Development of Indian Press (1780–1956)

Introduction
• The growth of Indian press played a crucial role in spreading nationalist consciousness.
• Early newspapers began criticizing Company rule, prompting successive governments to impose restrictive press laws.

Early Beginnings
• 1780: James Augustus Hickey started the Bengal Gazette or Calcutta General Advertiser.
• First newspaper in India; critical of East India Company; eventually suppressed.
• More journals emerged, alarming Company officials who feared exposure in Britain.

Censorship of Press Act, 1799 (Wellesley)
• Enacted due to fear of French invasion.
• Imposed wartime press restrictions.
• Introduced pre-censorship.
• Relaxed later under Lord Hastings.

Licensing Regulations, 1823 (John Adams)
• Strictest pre-Macaulay press law.
• Starting/using a press without license became a penal offence.
• Restrictions especially targeted Indian-language newspapers.
• Raja Rammohan Roy shut down Mirat-ul-Akbar in protest.

Press Act of 1835 (Metcalfe Act)
• Governor-General Metcalfe repealed Licensing Regulations of 1823.
• Required only:
  – Registration of printer and premises.
  – Proper declaration before starting publication.
• Regarded as the “Liberator of Indian Press”.

Licensing Act, 1857
• Passed during Revolt of 1857.
• Imposed stricter licensing alongside registration.
• Government empowered to stop circulation of any printed matter.

Registration Act, 1867
• Replaced Metcalfe’s Act.
• Regulatory, not restrictive.
• Required:
  – Name of printer, publisher, place of publication on every printed work.
  – Submission of one copy to government within one month.

Vernacular Press Act, 1878 (Lord Lytton)
Background:
• Harsh famine (1876–77) + extravagant Delhi Durbar angered press.
• Vernacular newspapers began criticizing imperial policies.

Provisions:
• Empowered District Magistrate to:
  – Demand security from printers/publishers.
  – Confiscate security for “seditious writing”.
  – Seize press equipment on repeated offences.
• No right to appeal in courts.
• Exemption possible only by submitting proofs for pre-censorship.

Impact:
• Amrita Bazar Patrika switched overnight from Bengali to English to escape the Act.
• First major organized protest by Indian press.
• Repealed by Ripon in 1882.

Subsequent Developments
• 1883: Surendranath Banerjea became first Indian editor jailed for contempt.

Newspaper (Incitement to Offences) Act, 1908
• Aimed at revolutionary Extremist writings.
• Magistrates could confiscate press for materials inciting violence.
• Lokmanya Tilak prosecuted under sedition and transported to Mandalay.

Indian Press Act, 1910
• Revived harsh provisions of Vernacular Press Act.
• Local government could demand heavy securities, confiscate or deregister papers.
• Mandatory submission of two copies of each edition.
• Targeted against militant nationalism.

Press Reforms after World War I
• 1921: On Tej Bahadur Sapru Committee’s recommendation:
  – Acts of 1908 & 1910 repealed.

Indian Press (Emergency Powers) Act, 1931
• Response to Civil Disobedience Movement.
• Allowed suppression of any publication supporting CDM.
• 1932 amendment widened definition to include anything undermining government authority.

World War II Controls
• Defence of India Rules introduced strict pre-censorship.
• Banned publication of all Congress-related news at one point.
• Expanded Official Secrets Act and Press Emergency Act.

Press Enquiry Committee, 1947
• Reviewed colonial press laws in light of Fundamental Rights.
• Recommended:
  – Repeal of Emergency Powers Act, 1931.
  – Amendments in Press & Registration of Books Act.
  – Changes to IPC Sections 124A (sedition) and 156A.

Post-Independence: Press (Objectionable Matters) Act, 1951
• Introduced along with First Amendment to Article 19(2).
• Government empowered to:
  – Demand security for “objectionable matter”.
  – Forfeit it on violation.
• Provided right to jury trial for aggrieved owners.
• Repealed in 1956.

Conclusion
• Over nearly two centuries, the Indian press evolved from being tightly controlled to becoming a pillar of democratic expression.
• Its persistent resistance played a significant role in mobilizing nationalist ideology and leading India toward freedom.

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Subject: Modern History

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