Tracks to Freedom: how railways kick-started the journey towards nationhood

For a tradesman country that intends to expand its access to the market, the last result of introducing the railways in India was something that the British Eastern Indian Company (EIC) and his successor did not bargain or foreseen: rewarding the jewelery in the crown.

India delayed England and other colonies while marking railways. The steam horse was brought to the British capital, primarily with financial guarantees for the military and burden movement. But when it came, the most unexpected response was Gusto, which the Indians took as a passenger. To save them from their local borders and only in the third grade (or fourth), the popular support of railways, raised to cash to cash for several private companies operating a large number of lines.

The newly found mobility, gave Indians various freedoms-movement, exchange of ideas, thought processes. He opened them to recognize, accept and respect mutual differences in a different country. Traveling gave them a feeling of concrete to places with only words. The forced confusion between castes or religions and the futile protests of the neighbor’s reality, social or economic thoughts, also experienced partnerships, and indeed, they all went on a journey to the nation-emotions that are ready to be used by the leaders of the movement movement.

Medium, Mod and Methods

When Sepy Mutiny landed to EIC, four years after introducing passenger services from Bombay to Thana in 1853, the new arrived railway network fulfilled a primary defense target by applying siege trains for military trains and counter -attacks to carry troops and weapons. This rebellion was suppressed. It was a matter of time when nationalists who were expelled by the visions of an free India went to the railways, not only as a mode to pass long distances, but also as a suitable tool for resisting, challenging and saving other citizens.

Between the 1920-Office of the 1857-Sepoy Mutiny and Mahatma Gandhi, the railway network rose from 571.14 km to 59.119.25 km, and connected the cities and Hinterlands. The Crown, which took off in 1858 and took responsibility for EIC, continued to expand the railways (and training, poles and telegrams) and made political mobilization between distances. It should not be forgotten, the emergence of railways as a large number of numbers, thus creating a lower level of organized labor, frustrations through trade unions, longing and collective bargaining, one of the few entry points of public life for political leaders and one of the reservoirs for mass mobilization. Although their demands were related to working conditions, GD Khosla’s characterizing the history of Indian railways was also given to a “expression of national rise karşı against a exploitative system addressing a foreign power. The period was also marked with several strikes as well as the non -cooperative movement initiated by the National Congress of India (INC), which is not limited or fully bound to railways.

For Gandhiji, trains were traveling to popular hearts and minds at a deep political and empathic level through their third -class travels throughout the country. His discoveries first dismissed him in certain conditions such as general poverty, such as general poverty, which was exposed to Indigo farmers in Chambararan in Bihar and eliminating the livelihood of India’s partners. In addition, Madurai (Madras Presidency, now Tamil Nadu) during such a visit to the shirt as a outfit, the peasant peasantry was reported to act with the situation for malicious and existence.

As a protest tool of the railways, the instrumentality came in the form of both direct violent action and non -violent challenge. In the old category, the infrastructure sabotage – the trains carrying colonial managers out of the rail, tracks and permanent ways, and other actions of deterioration. Defian came in the form of travel without tickets, meetings and other protests at railway stations.

Trains were the targets of the armed attacks of extremist supporters. On August 9, 1925, the Hindustan Republican Association rode on a train as the revolutionaries of the revolutionaries approached the destination. A report of the Terrorism Intelligence Office in India in 1917-1936 gives this account of the Kakori train robbery for infertility on August 9, 1925: olmak Being successful [earlier] Crimes, the party is aimed at the larger game… Professional Dacoits were taken to the army and a large party near Kakori, pulling the chain in an ambush, a train stood in the appointed place. The guard was strengthened, the passengers were warned not to leave the train, and an aligned passenger was shot immediately. A case containing the earnings of various stations was removed and then found broken and grooved, the total loss RS. 4,000. “The media writes the centenary year of this brave action, an Avad/Lucknow subtlety, Kakori Kebab.

Rajendra Prasad and Sardar Vallabhbhai Patel comes by train to attend the Gandhi Seva Sangha meeting in Brindaban, a town in Bihar. | Photo Loan: Hindu Photo Archives

Railway platforms have become the places of nationalist leaders, especially for Mahatma Gandhi. Rousing reception was given to the father of the nation at train stations that will meet and interact with the masses. The stops of these roads, for example, enabled Muhammad Ali Jinnah to take the pulse of the people on important issues that were his demand for Pakistan. The stations also had a money size. While serving the wallets containing the collections held at the public meetings, they were also the theaters where a financial WITS war was played: Ticket travel, slogans, Mahatma Gandhi that Jai, Jai, would rent the air as they set out on their travels.

Financing the railways was another issue. Railways and Raj’s author Christian Wolmar: He stated how the steam era transformed India, and for the payment of payment for railways, he aroused a lot of anger among Indian nationalists who saw that it was unnecessary and served the British administration ”. To recognize the position and contribution of INC in Railways on his behalf was only how it was carried out and more importantly for whom. In the first petition phase, he saw the railways as an entity given to the country. However, as the nature of the party developed to become the flag carrier of freedom, he criticized for exclusive operations and expropriation results and called for more inclusiveness.

When he initiated the Indian movement as “last struggle” (History of the National Congress of India, Volume II), it was the target of protesters with railways, tasks and telegrams and other government machines such as police. This exceeds non -violent tools such as strikes and stops. “Railways and pole and telegraph property was extensively destroyed. One hundred four railway stations attacked and damaged, 15 burned; 16 rails; railway rails about 100 sabotage was reported.”

Giving national access to leaders

Not surprisingly, Gandhiji and his Protégé-Become met in Jawaharlal Nehru, “built in front of the Lucknow junction station”, in the 31st session of Lucknow Charbagh Railway Station. 30, 1916, “For the first time here he met Jawaharlal Nehru.” In 1936, the duo visited the place for the 49th session, chaired by Nehru.

Railways were effective in receiving their messages not only Gandhi and Nehru, but also from geographical ends to viewers far beyond local influence areas, and provided national access. To give names in just three names: Khan Abdul Gaffar Khan in the northwest border province, honored with Bharat Ratna in 1987, Gopinath Bordoloi (Assem’s first prime minister Bharat Ratna, 1999), C. Rajagopalachari (India’s last governor and later, then the buyer will be the later.

On August 10, the students shook Indian three Rolor at the flag closed ceremony of the first air -conditioned EMU train of the Eastern Railway at the Sealdah Station in Kolkata. Photo Loan: PTI

EIC, ‘when Modernization planned India, even though it has its own gains, it took place in the forces to mark the return journey of colonialism: English Education (1835), Post & Telegraphs (1852) and Railways (1853). A strong mixture was created in about a century; Ready to be harvested by the leaders of all tones that long for India’s freedom. The years of business and the ultimately emerging power transfer were the “Midnight Clock of Midnight” on August 15, 1947, and the historical results and final results of Lords Dalhouse and Bentinck and his successors.