1. Tradition of Handwritten Manuscripts in India:

• India had a rich tradition of handwritten manuscripts in languages like Sanskrit, Arabic, Persian, and various vernacular languages.
• Manuscripts were copied on palm leaves or handmade paper, sometimes featuring intricate illustrations.
• Preservation techniques included pressing between wooden covers or sewing pages together.

2. Challenges with Manuscripts:

• Manuscripts were expensive and fragile, requiring careful handling.
• Different script styles made reading difficult, limiting their widespread use in everyday life.

3. Education System and Manuscript Usage:

• Pre-colonial Bengal had village primary schools, but students often learned to write without reading texts.
• Teachers relied on memory to dictate portions of texts, and students transcribed them, resulting in literacy without actual reading experience for many.

Print Comes to India

1. Introduction of Printing Press in Goa:

• Portuguese missionaries brought the printing press to Goa in the mid-sixteenth century.
• Jesuit priests printed tracts in Konkani, with around 50 books printed in Konkani and Kanara languages by 1674.

2. Printing in Tamil and Malayalam:

• Catholic priests printed the first Tamil book in 1579 at Cochin and the first Malayalam book in 1713.
• Dutch Protestant missionaries printed 32 Tamil texts by 1710, translating older works.

3. Emergence of English Language Press:

• English language press in India developed relatively late, despite the presence of the English East India Company importing presses from the late seventeenth century.
• James Augustus Hickey initiated English printing with the Bengal Gazette in 1780, emphasizing its independence from colonial influence.

4. Significance of Bengal Gazette:

• Bengal Gazette, edited by Hickey, served as a weekly magazine and commercial paper open to all.
• It published advertisements, including those related to the import and sale of slaves, and gossip about the Company’s officials, leading to conflicts with Governor-General Warren Hastings.

5. Response to Independent Press:

• Warren Hastings persecuted Hickey and supported officially sanctioned newspapers to counteract negative information about the colonial government.
• The late eighteenth century saw the emergence of several newspapers and journals, including Indian-owned publications like the weekly Bengal Gazette by Gangadhar Bhattacharya.

Next & Previous Topics of NCERT/CBSE History Class 10 Chapter 5: Print Culture and the Modern World

Topics No.	Topics Name
1	The First Printed Books
2	Print Comes to Europe
3	The Print Revolution and Its Impact
4	The Reading Mania
5	The Nineteenth Century
6	India and the World of Print
7	Religious Reform and Public Debates
8	New Forms of Publication
9	Print and Censorship

FAQ

Q1. What was the tradition of handwritten manuscripts in India before the introduction of printing?

Answer: Handwritten manuscripts were prevalent in India, written in languages like Sanskrit and Arabic on palm leaves or handmade paper. However, they faced challenges such as fragility and readability.

Q2. How did printing come to India, and what were its early impacts?

Answer: Printing arrived in Goa through Portuguese missionaries in the 16th century. It later expanded to Tamil and Malayalam languages. The introduction of English language press, notably the Bengal Gazette, marked a significant milestone in print culture.

Q3. What was the significance of the Bengal Gazette, and how did it shape colonial interactions?

Answer: The Bengal Gazette, established by James Augustus Hickey in 1780, was the first English language newspaper in India. It served as a platform for commercial advertisements and political gossip, leading to conflicts with colonial authorities like Warren Hastings.