Press in Colonial India
The Evolution of State-Press Dynamics in Colonial India (1799-1910) "The more people are kept in darkness, their Rulers will derive the greater advantages from them."(Milton, 1644). This statement in Milton's work named " Areopagitica " , underscores the very essence of the struggle for press freedom in colonial India. It highlights the importance of a free press in society, as it acts as a force against power and ensures transparency and accountability against those who govern. This ability of the press to act as a powerful check against oppression made it an integral part of the nationalist movement. Upon recognizing this, the state viewed the freedom of the press as a threat to their rule. They were aware of the power those printed papers held, implemented in a series of press regulations designed to suppress the press and maintain its authority. This created a complex and dynamic interplay between the colonial state's insatiable attempts to control the ...
