyrical in tone, and intelligent in wit.'

Volga, Sahitya Akademi Award winning author of The Liberation of Sita

'Does anyone write better prose than Rahul Bhattacharya? Every word in this gorgeous, darting novel is a surprise. Bhattacharya has created an epic out of a single life.'

Karan Mahajan, author of The Association of Small Bombs, finalist for the National Book Award in Fiction

'Beyond focusing on individual traits, Railsong keeps a steady hum of political and social upheavals alive in the background. The song, in the title, isn't just a hymn of nostalgia and melancholy; it is also a reminder of the discordant notes of communal disharmony...A fictional saga like Railsong demands not only imaginative daring, but also dogged discipline. Bhattacharya delivers on both counts abundantly.' - Somak Ghoshal

Mint