Post Independence Nehruvian Era

1. Post Independence Nehruvian Era -

2. Right from the start, Press in India had been subjected to intense scrutiny and restrictions by the colonial rulers • The Indian press which initially started as a means to oppose social and religious biases slowly became a weapon of nationalist cause Seema Narendran, Ramnarain Ruia College

3. The second world war years (1939 – 1945), were very trying for the Indian Press • The Nationalist newspapers especially faced acute stress and had to struggle for its survival • They functioned under severe restrictions and fought hard for country’s independence Seema Narendran, Ramnarain Ruia College

4. 1st wave of Indian freedom • The country rejoiced its freedom • Press celebrated Indian freedom, for which it had fought shoulder to shoulder with the nationalist forces and made enormous sacrifices, braved persecution of the erstwhile colonial rulers • The Hindu described the scene, “After centuries of storm and stress, the ship of Indian freedom has finally come to the port” • Press was buoyant and, sympathetic and cooperative with the new Government. Seema Narendran, Ramnarain Ruia College

5. Change in the tone of the Press • The newly formed government under a deluge of problems- instability and strife, fear and chaos • One section of Press- hangover of colonial rule : • Indulged in fanning communal passions through scurrilous writings • A Bengali editor, who adopted a communal policy stated, that playing down riots and disturbances curbed his sales Seema Narendran, Ramnarain Ruia College

6. After the country became Independent British owners of the newspapers like The Times of India left the country, handing over the businesses to Indian companies. • Editors of pro-freedom struggle Indian newspapers had anti-British stance till 1947. • These newspapers gradually changed their approach; some became pro-establishment Seema Narendran, Ramnarain Ruia College

7. Another section, the major chunk, criticized the Government. • Press became an opposition force, as it was during the British regime • Since Nehru was faced with hardly any opposition, the Press took upon itself to function as an unofficial opposition Seema Narendran, Ramnarain Ruia College

8. Journalism- profit making business • Also, transformation of newspaper’s into a business enterprise had begun • The new proprietors were businessmen keenly observing the finances & profits of the paper • Country’s interests ceased to be important for Press • Sensational journalism started growing Seema Narendran, Ramnarain Ruia College

9. Leader’s saddened • Leaders who earlier shared good rapport with the Press now saddened • Nehru- earliest leader to openly voice his displeasure • 1952, Took a dig at editors while addressing AINEC (All India Newspaper Editors Conference ) • 1959, attacked the Press by questioning the bona fides of the editors • Described the Press as the “product & symbol of private enterprise” and called the Editor’s “champions against state control and regulation” Seema Narendran, Ramnarain Ruia College

10. Nehru disheartened • Ironical- Press gave Nehru demigod status before independence • Nehru was always extensively covered, lot of column space • His speeches- reported at length, verbatim • His statements- treated as news of great importance • Nehru himself wrote many articles and features • Hence, Nehru shocked by the criticism made by the newspapers against the policies initiated by his Government. Seema Narendran, Ramnarain Ruia College

11. The experience of colonial rule in general and the repressive press laws in place during much of the British Raj in particular endowed the indigenous press with what has been described as “reforming and crusading zeal”. • However, in the years immediately following Independence, the press more or less gave up its earlier adversarial role Seema Narendran, Ramnarain Ruia College

12. The first major break with that tradition came in 1975 when the third prime minister, Indira Gandhi, declared a state of Internal Emergency, suspending fundamental rights, including the freedom of speech and expression. • On the night of June 25/26, when the Emergency was proclaimed, the authorities shut off power supply to Bahadur Shah ZafarMarg, New Delhi’s equivalent of Fleet Street. • Waking up to censorship for the first time in free India, the Indian press witnessed a different face of the post-Independence State. Seema Narendran, Ramnarain Ruia College

13. Reporting of all domestic and international news was prohibited. • The government expelled several foreign correspondents (mainly American and British) and withdrew accreditation from more than 40 Indian reporters who normally covered the capital. Seema Narendran, Ramnarain Ruia College

14. Many journalists were jailed and others lost their jobs because of their opposition to the Emergency and related matters. • However, this experience of censorship and intimidation did not result in strong and sustained resistance of the kind seen during British rule, especially within the mainstream or establishment press, although there were some notable exceptions, chiefly among small publications. Seema Narendran, Ramnarain Ruia College

15. Nevertheless the Emergency experience, short-lived as it was, proved to be a turning point in the history of Indian journalism. • The deprivation of civil liberties and suspension of democratic rights during the Emergency led to more public and media interest in human rights and related issues. Seema Narendran, Ramnarain Ruia College

16. A more vigorous, investigative mode of newsgathering and writing came into vogue after the lifting of the Emergency in 1977 • A magazine boom occurred in India, as newly founded newsmagazines like India Today capitalised on Indian readers` unfulfilled requirements for news and other information during the Emergency years of 1975 to 1977, when press freedom was revoked. Seema Narendran, Ramnarain Ruia College

17. A number of news magazines contributed to the magazine boom that characterised the 1980s. • Detailed, investigative news coverage by magazines provided an attractive alternative to most newspaper coverage.  • Because of improvements in printing technology and the sale of commercial advertising, especially color advertisements, the appeal of magazines was great. Seema Narendran, Ramnarain Ruia College

18. The press gained in tangible ways from these developments: in three years from 1976 to 1979, newspaper circulation rose by 40% for daily newspapers and 34% for periodicals. Seema Narendran, Ramnarain Ruia College

19. The ninetie’s • Ever since the process of liberalisation began in India, in the 90’s there has a been a consistent growth in media, particularly electronic media in the country. • Consistent commitment to economic reforms and opening up of the economy even to foreign media has triggered this. Seema Narendran, Ramnarain Ruia College

20. Mass media in India proliferated in leaps and bounds since 2003 in turns of size. • There has been a proliferation of news bulletins on various television channels in the last couple of years. • The big daily newspapers have further increased their circulation and readership. • Radio and cinema got revived in the last couple of years. Seema Narendran, Ramnarain Ruia College

21. The turnover of media sector is more than Rs.400 billion and growing at around 18 percent per year. • And, as a result, media is identified as among the top five priority sectors for investment. • Indian mass media now is not dominated by Government, as in the earlier decades. Seema Narendran, Ramnarain Ruia College

22. The era of liberalisation brought with it deregulation and the opening up of the Indian media to international media content • The quality and content of news changed Seema Narendran, Ramnarain Ruia College

23. Reach of Mass Media • Overall, Television today reaches nearly 50 percent of population of adult (about 350 million) against about 35 percent (about 200 million) of newspapers of all periodicity. • Even in rural India, print media reaches about a quarter of population against about 45 percent reached by television. • English publications hardly have 10 percent readers. Seema Narendran, Ramnarain Ruia College

24. Readership for magazines works out to hardly one out of every five and there has been a decline in magazines more recently. • TV has slowed down the growth of newspapers marginally but has added to the competition and brought in more optimising efforts. Seema Narendran, Ramnarain Ruia College