the vernacular press act in 1878 was passed because of british india.
why was the vernacular press act in 1878 passed?
british india
vernacular press act





























in british india, (the vernacular press act, 1878) was enacted to curtail the freedom of the indian press and prevent the expression of criticism toward british policies—notably, the opposition that had grown with the outset of the second anglo-afghan war (1878–80). the act was proposed by lord lytton, then viceroy of india, and was unanimously passed by the viceroy's council on 14 march 1878. the act excluded english-language publications as it was meant to control seditious writing in 'publications in oriental languages' everywhere in the country, except for the south.but the british totally discriminated the indian press.
vernacular press act
at the time the vernacular press act was passed, there were thirty five vernacular papers in bengal, including the "amrita bazar patrika", the editor of which was one sisir kumar ghose. sir ashley eden summoned him and offered to contribute to his paper regularly if he gave him final editorial approval. ghose refused, and remarked that “there ought to be at least one honest journalist in the land.” the vernacular press act might be said to have grown from this incident. about the time the act was passed, sir ashley remarked in a speech that forty five seditious writings published in fifteen different vernacular papers were presented to him before the act was finalized.
vernacular press act