UNIT V – CULTURE, IDENTITY AND SOCIETY SOLUTIONS
A. LONG ANSWER TYPE QUESTIONS
Q1. Trace the history of print culture.
Ans: China was the first country to use Xylography, the process of printing with paper, ink and wooden blocks. Paper was invented in China in the 8th century. By the 11th century, The Chinese created the world’s first movable type. Xylography was also the printing method used in Europe in the early 15th century. Johannes Gutenberg was the inventor of printing from movable type. In 1444, he entered into partnership with Johann Fust who financed for a printing press. The partnership ended in 1455. Then aided by one Konrad Humrey, he was able to set up another press.
Printing Technology has undergone massive changes over more than the last 500 years. In 1796, Aloysius Senedelder, a German author developed techniques of lithography. Joseph Nicephore Niepe, a French
inventor discovered in 1820s that certain compounds were sensitive to light. His work led to the invention of photography and use of photographic process to reproduce images. Inventions of offset techniques, computerized machines and laser printing techniques had brought huge changes in the printing process.
Q2. Explain the history of books.
Ans: Books have been the treasure house of knowledge and answer. Now, we have millions and millions of printed books. Ancient books were in manuscript forms. The world received the Bible from Israel. Ancient Greece and Rome were the centres of the great literary works during the middle ages in Europe. The printing press had produced Europe’s first type-set book called “Gutenberg’s Bible”. The writings of the modern period are on various subjects and ideas. They include the writings of religious reforms, The philosophers and scientist, William Shakespeare and many other great playwrights and thousands of books on numerous subject matters. In the Eastern world, writings on Islam, Hinduism, Confucianism, Taoism, Buddhism are worth mentioning.
Q3. Describe how the modern-day newspapers came into being.
Ans: The early evidence of an official means of spreading news dated from 59 BC in Rome, where a daily Gazette called “ActaDiurna” was published. The Gazette was prepared by Julius Caesar who was a Roman general and statesman and later he became a dictator of Rome. It was a handwritten manuscript and displayed at important places of Rome. Similar technique of publishing news was also in practice in China from the 6th to 20th century. During the middle ages in Europe, manuscript newsletters were circulated
among the people. The first true newspapers were derived from commercial bulletins published during the early 17th century. Such bulletins where circulated among the merchants of port cities. The merchants in turn carried news brought back by ship captains and crews from far off places. Such early papers first appeared in Netherlands and then in Britain and France. Gradually, such early paper spread to other countries of Europe.
Q4. Explain the censorship of the press during the 19th century.
Ans: Censorship began not long after the beginning of publishing foreign and domestic news in the Corantos. Soon, government began to intervene in the publication of news. Thomas Archer, the first British publisher was imprisoned. ‘Public Occurrences Both Foreign and Domestic’, the first newspaper in British-North America was instantly suppressed by the Government of Massachusetts when it began its publication in 1690. In North America, official news was spread through proclamation and pamphlets or by
newspapers and news letters from London. After the enforcement of the American constitution in 1787, the American newspapers became extremely partisan. Print media was used as a propaganda tool. In the USA, James Gordon Bennett founded the “New York Herald” in 1835 which led to the beginning of American journalism.
Q5. Trace the growth of the press in the 19th Century India.
Ans: In India, printing was introduced at Goa by the Jesuits in the mid-16th century. The print culture reached the Tamil region in South India. The early Indian presses used to print mainly the Christian literature. The printing of books and newspapers in India was to be done through a licence issued by the governor general in Council before 1835. Many editors were deported without trial to Europe and some of them were seriously dealt with during the last decade of the 19th century. In 1818, Governor General Marquess of Hastings abolished censorship. The first vernacular newspaper in Bengali "Samachar
Darpan" appeared in 1818, "Bombay Samachar" in Gujarat in 1830 and Indian press was established in Agra, Delhi, Gwalior and Lahore during 1835 to 1857. In 1878, Lord Lytton passed the Vernacular Press Act to restrict the Vernacular newspapers. The Amrita Bazar Patrika became a full-fledged English daily to evade the blow of Vernacular Press Act. Many other dailies, weeklies and monthlies appeared in India
during last quarter of the 19th century.
Q6. Explain how the British administration treated the Indian Vernacular newspapers during the colonial period.
Ans: The British administration was alarmed when the Indian masses began to read the Vernacular newspapers which criticized the British colonial policies and programmes. In 1857, Lord Canning restored the system of Licences to control Vernacular journalism. Out of 33 popular publications in existence on the eve of the revolt of 1857, only 6 of them survived The Great Revolt. The Vernacular Press Act of 1878 by Lord Lytton deprived the Vernacular newspapers of criticizing the British colonial administration. People led by Surendranath Banerjee opposed the act and demanded its repeal and finally, the Act was repealed by Lord Ripon in 1882. The Indian press Ordinance was promulgated in 1930 and it curbed the freedom of press. In 1931, The Indian Press Act was promulgated which prohibited the newspapers to publish matter of inciting to violence and to publish any kind of Congress propaganda. The colonial government further curbed the freedom of press in August, 1942 with the registration of correspondence, limitations on messages, limitation on headlines, etc.
Q7. Describe the relation between the print culture, public debate and politics in India during the 19th Century and early 20th century.
Ans: Many newspapers appeared with Nationalist ideas during 19th and early part of the 20th century India. They were published in Vernacular languages and in English. They played an important role in spreading democratic and Nationalist ideas among the people. They became the medium of communication for the political parties and public debates. They criticized the policies and programmes of the colonial British government. All these newspapers carried out various news, views, debates, public opinions and criticism on the British rule. In the early 20th century, India witnessed a new era in the growth of print culture. G.A. Natesen of Madras began the “Indian Review”, a monthly in 1900. The “Leader” published in Allahabad became the mouthpiece of the liberals. The Hindu daily “AJ” supported the Congress programmes. “The Hindustan Times” supported the Swarajya Party. Thus, relationship was developed between the print culture, public debate and politics in early 20th century.
B. SHORT ANSWER TYPE QUESTIONS
Q1. Define Xylography.
Ans: Xylography was the art of engraving process on and printing from wooden blocks. China was the first country to use Xylography. In this process, a single carved wooden block of text was used to print impression on pages.
Q2. Write a note on the Gutenberg’s Bible.
Ans: In 1455, Johannes Gutenberg produced Europe’s first-type-set book by combining movable metal type and the printing press. The book was 42-line Bible and it was popularly known as Gutenberg’s Bible. It was Gutenberg’s best known book.
Q3. State the consequences of the invention of offset printing technique.
Ans: (i) With the invention of offset printing technique in the United States in the beginning of 20th century, a series of new innovations made mass production, high speed and economy in printing possible.
(ii) Automated composition was developed after the first two decades of the 20th century and programmed composition gave birth by the middle of the said century.
Q4. Why do we read books?
Ans: (i) Book are the best means to search for answers that deals with the questions asked by human beings.
(ii) Books have always been and continue to be the treasure houses of knowledge and answers.
(iii) Both fact and fiction books tell and teach us about the things that we have never come across.
Q5. Write a note on the Corantos?
Ans: The first true newspapers were derived from the commercial bulletins published during the early 17th century. Such bulletins were circulated among the merchants of port cities such as Antwerp and Venice. The merchants in turn, carried news brought back by the ship captains and crews from far off places. These early papers were known as “Corantos”. They appeared first time in the Netherlands and shortly afterwards in Britain and France.
Q6. State the contribution of Emile de Girardin in the French print culture?
Ans: In 1836, Emile de Girardin founded the “La Presse” which laid emphasis on the press free from partisan sentiment. Thus, in France a move towards the press free from the partisan sentiment emerged with the foundation of “La Presse”. He introduced news features like serial stories to raise circulation and bring down the purchasing price of newsprint.
Q7. Mention the main coverage in the modern day newspapers.
Ans: (i) The modern day newspapers extensively cover international, national and local events.
(ii) There are also commentaries on current events by the editors as well as discussions by the columnists with a wide range of objective observations on important news and events.
(iii) Most of the modern day newspaper included various sections and columns on entertainment, finance, industry, science and technology, travel and tourism, comic strip, cartoons, sports, etc.
Q8. Explain the Vernacular Press Act.
Ans: (i) In 1878, Lord Lytton promulgated the Vernacular Press Act. It gagged the vernacular newspaper.
(ii) The Act was a great blow to the freedom of press, especially the newspapers published in the Vernacular Languages.
The Act was criticized even by some members of the Viceroy’s Council.
Q9. Name 5 important newspapers which began to publish with nationalist ideas in India during the 19th century.
Ans: (i) Hindu Patriot. (ii) Amrita Bazar Patrika (iii) Som Prakash. (iv) Native opinion (v) Induprakash.
Q10. Why was the Indian Press Ordinance 1930 promulgated?
Ans: (i) The Indian Press ordinance was promulgated in 1930 to curb the freedom of Press.
(ii) The Indian editors strongly opposed the ordinance.
Q11. State the principal aims of the All India Newspaper Editors’ Conference (AINEC).
Ans: (i) To preserve high traditions and standards.
(ii) To serve and safeguard the business interests of the press in publication of news and comments.
(iii) To secure facilities and privileges for the discharge of its responsibilities.
C. VERY SHORT ANSWER TYPE QUESTIONS
Q1. Name the country where paper was invented.
Ans: Paper was invented in China.
Q2. What is meant by photogravure?
Ans: Photogravure is the process of using photography to make a printing plate or an image engraved into it.
Q3. Who wrote “Don Quixote”?
Ans: Miguel de Cervantes.
Q4. What is Confucianism?
Ans: Confucianism is the teaching of Confucius, the Chinese philosopher.
Q5. What do you mean by Shintoism?
Ans: Shintoism is the Japanese religion in which devotees worship and make offerings to numerous gods and spirits associated with the natural world.
Q6. What was the “Acta Diurna”?
Ans: “Acta Diurna” was a daily gazette published in Rome in 59BC.
Q7. Name the first newspaper that was published in the British North America.
Ans: “Publick Occurrences Both Foreign and Domestick”.
Q8. Name the first book in Bengali.
Ans: The Bengali Grammar by Nethaniel Brassay Halhed.
Q9. When was the “Samachar Darpan” started?
Ans: 1818.
Q10. Name the first Press Counselor of India.
Ans: Sir Robert Bethbridge.
Q11. In which year did the “Illustrated weekly” begin its publication?
Ans: 1878.
Q12. In which year was the “vernacular Press Act” promulgated?
Ans: 1878.
Q13. Who was the first editor of the “Hindustan Times”?
Ans: K.M. Panikkar.
Q14. When was the Indian and Eastern Newspapers society established?
Ans: 1939
EXTRA QUESTIONS & ANSWERS
Q1. Give the names of the earliest and most revered book in China and Japan.
Ans: (i) Confucian Classic of China.
(ii) Sacred book on Shintoism of Japan.
Q2. Show how the East India Company’s administration tried to curb public criticism in colonial India.
Ans: (i) Several editors were deported without trial to Europe.
(ii) Some of the editors were severely blamed and forced to apologize.
Q3. Name two newspapers which supported the All India Muslim League.
Ans: (i) The Star of India. (ii) The Dawn.
Q4. Whose principles and ideas were followed by the partisan newspapers in America?
Ans: (i) John Adam’s Federalists. (ii) Jeffersonian Republicans.
Q5. Which newspaper became the mouthpiece of the educated and enlightened Bengalis? Whose issue did it take up?
Ans: (i) The Hindu Patriot. (ii) It took up the cause of the poor indigo cultivators.
Q6. What are the oldest religious scriptures in India?
Ans: The Vedas of Hinduism are the oldest religious scriptures in India.
Q7. How was the official news spread in North America during the British rule?
Ans: Through proclamation and pamphlets or by newsletter and newspapers from London.
Q8. Why did Lord Canning restore the system of licenses?
Ans: To control the Vernacular journalism.
Q9. Who was the founder of “Young India”?
Ans: Mahatama Gandhi.
Q10. Give one reason why the “Amrita Bazar Patrika” was published in English.
Ans: The Reason was to Evade the blow of the Vernacular Press Act of 1878.