Explain how print culture assisted the growth of Nationalism in India.
OR
Summarize the main theme of the novel 'Godan.' written by Premchand.
CBSE Class X Social Science LA (5 Marks)
Answers
(i) In the 19th century, huge quantity of national literature was created. Revolutionised minds of people inspired them to throw away the British yoke.
(ii) India Mirror, Bombay Samachar, The Hindu, Kesari-Indian newspapers exerted deep imprint on the minds of people.
(iii) Nationalist press reported on colonial misrule and encouraged nationalist activities. For example, when Punjab revolutionaries were deported in 1907, Balgangadhar Tilak wrote with great sympathy about them.
(iv) Gandhiji spread his ideas of Swadeshi in a powerful way through newspaper. Many Vernacular newspapers came up in India to spread nationalism.
British attempt to check them :
(i) In the 1820s, the Calcutta Supreme Court passed regulations to control freedom of press.
(ii) Vernacular Press Act provided government with extensive rights to censor reports and editorials in the Vernacular press.
OR
The novel Godan by Premchand was published in 1936. It has been revered as one of the greatest Hindi novels of the Indian literature. The main theme of Godan was based on Indian peasantry.
The theme includes :
(i) socio-economic deprivation.
(ii) exploitation of rural people.
(iii) caste segregation.
(iv) varied concept of dharma as held by different people.
(v) impact of industrialization on the various sections of Indian community.
(vi) condition of women in society, child marriage and dowry.
Godan is an epic of Indian peasant Hari and his wife Dhania who were cheated by the landlords, moneylenders, priests and colonial bureaucrates. They formed a network of oppression, robbed their land and converted them to landless labourers. At the end, the couple died with dignity.
(i) By the end of 19th century a large number of newspapers in Indian vernacular languages were published.
(ii) These newspapers published articles written by national leaders. Their ideas were communicated to people through these newspapers.
(iii) The people of different communities and places were thus connected by print media. Newspapers conveyed news from one place to another creating pan-Indian identities.
(iv) The nationalist newspapers exposed the colonial misrule and encouraged nationalist activities. As these were written in spoken languages of various regions common man could easily understand the content.
(v) When Punjab revolutionaries were deported in 1907, Balagangadhar Tilak wrote articles sympathising with them. He was arrested which provoked protest among masses.
Thus it is clear, print culture assisted the growth of nationalism in India.