Mentors Comments:
Briefly mention about the beginning of Railways in India.
Discuss whether Railways aimed to serve the interests of the British and any modernisation was not the outcome of deliberate policy, but incidental.

Answer:
In 1831-32, the idea of railway construction was put forward in India. The first train ran between Mumbai and Thane in 1853. It played a significant role towards the modernization of the country. However, it was launched with limited objectives of serving the British interests.

The reasons for which railways were introduced:
Britain’s production capacity had increased immensely. Railways provided an opportunity to procure raw materials especially cotton in bulk form the remotest possible areas.
They also wanted to expand the market for finished goods, which could be transported at cheapest cost through railways.
These two factors scuttled the local industries e.g. Handlooms, that were already suffering from high taxes and tariffs.
The railways were hence not coordinated with India’s industrial needs & brought about a commercial revolution in place of an Industrial revolution in India.
It was an investment outlet for British surplus capital with guaranteed interests paid entirely from Indian and not British taxes. Besides, the benefits of railway construction in terms of encouragement to steel & machine industry were reaped by Britain not India.
It was to help for the rapid mobilization of troops for the defence of the empire against internal rebellion and external invasion facilitating its imperial ambitions.
Along wgustith other modes of communication like telegraph, it aimed to strengthen British
administrative control.

However, there were some unintended but positive outcomes :
It brought people across different regions and rural hinterlands in contact. Thus generating a sense of unity and consciousness of one nation.
It increased mobility of people and enhanced the reach of political leaders, which led to the spread of liberal modern values among the masses.
It helped Indian traders and industrialists in expanding commercial activities.
It generated employment for Indians.
It brought new regions into the mainstream political and commercial activities and aided their modernisation.

Thus, started with narrow objectives, Railways nonetheless proved to be a blessing in disguise for the Indians.