The Press in British India
The Indian press grew from a few European-owned papers in the 1780s to a powerful voice of nationalism, and the British repeatedly tried to control it by law.
Beginnings
- James Augustus Hicky began Bengal Gazette (Hicky's Gazette) in 1780, India's first newspaper. It was soon banned.
- Raja Ram Mohan Roy published Sambad Kaumudi (Bengali, 1821) and Mirat-ul-Akhbar (Persian, 1822), and is called the "Father of Indian press" by some. He protested against the Licensing Regulation of 1823 (John Adam).
Laws to control the press
| Year | Law | Details |
|---|---|---|
| 1799 | Wellesley's censorship | Prior censorship, to prevent French influence. |
| 1818 | Hastings | Prior censorship removed. |
| 1823 | Licensing Regulation (John Adam) | Licence needed to run a press. |
| 1835 | Metcalfe's Press Law | Freed the press; Metcalfe is the "Liberator of the Indian Press". |
| 1857 | Licensing Act (Canning) | Licences again during the Revolt. |
| 1867 | Press and Registration of Books Act | Registration of printers and publishers. |
| 1878 | Vernacular Press Act (Lytton) | Controlled vernacular papers; warned and fined them; no right of appeal. Repealed in 1882 (Ripon). |
| 1908 | Newspapers (Incitement to Offences) Act | Power to seize presses. |
| 1910 | Indian Press Act | Heavy security deposits, power to confiscate. |
| 1931 | Indian Press (Emergency Powers) Act | During Civil Disobedience. |
Role of the press
The press exposed British economic policy, taught people about politics, rights and democracy, and connected the leaders across India. Important papers are listed in Books, Journals and Newspapers.
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Prepared for exam revision from standard sources such as NCERT, Bipan Chandra, Spectrum and official records. Historians differ on some dates, figures and interpretations, so check your exam syllabus and a standard textbook. Found a mistake? Tell us.