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Development Of Posts And Telegraph:-
Posts
Britain’s involvement in the postal Services of India began in the eighteenth century. Initially the service was administered by the East India Company who established post offices in Mumbai, Chennai and Calcutta (now Kolkata) between 1764 and 1766.
East India Company and the British Post Office in India:-
Warren Hastings (Governor General of British India from 1773-1784) opened the posts to the public in March 1774. Prior to this the main purpose of the postal system had been to serve the commercial interests of the East India Company. Serving economic and political needs of the ruling authority remained a driving force in the development of the postal service.
Post Office Act (1837) reserved the government the exclusive right to convey letters in the territories of the East India Company.
In 1850 a report was commissioned into the working of the Post Office in India. This report introduced uniform postage rates dependent on weight alone (previously charges had been calculated on weight and distance). It recommended that a Manual of Instructions be supplied to postmasters to encourage uniformity of practice. The recommendations of this report led to the introduction of Act XVII in 1854. However the reforms had a mixed success with some areas persisting in old practices.
From the late eighteenth century political power began to slip away from the East India Company. The Company was finally abolished in 1858 and India became a Crown colony ruled directly by Parliament.
Stamps:-
The first postal stamp in India was introduced on 1 July 1852 in the Scinde district. In 1854 the introduction of uniform postage rates led to the development of the first postage stamps valid for use throughout India. As with the introduction of uniform postage in Britain this led to a rapid increase in use of the postal system. The volume of mail doubled between 1854 and 1866, and again between 1866 and 1871.
The first pictorial stamps were issued in 1931. There was a victory issue in 1946, followed shortly by a first Dominion issue. The three stamps in the Dominion issue depicted the Ashoka Pillar, the new flag of India, and an aeroplane.
Mail Communications with England:-
In addition to the managing the postal services of British India, the Post Office was involved in the transmission of correspondence between England and India.
In the 1820s Thomas Waghorn began investigations into improving mail routes between England and India. This led to the establishment of the overland route between Alexandria and Suez. Mails had previously taken three months to reach England, but Waghorn’s letters accomplished the same journey in just 35 days. Letters conveyed by Waghorn carried their own cachet ‘Care of Mr Waghorn’. After ten years of Waghorn’s efforts the British Government and the East India Company were convinced of the viability of this route and took it over.
The India Mail Service carried diplomatic mail between the two countries. This service involved specially appointed Post Office staff of higher grades accompanying the mail from London to Marseilles where responsibility would be transferred to the P&O purser of the ship bound for India. These staff was referred to as India Mail Officers.
Telegraph
Already in 1849 the East India Company had decided to construct a telegraph system along the railway lines. The telegraph became an urgent necessity on account of the Afghan war and the impending war with Burma. The first line, between Calcutta and Diamond Harbour, opened in 1851 and was used to send shipping news from the coasts to Calcutta. The major lines were completed before 1855. This remarkable speed of construction resulted from both strategic needs and Lord Dalhousie's personal interest in the plan. The telegraph was a private enterprise in England and the United States and a state enterprise in continental Europe. In India it turned out to be a state enterprise for military reasons, despite Dalhousie's general aversion to state monopolies.
Development in Telegraph system took place in the mid nineteenth century. Telegraph Communication was essential for effective and safe railway signalling. In 1851 telegraphs had been extended over 4,250 miles of India. This linked forty-six receiving stations. They were from Calcutta to Agra and the northwest. It connected Bombay, Madras and Ootacamund. There were around 17,500 miles of telegraph lines by 1865. By the end of the century it reached 52,900 miles. India's 100,000 lines carried 17 million telegraphic messages a year by the early twentieth century.
The telegraph rose directly from political imperatives. Telegraph system was basically a response to the need for a rapid and reliable system of information. These telegraph lines demonstrated their importance by carrying their authority's early intimations of the up-country revolt in May 1857. In India it turned out to be a state enterprise for military reasons, despite Dalhousie's general aversion to state monopolies. By 1857 the telegraph had proved itself a critical military tool. Not surprisingly, it symbolized evil for the mutineers. With vengeance, they destroyed telegraph establishments wherever they could (and never used it to their advantage). With this lesson behind itself, the Crown rule saw massive expansion of the telegraph system within the country and between India and Europe. From then onward, the commercial uses of the telegraphs began to overwhelm strategic needs, leading to extremely rapid Growth in the use of the system.
This system was also adopted by Indian and European businessmen. By the early twentieth century the government officials and nationalist politicians was unable to function without telegrams. The telegraph system incorporated India into administrative and commercial Network once submarine cables were completed between India and Britain in 1870.
There was also a personal interest involved in the rapid construction of the telegraph system in India in the 1850s. O'Shaughnessy had built a 21 mile long experimental line near Kolkata. This was protected from the effects of tropical heat and humidity by using thicker cables. He showed how electrical signals could be sent over long distances in India. The telegraph system was basically an imported technology. Local expertise and the political patronage that this imported technology had received speeded its adoption and adaptation to the local conditions.
Impact of Modern Communication and Transport
Negative Impact
- The colonial exploitation of India got accelerated and India was quickly turned into an exporter of raw materials to feed the British industries and as a market for their finished goods. In a way, they had hampered the growth of indigenous industries in India.
- Investment of British capital in this sector, amounted to a sizable drain of wealth in the form of interest payments
- The efficient network of railways and telegraphs had helped the British to easily suppress many internal rebellions, including the Revolt of 1857, and strengthen the imperial control.
Positive Impact
- The railway network had increased the contact among people at an unprecedented level.
- Posts and telegraph network were useful for spreading patriotic ideas.
- The growth of Indian nationalism was attributed to the advent of a modern network of communications and transport.
- Indian agriculture witnessed a structural transformation with an increase in the cultivation of Cash Crops such as Cotton, jute, tea etc.
- It also gave rise to a new class – the working class or the proletariat which in later years played a significant role in freedom struggle.
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The development of the post and telegraph in India is a long and complex story. It is a story that is intertwined with the history of British rule in India.
The British East India Company was granted a monopoly on trade with India in 1600. The company quickly established a network of trading posts and factories throughout the country. As the company’s trade grew, so did its need for a reliable system of communication. In 1612, the company established the first post office in India.
The East India Company’s post office was initially a small operation. It was staffed by a few clerks and messengers, and it operated only a few routes. However, the post office quickly grew in size and importance. By the end of the 17th century, the post office had over 100 offices and employed over 1,000 people.
The East India Company’s post office was a vital part of the company’s operations. It allowed the company to communicate with its employees and customers throughout India. The post office also played an important role in the company’s efforts to collect taxes and maintain law and order.
In 1854, the British government took over the operation of the post office from the East India Company. The new Indian Postal Service was a much larger and more efficient operation than the old post office. It had a network of over 10,000 offices and employed over 20,000 people.
The Indian Postal Service played an important role in the development of India. It helped to unify the country by providing a common system of communication. The post office also played a role in the spread of Education and Literacy.
The telegraph was invented in the early 19th century. It was a revolutionary new technology that allowed for the rapid transmission of messages over long distances. The British government quickly saw the potential of the telegraph and began to build a telegraph network in India.
The first telegraph line in India was opened in 1851. The line ran from Calcutta to Agra. By the end of the 19th century, there was a telegraph network that covered most of India.
The telegraph had a profound impact on India. It allowed for the rapid transmission of news and information. It also made it possible for the British government to control the country more effectively.
The post and telegraph in India continued to develop in the 20th century. The Indian Postal Service became a more efficient and reliable operation. The telegraph network was expanded and improved.
The post and telegraph played an important role in the development of India. They helped to unify the country, spread education and literacy, and improve communication.
The post and telegraph in India are now a vital part of the country’s Infrastructure-2/”>INFRASTRUCTURE. They provide a vital link between people and businesses throughout the country. They also play an important role in the country’s economy.
The post and telegraph in India have come a long way since their humble beginnings in the 17th century. They have played an important role in the development of the country. They are now a vital part of India’s infrastructure and economy.
What is the history of the postal service in India?
The postal service in India has a long and rich history, dating back to the Mughal Empire. The first postal system in India was established by the Mughal emperor Akbar in the 16th century. The system was based on a network of couriers who would carry messages on foot or horseback.
In the 18th century, the British East India Company took over the postal system in India. The company established a network of post offices throughout the country. The post offices were used to send letters, parcels, and Money orders.
In the 19th century, the British government took over the postal system in India. The government continued to expand the network of post offices and introduced new services, such as telegraphy and parcel post.
In the 20th century, the postal service in India continued to grow and modernize. The government introduced new technologies, such as airmail and telex. The postal service also played a role in the Indian independence movement.
Today, the postal service in India is one of the largest and most efficient in the world. The service provides a wide range of services, including letter mail, parcel post, express mail, and money orders.
What is the history of the telegraph in India?
The telegraph was first introduced to India in the 1830s. The first telegraph line was built between Calcutta and Diamond Harbour. The telegraph was used to send messages quickly and reliably over long distances.
The telegraph played an important role in the development of India. The telegraph was used to communicate with the British government in London. The telegraph was also used to communicate with other parts of India.
The telegraph was a major technological advancement in India. The telegraph helped to improve communication and transportation in India. The telegraph also helped to improve the economy of India.
What are the benefits of having a well-developed postal and telegraph system?
A well-developed postal and telegraph system has many benefits. It can help to improve communication and transportation, and it can also help to improve the economy.
A well-developed postal system can help to improve communication by making it easier to send and receive letters and parcels. This can be especially beneficial for people who live in rural areas or who do not have access to the Internet.
A well-developed telegraph system can help to improve transportation by making it easier to send and receive messages quickly and reliably. This can be especially beneficial for businesses and organizations that need to communicate with each other over long distances.
A well-developed postal and telegraph system can also help to improve the economy by making it easier for businesses to trade with each other. This can lead to increased economic growth and prosperity.
What are the challenges of developing a well-developed postal and telegraph system?
There are a number of challenges associated with developing a well-developed postal and telegraph system. One challenge is the cost of infrastructure. Building and maintaining a network of post offices and telegraph lines can be expensive.
Another challenge is the lack of access to technology. In some parts of the world, people do not have access to the internet or to telephones. This can make it difficult to use postal and telegraph services.
Finally, there is the challenge of Corruption. In some countries, postal and telegraph services are often corrupt. This can lead to delays in delivery and to lost or stolen mail.
Despite these challenges, it is important to develop a well-developed postal and telegraph system. A well-developed postal and telegraph system can help to improve communication, transportation, and the economy.
Question 1
The first postal service in India was established in the year:
(A) 1757
(B) 1774
(C) 1854
(D) 1857
Answer (C)
The first postal service in India was established in 1854 by the British East India Company.
Question 2
The first telegraph line in India was laid between the cities of:
(A) Calcutta and Agra
(B) Calcutta and Bombay
(C) Calcutta and Madras
(D) Bombay and Madras
Answer (A)
The first telegraph line in India was laid between the cities of Calcutta and Agra in 1856.
Question 3
The first telephone exchange in India was established in the city of:
(A) Calcutta
(B) Bombay
(C) Madras
(D) Delhi
Answer (A)
The first telephone exchange in India was established in the city of Calcutta in 1881.
Question 4
The first Indian to be appointed as the Director-General of Posts and Telegraphs was:
(A) Sardar Vallabhbhai Patel
(B) Jawaharlal Nehru
(C) C. Rajagopalachari
(D) V.K. Krishna Menon
Answer (A)
Sardar Vallabhbhai Patel was the first Indian to be appointed as the Director-General of Posts and Telegraphs in 1947.
Question 5
The Indian Postal Service is the largest postal service in the world in terms of the number of post offices. It has over 155,000 post offices spread across the country.
Answer True
The Indian Postal Service is the largest postal service in the world in terms of the number of post offices. It has over 155,000 post offices spread across the country.
Question 6
The Indian Telegraph Service is the oldest telegraph service in the world. It was established in 1856.
Answer False
The first telegraph service in the world was established in 1837 in the United States. The Indian Telegraph Service was established in 1856, making it the second oldest telegraph service in the world.
Question 7
The Indian Telephone Service was established in 1881.
Answer True
The Indian Telephone Service was established in 1881. It is the second largest telephone service in the world in terms of the number of subscribers.
Question 8
The Indian Postal Service, the Indian Telegraph Service, and the Indian Telephone Service are all government-owned and operated.
Answer True
The Indian Postal Service, the Indian Telegraph Service, and the Indian Telephone Service are all government-owned and operated. They are regulated by the Department of Posts, which is a part of the Ministry of Communications and Information Technology.