Question

Why had Englishmen demanded a clamp down on the Vernacular Press in the 19th century?

Answer 1

Hint: The Vernacular Press Act was issued by the British government in 1878. This was enacted in order to cut down the spread of vernacular-Indian language press in India.

Complete answer: Lord Lytton, the then Viceroy of India, issued orders to enact the Vernacular Press act in 1878. This act would prevent the criticism of the British in vernacular press which were criticising British policies. Opposition had increased due to the Anglo Afghan war. The act gave thebritish, the permission for the following:
a) This act was based on the Irish Press Act. It permitted the government to censor editorials and reports which were in vernacular language.
b) The government kept a record of vernacular newspapers.
c)The newspapers which published seditious materials were given a warning.
The British did not want to encourage ant obstruction in the publication of the bill, hence the bill was not published in any newspaper of Calcutta or in the Western provinces. The vernacular paper Amrita Bazar Patrika turned itself into an English newspaper. This was done within a week of the passing of the act.As soon as the publishers became aware of the provision of the act, there was strong opposition against the Vernacular Press Act. The protests were carried on by all the organisations irrespective of their caste, religion and other factors.

Note: All the distinguished leaders of Bengal and India heavily opposed the Act. They demanded the act to be withdrawn immediately. In 1881, the act was declared null and void by Lord Lytton’s successor, Lord Ripon.