Hostname: page-component-84b7d79bbc-2l2gl Total loading time: 0 Render date: 2024-07-27T17:21:21.525Z Has data issue: false hasContentIssue false
  • English
  • Français

Politics and Railroads in Burma and India

Published online by Cambridge University Press:  24 August 2009

Josef Silverstein
Get access

Extract

The impact of the political unification of Burma and India on the lives of the people living in these two countries has been little studied. Despite the extensive and varied literature available on Burma and on India, for the most; part scholars who have written about either or both of these countries look upon the annexation of Burma to India as an unavoidable accident of history which had relatively little effect on India and only slightly more on Burma. For the Burma historians, the most important aspect of unification was the political changes which occurred under alien rule. Specifically, the political progress toward self-rule in Burma prior to separation is interpreted by them as a by-product of Indian advances. They call attention to the effects of unlimited Indian migration upon the local economy and the rising nationalist movement. The historians who are oriented towards economic and social organization give attention to the role of the immigrant Indians as labourers and money lenders and note their effect upon the changing characteristic of Burma's economy. They also make reference to the different religious and social ideas which were held by Burmese and Indians and the racial conflicts which erupted. While these are significant results of unification, it is not the whole story. There were many less obvious and dramatic effects upon Burmese life, which, when more fully explored and understood may recast the present interpretation of the whole period.

Type
Research Article
Information
Journal of Southeast Asian History , Volume 5 , Issue 1 , March 1964 , pp. 17 - 28
Copyright
Copyright © The National University of Singapore 1964

Access options

Get access to the full version of this content by using one of the access options below. (Log in options will check for institutional or personal access. Content may require purchase if you do not have access.)

References

* An amended version of a paper read at the Ninth Annual Burma Historical Research Conference on 7 Dec. 1961 with Professor Aye Hlaing in the Chair. The talk itself was published in JBRS, Vol. XLV, June 1962, and the revised version has been published here by permission of the Research Society. For a previous study of the Burma railway see, JSEAH Vol 3, No. 2. “British Plans for a Burma Railroad,” by R. C. Croizier.

1. For detailed discussion of British railway policy see, Prasad, A., Indian Railways: A Study in Public Utility Administration. (New York, Asiá Publishing House, 1960)Google Scholar; Thorner, D., Investment in Empire; British Railway and Steam Shipping Enterprise in India, 1825–1849. (Philadelphia, University of Pennsylvania Press, 1950)Google Scholar; Jenks, L., The Migration of British Capital to Development of India. ( London, Longmans, Green and Co., 3rd Edition, 1942).Google Scholar

2. Scott, J. G., Burma: A Handbook of Practical Information. (London, A. Moring, Ltd., 1911) pp. 303–307.Google ScholarKhaing, U Sett, “Railways Anniversary. (Rangoon, 1951) pp. 23–37.Google Scholar

3. Government of India, Report on the Administration of Burma During 1896–97. (Rangoon, 1897) p. 66.

4. Khaing, U Sett, op. cit., p. 23.Google Scholar

5. See for example, Rangoon Gazette Weekly Budget, April 20, 1895, p. 3.

6. Rangoon Gazette Weekly Budget. August 21, 1896, p. 3.

7. Ibid., July 10, 1896, p. 13.

8. Ibid., July 31, 1896, p. 6.

9. Ibid., August 14, 1896, p. 6.

10. Ibid., August 21, 1896, p. 3.

11. Great Britain, Parliamentary Debates, 4th Series, 60 Victorie, XLIII, (1896) p. 1254.

12. Rangoon Gazette Weekly Budget, January 14, 1929, p. 15.

13. Iyer, K. V., Indian Railways. (London, Oxford University Press, 1924), p. 36.Google Scholar In particular, the Government constructed new railway lines between Alon-Saingbyin, Pyinmana-Taungdwingy and Moulmein-Ye, a total of 182 miles.

14. Great Britain, East India (Railway Committee 1920–21) “Report of the Committee Appointed by the Secretary of State for India to Enquire into the Administration and Working of Indian Railways.” (Cmd. 1512) Hereafter cited as the Acworth Report.

15. Acworth Report, p. 2.

16. Ibid., p. 1. In addition to Sir William Acworth, the Committee consisted of H. P. Burt, former President of Indian Railway; Board and at the time Chairman of an Indian Railway; Rajindra Noth Mookerjee, Calcutta; Arthur R. Anderson, President of Indian Railway Board; George C. Godrey, Honorable Mr. V. S. Srinivasa Sastri, Member of Council of State, Mr. E. H. Hiley; Burma by railroad; also see Ibid., IV, 1, 1921, pp. 441–442. for a discussion of a proposed railway between Akyab, Burma to Chittagong, India. Hereafter cited as LAD.

17. Ibid., p. 20.

18. Ibid., p. 67.

19. Ibid., 98.

20. See for example, Government of India, Legislative Assembly Debates (Official Report) II, 2, 1922, p. 2172 for a brief discussion about linking India and Sir Henry Ladyard; Mr. Purshotfadas Thakurdas, Member of Legislative Council; Mr. James Tuke, Director, Barclay's Bank Ltd.

21. LAD, III, 4, 1923, pp. 2861–2903.Google Scholar

22. LAD, III, 4, 1923, p. 2861.Google Scholar

23. LAD, III, 4, 1923, pp. 2866–2869.Google Scholar

24. LAD, III, 4, 1923, pp. 2869–2871Google Scholar

25. LAD, III, 4, 1923, pp. 2873–2881.Google Scholar

26. LAD, III, 4, 1923, pp. 2902–2903.Google Scholar

27. The Times (London) March 1, 1923, p. 11.

28. Rangoon Gazette Daily Budget, December 24, 1923, p. 11.

29. “Letter to the Editor,” Rangoon, Gazette Daily Budget, 01 21, 1929, p. 8.Google Scholar

30. Knappen Tippetts Abbett Engineering C., Pierce Management, Inc., Robert Nathan Assoc., Prelimary Report on Economic and Engineering Survey of Burma (Rangoon 1952) p. 167.

31. Ibid., p. 108.

32. Andrus, J. R., Burmese Economic Life (Stanford, Stanford University Press, 1953) p. 240.Google Scholar

33. Ministry of Information, Burma Weekly Bulletin. (New Scries) III, 2–3 (April 21, 1954) p. 14.