Question

Write a short note on the freedom of the press after the revolt of 1857.
 'OR'
How social reforms and novels had created a great interest in women’s lives?

Answer 1

Hint: The Revolt of 1857 is also known as the First War of Independence in Indian History. It was an initiative against the East India Company to make India free from British Rule. Though it was an ineffective try to make India free from Britishers yet it provokes some of the optimistic results among Indians.

Complete answer:
After the Revolt of 1857, the people’s behaviour towards the Press changed. The English people demanded a total ban on the Press because according to them the Press was the main support who raised the national activities in India during the revolt of 1857. The newspapers were making every Indian aware of the situations prevailing in the country at that time which according to Britishers could become the main cause of their deployment in India. For this, the Vernacular Act was enacted. The Vernacular press Act was passed in the year 1878 by then Viceroy of India Lord Lytton. The Act was created mainly to stop the Indian publishers to publish anything against English. Lord Lytton was viceroy of India from 1876 to 1880. In 1876, there was a famine in South India due to which 10 million people died, and therefore the policies of the British government were criticised mainly. The trading policies of Lord Lytton were focused on the exploitation of India. At the time of famine, the Viceroy conducted the grand Delhi Durbar in 1877 spending money and food when most people were dying out of hunger.

Note: The purpose of passing this Act was to diminish the objection and the criticism that was raised by the Non-English press on British peoples. This ban was imposed only on the newspapers that used to be published in Indian languages. Lord Lytton also launched the Arms Act of 1978 in which no Indian was allowed to carry the weapon without the issuance of the license.