[long_answer] How did the relationship between the colonial government and the nationalist press change after the Revolt of 1857? Explain the measures the government took to control the press and how the nationalist press responded to these measures.
Generated by claude-sonnet-4-6 · 2026-06-26 13:47 · grounding rag
Model Answer
After the Revolt of 1857 — Changing Attitude:
The colonial government's attitude towards the press hardened after 1857. Enraged Englishmen demanded a clampdown on the 'native' press. As vernacular newspapers grew increasingly nationalist, the government debated stringent controls.
Government Measures:
- In 1878, the Vernacular Press Act was passed, modelled on Irish Press Laws.
- It gave the government extensive rights to censor reports and editorials in the vernacular press.
- Newspapers were regularly tracked; if a report was judged seditious, the paper was warned, and repeated violations led to seizure of the press and confiscation of printing machinery.
- During World War I, under the Defence of India Rules, 22 newspapers had to furnish securities; 18 shut down rather than comply.
Nationalist Press Response:
- Despite repression, nationalist newspapers grew in numbers across India, reporting on colonial misrule and encouraging nationalist activities.
- Attempts to suppress them provoked militant protest, creating a cycle of persecution and protest.
- Bal Gangadhar Tilak wrote sympathetically about Punjab revolutionaries in Kesari (1907), leading to his imprisonment in 1908 and widespread protests.
Source: Print Culture and the Modern World, Chapter 5 — Section 9
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Explanation
- Examiners look for three parts: pre/post-1857 shift, specific government measures (name the Vernacular Press Act and its provisions), and the nationalist response with examples.
- Always name the Vernacular Press Act (1878) — it is the key legislation and earns a definite mark.
- The Tilak/Kesari example is the textbook's own illustration — use it to show the cycle of repression and protest.
- Do not confuse this with the Rowlatt Act (different chapter/context), but you may briefly mention WWI Defence of India Rules if time permits, as it is in the source.