Despite continual oppression by the British Raj, Indian freedom fighters refused to relent in the struggle for independence. Apart from being vocal through various movements, they relentlessly strived to instill the ideology of patriotism and the craving for an independent nation through the Press, in the following ways:

• Interestingly, James Augustus Hicky, an Irishman, was the founder of the first newspaper, the Bengal Gazette, in 1780. Hicky launched continuous attack on the British Raj through mockery and ridicule. Although the Bengal Gazette stopped operating in 1782, it left an ever-lasting impact.
• Over time, people got whiff of the British Rulers’ tendency to sow seeds of distrust and suspicion among Hindus and Muslims. This led to the newspaper Payam-e-Azadi serving as an important medium of spreading awareness about the divide and rule policy adopted by the British.
• Apart from that existed several other newspapers like Doorbeen and Samachar Sudhavarashan, which later faced suppression. The British went on passing Acts after Acts to gag the media. However, it only added fuel to fire with the Press discovering ingenious methods of disseminating information, for instance through the use of radio, plays, underground papers, and art.

Thus, through constant media efforts to foster ideas of independence, democracy, and unity, the newspapers played a significant role in igniting the urge for freedom. Also, the press encouraged people and nationalists residing in different parts of India to interact with each other, while also citing instances of significant nationalist struggles occurring around the world, strengthening the spirit of freedom that eventually led to Independence.