Development in transport and communication by british in india
Answers
Before the British rule, Indian transport and communication system was backward in comparison to the Western countries. There were no roads and no railway to connect distance places. No telegraph system ever existed.
The self-sufficient village economy was enough to meet the day to day needs of the people. For this reason, there was no compulsion to search for better transport and communication system.
On land, bullock carts, pack-horses, donkeys, camels and even head loads comprised the means of transport. Boats and its accessories were used to carry cargo by water ways. Indians had no idea about steam engine and navigation canals. Except the coastal and river valley regions in India, transportation was costly, undependable and difficult.
Prior to 1757 commercial activities of the East India Company were confined to coastal markets. By establishing factories or trade centers on coast lines and river mouths, the English merchants carried on trade with nearby accessible territories. After the Battle of Plessey the Company utilized its political power to enhance the commercial activities.
The company felt the need of good transport and communication system both for political and economic purposes. First the English merchants had to reach new markets of interior India and also the markets of territories occupied by expansion of British Empire. Second, they also had to explore the fields of raw materials required for the growing British industries. In both the cases the merchants needed easy and cheap transport of goods and raw materials from the ports to the markets and vice versa.
Till the 19th century, the means of transportation in India remained underdeveloped. They were only restricted to bullock-cart, camel, and workhorse. The British leaders promptly understood that a reasonable and accessible method of transportation was a requirement if British productions were to move into India on a massive scale and her raw elements obtained for British businesses. The British rulers originated steamships on the branches and established about developing the roads. Efforts were also made to connect by road the important cities, shelters, and commands of the nation.