The making of India : the untold story of British enterprise

The story of The Making of India begins in the seventeenth century, when a small sea-faring island, one tenth the size of the Indian subcontinent, despatched sailing ships over 11,000 miles on a five-month trading journey in search of new opportunities. In the end they helped build a new nation. The sheer audacity and scale of such an endeavour, the courage and enterprise, have no parallel in world history. This book is the first to assess in a single volume almost all aspects of Britain's remarkable contribution in providing India with its lasting institutional and physical infrastructure, which continues to underpin the world's largest democracy in the twenty-first century. The Story Of This Book Begins In The Seventeenth Century, When A Small Sea-faring Island, One Tenth The Size Of The Indian Subcontinent, Despatched Sailing Ships Over 11,000 Miles On A Five-month Trading Journey In Search Of New Opportunities. In The End They Helped Build A New Nation. The Sheer Audacity And Scale Of Such An Endeavour, The Courage And Enterprise, Have No Parallel In World History. This Book Is The First To Assess In A Single Volume Almost All Aspects Of Britain S Remarkable Contribution In Providing India With Its Lasting Institutional And Physical Infrastructure, Which Continues To Underpin The World S Largest Democracy In The Twenty-first Century. Machine Generated Contents Note: 1. The Argument: Balance And Perspective -- 2. The East India Company: Ambitions To Rule The Waves -- 3. Routes To India -- 4. Ships And Shipbuilding: The Age Of Steam -- 5. Ports, Harbours And Lighthouses -- 6. Canals And Water Supplies -- 7. Roads: Leaving No Stone Unturned -- 8. Mail Services, The Telegraph And The Telephone -- 9. Railways: A Network Is Built With Incredible Speed -- 10. Locomotive Workshops And The Manufacture Of Rolling Stock -- 11. Bridge Building -- 12. Foundries, Iron And Steel: The Rise Of Indian Self-sufficiency -- 13. Extraction Industry Development -- 14. Electricity Generation -- 15. India Adopts The Tram -- 16. The Textile And Jute Industries -- 17. Sugar, Tea And Coffee Industries -- 18. Early Air Services -- 19. Establishing An Administrative Infrastructure -- 20. Education And Health: Engineering And Medical Colleges -- 21. Indian Heritage And Culture: Conservation, Restoration And Appreciation. Kartar Lalvani. Includes Bibliographical References And Index. Dedication 6 Contents 8 Foreword • Ram Jethmalani 14 Preface: Time to recognise the positive side of the imperial coin 18 1 The Argument: Balance and Perspective 26 2 The East India Company: Ambitions to Rule the Waves 79 3 Routes to India 95 4 Ships and Shipbuilding: The Age of Steam 103 5 Ports, Harbours and Lighthouses 133 6 Canals and Water Supplies 141 7 Roads: Leaving No Stone Unturned 168 8 Mail Services, the Telegraph and the Telephone 178 9 Railways: A Network is Built with Incredible Speed 185 10 Locomotive Workshops and the Manufacture of Rolling Stock 248 11 Bridge Building 259 12 Foundries, Iron and Steel: The Rise of Indian Self-Sufficiency 279 13 Extraction Industry Development 295 14 Electricity Generation 310 15 India Adopts the Tram 328 16 The Textile and Jute Industries 349 17 Sugar, Tea and Coffee Industries 365 18 Early Air Services 376 19 Establishing an Administrative Infrastructure 380 20 Education and Health: Engineering and Medical Colleges 395 21 Indian Heritage and Culture: Conservation, Restoration and Appreciation 402 22 Diaspora: Migration and Opportunity 412 Appendix A: Milestones in the Making of India 424 Appendix B: Biographies: British Engineers in India 430 Bibliography 439 Acknowledgements 450 Index 452