Railway and Telegraph — Mains Questions

Critically analyze the economic motives behind the introduction and expansion of railways in British India. To what extent did they contribute to the 'drain of wealth' from India?

The telegraph system, though a marvel of its time, was primarily a tool for consolidating British administrative and military control in India. Discuss its role and impact, particularly in the context of the 1857 Revolt.

Examine the social and political consequences of railway development in British India. How did this infrastructure, intended for colonial control, inadvertently contribute to the rise of Indian nationalism?