Unit 14 Advent of The Print India UNIT 14 : ADVENT OF THE PRINT MEDIA UNIT STRUCTURE 14.1 Learning Objectives 14.2 Introduction 14.3 Introduction of the Press • Growth of English and Vernacular Newspapers • Impact on Society: Religion and Education 14.4 Struggle between Press and Government 14.5. Contribution of the Missionaries 14.6 Let Us Sum Up 14.7 Further Readings 14.8 Answer to Check Your Progress 14.9 Model Question 14.1 LEARNING OBECTIVES After going through the unit, you will be able to : 1. explain the growth of print and press during the British colonial period, 2. explain the impact of the press on the society, 3. discuss about the conflict between the press and the Government, and 4. discuss the role of Christian Missionaries in the development of Press in India. 14.2 INTRODUCTION In the previous Unit, mw discussed the reform Movement and impact on women. In this unit, me will discuss about the advent of press and its impact. Printing Press in India dates back to the Sixteenth Century. As we know that Johannes Gutenberg invented the printing press around 1440. Moreover, the art of printing was first entered in Goa, a small island of India 160 History Advent of The Print India Unit 14 on 6th September 1556 when Joao de Bwta Mante, a Spaniard came in India. The Printing press that was arrived in Goa was used to help missionary work in Abyssinia. However, Printing press started in Goa on 1556 resulting in the publication of Conclusiones Philosohicas. It is also found that the Compendio Spiritual Da Vide Christaa (Spiritual Compendium of Christian Life) of Gaspar Jorge de Leao Pereira who was the Portuguese Archbishop of Goa is the earliest surviving printed book in India. Joao Quinquencio printed it in 1561. However, the first book printed in India was ‘Doctrina Christa’ in 1578. Similarly, the missionary also started a printing press in Ventry in 1579. The British East India Company also installed a printing press in Bombay in 1674. Thus, the printing press gradually established in the different place of India. It is found that in 1835, Indians were also permitted to establish printing press. Later on, many newspapers both in English and vernacular languages began to publish in India. Therefore, this unit highlights the development of the Newspapers in India during the British period. 14.3 GROWTH OF ENGLISH AND VERNACULAR NEWSPAPERS James Augustus Hicky launched ‘The Bengal Gazette’ or ‘ Calcutta General Advertiser’ on January 29, 1780 which was the first news paper in India. It was popularly known as ‘Hickey’s Gazette.’ However, the first issue of Hicky’s Gazette had two pages and later on. It was increased to four pages. However, it was seized in 1782 because of its outspoken criticism of the Government. Later on, more newspapers came to publish in India. After Hicky’s the Bengal Gazette ,several newspapers such as The Calcutta Gazette (1784), The Bengal Journal (1785), The Calcutta Chronicle (1786), The Madras Courier (1788) , The Bombay Herald (1789), The Bombay Courier (1790), The Bombay Gazette (1791) etc. were published in India. Later on, many English newspapers came to publish in India. It is interesting to note here that in 1789, the first newspaper from Bombay , ‘The Bombay Herald’ was published , followed by ‘The Bombay Courier’ History 161 Unit 14 Advent of The Print India next year . This newspaper merged with ‘The Times of India’ in 1861. The first issue of ‘The Times of India’ was published by Robert Knight in 1861. These newspapers aimed to cater to the intellectual entertainment of the Europeans and Anglo-Indians. Meanwhile, the Company’s officers were worried that these newspapers might reach London and expose their misdeeds. In Bombay and Madras, newspapers did not seem to have come into conflict with the Government in the early period. In the absence of press laws, the newspapers were at the mercy of the Company’s officials. LET US KNOW James Augustus Hicky was born in Ireland on 29 January 1740. He launched the first printed newspaper of India, The Bengal Gazette in 1780. He came to conflict with the then Governor General, Warren Hastings. In 1881, the Supreme Court found him guilty and sentenced him to Jail. But James Hicky continued to publish ‘The Bengal Gazette’ from Jail. However, this newspaper was seized on 1782. James Hicky died in 1802. We look at the growth of the vernacular newspapers during the British period. National awakening was the main motive of vernacular newspapers in India . The first vernacular newspaper in an Indian language was the Samachar Darpan in Bengali. It was published by Serampore Mission Press on May 23, 1818. Similarly, ‘The Bombay Samachar’, now Mumbai Samachar is the oldest continuously published newspaper in India . It was published in July, 1822 in Gujarati by Fardunjee Marzban. Meanwhile, many Kannada language newspapers were also published in India during the British period. Some of the famous Kannada language newspapers included Hosa-digantha, Kannada Prabha, Sanjevani and more. At the time of Great Revolt of 1857, many numbers of vernacular newspapers were in operation in India. Many of these like Bangadoot of Ram Mohan Roy, Rastgoftar of Dadabhai Naoroji, Samachar Sudhavarashan , Sultan-ul-Akhar etc were the most important vernacular 162 History Advent of The Print India Unit 14 newspapers in India. Similarly, ‘Amrita Bazar Patrika’ was one of the oldest daily vernacular newspapers in India. It was originally published on February 20, 1868 in Bengali script. Later on, it started to publish in English format. The founder of ‘Amrita Bazar Patrika’ was Sisir Kumar Ghose and Moti Lal Ghose. Meanwhile, Kesari, a Marathi weekly was published by B.G. Tilak CONCEPTUAL from January 1, 1881. In fact, B.G. Tilak along with Agarkar and Chiplunkar MEANING Vernacular means began to publish another weekly newspaper, ‘Maratha’ in English. Lala a language that a Rajpat Rai also published the journals like the Punjabi, ‘Bande Mataram’ particular group of and ‘The People’ from Lahore. M.K. Gandhi started to publish the famous speakers use journals like Young India, Navjeevan, Harijan , Harijan Sevak and Harijan naturally in informal Bandhu. It is necessary to mention here that ‘Yugantar’ started by Barindra situations. Kumar Ghose was the famous vernacular newspaper which played an important role in the Revolutionary Movement against the British Government. It is interesting to note that the British colonial government saw the emergence of the vernacular newspapers as a threat to their supremacy in India. 14.4 IMPACT ON SOCIETY : EDUCATION AND RELIGION The impact of the press made its deep impact on Indian society during the British period. The beginning of print and press helped in the development of education in India during the British period. The printing press made it easy for Indian people to spread ideas through book and newspapers. It is interesting to note that by the second decade of 1800, noteworthy work was done in the development of education in India by Calcutta Book Society by reprinting science text books which printed in Europe. The Baptist Missionary played an important role in this field. By 1820, they claimed to have printed approximately 710,000 school books in various vernacular languages. During the British period, several printing and publishing houses like Vidyarambham Press and Book Depot in Alleppey (1931), Prasad Printing & Process in Madras (1935) were established in India. These publishing houses mainly involved in the printing of text books, History 163 Unit 14 Advent of The Print India news bulletins and other books which helped in the development of modern education system in India. Meanwhile, the printing press started emphasizing the importance of women education. In the early 19th century, many women writers like Kailashbashini Debi, Tarabai Shinde and Pandita Ramabai wrote books highlighting the real condition of woman in Indian society and inspired them to take education. Further, a large section woman devoted to education which became possible only due to beginning of the printing press. The printing press made its impact on religion during the British colonial period. The Missionaries started the printing press in India to spread Christianity to new converts. They played an important role in promoting literature in vernacular language in India. They established many printing presses in India. The Christian Missionaries translated many Sanskrit religious texts into English language. Meanwhile, among Hindus, printing press encouraged the readings of religious texts , particularly in vernacular language. It is necessary to mention here that the first printed edition of the Ramcharitmanas of Tulsidas published in 1810 from Kolkata. Due to beginning of the printing press, religious texts started reaching a very wide circle of common people , encouraging debates within and among different religions of India. M.G. Ranade who was one of the leading socio-religious reformer of India, started to write in Gyan Prakash and Indu Prakash. Interestingly, both of journals tried to awaken the consciousness of lower caste people. Moreover, Raja Rammohan Roy’s “Sambad Kaumudi” helped in the development of progressive mindset against the conservative religious people. Later on, Gandhi also propagated his views against untouchability by his weekly journal, ‘Harijan’. Thus , the printing press made it deep impact upon Indian society. ACTIVITY Make a list of Vernacular Newspapers in the British India ……………………………......………………………… ……………………………......…………………………