Nilgiri Mountain Railway (NMR): From Lifeline to Oblivion - Paperback

by V. M. Govind Krishnan (Author)

This book is a tribute to the relentless campaign by railway enthusiasts and the public of the Nilgiri Hills to keep the beautiful engineering marvel in running condition. Their untiring effort continues to this day, and it is largely due to this, that the unique railway was recognized as a World Heritage Site by UNESCO on July 15, 2005.

This is a rare compilation of published materials on NMR, analyzed and written in eloquent English, which will interest anyone who likes the NMR or people's initiatives to propel such actions to save the unique lifeline from oblivion.

The book serves as an almanac on Nilgiri Mountain Railway (NMR) with the events chronologically arranged to depict the true picture and more so the public opinion which helped to thwart the Government's moves to close the line.

The New Indian Express

Author Biography

V. M. Govind Krishnan grew up in Coonoor, watching the Nilgiri Mountain Railway (NMR) chug past his home. He distinctly remembers the first journey he took on that train with his grandmother and being in awe of the way the little train climbed its way through the dense forest and steep hills.

His love for mountain trains does not end with the NMR. He has travelled a number of times on all the five operating mountain trains in India and has written travelogues on these journeys.

His book narrates the struggle to save the NMR and throws light on the importance of the railway, as an engineering marvel and from the heritage point of view. He started collecting material for the book when the government proposed dismantling the line in 1968, considering it not economically viable.

A post graduate in Zoology and a lover of nature, he has also highlighted the need to provide elephant corridors and preserve the sanctity of the dwindling rain forests of the Nilgiri Biosphere Reserve.

After retiring from service with Air India, he is now a freelance photojournalist, and has addressed a variety of civic issues with a view to improving the living environment.