Media is the fourth pillar of democracy. India is one of the biggest democracies in the world and is ranked second in print media. News publications faced many issues and challenges during British rule. The press faced obstacles from colonial rule and illiteracy and had to overcome many rules that suppressed free speech.

The press became an important tool to raise awareness about the need to unify against the British and achieve independence. The press was a major advocate of modern ideas such as democracy, freedom, equality, and patriotism.

Evolution of the press

Though newspapers existed in 1556 in Goa, even before the colonial rule, the emergence of the free press was marked by the establishment of the newspaper The Bengal Gazette. It was founded by James Augustus Hickey in 1780. Back then, newspapers were printed to criticise the anti-Indian policies of the British government and highlight the misconduct of its officers. Many freedom fighters were behind the establishment of various newspapers.

Some of the prominent newspapers include:

• G. Subramaniya Aiyar founded The Hindu in 1878 and Swadesamitran in 1899
• Surendranath Banerjee, popularly known as the Father of Indian Nationalism, was the editor of the newspaper Bengalee in 1905
• The Grand Old Man of India, Dadabhai Naoroji, spoke against colonial rule in the Voice of India during the 1940s
• To overcome illiteracy in India, Bal Gangadhar Tilak founded Kesari in Marathi and Mahratta in English

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Contribution of Press

Indian media during the British colonial rule (1870 -1918) aimed to invoke nationalism among the people of the country. It not only discussed the political schemes of the government but also focused on fighting illiteracy, encouraging mass agitation and open active debates against the government.

Major contributions of the free press under the colonial rule include:

Addressing masses

The impact of newspapers was not restricted to cities and towns. They also reached remote villages where local libraries acted as hubs for open discussion and debates over editorial pages. The press, with its enormous reach, brought everyone together.

Spreading awareness

The publications took the initiative to point out unfair government legislation and policies. They functioned as government-opposing institutions. The colonial exploitation was brought to the public’s attention by the press. In its early days, the Indian National Congress relied primarily on the press to broadcast its decisions and proceedings.

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Governmental restrictions on press

The British government imposed a series of restrictions suppressing every print media that spoke against the administration. The press was forbidden to call out any evil action taken by the British government and were forced to praise the Crown and its allies in its newspapers.

Censorship of Press Act 1799

• Lord Wellesley issued the Censorship of Press Act of 1799 to stop the French from spreading rumours that might harm the image of the British administration among Indians
• The inclusion of the names of the printer, editor and publisher was made mandatory for every newspaper
• A censorship secretary had to be consulted before every publication was made public
• In 1807, the powers of the act were expanded to include magazines, books, and pamphlets

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Licensing Act in 1823

This law made it illegal to publish without a licence. The prohibition was primarily aimed at Indian language or Indian edited newspapers.

Licensing Act in 1857

The government was given the power to halt the printing and circulation of any book, newspaper, or printed item.

Vernacular Press Act 1878

• The local language press, or the vernacular or regional press, was a key instrument against British rule. As a result, in 1878, the government clamped down on the vernacular press. Lord Lytton was responsible for the Vernacular Press Act
• It was dubbed the ‘Gagging Act’ by the press
• Using this act, magistrates can order any newspaper publisher to guarantee that they would not print anything that threatens the country’s peace, and security. The magistrate’s decision would be final
• The English press was exempt from the law
• The act gave the government the authority to issue search warrants and access newspaper premises without judicial authorisation

Conclusion

Media, under British rule, actively participated in inspiring people to rise against the government. The freedom the Indian press has today is because of the challenges and obstacles that the media in the pre-independence era has overcome. Whether print or multimedia, media will always have the moral duty to publish authentic news without bias.

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