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Jawaharlal Nehru’s predominant role in modernising India’s rail network was highlighted by the National Rail Museum to mark Children’s Day.
Today Indian Railways serve as the lifeline of India, unifying diverse parts of the nation into one whole. Over the years, it has contributed immensely to the development of the country. Although the British laid railway lines to build a network that suited their imperialist goals in India, it helped to unify the country against the Raj and eventually attain freedom from the British yoke.
Today Indian Railways is the largest system under a single management and carries about 11 million people everyday. The planned development of the railways could not have been possible without the leadership and guidance provided by India’s first Prime Minister Jawaharlal Nehru. He integrated the disparate wings of the railways in the country-state-owned railways, centre-owned railways and so on-into a new integrated railway system after Independence. It was due to Nehru that manufacturing units were set up such as the Chittaranjan Integral Coach Factory, Diesel Locomotive Works and the Integral Coach Factory at Madras. Nehru also set up an association for reorganising Indian Railways into nine zones. He restored the disturbed link between Assam and the rest of India by planning a bridge across the Brahmaputra. All this was done in a record time-between 1947 to 1953.
Nehru also envisaged the idea of setting up a rail transport museum while inaugurating the Railway Centenary exhibition. The museum was set up in 1977.
As a repository for the rich heritage of the Indian Railways spanning around 150 years, it was but natural that National Rail Museum celebrated the day in a special way. And it did give a befitting tribute to the ‘architect of modern railways in India’ on his 112th birth anniversary by organising Bal Divas on its premises. As Nehru loved children, the whole idea was to perceive the role of the railways in building a modern India through the eyes of children. Painting competitions and poster contests were organised for school children. They were invited to draw on subjects such as ‘romance of the railways’ or ‘railways and community’. They could also make posters, with peace and harmony as the topic.
A photo exhibition on ‘Nehru and the Railways’ was inaugurated by Meena Malhotra, president, Railways Women Welfare Central Organisation that continued till November 18, 2001. It threw light on Nehru’s keen interest in the railways as a mode of transport. A brochure on Jawaharlal Nehru and the Indian Railways was also produced by NRM. Nehru Memorial Museum and Library helped in a big way to set up the photo exhibition and bring out the brochure.
There was a lot more for the children. A book stall was inaugurated for them with active cooperation from the National Book Trust. They also enjoyed a puppet show.
The Railways Women Welfare Organisation sponsored the prizes for the painting competition while the Lions Club sponsored the peace poster contest.
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