Documents_ (1)

Page 1: Railway Grievances and Proposals

Document 1: Petition to British Colonial Government of India (1866)

• Authors: British-Indian Association, consisting of high-caste Indians.

• Main grievances of Indian railway passengers:

  • Severe mistreatment experienced by native passengers akin to the horrors of the 'middle passage'.

  • No distinction made between passengers; abuse is indiscriminate.

  • Second-class passengers are not allowed on the platform and must wait outside with large crowds.

  • Respectable native gentlemen face personal ill-treatment from European passengers.

  • Attempts to degrade second-class passengers persist.

  • Native ladies of respectability cannot use railways, threatening the honor of families.

  • Overall, the shift to railway travel has stripped traditional safe transit methods without providing adequate alternatives for women.

Document 2: Shen Baozhen's Memorandum to Qing Court (1867)

• Context: Discussion on infrastructure development in China.

• Key points:

  • Telecommunication and railways proposed as beneficial for future generations.

  • Caution against foreign influence in building telegraphs and railroads.

  • Emphasizes protection of arable land, homes, and graves—approval contingent on safeguarding these areas.

Document 3: Ottoman Report on Railway from Damascus to Mecca (1893)

• Concerns:

  • Risk of British-controlled Suez Canal and humiliation for Muslim pilgrims.

  • Current pilgrimage methods are arduous (camel travel) and unsafe.

  • A railway is deemed essential for connecting holy cities and reinforcing the caliphate's power.

  • Calls for Muslim participation in the railway's financing and construction; personal involvement of the sultan is crucial.

Page 2: Global Perspectives on Railways

Document 4: Cecil Rhodes and the Cape to Cairo Railway (1899)

• Note: Illustration related to Rhodes' proposals, indicating the ambition to connect Africa through rail.

Document 5: Henry Norman on the Trans-Siberian Railroad (1901)

• Overview: Describes the significance of the Trans-Siberian Railroad.

  • A monumental project of strategic importance to Russian interests in the Far East.

  • Capacity for military transport is currently limited, yet growth in utilization is expected.

  • Warning to other powers (e.g. England) to take notice of Russia's expanding influence.

Document 6: Ernest Roume on French West Africa (1904)

• Vision: Aspirations for modernization and civilization in Africa through transportation development.

  • Railroads viewed as essential for economic activity, breaking the cycle of poverty.

  • Affirmation that progress—both material and moral—is unattainable without rail infrastructure.

Document 7: Lieutenant-Colonel R. Gardiner on Indian Railways (1913)

• Impact of Railways on Society:

  • Discusses the societal changes due to increased movement and interaction among diverse nationalities in India.

  • Growth of a unified national sentiment is observed, which could strengthen loyalty to the empire.

### Notes on Context: Why Empire #### Document 1: Petition to British Colonial Government of India (1866) - **Authors:** British-Indian Association (high-caste Indians) - **Main Grievances:** - Severe mistreatment of native passengers; comparable to horrors of the 'middle passage'. - Absence of distinction in treatment; abuse is indiscriminate. - Second-class passengers cannot access platforms and must wait in large crowds outside. - Personal ill-treatment faced by respectable native gentlemen from European passengers. - Degrading treatment toward second-class passengers remains prevalent. - Native ladies unable to use railways, which threatens familial honor. - Transition to railway travel undermines traditional safe transit for women without offering safe alternatives. #### Document 2: Shen Baozhen's Memorandum to Qing Court (1867) - **Context:** Focus on infrastructure development in China. - **Key Points:** - Proposes telecommunications and railways as beneficial for future generations. - Cautions against foreign influences in constructing telegraphs and railroads. - Emphasizes the protection of arable land, homes, and graves; approval is conditional on safeguarding these areas. #### Document 3: Ottoman Report on Railway from Damascus to Mecca (1893) - **Concerns:** - Risk associated with British-controlled Suez Canal impacting Muslim pilgrims. - Current pilgrimage methods are arduous and unsafe (primarily via camel). - A railway is considered essential for connecting holy cities and reinforcing caliphate power. - Advocates for Muslim participation in financing and construction; calls for personal involvement of the sultan. #### Document 4: Cecil Rhodes and the Cape to Cairo Railway (1899) - Illustration demonstrates ambition to connect Africa via rail. #### Document 5: Henry Norman on the Trans-Siberian Railroad (1901) - **Overview:** - Describes the significance and strategic importance of the Trans-Siberian Railroad for Russian interests in the Far East. - Military transport capacity is limited but anticipated growth in usage is noted. - Warns other powers (i.e., England) of Russia's expanding influence. #### Document 6: Ernest Roume on French West Africa (1904) - **Vision:** - Aspires for modernization and civilization in Africa through transportation development. - Railroads viewed as crucial for economic activity and breaking the cycle of poverty. - Posits that material and moral progress is unattainable without rail infrastructure. #### Document 7: Lieutenant-Colonel R. Gardiner on Indian Railways (1913) - **Impact of Railways on Society:** - Discusses societal changes due to increased movement and interaction among diverse nationalities within India. - Observes the growth of a unified national sentiment, which could enhance loyalty to the empire.