This unique display, curated by University of Exeter PhD student Shibani Das, reveals the fascinating and complex history of telecommunications in India from 1856 to 1947.

Using archival materials from across the UK and India, this exhibition brings to light the experiences of telegraph workers – from the racial hierarchies that determined career prospects to the devastating health impacts of operating early telegraph equipment, and the surprising stories of solidarity that emerged across cultural divides.

The exhibition features interactive elements including a video game recreating the laying of the first telegraph line from UK to Bombay in 1867, a multilingual audio guide and an original art installation designed by Das herself.