Question

Outline the development of press in India in the 19th  century? Or, Make a critical comment on the role of the press in today's transformative era.

Answer 1

Although the introduction of the modern press in India was done in the late 18th century. By the end of 18th century many newspapers were being published. However, its territory was limited to the company and the missanaries. The first Indian newspaper was Gnagadhar Bhattachary's weekly 'Bengal Gazette published in 1816. In 1818, James Silk Buckingham edited the 'Calcutta Journal'. His editing put Lord Hastings and John Adams in trouble. He made the press a reflection of the people by himself. He induced the press to adopt critical angle, to give scrutinized news and to provide leadership.

With the publication of Samvad Kaumdi' (Bangla) an Miratal Akhbar in 1821 AD and progressive national trend. Their founder Raja Ram Mohan Roy felt that they also made them a weapon of Socio-religious reform movement. He also brought out the same 'Brahminical' magazine in English. From Bombay in 1822. Daily News in Gujrati itself started coming out Bangdat was established in 1930 by the efforts of Dwarkanath Tagore, Prasanna Kumar Tagore and Rajaram Mohan Roy. Jame Jamshed in 1831 and 'Goftar and Akhware Sauglagar was started in 1851. The British administration did not welcome.

Indian newspaper and discussions on the social religious and political problems of the time and made a malafide attempt to restrict the press.