Press in British India: The History of Indian Journalism

The British are attributed to introducing independent press or participatory journalism in India during the colonial period.

But the British administration put more effort into curbing the Indian press to restrict the nationalistic sentiments propagated through them.

British Rule in India: Press Laws & Resistance

Media Under British Rule in India: Acts, Censorship, and the Struggle for Expression

During the time when India was under British rule in India, the press played a crucial role in shaping public opinion, spreading information, and advocating for political and social change. However, the British authorities were worried that the press might encourage anti-colonial feelings and nationalist movements. So, they passed a series of laws and regulations (Acts Related to Press During British Rule) to control and suppress the Indian media. These acts were aimed at limiting the freedom of the press, imposing censorship, and preventing criticism of British policies. Understanding these acts and their impact on the press is essential to grasp India’s struggle for freedom of expression during the colonial era.

Press Control Under British Rule in India: Censorship Act of 1799 

It was passed by Richard Wellesley, who was the Governor-General of India at the time and aimed to control and restrict the freedom of the press. Here are the key provisions of this act:

• Licensing Requirement: Before printing and distributing newspapers or other printed materials, publishers were required to obtain government licenses.
• Pre-censorship: Before publication, manuscripts and printed materials had to be reviewed by government-appointed censors, who had the authority to suppress or modify objectionable content.
• Prohibition of Anti-Government Content: The act expressly prohibited the publication of any content deemed seditious or detrimental to the interests of the British East India Company.
• Seizure of Press Materials: The colonial government had the authority to seize printing presses, manuscripts, and other materials suspected of containing objectionable content.
• Punitive Measures: Violations of the act may result in fines, imprisonment, or both, thereby deterring journalists and publishers.

  British Rule in India: Licensing Act of 1823 and Press Control

  • Enacted by: Governor-General John Adams.
  • According to this act, the printer or the publisher of the newspaper was required to take permission from the government before starting the publication.
  • Initially, it was considered a criminal offense to establish or operate a printing press without obtaining a license. Over time, this law was expanded to include journals, pamphlets, and books.
  • In case, if publication of material was started without a license, the government can impose a fine of rupees 400.  
  • In case of repeated violations, the printed material and press machinery could be seized by the government.
  • The Magistrate was authorized to seize the press and cancel its license.
  • The Governor-General had the right to revoke any license at any time.
  • These restrictions primarily targeted Indian-language newspapers or those edited by Indians. The publication of Rammohan Roy’s Mirat-ul-Akbar had to stop.
  • The Calcutta Journal was forced to stop its publications and Buckingham (editor) was deported to London by John Adams.

  British Rule in India: Press Act of 1835 & Metcalfe’s Reforms

  • Enacted by: Governor-General Charles Metcalfe.
  • Charles Metcalfe is known as the Liberator of Indian Press because he repealed the Licensing Act of 1823.
  • He framed some guidelines for the printers and publishers.
  • The New Press Act of 1835, required a printer and publisher to give a precise account of the premises of a publication. Also, the publisher needs to make a declaration to the Government about the nature of the material being published.
  • The Publisher could stop publication at any time without the government’s approval.

British Rule in India: Licensing Act of 1857 and Press Control

• Enacted by: Governor-General  Lord Canning.
• This act was passed to counter an emergency situation caused by the 1857 revolt.  
• The government added more rules to the existing registration process of the Metcalfe Act, which required licenses. They also had the power to stop the publication and distribution of any book, newspaper, or printed material.
• It re-introduced the concept of licensing and is applicable for a limited period of time.

Conclusion

The acts related to the press during British rule in India were tools used by the colonial authorities to silence opposing voices and control the information that reached the Indian people. However, they unintentionally ignited a strong battle for press freedom and self-governance, with Indian journalists and publishers leading the charge for independence. These acts hold great importance in Indian history as they showcase the immense influence of the media in shaping public opinion and inspiring collective resistance against colonial oppression.

Charles Metcalfe Liberator of Indian Press

• During his tenure as Governor-General of India from 1835 to 1836, Charles Metcalfe, also known as Lord Metcalfe, played an important role in liberalizing and advocating for press freedom. 
• Metcalfe believed in the importance of a free press as a tool for promoting good governance, fostering public opinion, and encouraging social progress, which led to the relaxation of censorship laws and the implementation of reforms that allowed greater freedom of expression in the Indian press. 
• His policies had a long-term impact on the development of a more open and independent press in British India.

Important journals or newspapers vs their authors:

• Bengal gazette  – J.A Hickey
• Maharatta (English), Kesari (Marathi) – Bal Gangadhar Tilak
• Hitavada – Gopal Krishna Gokhale
• Sudharak – Gopal Ganesh Agarkar
• Voice of India, Rast Goftar – Dadabai Naororji
• Vande Mataram, Paridasak – Bipin Chandra Pal
• Mook Nayak, Janata, Bahishkrut bharat – Dr. B.R amberdkar
• Prabuddha Bharata – Aiyasami, B. R. Rajam Iyer, G. G.Narasimhacharya, and B. V. Kamesvara Iyer (on behest of Swami Vivekananda)
• Independent – Motilal Nehru
• Punjabi – Lala Lajpat Rai
• The leader, Hindostan, Abyudyaya, Maryada – Madan Mohan Malviya
• New India, Commonweal – Annie Besant
• Mirat-ul-Akhbar, Sambad kaumudi – Raja Ram Mohun Roy
• Navajeevan, Young India, Harijan, Indian opinion (South Africa) – M.K Gandhi
• Indian mirror – Devendra Nath Tagore
• Som Prakash – Eshwar Chand Vidyasagar
• The Hindu, Swadesamitram – G. Subramaniya Aiyar
• The Bengalee – Surendra Nath Banerjee
• Amrita Bazaar Patrika – Sisir Kumar Ghosh and Motilal Ghosh
• Madras courier – Richard Johnson

The above events and personalities shaped modern journalism in India to what we see today.

The press was and still is a medium of change in the world and hence a very powerful tool in itself.

History is in itself a fine example of press and journalism helps in shaping the socio-religious, as well as the political scenario of a country.

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