India and the World of Print

The evolution of print in India is one of the most significant landmarks of modern history. While the country already had a rich tradition of vernacular manuscripts being written for centuries, the introduction of the printing press in the mid-16th century was revolutionary. 

Initially used by Jesuit priests to translate pamphlets into Konkani, multiple newspapers and journals had been published at the end of the 18th century. With the launch of India’s first newspaper, the ‘Bengal Gazette’ in 1780, the printing press soon became a hub for new ideas. 

That said, we will now discuss the evolution of print in India and how it impacted Indian society at large. 

Manuscripts Before the Age of Print:

The practice of writing manuscripts was an essential factor that contributed to the evolution of print in India. The country has had a rich history of manuscripts written in various vernacular languages. These manuscripts were then printed on dried palm leaves or handmade paper. 

Manuscripts continued to be produced even after the introduction of print technology, but they were expensive and highly fragile. They had to be handled with utmost care but could not be skimmed, as they were written differently. 

Therefore, manuscripts were not as widely used in everyday life. Even though pre-colonial Bengal had an extensive network of village schools, students did not read any texts. Teachers dictated stories based on their memory, and children had to write them down. 

Owing to this, many people became literate without ever reading any texts. 

The Arrival of Print in India 

The printing press first came to India during the mid-16th century, when Portuguese missionaries learnt Konkani and printed tracts in the local language. By 1674, more than 50 books had been translated into the Konkani and Kanara languages.  

The Catholic priests published the first Tamil book in 1579, soon followed by printing a Malayalam version in 1713. The English language press did not grow much in India, even though the East India Company had already begun importing prints during the 17th century. 

Around this time, James Augustus Hickey founded the ‘Bengal Gazette,’ a weekly commercial newspaper free from colonial influence. The newspaper is often credited with starting the English language press in India, and Hickey featured numerous advertisements, including those related to importing and selling slaves. 

By the end of the 18th century, the number of newspapers and journals rose significantly. 

Religious Reforms and Public Debates

Religious issues became common during the early 19th century. People became more rational and started criticising current practises. Reformers called for reform, while others argued against it.

Newspapers and tracts played a significant role in spreading new ideas and determining the nature of the debate. There were controversies between social reformers and Hindu orthodoxy over practises like widow immolation, Brahmanical priesthood, monotheism, and idolatry. 

Print encouraged the reading of religious texts, especially among Hindus. The vernacular press also gained momentum, with several other newspapers and journals following in their footsteps. Moreover, it helped in encouraging discussions, debate, and harmony among different religions. 

Newer Forms of Publication 

Newer forms of publication became popular, even as more people became interested in learning and reading. Novels became a popular form of storytelling. 

With new forms of literature such as lyrics, essays, and short stories, people started to express themselves and comment on the country’s sociopolitical situation. A new visual culture sprung up at the end of the 19th century. Cheap calendars were made available to the masses, where even the poor could buy them from their local market. 

These prints were instrumental in shaping the ideas of modernity & tradition, politics, society, and culture. Soon enough, cartoons were being published in local newspapers and magazines, critiquing the practises of the Government. 

Women and Print 

In the 19th century, women’s relationship with print as a medium of expression developed further. Various schools were established in various cities throughout India for women to get educated. Magazines and newspapers were not too far behind, as they began featuring writings by female writers to promote female education. However, some conservatives were sceptical, adding that literate girls either got widowed or their minds would be corrupted by reading Urdu romances. 

Rassundari Devi, the author of ‘Amar Jiban’, learned to read and write in the secretive atmosphere of her kitchen. In the 1860s, women like Kailashbashini Debi wrote books that discussed women’s plight and ill-treatment in society. 

An entire area in Calcutta, known as ‘Battala,’ was devoted to printing popular books. With woodcut illustrations and coloured lithographs, these books became immensely popular among women. 

Print and Poor People 

Cheap books were brought from the markets, while public libraries were set up in the cities and towns. By the 19th century, class discrimination was a prominent theme in most literature, with Kashibaba’s ‘Chhote Aur Bade Ka Sawal‘ becoming an iconic piece of literature about class discrimination. 

Print and Censorship 

Censorship was not a cause of concern under the East India Company. While the Supreme Court of Calcutta passed regulations that curbed press freedom in 1835, then-Governor-General Bentinck agreed to review these laws later. 

As print and censorship became synonymous with one another after the revolt of 1857, freedom of the press underwent a vast transformation. As a result of the Vernacular Press Act in 1878, the government gained exclusive rights to censor vernacular reports and newspapers that criticised their practises. However, this led to the establishment of even more newspapers across the country. 

After the deportation of Punjab revolutionaries in 1907, Bal Gangadhar Tilak wrote passionately about their struggle in his newspaper Kesari before being imprisoned on charges of sedition the following year. 

Conclusion 

The evolution of print in India and its role in its freedom struggle is unparalleled. When violent means of the revolution were met with stern resistance, the newspapers and magazines kept the nationalistic fervour among the people high. They not only educated the masses about the true meaning of freedom but were also pivotal in eradicating many social evils.