Repeal and Legacy of Vernacular Press Act
In 1881, Lord Ripon abolished the Vernacular Press Act. The purpose of the 1878 act was to restrict seditious literature in publications written in Oriental languages. The act discriminated against the Indian Press and prevented newspapers written in vernacular languages.
Writing against colonial rule was prohibited by the law for local newspapers. Also, it gave magistrates the power to hold security deposits, which they might take back if the printer broke the bond. A printer’s press might be taken if he committed the same mistake again.
Many segments of the Indian population protested the measure strongly and for a long time. Indian resentment over it acted as one of the reasons for the country’s growing independence struggle.
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.
Let’s explore.
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
Contact Us