Opposition and Criticism of The Vernacular Press Act of 1878
The Vernacular Press Act of 1878 faced strong opposition from several organizations and personalities.
- The Act was strongly opposed by Indian nationalists.They viewed it as a strict law to prevent the expansion of Indian nationalism.
- The leaders of the opposition were the editors and reporters of vernacular publications, who objected to the Act’s strict guidelines and censorship provisions that restricted their freedom to print and voice opposing opinions.
- Apart from Indian nationalists, the Act was also opposed by certain British liberals and members of the British Parliament for being dictatorial and restricting press freedom.
- Indian reformers, intellectuals, and social activists also opposed the Act, seeing it as an obstruction to social progress and a negative impact on public opinion and information distribution.
- Supporters of press freedom both nationally and globally opposed the Act for interfering with the fundamental right to freedom of expression. They demanded its repeal while stressing out how harmful it was to democratic governance and public accountability.
Vernacular Press Act 1878
The Vernacular Press Act was passed by Lord Lytton in 1878 to prevent newspapers from publishing seditious information. The Act authorized the government to seize any newspapers that published what it considered to be “seditious material.” The purpose of the Vernacular Press Act (1878) was to limit journalistic freedom and reduce opposition to British policy, particularly since the Second Anglo-Afghan War (1878–80). The act did not apply to Englishmen; it was just for Indians.
In this article, we will look into the background, objectives, provisions, impact, criticism, and legacy of the Vernacular Press Act of 1878.
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Table of Content
- Vernacular Press Act Background
- Who Passed the Vernacular Press Act in 1878?
- Objectives of the Vernacular Press Act of 1878
- Vernacular Press Act – Provisions
- Vernacular Press Act Impact
- Opposition and Criticism of The Vernacular Press Act of 1878
- Repeal and Legacy of Vernacular Press Act
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