Question

Write short notes to show what you know about: Vernacular Press Act.

Answer 1

Hint:
During the mid Eighteenth century there was a wave of rising nationalism. The British Raj passed the Vernacular Press act to suppress the rising voices through the press.


Complete answer:
After the 1857 revolt, there was a rise of nationalism. This was because people got increasingly aware of British control over resources and their lives.
The European press started rallying behind the government in any of the political controversies after the revolt. On the other hand the Vernacular press was critical of the government.
The newspaper published at the smaller places were in vernacular languages. These vernacular newspapers made people aware about the various political affairs and made them question the government for their rights.
In the year 1878, in the best interest of the government Lord Lytton passed the Vernacular Press Act.
The Vernacular press act was designed to curtail the freedom of Indian press. It authorized the government to confiscate the newspaper printing ‘Seditious material”.
This act empowered the magistrate of the districts , to call upon any printer and publish into any bond without prior permission from the government. They would ask them not to publish anything that would arouse the feeling of dissatisfaction towards the government.
This law also authorized the magistrate to deposit the security which later could be confiscated if the printer violated any rule.
Also if the press continued to violate the rule the press would be seized.
There was no right of appeal as the decision of the magistrate was considered final .
The proof sheets and contents of the newspaper were asked to submit to the police first rather than to the judiciary before publication.
The act was also named as “ The Gagging Act” by the people.
The act discriminated between the English press and Vernacular press.
The act had strong opposition and later Lord Ripon repealed it in 1882.


Note:
The Vernacular Press Act took away the freedom of press. The press was not allowed to print anything that could create a feeling of dissatisfaction towards the government. The act faced a lot of opposition.