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The over-2000-years history of the Indian Press, from the time of Hicky to the present day, is
the history of a struggle for freedom, which has not yet ended. There have been alternating
periods of freedom and of restrictions on freedom amounting to repression. The pioneering
works on the Indian Press, like that of Margarita Barns, were stories of arbitrariness and
despotism, of reforms and relaxation. The story of the Indian Press is a story of steady expansion
but also one of Press laws.
The first newspaper meant for publication was announced in 1776 by William Bolts. He asked
those interested to come to his residence to read the news. This newspaper had the twin
function of informing the British community of news from home, and of ventilating grievances
against the colonial administration.
Hickys Gazette
But it was not until James Augustus Hicky dared to start his Bengal Gazette (also called Hickys
Gazette) in 1780 that the age of Journalism dawned in the country. England had already had a
taste of the Spectator papers of Addison and Steele, and of lesser known periodicals as well, and
learnt about the power of the periodical essayists, to laugh to scorn the manners and mores of
society, and of those in high places.
Political and social corruption was rife among the British sent to rule the country when Hicky, a
printer by profession, launched his Gazette in order to purchase freedom for my mind and soul.
He described the Bengal Gazette (later called Hickys Gazette) as a weekly political and
commercial paper open to all parties but influenced by none. His venom was aimed at
individuals like Mrs. Warren Hastings and their private affairs. He published announcements of
marriages and engagements, and of likely engagements.8 The Gazette was, in essence, no better
than a scandal sheet. Barely a year later, Sir Warren Hastings denied all postal facilities to Hicky
who hit back with these ringing words:
Mr. Hicky considers the Liberty of the Press to be essential to the very existence of an
Englishman and a free Government. The subject should have full liberty to declare his principles
and opinions, and every act which tends to coerce that liberty is tyrannical and injurious to the
community.
In June the following year (1781), Hicky was arrested and thrust into jail, from where he
continued writing for the Gazette. He was stopped from bringing out his weekly only when the
types used for printing were seized.
Five newspapers made their appearance in Bengal in six years time-all started by Englishmen.
Some of these newspapers received Government patronage. The Madras Courier and the
Bombay Herald (which later merged with the Bombay Courier) were then launched in the two
cities. They were subservient to the Government, and therefore flourished. The total circulation
of all these weeklies was not more than 2,000; yet, the Government issued Press Regulations
(1799) making the publication of the name of the printer, editor and proprietor obligatory. The
regulation also ordered these to declare themselves to the secretary of the Government ; and to
submit all was established with the aid of Government grant and in the North West Provinces, a
Hindu and an Urdu periodicals started of under the Government patronage. The Bengali Press
with as many as nine Newspaper. Material for prior examination to the same authority. Precensorship was to dog the Indian journalist for many years to come.
The man who became the most note worthy victim of these new laws was none other than Bal
Gangadhar Tilak, editor of Kesari and its English companion, Mahratha. He was arrested,
convicted and jailed for six years, but Kesari continued to build up its reputation and influence as
a national daily, as India woke to the 20th century. Other campaigns of Press freedom who were
prosecuted at about the same time wear Aurobindo Ghose of Bande Mataram, B.B. Upadhayaya
of Sandhaya of Sandhay and B.N. Dutt of Jugantar.
In 1910, the Indian Press Act clamped further controls on newspaper in the wake of the partition
of Bengal and violent attacks by terrorists in Ahmedabad, Ambala and elsewhere. The Act
required owners of printing Presses to deposit securities of Rs.500 to Rs. 2,000, which were
forfeited if objectionable matters were printed. The threats of seizure of the printing Press, and
confiscation of copies sent by post were also included in the Act. The vernacular Press suffered
rigorous suppression during this period (1910-1914). The Government banned 50 works in
English and 272 in the vernacular, which included 114 in Marathi, 52 in Urdu and 51 in
Bengali.
World War I introduced still more severe Press laws but there was no let-up in nationalist
agitations. Annie Besants New India became the mouthpiece of Home Rule advocates , ably
supported by the Bombay Chronicle (edited by Benjamin Horniman), Maratha (edited by
N.C.Kelkar) and other publications. The Government reacted swiftly by exiling Annie Besant ,
deporting Horniman and imposing new securities on offending publications. The Rowlatt Act
of 1919 infuriated Indian opinion, which now came under the leadership of Mahatma Gandhi.
His Non Co-operation Movement took the Press by storm. Gandhi was to remain front-page
news for years to come. His arrests and imprisonments were covered with relish by the English
and the vernacular Press , whose readership now rose dramatically. The Swaraj Party led by C.R
Das, Vallabhbahi Patel and motilal Nehru, launched its own publications the Banglar Katha in
Calcutta. The Swadesh Mitram in the South, and Hindustan Times, Pratap and Basumati in the
North.
The Indian Press Ordinance (1930), like the Press Act of 1910, and five other Ordinances gave
added to the Government in dealing with acts of terrorism, and inflammatory literature. The
Swadeshi Movement, covered prominently by the Press, as in The Hindu (Madras) led to the
imprisonment of leaders like Gandhi and Nehru, and of editors like S.A. Brelvi of Bombay
Chronicle and Ganesh Shankar Vidyarthi of Pratap. The Indian Press (Emergency Powers) Act
of 1931 raised deposit securities and fines, and gave Magistrates the power to issue summary
actions. Several other Acts were made law during the thirties, forcing the closure of many Presses
and publications.
Meanwhile, The Free Press of India, which began as a news agency, started The Indian Express
and Dhenamani in Madras, The Free Press Journal in Bombay, and Gujarati and Marathi
Journals. The News agency collapsed after it forfeited Rs. 20,000 security under the Indian Press
(Emergency Powers) Act, but its publications continued under different owners, and The Free
Press editors Stated a new agency called the United Press of India (U.P.I.)
Then came the Quit India Movement , and World War II, and the Press in India, including the
English language Press and that in the Indian Native States played a commendable role in
reporting the struggle for freedom fairly. It opposed communal riots and the partition of the
Country, and when partition did take place in the glorious year of independence, lamented it.
Indeed, it could be said that that the Press played no small part in Indias victory to freedom of
speech and expression upheld the freedom of the Press. While the obnoxious Press Acts were
repealed or amended, the Official Secrets Act and sections of the Indian code dealing with
disaffection, communal hatred and incitement of armed forces to disloyalty, were retained.
The Nehru Government Passed in October 1951 the Press (Objectionable Matters) Act which
was reminiscent of earlier Press laws enacted by the colonial rulers. The objectionable matters
were quite comprehensive. So fierce was the opposition to it that in 1956,it was allowed to lapse,
and the First Press Commission was formed.
The national and regional Press covered the campaigns of the first national elections of 19511952 with professional skill. So were the other events of the Nehru era, like the formation of the
linguistic States, the second and third general elections. The Chinese attack , and the take-over
of Goa. Unlike her father, Mrs. Indira Gandhi had never been at ease with the Press. How much
freedom can the Press have in a country like India fighting poverty, backwardness, ignorance,
disease and superstitions ? asked she in the first year of her regime The national dailies grew
strident in their attacks on her Government , especially on the question of nationalization of
banks, privy purses, the Congress split , but joined forces with her during the Bangla Desh war of
liberation . The attacks reached their climax in the period prior to the emergency, with open
accusations of rampant corruption, and demands for her resignation, followed by the Allahabad
High Courts verdict of her being guilty of corrupt election practices.
1780
The first newspaper in India was published by James Hicky in January 1780. It was called the
Bengal Gazette and announced itself as a weekly political and commercial paper open to all
parties but influenced by none.
Bengal Gazette was a two-sheet paper measuring 12 inches by 8 inches, most of the space being
occupied by advertisements. Its circulation reached a maximum of 200 copies. Within six years
of Bengal Gazette, four more weeklies were launched in Kolkata (then Calcutta).
1782
Madras Courier was launched in 1782.
1791
Bombay Herald was launched in 1791.
1792
Bombay Courier was launched in 1792. It published advertisements in English and Gujarati.
1799
In 1799, the East India administration passed regulations to increase its control over the press.
1816
The first newspaper under Indian administration appeared in 1816. It was also called Bengal
Gazette and was published by Gangadhar Bhattacharjee. It was a liberal paper which advocated
the reforms of Raja Ram Mohan Roy.
Raja Ram Mohan Roy himself brought out a magazine in Persian called Mirat-ul-Ukhbar. He
also published The Brahmanical Magazine, an English periodical to counteract the religious
propaganda of the Christian missionaries of Serampore.
1822
In 1822, the Chandrika Samachar was started in Bengal.
At the same time, Bombay Samachar was started by Ferdunji Marzban. It gave importance to
social reform and commercial news in Gujarati.
1826
The first Hindi newspaper Oodunt Martand was published in 1826 from Bengal. However, it
could not survive long because of its distant readership and high postal rates. Its place was soon
taken by Jami Jahan Numa, a newspaper that was pro-establishment.
1832
In 1832, Bal Shastri Jambhekar launched at Anglo-Marathi newspaper from Pune.
1830-1857
A large number of short-lived newspapers were brought out in this time. Some were in Indian
languages like Bengali, Gujarati, Marathi, Urdu and Persian.
1857
The Uprising of 1857 brought out the divide between Indian owned and British owned
newspapers. The government passed the Gagging Act of 1847 and the Vernacular Press Act in
1876.
After 1857, the pioneering efforts in newspapers shifted from Bengal to Mumbai. Gujarati press
made great progress under the efforts of Ferdunji Marzban and Kurshedji Cama.
Marathi journalism followed close behind with a distinctive educational bias.
1861
In 1861, Mr Knight merged the Bombay Standard, Bombay Times and Telegraph and brought
out the first issue of Times of India.
1875
In 1875, the same Mr Knight with the backing of rich merchants from Kolkata started Indian
Statesman which was later called as Statesman.
Around the same time, Amrita Bazar Patrika was able to establish itself in Kolkata. Starting out
as a vernacular paper, it was constantly in trouble due to its outspokenness. In order to
circumvent the strict provision of the Vernacular Press Act, Amrita Bazar Patrika converted itself
overnight into an English newspaper.
Amrita Bazar Patrika inspired freedom fighter Lokmanya Tilak to start Kesari in Pune. He used
Kesari to build anti-cow killing societies, Ganesh mandals and reviving the Chhatrapati Shivaji
cult. He used mass communication as a powerful political weapon.
1905
By 1905, the English and vernacular press had become pretty professional. Political leaders and
social reformers were regular contributors to newspapers. Some prominent writers of the time
were C Y Chintamani, G A Natesan, N C Kelkar, Phirozshah Mehta and Benjamin Horniman.
Indian news was supplied by special correspondent and government hand-outs (press releases),
international news was supplied by Reuters, an international news agency.
1920s and 1930s
Newspapers in this period started reflecting popular political opinion. While big English
dailies were loyal to the British government, the vernacular press was strongly nationalist.
The Bande Mataram of Aurbindo Ghosh, Kal of Poona and Sakli of Surat were fiercely
nationalist.
The Home Rule Party started Young India, which later became Mahatma Gandhijis
mouthpiece.
As more and more Indians started learning English, many became reporters, editors and even
owners. The Anglo-Indian press began to lose ground except in Bombay and Calcutta.
In 1927, industrialist G D Birla took over Hindustan Times and placed it on a sound financial
footing.
In the same year, S Sadanand started the Free Press Journal, a newspaper for the poor and the
middle-class in Mumbai.
RUDYARD KIPLING
A renowned man of the pen born in Bombay his father, a British citizen was a government
officer in India Rudyard joined Civil and Military Gazette (Lahore) in 1872 at the age of 17worked for five years in Gazette- then moved to the Pioneer- his writings specially monologue
and fictions were very impressive- writing and every thing associated with, is a glorious fun, I
love both the fun and riot of writing- after suffering from malaria he was compelled to left India
and went to England in1890- he served about 7 years in India as a journalist- he is still
remembered as a creative journalist in the history of Indian journalism- reflections of his Indian
experience can be seen in his several writings.
After Mutiny
- Standard, The Bombay Times and Telegraph merged into Times of India in 1861, Robert
Knight was the owner , he was also owner of Statesman daily (1875) from Calcutta, Indian
Economist monthly and Agriculture Gazette of India, his editorials and writings were balanced
and impressive.
- Other major publications- Indu Prakash weekly, Gyan Prakash, Lokhitavadi (all 1861), Amrit
Bazar Patrika (1868 Cacutta), Pioneer (1872 Allahbad), The Hindu (1878 Chennai) , Keshari
(marathi) and The Maratha (English) (both in1878 from Pune by veteran freedom fighter
Balgangadhar Tilak)
- Pioneer Indian Journalists- Bal Gangadhar Tilak, Mahadev Govinda Ranade, Dadabhoi
Naoroji, Gopal Rao Hari Deshmukh, Vishu Shastri Pandit, Karsondas Mulji, Bal Sashtri
Jambhekar etc.
- British govt. enacted Vernacular Press Act-1878 to suppress Indian language newspapers
- Indian National Congress (INC) founded in 1885.
- It was led by many nationalists like Surendranath Banerjee, Balgangadhar Tilak, Dadabhoi
Naoroji, Motilal Gosh, Bipin Chandra Pal, G. Subramania Aiyer, etc., who were active
journalists too.
- After establishment of INC, Indian press became an important part of struggle for
independence.
1947 Onwards
- India received independence from British rule on 1947 August 15th
- The press celebrated the independence, because it was their victory too.
- At the beginning of independence the relation between the national govt. and press was good,
but a year after situation was changed.
- P. M. Neharu, Sardar Ballav Bhai Patel, etc. were not happy with the press.
- Press Commission- 1952, report- 1954
- Recommendations Press Council, press registrar, minimum basic salary for working
journalists, strengthen the role of the editors
- The working journalist act-1955
- The newspaper (price and page) act- 1956
- Press Council established 1965
- P.M. Mrs. Indira Gandhi declared state of emergency on 1975 June
- It was a shocking blow to the freedom of press
- Ignored the press freedom guaranteed by article 19 (1) in the constitution
- Heavy censorship during the emergency period under Defence Rule in order to maintain
public order
- 1975 Dec 8th ordinance banned the publication of all objectionable matter, no permission to
report parliament, close down Press Council , blaming it was failed to curb provocative writings
- During 19 months of emergency 253 journalists detained and 7 foreign correspondence
expelled
- When Janata Dal came into power, all the restrictions over press were removed
- After emergency Indian press became more professional along with high tech., simultaneous
publications increased, tremendous change in the contents, more supplements, booming of
specialized magazines
- Press Council re- established under new act- 28 member, chaired by retired judge of high court
TELEVISION
- DoorDarshan (DD) started as an experiment in 1959 from New Delhi, for educational purpose
- Regular broadcasting started from 1965 from New Delhi
- Indian Space Research Organization borrowed a satellite from NASA (National Aeronautics
and Space Administration) in 1975
- Community TV sets in 2,400 villages
- Colour broadcasting from 1982 on the eve of Asian Games held in New Delhi
- 40 different broadcasting centers
- covers 70% of land and 87% 0f population
- programs in about a dozen languages
- 6.5 tv sets / 100 people
- after 1995 many private channels
- all TV broadcasting regulated by Prasar Bharati Act
NEWS AGENCY
- Press Trust of India (PTI) 1947
- Hindustan Samachar 1948
- United News of India (UNI)- 1961
- Samachar Bharati 1965
Hindustan Samachar and Samachar Bharati produce news in various Indian languages while PTI
and UNI in English
- Press Information Bureau (PBI), under Ministry of Information, provides government news
and information in English, Hindi, Urdu and 13 regional languages.