How did newspapers play a major role in freedom movement?

The Indian press has played a very important and memorable role in the struggle for freedom. Newspaper helped in spreading awareness about the real intentins of British rulers.

1. Raja Ram Mohan Roy was the founder of national press in India. His Sambad-Kaumudi in Bengali published in 1821, and Mirat-Ul-Akbar in Persian published in 1822, where the first Publication in India with a distinct appreciation.

2. Fardaonji Murzban was the pioneer of the Vernacular Press in Bombay. He started Bombay Samachar in 1822.

3. Many other powerful newspapers were published from 1870 to 1918. Such as Hindu and Swadesamitran under the editorship of G. Subramaniya Iyer, Voice of India under Dadabhai Naoroji, Kesari and Mahratta under B.G. Tilak, Amrita Bazar Patrika under Sisir Kumar Ghosh, Indian Mirror under N.N. Sen, etc.

4. The press was the main instrument to carry out different political tasks. The formation of different national groups, the work of the National Congress, the resolution of the meeting and the proceedings of these meetings were all carried out through newspapers.

5. Many of the leaders of the freedom movement had turned into journalist to express their idea to the masses.

6. The people were interested in reading the ideas which threatened the Britishers. They restricted the freedom by the introduction of the Vernacular Press Act in 1878.

7. Under this act, the publishers had to submit all their content to the police before publication. The police used to decide the news to be printed, and others were deleted. Many presses where shut down and editors were jailed.

8. The national East groups campaign against this act and eventually it was removed.

9. The Indian press enjoyed considerable freedom until 1930.

10. The Press law of 1932 and the Foreign Relations Act of 1932 diminished the freedom.

Press was a very important tool for social reforms such as the ban on child marriage, dowry, remarriage of widow, etc. It helped to bring about equality among men and women. It also helped people to understand that untouchability is a crime. It helped them to come together and express their opinion to the masses. So it played an extremely important role in the freedom movement of the country.