Railway, Telegraphs complete 158 years

Posted on April 16, 2011 by vannamboodiri

Introduction of two most important services which changed the country vis. Railways and Telegraphs, is completing 158 years on 15th of April 2011. Both were introduced in India by the British, not for the benefit of the people, but for cementing the British rule. India was the jewel in the British empire and they wanted to keep it with them at any cost.

In fact, Railways and Telegraphs helped the British in the crucial First War of Independence, which they called ‘Sepoy Mutiny’. Through telegraph messages, British were able in inform movements of the Indian Sepoys and also direct their own army strategically.

Just like in any invention and technology, both the Railways and Telegraphs were opened for the use of the people later. Now the Railways is the biggest Department of the Indian Government after defence, employing more than 13 lakh workers and running hundreds of trains daily. On the other hand, the telegraphs have almost been relegated to the background due to introduction of new technologies and unprecedented growth of telephones.

It can be stated without any doubt that the Telegraphs and Railways have immensely helped the growth of the country.