Model Question and Answers for APSC | In many ways, Lord Dalhousie was the founder of modern India. Elaborate.

Ans: The accession of Lord Dalhousieinaugurated a new chapter in the history of British India. He functioned as the Governor-General of India from 1848-1856. He introduced a number of reforms which paved the way for the modernisation of India and also earned the title, “Maker of Modern India”.

Lord Dalhousie as the founder of modern India:

• Administrative Reforms: Dalhousie’s chief aim was the consolidation of British rule in So he adopted the principle of centralization. He handed over all other powers relating to justice, police, and land revenue to the District Magistrates.
• Military Reforms: After the conquest of Punjab, Sindh and Avadh, the frontiers of the company were extended and the military interest of India was transferred to the North. Thus Dalhousie shifted the headquarters of the Bengal Artillery from Calcutta to Meerut.
• Railway Reforms: Dalhousie introduced a new system of internal communication in India. He was the father of Indian Dalhousies’ famous Railway Minute of 1853 convinced the home authorities of the need for the railways and laid down the main lines of their development.

• The Electric Telegraph: In 1852 Dalhousie introduced the Electric Telegraph System in People could send messages from one place to another place very easily through this telegraph system.
• Postal Reforms: The credit for establishing the Postal Department also goes to Lord Dalhousie. In 1854 a new Post Office Act was passed. A postal Department was established for the whole country.
• Public Works Department: Before Lord Dalhousie, military boards were in charge of the construction of Public Works. Hence Civilian works were completely neglected by the military A separate Public Works Department was established by Lord Dalhousie.
• Educational Reforms: Lord Dalhousie introduced a number of reforms in the field of education. The wood’s dispatch laid the foundations of the modern education It recommended Anglo Vernacular Schools throughout the districts, Government Colleges in important towns and a University in each of the three Presidencies in India.

Lord Dalhousie had introduced several reforms touching all most every department. Most of the reforms of Dalhousie took India on the path of modernization.