Question

How are private letters and autobiographies as sources different from official accounts?

Answer 1

Private letters and Autobiographies sources were different from official accounts, as manifested in the following points:

1. Government Records: Government records are another vital source to reconstruct the past. The letters and reports written by policemen and other officials were secret at that time, but now they can be accessed in archives. One such source is the fortnightly reports prepared by the home department from the early 20th century. These reports were based on information given to the police by the localities, but often expressed what the officials saw or wanted to believe. For example, in fortnightly reports for the period of the Salt March, it is noticed that the home department was not ready to believe that Mahatma Gandhiji’s actions had evolved any enthusiastic response from the masses.
2. Newspaper Records: One more important source is contemporary newspapers. Both Indian and foreign newspapers played an important role while covering the news of the Indian National Movement and the political career of Gandhiji. Newspapers also represented what ordinary Indians thought of him. Newspaper accounts, however, should not be seen as unprejudiced. They were published by people who had their own political opinions and world views. These ideas shaped what was published and the way events were reported.