Eportfolio by Ryan Wilson

One of the core elements covered when studying the history of India is the disunity between the numerous different populations within the subcontinent. This disunity has both fueled and fragmented kingdoms and dynasties over the course of time, but despite the fact that kingdoms have come and gone, they all shared something in common: their people needed the ability to move themselves, armies, as well as goods and services throughout their territory. The emphasis placed on transportation is evident in civilizations dating back to the Harrappans and the street networks they developed. In modern India, transportation has become a distinctive piece of the Indian culture as well as the Indian way of life. The methods by which Indians move from place to place then is another revealing topic in the search for answers when faced with the question of what it means to be Indian.

Transportation is an important key in supporting the economy of any country or territory. In order for economies to prosper, the goods and services of the people must have a means of reaching as many other people as possible. In order to do this, networks of railroads have been constructed that crisscross the subcontinent that was once home to the Silk Road. The first operational rail line was only 21 miles long and was completed in April of 1853 (Railways, 1). From then on, the expansion of the rail way system exploded and new track was added in hundred mile sections through the late 1800’s. The current system that is owned by Indian Railways operates about 11,000 trains per day and 7000 of those trains are passenger trains (Railways, 1). While the numbers are impressive, conditions aboard an average Indian rail car are much different than what would be experienced in the United States or in Europe. The cars are packed very full, and are often over loaded by the goods people bring with them. Additionally, portions of the rail network are very old and some are in disrepair. Despite crowded and unsafe conditions, thirteen million passengers ride with Indian Railways to travel to where they need to go on a daily basis. As the Indian economy has grown over the years, new goals are being drawn up to provide a safer, broader, and more accessible rail system to India. The goals of Indian Railways reflect the drawbacks that many railroads face today. They aim to strengthen infrastructure to handle more freight as well as mail, and express trains capable of travelling at speeds of one hundred kilometers per hour or higher. In addition, the Railway Act gives power to the Railway Protection Force to be able to create units composed of women whose job it is to assist female passengers and make them more comfortable while on the trains (Railways, 1).

Waterways also provide a key route in the transportation of people and goods. The use of ships and smaller boats for transporting goods on India’s inland waterways has been a common practice for hundreds of years. However, the Inland Waterways Authority of India was established in October of 1986 to help regulate and develop the rivers of the subcontinent in order to support shipping and navigation (Waterways, 1). The use of waterways had a very prominent impact on fostering trade and commerce within India during the nineteenth century as well as the first half of the twentieth century. Once these connections were established, they enabled over 55 million tons of goods to be moved every year (Waterways, 1). Adding to that number are all the privately owned operations that rely on the inland waterways of India. Fishermen and locals often arrange markets on the rivers to give people the opportunity to bring smaller shares of crops or handmade goods for sale. The use of such inland waterways as means of transportation require constant development in order to maintain the current level of operation as well as increase in productivity. The majority of the development that needs to be done to maintain these waterways falls into one of these three categories: the construction of new navigational channels with a specified width and depth, the installation of navigation aids for safety, and the construction of terminals for the birthing of vessels to be loaded and unloaded, as well as the supporting infrastructure for each site (Waterways, 1). These river networks continue to be critical to the livelihood of millions across India.

The most critical aspect of transportation in India when thinking about what it means to be Indian is the operation of cars, trucks and motorcycles on India’s road network. When I think of India, the imagery of hugely congested population centers and crowded roadways immediately come to mind. It is also eerie to think that perhaps, the Hindu philosophy of “finding one’s own path” has profoundly manifested itself on the roadways of India today. From the personal accounts of Jason Torchinsky, a writer for the automotive blog Jalopnik, and a close personal friend who has traveled to India to work with school children, the comparison of the operation of Indian traffic law to “finding one’s own path” is not very far from the truth. Traffic laws that are commonly known to the western world are completely absent. There is no such thing as a correct side of the road and Indian motorists casually weave into oncoming traffic at speeds up to sixty miles per hour. On top of this, the term “High Occupancy Vehicle” is applicable to everything from busses, to trucks, to cars, and even motorcycles. It is not uncommon for trucks to carry extra passengers on the roof or for motorcycles to provide family transportation for up to three or four people. Torchinsky summarized his experience by writing “normal everyday traffic in Delhi looked like how American movies like to show the panicked exodus out of New York after a nuclear bomb or the monkeys get smart and find a truckload of guns or the machines finally turn against us” (Torchinsky, 1). Coupled with poorly maintained roadways, the traffic in India is the cause of approximately 135,000 deaths per year (Brown, Poirior, 1). As India takes steps towards modernization, new organizations are cropping up in the hopes that some of the dangers of the road system can be mitigated. One such organization called ArriveSAFE is trying to have the dangers of roads recognized as a national health problem. They focus themselves on trying to gain influence through the media, creating cost effective safety programs, the promotion of positive attitudes towards enforcement laws, and foster a sense of courtesy and concern among road users through the involvement of the community.

The various modes of transportation in India for the movement of people and goods across the subcontinent have grown and evolved along with the rest of India. However, the chaos on India’s roadways serves as evidence that not all aspects of Indian culture have begun to take on modern forms. The millions of vehicles crowding the streets manifest the idea of a fragmented existence and disconnect between the different people of India, and leaves on wondering if India will ever be able to organize the movement of its people.
 
Works Cited

Brown, Johnathan. Poirier, Sophie. “Driving In India” accessed November 13, 2014. http://www.internations.org/india-expats/guide/driving-in-india-15620

Indian Railways. “Evolution.” Accessed November 13,2014. http://www.indianrailways.gov.in/railwayboard/view_section.jsp?lang=0&id=0,1,261

Torchinsky, Jason. “A Guide to Driving in India without Dying.” Jalopnik, February 2013. http://jalopnik.com/a-guide-to-driving-in-india-without-dying-262254628

Water Resources Information System of India. “Inland Waterways.” accessed November 13, 2014. http://india-wris.nrsc.gov.in/wrpinfo/?title=Inland_Waterways