Restrictions on the Press and White Racism
Modern History › British Policies and Their Impact · Topic 27.2
Nationalists used the press to educate opinion and criticise the government. Metcalfe lifted restrictions on the Indian press in 1835, but Lytton's Vernacular Press Act of 1878 curbed the Indian-language press and was repealed in 1882 after protests; press restrictions returned in 1908 and 1910 after the Swadeshi and anti-partition movements. The rulers also maintained white superiority through exclusion from services and public places and displays of racial arrogance.
5 min read · UPSC Prelims · History · British Policies and Their Impact
At a Glance
- 1835 Metcalfe lifted restrictions on the Indian press
- 1878 Lytton’s Vernacular Press Act; repealed 1882
- 1908 and 1910 New restrictions after Swadeshi and anti-partition movements
- Racism Exclusion from services, railway compartments, parks, hotels and clubs
- Exam link UPSC Prelims, Modern History: British Policies and Their Impact
Where Does It Fit?
This is the second topic of the category on British policies and their impact. The previous topic covered administrative policies after 1857. This topic covers the restrictions on the press and white racism. The next topic covers British social and cultural policy. Previous topic: Administrative Policies: Divide and Rule, Zamindars, Social Services and Labour Laws.
How Did the British Restrict the Press?
The nationalists were quick to use new advances in press technology to educate public opinion and to influence government policy through criticism, and later to arouse national consciousness. In 1835 Metcalfe lifted the restrictions imposed on the Indian press. But Lytton, fearing the growing influence of the nationalist press on public opinion, imposed restrictions on the Indian-language press through the infamous Vernacular Press Act of 1878. The Act had to be repealed in 1882 after public protest.
| Year | Event |
|---|---|
| 1835 | Metcalfe lifts restrictions on the Indian press |
| 1878 | Lytton’s Vernacular Press Act restricts the Indian-language press |
| 1882 | The Act is repealed after public protest |
| About 1882-1900s | The press enjoys relative freedom for about two decades |
| 1908 and 1910 | Restrictions imposed again in the wake of the Swadeshi and anti-partition movements |
The full history of the press laws is in Development of the Indian Press: Early Regulations and the Struggle for Freedom and Vernacular Press Act, 1878 and Later Press Laws. The Swadeshi movement is in Swadeshi and Boycott Movement.
How Was White Racism Maintained?
The notion of white superiority was carefully maintained by the colonial rulers. They excluded Indians systematically from higher grades of services, civil and military, and from railway compartments, parks, hotels, clubs and similar places. They also displayed racial arrogance in public through beatings, blows and even murders, which were reported as accidents. Elgin once wrote that the British could govern only by maintaining the fact that they were the dominant race, and that though Indians in services should be encouraged, there was a point at which control had to be reserved to themselves if they were to remain at all.
The exclusion from services is described in Montford Reforms, Lee Commission and Evaluation of the Civil Services, and the exclusion from the army’s higher ranks in The Military Under the British. Jawaharlal Nehru later recalled that the English were an imperial race, they were told, with a God-given right to govern and keep Indians in subjection, and that protests were met with reminders of the tiger qualities of an imperial race.
What Was the Effect of the Press Laws on Nationalism?
The press laws did not stop the growth of nationalist opinion. The repeal of the Vernacular Press Act in 1882 after public protest showed that the nationalists could mount an effective campaign against an unpopular law, and the new restrictions of 1908 and 1910 came after a period in which the press had been an important means for the Swadeshi movement to reach people. The cycle of freedom, restriction and relative freedom shows that the government’s policy depended on its sense of danger: when nationalist feeling seemed manageable the press was left alone, and when mass movements grew it was curbed. The treatment of the press in a wider setting, including the laws of the First World War and after, is covered in the later topics on the Indian press.
Why Do These Policies Fit Together?
As an analytical point, the restrictions on the press and the racial barriers served the same end as the other reactionary policies of the period: to limit the influence of educated Indians and their criticism, and to maintain the position of the rulers in a society that was starting to question them. A government that saw the press as a danger, and Indians as unfit for equal treatment, could not at the same time claim to be preparing Indians for self-rule, which is the contradiction that nationalists pointed to. The effects of the policy on the Indian economy and society are covered in the following topics.
Why Is This Topic Important?
- Press laws Dates are stock Prelims facts
- White racism Elgin’s remark is a common Mains quotation
- Contradiction with claims The tension between claimed trusteeship and practice
What Came Next?
The next topic covers British social and cultural policy in India. Next topic: British Social and Cultural Policy in India.
Key People and Terms
- Vernacular Press Act Lytton’s 1878 Act against the Indian-language press
- Metcalfe Lifted restrictions on the press in 1835
- Racial arrogance Public display of white superiority
- Elgin Viceroy who spoke of the need to remain the dominant race
- Anti-partition movement The movement against the partition of Bengal
- Press technology New means of printing used by nationalists
Exam Corner
Points to Remember
- Metcalfe 1835; Vernacular Press Act 1878; repealed 1882.
- New restrictions in 1908 and 1910.
- Murders of Indians reported as accidents.
- Elgin: remain the dominant race.
- Exclusion from railway compartments, parks, hotels, clubs.
Do Not Confuse With
- Metcalfe and Lytton Metcalfe freed the press in 1835; Lytton restricted it in 1878
- 1878 and 1882 Act passed and repealed
- 1908 and 1910 Later restrictions after Swadeshi
Memory Hook
Freed by Metcalfe, gagged by Lytton, gagged again after Swadeshi.
Mains Angle
Questions ask about the control of the press and racial attitudes. These points add depth.
- Press Freedom and restriction in cycles
- Racism Exclusion and arrogance
- Motive Maintain dominance
A Question You May Face
An original practice question, not a past paper question.
“Discuss the British attitude to the Indian press and the maintenance of white racial superiority after 1857.”
How to Answer
- Press 1835, 1878, 1882, 1908-10.
- Racism Exclusion and arrogance.
- Motive Elgin’s remark.
- Conclude Contradiction in claims.
GS Relevance
Frequently Asked Questions
What was the Vernacular Press Act of 1878?
Lytton's Vernacular Press Act of 1878 imposed restrictions on the Indian-language press, because he feared the growing influence of the nationalist press on public opinion among Indians. It was repealed in 1882 after public protest.
Who lifted the restrictions on the Indian press in 1835?
Metcalfe lifted the restrictions that had been imposed on the Indian press in 1835. The press then enjoyed relative freedom, apart from the period of the Vernacular Press Act of 1878 to 1882, when the Indian-language press was curbed.
When were press restrictions reimposed after the repeal of 1882?
After about two decades of relative freedom, restrictions on the press were imposed again in 1908 and 1910 in the wake of the Swadeshi and anti-partition movements, which had made the nationalist press more active.
How was white racism maintained under British rule?
The rulers excluded Indians from higher civil and military posts and from railway compartments, parks, hotels and clubs, and displayed racial arrogance in public through beatings, blows and even murders that were reported as accidents.
What did Elgin say about British rule and race?
Elgin wrote that the British could govern only by maintaining that they were the dominant race, and that though Indians in services should be encouraged, a point existed beyond which the British must reserve control to themselves if they were to remain.
PYQ Practice — Statement Analysis
1 The Vernacular Press Act was passed under Lytton in 1878.
It was repealed in 1882.
2 Metcalfe imposed severe restrictions on the Indian press in 1835.
He lifted the restrictions.
3 Press restrictions were imposed again in 1908 and 1910.
The Swadeshi movement was the context.
4 Indians were allowed equally in railway compartments and clubs reserved for Europeans.
They were excluded.
5 Elgin spoke of the need to remain the dominant race.
He wanted control reserved to the British.
Related Topics
Browse the full Modern History index