
Journey of Communication Technology - Telegraph & Telephone Era (1800s–1900s) – The Dawn of Electronic Communication
This era marked the shift from physical to electrical communication, allowing people to transmit information across continents in seconds—a true revolution for diplomacy, warfare, journalism, and global trade.
π 3.1 The Electric Telegraph (1830s–1850s)
Inventor: Samuel Morse & Alfred Vail (1837)
Technology: Electrical signals sent over wires using Morse code (dots & dashes)
First Message (1844): “What hath God wrought” – sent from Washington to Baltimore
Impact:
Real-time communication for the first time
Critical in railways, the military, and newspapers
π 3.2 Transcontinental & Submarine Telegraphs
Transcontinental US line (1861): Connected the East and West coasts
First Transatlantic cable (1866): Between the UK and the USA
Indian Telegraph (1850s): The British built it for administration and control
Impact in India: Helped govern and unify colonial administration; used during the 1857 revolt
☎️ 3.3 Invention of the Telephone (1876)
Inventor: Alexander Graham Bell (patented in 1876)
How it worked: Converted voice into electrical signals over a wire
First voice call: Bell to Watson, “Mr. Watson, come here. I want to see you.”
Early devices: Wall-mounted, connected by manual switchboards
π 3.4 Telephone Exchanges & Public Networks
Telephone Exchanges: Set up in major cities worldwide by the 1880s–90s
Manual operators connected calls via plugs and cords
In India, the First telephone line (1882) in Kolkata was used for business, governance, and elite society
π° 3.5 Impact on Society
Area |
Telegraph
Impact |
Telephone
Impact |
Business |
Real-time
pricing, stock markets |
Faster
client communication |
Media |
News
wires (Reuters, AP) |
Live
interviews, faster reporting |
Government |
Crisis
communication, war alerts |
Public
service coordination |
Personal
Life |
Letters
replaced by telegrams |
Families connected across cities |
π¬ India-Specific Highlights
Year |
Milestone |
1851 |
First
telegraph line (Calcutta–Diamond Harbor) |
1857 |
Telegraph
used to suppress the Sepoy Mutiny |
1882 |
First
telephone exchange in India (Calcutta) |
1902 |
Wireless
telegraphy was tested between Sagar Island and Kolkata |
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