GROWTH OF INDIAN PRESS

J.Janardhan
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PRESS

History of Journalism can be divided into two phases

I. Pre- Independence

II. Post-Independence era

The growth of newspapers in India has seen four distinct

phases

a) 1780-1857, b)1857-1947, c) 1947-1975, d) 1977-Till now

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PRESS
Several Newspapers started in India during British regime

With the only objective of expose the misdeeds

James Augustus Hicky started first Indian newspaper-'Bengal

Gazette/ Calcutta General Advertiser' on 29th Jan, 1780

He was considered as father of the Indian Press

English press in India, Challenged the authorities

Both to justify their own actions and respond to public demand

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PRESS

British authorities treated the press with distrust

introduced stringent licensing and registration laws
Hickeys Gazette contained comments on private affairs of
British rules.
He described his publication as The paper is open to all, but
influenced by none.
Continues attack by Hickeys Gazette, Sir Warren Hasting
denied postal facilities to circulate newspaper.
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PRESS
In June, 1781, Hickey was imprisoned for being unable to pay
fines of Rs.80,000/-
Thesecond Indian Newspaper-The India Gazette started in
Nov, 1780 by B. Massink.
In February, 1784, The Calcutta Gazette was started.
In 1785, Bengal Journal was started
In 1786, the Oriental Magazine was started.
CalcuttaChronicle (1786), Indian World (1794) & Bengal
Harkaru (1798) were started in Bengal
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PRESS
After Calcutta, Indian Press witnessed remarkable growth in
Madras and Bombay.

In 1785, The Madras Courier started

In 1789, The Bombay Herald started

In 1790, Bombay courier

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PRESS
The Madras Press was on Hostile terms with govt.

The then Govt. imposed censorship on Madras Gazette on 12

Dec, 1795.

Four years later, 29th June, 1799, Newspapers were ordered for
pre-censorship.

18th century marked the end of a phase in journalism in India.

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PRESS

In 1813, Lord Minto abolished pre-censorship.

And introduced liberal ideas on education and progressive
views towards the press.
In 1818, James Silk Buckingham established the Calcutta
Journal.
But, in 1823, Governor General John Adam imposed restriction
on the Calcutta Journal

He strongly advocated social reform with the free press.

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PRESS
Raja Ram Mohan Roy was published first newspaper in Indian
language.
He felt that Newspapers are absolutely necessary to reform the
people.
He believed that reforms possible only by understanding many
things in their own language.
He started a Persian newspaper called Miratul-Akhbar and
Sambad Kaumudi ( the moon of intelligence)- a weekly
He fought against the restriction on press
He argued newspaper should be free from censorship
He considered as father of vernacular journalism
Thank You