Explain the following statement with reason.
During the British period newspapers also acted as source of social reformation.
Solution
Newspaper can be defined as “a printed means of conveying current information”. It is the proud institution of the society and its basic function is to provide info-edu-tainment (information, education, and entertainment).
The British period was marked by severe government control and censorship. If some newspapers print any news against the government then the strict penalty was given.
- Therefore, in the late 18th and early 19th century, no reputed journalist or newspaper emerged. The newspapers acted as the source of social reformation:
• Newspapers initiated clear journalistic practices and covered the problems of local people and their lives.
• social reformers and political leaders had started contributing to the field of journalism
• Journalism was all about to make common man understand the social, religious, administrative situation of India under the British rule.
• Awareness and against Customs and practices like Sati, untouchability, infanticide etc were given through newspapers.
Notable newspapers and social reformers
• Raja Ram Mohan Roy recognized the power of newspapers and started a Bengali newspaper ‘Sambad Kaumudi’ in 1822
• Fardaonji Murzban in 1822 started ‘Bombay Samachar’, he was a pioneer of the Vernacular Press in Bombay
• C.Y. Chintamani, N. C. Kelkar, Ferozeshah Mehta also started newspapers.
