Q. Trace the history of Press in India in the 19th century A.D?

Ans.

 Before the advent of the British in India, there existed no press at all in this country. The Indians had no knowledge about the value and significance of the press and its publications. The British started publishing newspapers mainly for the amusement of Europeans. They were not meant to give news or spread knowledge. They were printed in English language and controlled by Englishman. It was in the middle of the 19th century that powerful Indian press grew both in English aid Indian languages. Most of them were started by social reformers and national leaders. With the growth of political consciousness and national movement in the later part of the 19th century, a large number of newspapers and journals began to be published. These newspapers voiced the grievances of Indians. They exposed the unjust economic and political policies of the British. They moulded and mended the public opinion. The British Government put restrictions on Indian press and banned those newspapers which supported national movement. Some of the earlier newspapers published in India were the Indian Mirror, Amritbazar Patrika, the Tribune etc.