I was reminded of the expression ‘steel frame of empire’ when I found this image on the internet. The term was used for the Indian Civil Service (ICS) under the Raj but it seems quite appropriate in this case.
As you can see, this is a picture of the Yamuna Bridge which was constructed by a company called Patent Shaft and Axletree in Wednesbury, England. Yes, this is indeed the same ‘Lohe ka Pul’ (‘iron bridge’ as it is colloquially referred to in Delhi) from 1911. The bridge was originally built under the auspices of the East Indian Railway company between 1863-6. This picture from 1911 is the creation of a larger structure – as I understand- a double track bridge which was erected at Wednesbury and then shipped to Delhi. It therefore links the fortunes of a working-class industrial town from the Midlands in England with Delhi. It also reveals how support infrastructure such as bridges weren’t being built in India but instead, imported from Britain at a high cost to Indians.
With the decline of manufacturing in Britain, Patent Shaft and Axletree closed its operations in the 1970s. Interestingly, a ‘new’ Yamuna bridge is being erected parallel to the old ‘Lohe Ka Pul’ by Indian authorities.
I’m planning to write about dogs and policing in colonial Delhi next Friday, see you then.
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