Spread of Print in Colonial India: Into the Hinterland

This study explores the spread of print in colonial India during the nineteenth century, with print production initially originating from presidency cities and missionary centers. However, with the growing socialization of print, it began to spread from the metropole to the provinces, including eastern India. It examines the rise of periodicals and newspapers in the mofussil and their contribution to a nascent public sphere.

Format: Paperback / softback
Length: 75 pages
Publication date: 11 November 2021
Publisher: Cambridge University Press

This comprehensive study delves into the extensive spread of print in colonial India during the mid-to-late 19th century. Until the early part of the century, a significant portion of print production in the subcontinent originated from prominent presidency cities like Calcutta, Bombay, and Madras, as well as missionary production centers such as Serampore. However, as print culture gained widespread socialization and local entrepreneurs entered the field, the distribution of printed materials began to expand from the metropolitan centers to the provinces, encompassing both large cities and smaller towns.

In this particular segment, the focus will be on examining the phenomenon of print dissemination in eastern India. Specifically, it will explore how printing spread from Calcutta to various centers such as Hooghly-Chinsurah, Murshidabad, Burdwan, and Rangpur. The study will also take into account the emergence of periodicals and newspapers in the mofussil, assessing their significant role in fostering a nascent public sphere.

The study will shed light on the various factors that contributed to the spread of print in colonial India, including the development of printing technology, the increasing demand for education and information, the influence of colonial policies, and the cultural and social dynamics of the time. It will also examine the impact of print on the development of literature, journalism, and politics in the region, as well as the ways in which it shaped the social and cultural landscape of colonial India.

By examining the spread of print in colonial India, this study aims to provide a deeper understanding of the complex and multifaceted processes that shaped the development of print culture and the emergence of a modern public sphere in the subcontinent.

Weight: 108g
Dimension: 134 x 268 x 10 (mm)
ISBN-13: 9781108969833
Edition number: New ed