Question

Who was known as the “Father of Indian Railways”?
a. William Bentinck
b. Lord Dalhousie
c. Lord Curzon
d. Lord Cornwallis

Answer 1

Hint: The first railway to run was a goods train in 1837. It ran from Red Hills to the Chintadripet bridge in Madras.

Complete Step by Step Answer: India’s first passenger train to run was operated by the Great Indian Peninsula Railway. There were three steam locomotives namely Saheb, Sindh and Sultan and they ran for around thirty-four kilometres.
In 1844, Lord Hardinge had led the privatisation of the railway system in the country. The East India Company then created two rail companies which had investors from the Victorian United Kingdom.
The main aim of introduction of the railway system in India by the British was to earn profits and not benefit the Indians. The East India Company had actually pressurized the British to introduce railways to improve their profits. The idea was to make rich British men to invest in the railway system and the British government would then repay the investors with money that they collected from Indian taxes. This resulted in economic development in Britain and not India.
Let us now study the options given.
Option a- William Bentinck was the Governor General of India from 1828 to 1835. He made various social reforms like Abolition of Sati, Suppression of Infanticide, etc. but was not known as the father of Indian railways. So, it is an incorrect answer.
Option b- Lord Dalhousie served as the Governor-General of India from 1848 to 1856. He is also said to have convinced the British to introduce the railways in India through his famous Railway minutes of 1853. Thus, he is regarded as the father of Indian railways and it is the right option.
Option c- Lord Curzon was the viceroy of India from 1899 to 1905. His policies caused deep dissatisfaction and thus resulted in a revolutionary movement in India. The Partition of Bengal also happened during his tenure only. But he was not considered as the ‘father of Indian Railways’. Hence, this option is wrong.
Option d- Lord Cornwallis served as the Commander-in-chief of British India as well as the governor of the Presidency of Fort William from February 1786. He monitored the consolidation of British control over India and set the platform for British Raj. However, he was not known as the father of Indian Railways. This is an incorrect option.
Therefore, the correct answer is option ‘b’.

Note: The first railway station for passenger trains was built at Bori Bunder area of Mumbai. Also, Lord Dalhousie had introduced the Doctrine of Lapse which was a turning point for India’s revolt of 1857. This was the first time when the Indians had unitedly stood for fighting against the British.