Role of media in freedom struggle
Answers
THE LONG ANSWER:
The Indian print media (newspapers, journals and books) started after the 1860s played a very powerful role in educating, convincing and mobilizing people in terms of spreading the nationalist and patriotic ideas. In fact, all the founding members of the Congress in 1885 were either journalist or layers. Contrary to what we find today, journalism in those days was more of a mission rather than profession and the journalist those days milked this opportunity to the full to not only create opposition and hatred against the British rule but also a strong determination to liberate India from the foreign rule.
Extremely popular and powerful newspapers arose after the 1960s which served as public fora for propagating the nationalist political agenda e.g. The Tribune (1878), Sudharak, Kesari, Mahrata, Navjeevan, Akbar-i-Aam, The Hindu, Swadesh Mitran etc. They were edited by prominent nationalist leaders like BG Tilak, GK Gokhale, GG Agrakar, Mahantma Gandhi and many others. In fact, there was hardly any prominent leader who did not edit or write for a newspaper those days. Tilak's name is most commonly mentioned in the context of the role of the Press as he went to jail twice in this connection. He made full capital out of this opportunity and used the newspaper columns to mobilize the people against the oppressive foreign rule. His newspapers Kesari, Mahratta,angered the British and they accused him of spreading hatred against the British government and charged him with sedition.A little known fact is that among the prominent newspapers of those years, only the Times of India was pro-British (yes, today's Times of India, which was then owned by Bennett, Coleman & Co.) and did not publish the news of Mahatma Gandhi's assassination even ! The British also created a new Vernacular Press Act, which was meant to suppress the Indian languages newspapers but some Indian journalists were even smarter. In fact, one of the newspapers went English overnight to evade action under the law as it was applicable to vernacular language papers only !
Small, informal library movements sprang up in every part of India, wherein the villagers would gather around a cot to read and discuss the day's paper. In fact, it became a medium of nationalist political participation for those who could not play a more active and vocal role in the movement. These library movements did a lot to propagate the modern ideas of democracy, freedom, equality and patriotism. More importantly, it played a great role in welding India into a single nation and gave the Indians a sense of oneness and a new national identity, which was non-existent before. This new-found identity played a pivotal role in mobilizing the people's hidden energies into the constructive direction of working for India's freedom.
THE SHORT ANSWER:
Media, especially the Print Media, has all along been the backbone of all mass movements or popular upsurge, and Indian independence struggle is no exception. ... In fact,many of the tallest leaders of the Freedom movement themselves turned journalists too, and used the press to propagate their ideas to the masses.
HOPE IT HELPS,
THANX
FOLLOW ME
Answer:
Media played a significant role in gathering people together to fight for the freedom struggle in India. The newspapers and journals in the 1800s played a part in educating, influencing and gathering people in spreading the patriotic and nationalist ideas. The Indian print focused on political propaganda and education, training, and strengthening of public opinion.