The impact of Indian Railways on unifying the country can be considered complex.
It wasn't true that the railways connected India. Before trains, when people used to travel from one state to another, they travelled by road, so the cities, the culture, the food of the various places in the travel were also experienced by the commuters. However, through railways, the areas between the two locations got annihilated. So when travel logs were written, people started writing about the places nearer to them (which they referred to as Swadesh) and farther to them (which they referred to as Desh).
The whole idea of visiting other sites, the familiarity and non-familiarity among places and people started conceptualizing in the minds of the Colonial Indians. When people used to narrate and write about the stories of their travels, they never considered them to be a part of united India, but always as a part. So even if the railways claimed to have connected India as a whole, people didn't seem to be connected. India continued to be conceptualized in a fractured way. When railways were expanding, instead of getting integrated, India got disintegrated. Areas with railway lines were considered advanced, and those with no railway lines were left behind.
The whole idea of unity wasn't well achieved by the railways either. People travelled with their modes of transport earlier, but railways were a public space, and thus, people travelled together without social boundaries. The idea that a nation will be considered a whole and people will forget about their differences did not become a reality. It was believed that Indians ignoring their differences would modernize speedily and successfully. The idea didn't become a reality because of the different compartments created based on affordability, caste and religion. Even in one of the writings, a Bengali writer states Muslim Passengers weren't allowed in his carriage, based on what they ate. Also, higher-status women were secluded because of the male attitude. This seclusion made protection and segregation necessary. Thus, this shows how the males controlled the mobility of women- both physically and socially. This was the real impact of Railways on Indian Society.
The railway did contribute a sense of nationality. As technology was introduced in India, the different parts of the country got connected physically. It was a success and was genuinely appreciated. However, it was believed that India got so damaged and segregated in Muslim Rule that it accepted Western Dominance.
For people who had means, railways made travel pleasurable due to their speed and comfort. Thus, travelling was re-defined as applicable. Indians got familiarized with the glorious past of the country. Now, they could travel to historical places of transportation easily. It can be understood that bringing Indians closer led to political changes, especially the Freedom Struggle.
Railway travel also gave into the literary world- several guidebooks and travelogues, which help us know about the past.
We can thus say that Railways had a dual impact on bringing the nation together.
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