Question

How Print media established in 19th century in India? (300 words)

Answer 1

Indian Print Media Industry-
Historical Perspective

1. The evolution of Newspapers in India is with the introduction of ‘Bengal Gazette’ started
by James Augustus Hicky in 1780 from Calcutta as a weekly two sheet paper. This
Newspaper paved the way for Indian freedom struggle and the fight against the social
evils in India by the way of revolutionary and enlightening writings.

2. Very soon other Newspapers such as Calcutta Chronicle, Madras Courier, and Bombay Herald, Bombay Courier, Bombay Gazette entered into the scene and the Newspapers in Hindi and other regional languages also started flourishing in the various parts of the nation. Bengal was the birth place of Journalism in India and the language press.

3. ‘Samachar Darpan’ was the first Indian language Newspaper which was a Bengali
weekly newspaper introduced in 1818 and the first periodical of India in Indian language
was ‘Dig Darshan’ in Bangla language started in the same year. ‘Eenadu’ was a Telugu
daily which was started by Ramoji Rao, first Gujarati Newspaper was ‘Bombay
Samachar’ which still exists and is considered as the oldest living Indian Newspaper of
India.

4. The prime motives to start the Newspapers in Indian languages were to promote the
feeling of patriotism and to encourage social reforms also because the society was
occupied with lots of prejudices, orthodoxies and social evils like sati pratha, child
marriage, caste discrimination, idol worship, animal sacrifice and other narrow beliefs.
Raja Rammohan Roy, who is considered as the founder of revolutionary Indian Press,
recognized the power of Newspapers and used it as a vehicle for propagating his liberal
ideas and eradicating the social evils prevailing in the Indian society. He introduced

5. ‘Sambad Kaumudi’ in Bengali in 1821 and published the articles promoting women
education, social betterment and awakening and development of scientific outlook. His
other publications include ‘Mirat-ul-Akhbar’ in Persian and ‘Brahmanical Magazine’ in
English. Aggarwal, V.B. and Gupta, V.S. (2002) Pp.92-97

6. At that time, education system entered in the country through British contacts and many
societies and missions like Brahma Samaj, Ramkrishna Mission, AryaSamaj, and
Theosophical Society came into the scenario with the feeling of social development and
nationalism. The era of Hindi Journalism started in 1826 with ‘UddantaMartanda’ from
Kolkata, then Bangdoot, Banaras Akhbaar, Gyandeepak, MalwaAkhbaar, Gwalior
Gazette, Payam-e-Azadi, SamacharSudhaVarshan, Lokhit, Marwaad Gazette, Jodhpur
Government Gazette etc. were introduced with the mission of independence, self-rule and
social reforms. Bhanawat, S. (2005). Pp.54-58
1860’s witnessed a boom in the Indian Language Press in the country. Several
Newspapers made their appearance in this period. Also many English Newspapers which
evolved at that time are flourishing even today like The Times of India (1861), The
Pioneer (1861), The Statesman (1875) and The Hindu (1878).

7. Number of acts and restrictions like The Vernacular Press Act, Gagging Act etc tried to
overrule the power of Print Media in India but the then social reformers and freedom
fighters like Mahatma Gandhi, Bal Gangadhar Tilak, Aurbindo Ghosh, Annie Beasant,
Surendra Nath Banerjee, Lala Lajpat Rai, Ganesh Shankar Vidyarthi and many others
recognized the power of pen and used it as a tool for propagating the feeling of
nationalism and brotherhood. They also used their Newspapers to remove the socio-
religious evils of the society. Thus, the history of Journalism in India is inseparably
linked with the development of social awareness, national consciousness and the progress of freedom movement.

8. Also the Newspapers like Kesari, Pratap, Maratha, Yugantar, Sudarshan, Samalochak,
Maryada, Swadesh, Abhyudaya, Karmaveer, Karmyogi, Gadar etc. brought revolution in
the Hindi Journalism of India.

9. Mahatma Gandhi, who was considered as the greatest Journalist of his times used his
Newspapers- Indian Opinion, Young India, Navjivan, Satyagrah and Harijan, to expose the flaws of the society and to stimulate social awakening. He advocated that a
Newspaper is a powerful tool in bringing positive changes in the society but at the same time, he feared that this power can be misused for commercial interests as many
publications started looking for the revenue attached to the advertisements. That is why,
he once said that a Newspaper is a great power but just as an unchained torrent of water brings devastations, similarly an uncontrolled pen can also fetch destruction for the entire humanity. Thus, he suggested that the sole aim of Journalism should be service to the people. Aggarwal, V.B. and Gupta, V.S. (2002).

10. Even the first Prime Minister of India, Jawaharlal Nehru, called the Newspapers a tool of national reconstruction and social reformation. He supported the liberty of Press and considered it as a vital part of democracy.