April 17, 2025

Temple Tracks: Labour, Piety and Railway Construction in Asia (Berghahn Books, 2023) by Professor Vineeta Sinha (NUS Sociology and Anthropology) is a historical and ethnographic study that focuses on the interlinked narratives of railway construction, Indian labour migration, and religious development in the regions once known as Malaya.

The first chapter, ‘Retelling Railway Histories Centring Labour’, examines the transformative impact of railways on society and labour, particularly within the context of colonial and industrial change. It highlights the close relationship between railway development, the Industrial Revolution, and European colonial expansion from the nineteenth century, all of which played a crucial role in shaping travel, commerce, and labour dynamics on a global scale.

Prof Sinha critiques existing scholarship for prioritising macro-historical events while neglecting grassroots perspectives, particularly the voices of those who endured arduous working conditions. She emphasises the harsh realities faced by railway labourers in colonial Malaya, where they were frequently underpaid and subjected to stringent regulations. She contends that traditional railway histories often marginalise the contributions and experiences of labourers, arguing that their role is vital to understanding the social and economic history of the regions involved. By focusing on the labourers who built and maintained the railways, Prof Sinha positions them as central figures in railway narratives, rather than as peripheral actors in broader historical accounts.

Prof Sinha further explores the socio-cultural dimensions of railway construction, including its role in shaping religious landscapes and community interactions. She argues that the everyday lives of railway labourers were not solely defined by their economic contributions but also by their active participation in the formation of social and religious infrastructures within their communities.

Overall, the first chapter of Temple Tracks makes a compelling case for re-examining railway histories through the lens of labour, acknowledging the significant – and often overlooked – role of workers in the construction of railways and their enduring impact on urban Malaysia and Singapore today.

Read ‘Retelling Railway Histories Centring Labour’ here. Prof Sinha will be discussing Temple Tracks on Friday 25 April, 2025. Register either in-person or on Zoom for this SRN event here.