Question

Describe the history of print revolution in india?

Answer 1

India had a very rich and old tradition of handwritten manuscripts in sanskrit, arabic, persian and other vernacular languages.Manuscripts were printed on handmade paper or palm leaves. To ensure preservation they were sewn together or pressed between the wooden covers. In the mid 16th century, the first printing press came to Goa with the Portuguese missionaries. By 1674, about 50 books were printed in konkani language. In 1579, first tamil book  was printed and in 1713, first malayalam book was printed.The english language press did not grow in India till quite late. A number of newspapers and journals aapeared in prints by the close of 18th century.Weekly Bengal Gazette was the first to appear.

Answer 2

The printing press first came to Goa with the Portuguese missionaries in the mid 16th century.

Books were printed in Konkani and Kanara languages.

Catholic priests printed the first Tamil book, in 1579 at Cochin.

By 1710, Dutch protestant missionaries had printed 32 Tamil texts, many of them were translations of older works.

By 1780, James Augustus Hickey began to edit the Bengal Gazette, a weekly magazine.

By the close of 18th century, a number of newspapers were published by Indians too. The first to appear was the weekly ‘Bengal Gazette’ brought out by Gangadhar Bhattacharya, who was close to Rammohan Roy.