History of Newspapers In India

The history of news and newspapers begins with the entry of Europeans into India.

The Portuguese are credited with bringing the printing press to India.

In 1556 some clergy of Goa published the first book of India.

Thus the first printing press in India was established in Goa in 1556.

In 1684, the East India Company also established a printing press in India.

The credit for producing India's first newspaper went to James Augustus Hickey, who published the Bengal Gazette in 1780. Whose language was English.

But his press was confiscated due to criticism of the government.

{The first newspaper in India was attempted by a disgruntled servant of the Company, William Voltas in 1766, but failed.}

Hickey and Birkingham have an important place in the history of journalism. Both of them attracted journalists towards journalism by presenting examples of neutral journalism and independent writing.

Some other English newspapers were published during this period.

In Bengal -- Calcutta Carrier, Asiatic Mirror, Oriental Star.

In Madras -- Madras Career, Madras Gazette.

In Mumbai - Herald, Bombay Gazette etc.

In 1818 the British merchant James Silk Birkingham edited "The Calcutta General".

Birkingham was the first publisher to present the press as a reflection of the public. The modern form of the press is a product of Birkingham itself.

The first Indian-English newspaper was brought out in Kolkata in 1816 AD by Gangadhar Bhattacharya under the name---- Bengal Gazette. "It was the weekly newspaper."

The first Bengali language newspaper was published in 1818 AD under the leadership of Marshman ------Director. It was a monthly paper, which proved to be short-lived.

In 1821, a "weekly newspaper" in Bengali language ----- Samvad Kaumudi was published. This newspaper was managed by Raja Rammohun Roy.

Raja Rammohan Roy published the newspaper ------ Chandrika in March 1822 as a protest against social and religious ideas.

Apart from this in Persian language ----- Miratul newspaper and

Published ------ Brahmanical magazine in English language.

In 1830 AD, with the efforts of Raja Ram Mohan Roy, Dwarkanath Tagore and Prasanna Kumar Tagore, the publication of Bangdoot in Bengali language started.

From Bombay in 1831 AD in Gujarati language ------ Jame Jamshed and

In 1851 AD -------- Raast Goftar and Newspaper Saudagar were published.

Status of Newspapers in India after 1857:-

After the revolt of 1857-58, newspapers in India have been divided on the basis of race rather than on linguistic basis.

English Newspapers and

Indian newspapers

There was a difference between English newspapers and Indian newspapers.

While English newspapers had more facilities than Indian newspapers, Indian newspapers were banned.

After the revolt of 1857, there was an unprecedented increase in the number of Indian newspapers.

Now he became more vocal and critical of the government.

At the same time, due to the great famine, about 60 lakh people became the losers of Kaal.

On the other hand, on the Delhi Durbar held in Delhi in January, 1877, the government spent extravagantly. As a result, Indian newspapers started spewing fire against Lytton's imperialist tendencies.

In 1878, by "The Vernacular Press Act, 1878", Litton wanted to take direct control of Indian newspapers.

The newspapers had no right of appeal in the court under this act.

The Vernacular Press Act is also known as the "Cursing of the Mouth Act".

This act destroyed the independence of Indian newspapers.

The Vernacular Press Act was introduced targeting the popular and important newspaper Som Prakash. In other words, this rule could apply only to Som Prakash.

To avoid Litton's Vernacular Press Act, the Amrit Bazar Patrika (newspaper) which was in Bengali language was converted to English.

This act was repealed by Lord Ripon in 1882 AD.

Newspapers due to the partition of Bengal:-

Due to the unrest in the country due to the partition of Bengal by Lord Curzon and the growing influence of the extremists of the Indian National Congress, the criticism of the government by the newspapers increased.

To deal with this situation, the government implemented the Newspaper Act of 1908.

It was provided in this act that the printing press and property of the newspaper, which would inspire violence and murder, would be confiscated.

By this act, cases were prosecuted against 9 newspapers and the press of 7 were confiscated.

In the Indian Newspapers Act of 1910 AD, it was arranged that the publisher of this newspaper would have to give at least ₹ 500 and not more than ₹ 2000 as registration security to the local government.

Even after this, the government will have the right to terminate the registration and confiscate the security and for the second registration, the government will have the right to have a security deposit of ₹ 1000 to ₹ 10000.

Even after this, if the newspaper publishes any objectionable material edited in the eyes of the government, then the government will have the right to terminate its registration and confiscate all the copies.

Press Inquiry Committee:-

In 1921, a "Press Inquiry Committee" was appointed under the chairmanship of Tej Bahadur Sapru. Acts of 1908 and 1910 AD were abolished on the suggestions of the committee.

To suppress the Civil Disobedience Movement :-

The Press Act of 1910 was re-enforced by the "Indian Press Emergency Act" in 1931.

With this the "Criminal Amendment Act" or the Criminal Amendment Act was implemented by expanding the Act of 1931.

This act gave more power to the government to suppress the civil disobedience movement launched by Gandhiji.

In 1947, the Government of India established the Press Inquiry Committee, which reviewed the laws related to the press.

Restrictions on newspapers:-

1) The Censorship Of The Press Act in 1799 AD

2) The Licensing Regulations Act Of -1823 was implemented by John Adams in 1823 AD.

"The Miratul newspaper of Raja Rammohun Roy was closed due to the ban on the newspaper by Adams.

3) In 1878 AD, by The Vernacular Press Act, 1878, he wanted to take Indian newspapers under direct control.

This act destroyed the independence of Indian newspapers.

The Vernacular Press Act was introduced targeting the popular and important newspaper Som Prakash. In other words, this rule could apply only to Som Prakash.

4) In the Indian Newspapers Act of 1910 AD, it was arranged that the publisher of this newspaper would have to give at least ₹ 500 and not more than ₹ 2000 as registration security to the local government.

5) The Press Act of 1910 was re-enforced by the "Indian Press Emergency Act" in 1931.

With this the "Criminal Amendment Act" or the Criminal Amendment Act was implemented by expanding the Act of 1931.

Freedom of press:-

Lord William Bentinck was the first Governor General to adopt a liberal approach to freedom of the press.

Acting Governor General Charles Metcalf liberated newspapers by removing the 1823 (The Licensing Regulations Act of -1823) ban.

Therefore, Charles Metcalf is also called the liberator of Indian newspapers.

Macaulay also supported freedom of the press.

Analysis of newspapers and history makes it clear that while administrators like Wellesley, Minto, Lord Adams, Lord Canning, Lord Lytton suppressed the freedom of the press, on the other hand Bentinck, Lord Hastings, Charles Metcalf, Macaulay and Administrators like Lord Ripon supported freedom of the press.

Christodas Pal, the editor of "Hindu Patriot", is called the "prince" of Indian journalism.

Macaulay also supported freedom of the press.

Christodas Pal, the editor of "Hindu Patriot", is called the "prince" of Indian journalism.

Bharat Note-Book

Sunday, 19 September 2021