Answer: Since the publication of the first printed newspaper, the Bengal Gazette in 1780, the Indian nationalists who were attracted to modern civil liberties inspired by the French Revolution, realized the role of an independent press. In 1824 itself, Raja Rammohan Roy had protested against a regulation restricting the freedom of the press. Understanding this significance, many newspapers in various parts of India were started. This realization of the potential and conscious effort to develop and spread the press played a critical role in the early phase of the freedom struggle of India in the following manner:

• Political propaganda and education: Political work of the Indian National Congress during its initial years was greatly helped by the press, as it did not have its own organization structure then. Formation and propagation of nationalist ideology was carried out through the press.
• Preparation of masses: The national movement between the period of 1870 and 1918 had not yet resorted to mass agitation and the political work did not consist of active mobilization of people in mass struggles. The press was the chief instrument in arousing, training, mobilizing and consolidating nationalist public opinion.
• Enhancing the geographical spread of the freedom struggle: The influence of the press was not confined to the large cities and the towns. It carried the messages of leaders and nationalists to the far reaches of the country and library movements sprang up all over the country.
• Opposition to the government: The press played an institutional role of opposition to the government by criticizing the activities of the government and worked on the motto of “oppose, oppose, oppose”. Newspapers such as Amrit Bazar Patrika, Kesari, Mahratta etc. played an exemplary role in this regard.

However, arousing political consciousness, inculcating nationalism, exposing colonial rule, and ‘preaching disloyalty’ were no easy tasks and the press faced many challenges, such as:

• Sedition law: The Sedition clause under Section 124A and other sections like 153A and 565 of the Indian Penal Code (IPC) had stringent provisions, even imprisonment for life, with an attempt to silence the newspapers which were critical of the government. Bal Gangadhar Tilak faced three trials in cases related to sedition and was imprisoned twice.
• The Vernacular Press Act, 1878: It was passed by the colonial government to suppress the voice of the non-English newspapers, which were critical of the government after the famine of Bengal. Under this Act, press equipments were also seized.
• Other draconian legislations: In the early 1900s as the national movement gathered steam, the colonial government brought in many draconian acts like the Prevention of Seditious Meetings Act of 1911, Press Act of 1910, and Criminal Law Amendment Act of 1908 to suppress the voice of the Indian press. The Press Act of 1910, which brought over 1,000 newspapers under prosecution, made the Raj’s pockets heavier by Rs. 5 lakhs in form of securities and forfeitures.

Despite these challenges, the Indian press found ingenious ways to survive and thrive. The Amrit Bazar Patrika turned into an English publication overnight to avoid censorship under the Vernacular Press Act. Also, staunch defence of the freedom of the press was undertaken by the national leaders. Recognizing the significance of the freedom of the press in a democracy, it is now a fundamental right under the Constitution of India.