Unveiling the Surreal Connection Between IRCTC and Lewis Carroll's Wonderland

Imagine a routine train ticket booking turning into an unexpected encounter with a piece of literary whimsy. This happened recently when a content creator logged into the Indian Railway Catering and Tourism Corporation (IRCTC) portal. While she went through the familiar steps of booking a seat and scanning a QR code generator for payment, she was transported into a unique digital fairyland rather than completing her transaction.

A Journey into a Wonderland

Instead of opening a payment link, her scan revealed the enigmatic words “’Twas brillig.” Curious and out of context, the phrase stood out amidst the mundane world of online transactions. It wasn’t an error, though; it was a delightful reference to Lewis Carroll's renowned nonsense poem "Jabberwocky" from the 1871 book Through the Looking-Glass, the sequel to Alice's Adventures in Wonderland.

Intrigued by this unexpected find, the content creator turned her discovery into a social media reel, blending the booking screen with lines from "Jabberwocky." The poem famously begins with: “’Twas brillig, and the slithy toves / Did gyre and gimble in the wabe…” It’s a linguistic puzzle that invites readers to explore a fantastical language filled with made-up yet oddly resonant words.

Deciphering 'Brillig'

In Carroll's universe, the poem first appears backward, readable only when held to a mirror—a clever nod to the topsy-turvy logic of the Looking-Glass world. Delving deeper, the creator found that “brillig” had a specific meaning, as explained by the character Humpty Dumpty in the story. It referred to "four o'clock in the afternoon, the time when you begin broiling things for dinner."

Carroll, originally Charles Dodgson, crafted these lines in his personal journal as a playful exercise. Over time, they outgrew their origins, becoming a satire on academic rigidity and an ode to the playful side of language itself.

A Fleeting Escape from Reality

For the content creator, this discovery was more than just a humorous glitch. On a day filled with train schedules and travel plans, she found herself stepping into a space where language transformed her routine into a magical experience. It was a reminder that even in our modern, technology-driven world, there are moments where the ordinary can suddenly become extraordinary.

This experience speaks to the enduring power of Carroll's work. His playful use of language and the whimsical worlds he created continue to captivate and inspire, even in unforeseen places like a railway booking website. It's a gentle nudge to maintain a sense of wonder and to remember that sometimes, delight lies in the unexpected.

In a world increasingly dominated by efficiency and routine, Carroll’s words are a reminder to embrace the moments that break the norm, urging us not to let the everyday monotony consume our sense of magic.