The Press In India: An over view. G.S.Bhargava, National Book Trust. PP 217,Rs 85.The press in India ever since its inception passed through many tumultuous phases from Marquess Wellesley in the East Indian Company days to the infamous emergency during Mrs.Gandhi’s regime. It was baptism by fire for the Indian media. The history of Indian press is replete with courage and supreme sacrifice by patriotic journalists who perceived newspaper as a vehicle of social reform.
Very little attempt has been made to chronicle the history of Indian journalism in spite of the availability of flood of material on the subject. There are very few books on the subject beginning from J.Natarajan’s classic, History of the Press in India in 1950 to N.S.Jagannathan’s Independence And The Indian Press, Heirs to a Great Tradition in 1999, the present book is a welcome addition, though the study is confined to the growth and development of the English language press.
Veteran journalist and a well know media critic, G.S.Bhargava, during his long and illustrious career, worked at responsible positions with leading national and international dailies. He served in reputed universities as Research fellow at Harvard and Cornell University, Institute for strategic sciences (IISS) London. He was the Principal Information Officer (PIO) during the Janata Party regime (1978-80). His popular media column ‘Blue Pencil’ in the pioneer, won all round acclaim.
Beginning with The pathfinders who had left glorious trail behind them, the author traces the development of the press to the post – independent era which saw a qualitative shift in the character of the media. The political and journalistic movements had run closely with most of the early reformers being also founders and editors of newspapers. They commanded high proficiency in English speech and writing though they lacked training in journalism. Besides reform of the Hindu society, they set out to prepare ground for institutionalization of civic society. Praising Raja Ram Mohan Roy for his active participation in the theological and other controversies he takes a jab at the present day intellectuals who have no stomach for serious debate ‘Although secularism figures in almost daily use nobody cares to define it.’
The outbreak of the Second World War (1939-45) saw India dragged into the fray in the teeth of opposition by the national movement. Interestingly, many owners of Indian run newspapers were ardent supporters of the nationalist movement. They kept their business separate from their ideology and political concerns. ‘They had to keep their factories working for war effort, for otherwise, the British government could have ‘expropriated them.’ Newspapers like the National Herald, The Sainik and Aaj (Hindi) suspended publication protesting against imposition of pre censorship. But the established ones like The Hindu, The Hindustan Times, too had closed down the field would have been free for the Anglo-Indian newspapers to peddle in the pro-British line unchallenged, people would have been starved of nationalist news and comment.
After independence press witnessed phenomenal growth both horizontal and vertical, ‘ With press becoming industry the idealism of the previous period, had dried up.’ and commercial elements have crept in.Liberalization of the economy transformed newspaper industry into big business, which led to price war among major English dailies. He observes that advertisements and circulation became engines of Indian journalism ignoring the professional aspects of journalism. He warns, ‘overflowing news with advertisements distorts the character of newspapers.’
The year 1975 may well be said as the ‘water shed’ year in the history of Indian journalism. The author says ‘it was traumatic and yet revealing experience.’ With a single stroke of pen, the country was pushed into the dark days of Marques Wellesley’s era, and press was subjected to censorship by mindless bureaucrats. All institutions of democracy were subverted, and the press was muzzled. He opines the political establishment of the day lacked the legality and legitimacy to impose restrictions on the press. He laments the indifference of the present day editors, ‘it is depressing that very few journalists, even editors, today demonstrate aversion for the emergency and that steps are under way to white wash it.’
The white paper prepared by K.K.Das Former secretary in the ministry of Information Broadcasting reveals horrifying facts. About 253 journalists/editors, arrested, 110 taken into custody lasting one year under MISA, seven foreign correspondents expelled, entry into India of 27 foreign correspondents was banned, accreditation of 51 Indian correspondents/journalists was withdrawn. Described as the country’s second liberation struggle, this chapter invites study.
Bhargav sadly notes, ‘The transformation of the press from a mission to service and ultimately to industry and consequent conversion of journalism from upholders of values and causes to industrial wage earners had a profound effect on the quality and character of the profession.’ Well said.
Very little attempt has been made to chronicle the history of Indian journalism in spite of the availability of flood of material on the subject. There are very few books on the subject beginning from J.Natarajan’s classic, History of the Press in India in 1950 to N.S.Jagannathan’s Independence And The Indian Press, Heirs to a Great Tradition in 1999, the present book is a welcome addition, though the study is confined to the growth and development of the English language press.
Veteran journalist and a well know media critic, G.S.Bhargava, during his long and illustrious career, worked at responsible positions with leading national and international dailies. He served in reputed universities as Research fellow at Harvard and Cornell University, Institute for strategic sciences (IISS) London. He was the Principal Information Officer (PIO) during the Janata Party regime (1978-80). His popular media column ‘Blue Pencil’ in the pioneer, won all round acclaim.
Beginning with The pathfinders who had left glorious trail behind them, the author traces the development of the press to the post – independent era which saw a qualitative shift in the character of the media. The political and journalistic movements had run closely with most of the early reformers being also founders and editors of newspapers. They commanded high proficiency in English speech and writing though they lacked training in journalism. Besides reform of the Hindu society, they set out to prepare ground for institutionalization of civic society. Praising Raja Ram Mohan Roy for his active participation in the theological and other controversies he takes a jab at the present day intellectuals who have no stomach for serious debate ‘Although secularism figures in almost daily use nobody cares to define it.’
The outbreak of the Second World War (1939-45) saw India dragged into the fray in the teeth of opposition by the national movement. Interestingly, many owners of Indian run newspapers were ardent supporters of the nationalist movement. They kept their business separate from their ideology and political concerns. ‘They had to keep their factories working for war effort, for otherwise, the British government could have ‘expropriated them.’ Newspapers like the National Herald, The Sainik and Aaj (Hindi) suspended publication protesting against imposition of pre censorship. But the established ones like The Hindu, The Hindustan Times, too had closed down the field would have been free for the Anglo-Indian newspapers to peddle in the pro-British line unchallenged, people would have been starved of nationalist news and comment.
After independence press witnessed phenomenal growth both horizontal and vertical, ‘ With press becoming industry the idealism of the previous period, had dried up.’ and commercial elements have crept in.Liberalization of the economy transformed newspaper industry into big business, which led to price war among major English dailies. He observes that advertisements and circulation became engines of Indian journalism ignoring the professional aspects of journalism. He warns, ‘overflowing news with advertisements distorts the character of newspapers.’
The year 1975 may well be said as the ‘water shed’ year in the history of Indian journalism. The author says ‘it was traumatic and yet revealing experience.’ With a single stroke of pen, the country was pushed into the dark days of Marques Wellesley’s era, and press was subjected to censorship by mindless bureaucrats. All institutions of democracy were subverted, and the press was muzzled. He opines the political establishment of the day lacked the legality and legitimacy to impose restrictions on the press. He laments the indifference of the present day editors, ‘it is depressing that very few journalists, even editors, today demonstrate aversion for the emergency and that steps are under way to white wash it.’
The white paper prepared by K.K.Das Former secretary in the ministry of Information Broadcasting reveals horrifying facts. About 253 journalists/editors, arrested, 110 taken into custody lasting one year under MISA, seven foreign correspondents expelled, entry into India of 27 foreign correspondents was banned, accreditation of 51 Indian correspondents/journalists was withdrawn. Described as the country’s second liberation struggle, this chapter invites study.
Bhargav sadly notes, ‘The transformation of the press from a mission to service and ultimately to industry and consequent conversion of journalism from upholders of values and causes to industrial wage earners had a profound effect on the quality and character of the profession.’ Well said.
He notes reporting has become opinionated writing, news space can be bought for a price, and leading newspapers in their fight for circulation have been stooping low, resorting to all sorts of dirty tricks and in the process losing their credibility.
Editorial space is being used for advertising in the guise of features. Stating the reader has a right to know. ‘Publishing a gushing article about model or product without stating that it is a paid ad is cheating the public and it is time someone takes the paper to the court.’
MP’s have been silent on the issue, and lawyers who launch Public Interest Litigation (PIL) at the drop of a hat have not been moved by revelations that a section of newspaper industry is treating news pages as additional space for advertising. Is their no public interest involved in the developments he questions?
The book has many rare photographs of path breaking journalists, M.V.Desai, S.N.Ghosh, Motilal Ghosh, S.Kasturiranga Iyengar, Makanlal Chaturvedi, Benjamin Guy Horniman, Syed Abdullah Brelvi and C.Y.Chintamani.Some minor mistakes have crept in, the name of Andhra press baron Ramoji Rao, was mentioned as Ramaji Rao (sic). The contribution of noted journalist Manikonda Chalapathi Rao gets a fleeting reference in Bhargava’s other wise a well-compiled book.
Editorial space is being used for advertising in the guise of features. Stating the reader has a right to know. ‘Publishing a gushing article about model or product without stating that it is a paid ad is cheating the public and it is time someone takes the paper to the court.’
MP’s have been silent on the issue, and lawyers who launch Public Interest Litigation (PIL) at the drop of a hat have not been moved by revelations that a section of newspaper industry is treating news pages as additional space for advertising. Is their no public interest involved in the developments he questions?
The book has many rare photographs of path breaking journalists, M.V.Desai, S.N.Ghosh, Motilal Ghosh, S.Kasturiranga Iyengar, Makanlal Chaturvedi, Benjamin Guy Horniman, Syed Abdullah Brelvi and C.Y.Chintamani.Some minor mistakes have crept in, the name of Andhra press baron Ramoji Rao, was mentioned as Ramaji Rao (sic). The contribution of noted journalist Manikonda Chalapathi Rao gets a fleeting reference in Bhargava’s other wise a well-compiled book.
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