CHAPTER 07 - OUTCOMES OF DEMOCRACY
Question 1:
Give reasons for the following:
(a) Woodblock print only came to Europe after 1295.
(b) Martin Luther was in favour of print and spoke out
in praise of it.
(c) The Roman Catholic Church began keeping an
Index of Prohibited books from the mid-sixteenth
century.
(d) Gandhi said the fight for Swaraj is a fight for
liberty of speech, liberty of the press, and freedom of
association.
Answer :
(a) Woodblock print was invented around the sixth
century in China. It came to Europe, along with Marco
Polo, in 1295. Marco Polo returned to Italy after many
years of exploration in China, and he brought the
knowledge of woodblock print with him on his return.
(b) Martin Luther was in favour of print and spoke out
in praise of it because print media helped popularise
and spread his ideas. In 1517, he wrote the Ninety
Five Theses, criticising the practices and rituals of the
Roman Catholic Church. These writings were
immediately reproduced in vast numbers and read
widely. His translation of the New Testament was also
accepted and read by thousands. This was only
possible due to the improvements in print technology
which had allowed even the working classes to gain
access to books.
(c) The Roman Catholic Church began keeping an
index of Prohibited books from the mid-sixteenth
century because its authority was being put in danger
by the several individual and distinctive readings and
questionings of faith prompted by the easily accessible
popular religious literature. To supplement its
inquisition and repression of heretical ideas, the
Roman Catholic Church exercised strict control over
publishers and booksellers, and also began to keep an
Index of Prohibited Books from 1558.
(d) Gandhi said the fight for Swaraj is a fight for
liberty of speech, liberty of the press, and freedom of
association because he considered these to be
powerful modes of expression and cultivation of public
opinion. The denial of these freedoms was not
compatible with the idea of self rule and
independence. Hence, the fight for these freedoms,
according to him, was intrinsically a fight for swaraj or
self rule.
Question 2:
Write short notes to show what you know about:
(a) The Gutenberg Press
(b) Erasmus’s idea of the printed book
(c) The Vernacular Press Act
Answer :
(a) The Gutenberg Press: It was established by Johann
Gutenberg. By 1448, he had perfected the system of
printing with olive and wine presses, using
contemporary technological innovations. The first
book that he printed was the Bible, making 180 copies
in 3 years. Although these books were printed, a
unique touch remained in the handmade decorations
of the front page, illuminated borders and purchaser-
specified designs. The Gutenberg Press was the first-
known printing press in the 1430s.
(b) Erasmus’s idea of the printed book: He was critical
of the print medium. He believed that though some
books do provide worthwhile knowledge, others are
simply a bane for scholarship. Erasmus accused
printers of publishing books that were not mere
trifling but “stupid, slanderous, scandalous, raving,
irreligious and seditious”. He also felt that large
numbers of such books reduce the value of the quality
writings.
(c) The Vernacular Press Act: Modelled on the Irish
Press Laws, it was passed in 1878. This law gave the
government tyrannical rights to censor reports and
editorials in the vernacular press. If a seditious report
was published and the newspaper did not heed to an
initial warning, then the press was seized and the
printing machinery confiscated. This was a complete
violation of the freedom of expression.
Question 3:
What did the spread of print culture in nineteenth
century India mean to:
(a) Women
(b) The poor
(c) Reformers
Answer :
(a) Women: The spread of print culture in nineteenth-
century India brought about educational reforms for
women. Liberal husbands and fathers educated their
womenfolk at home or sent them to schools for
women. Women who had been restricted to a
domestic life for generations, now found a new
medium of entertainment. They also began to write
articles for journals, in favour of women's education
and literacy. Some even wrote books; Rashsundari
Devi’s autobiography “Amar Jiban” was the first full-
length autobiography, published in 1876.
Conservatives believed that education and reading
would make women widows, or corrupt them. Many
women learnt to read and write in secret in such
traditionalist environments.
(b) The poor: They benefitted from the spread of print
culture in India on account of the availability of low-
price books and public libraries. Enlightening essays
were written against caste discrimination and its
inherent injustices. These were read by people across
the country. On the encouragement and support of
social reformers, over-worked factory workers set up
libraries for self-education, and some of them even
published their own works, for example, Kashibaba
and his “Chhote Aur Bade Sawal”.
(c) Reformers: Print culture’s popularity was an
advantage for social and religious reformers as they
could now spread their opinions, through newspapers
and books, across the masses. These
ideas could then be debated upon by different groups
of people. Reformist ideas were put forward in the
local, everyday languages of the common people so as
to create a wider platform for the same.
Discuss
Question 1:
Why did some people in eighteenth century Europe
think that print culture would bring enlightenment
and end despotism?
Answer :
Some people in eighteenth-century Europe thought
that print culture would bring enlightenment and end
despotism. Its easy and cheap availability meant that
literacy would no longer be restricted to the upper
classes. While the clergy and monarchs feared the
enlightenment that a vast reading public would gain,
reformers like Martin Luther welcomed the change.
They felt that it would mark an end to the blind
adherence to the rulers’ ideology. This can be seen in
the French Revolution as well. The print medium
allowed the ideals of freedom, equality and
brotherhood set forth by Rousseau and Voltaire in
their writings to reach the public. It created a new
culture of dialogue and debate that initiated the
working class into questioning and re-evaluating social
customs and norms. The power of reason that the
public gained initiated social reform, and brought an
end to despotism.
Question 2:
Why did some people fear the effect of easily available
printed books? Choose one example from Europe and
one from India.
Answer :
The people who feared the effect of easily available
printed books were the ones who held some power,
whether in terms of religion, caste, class or politics.
The fear was that their power and authority would get
eroded if ideas questioning their power and authority
gained mass popularity. In Europe, for example, the
Roman Catholic Church conveyed its sense of
apprehension for the print medium by stating that the
promotion of new "printed" readings of faith would
lead to blasphemous questionings of faith and
encourage heretical ideas. It considered itself to be the
sole authority for interpreting religion. Hence, it set up
the Index of Prohibited Books in 1558 to repress any
published material that it felt corroded this authority.
In India, apart from the colonial government which
did its bit in regulating and suppressing newspapers
and books that questioned and criticised colonial
authority, the religious leaders and the upper castes
also displayed their fear of the print medium. They
understood that their religious and social superiority
was in danger due to the easily accessible "printed"
ideas contradicting their systems of beliefs. They knew
that the popularisation of such ideas would incite
people to rebellion.
Question 3:
What were the effects of the spread of print culture
for poor people in nineteenth century India?
Answer :
The poor people benefitted from the spread of print
culture in India on account of the availability of low-
price books and public libraries. Enlightening essays
were written against caste discrimination and its
inherent injustices. These were read by people across
the country. On the encouragement and support of
social reformers, over-worked factory workers set up
libraries for self-education, and some of them even
published their own works, for example, Kashibaba
and his “Chhote Aur Bade Sawal”.
Question 4:
Explain how print culture assisted the growth of
nationalism in India.
Answer :
Print culture assisted the growth of nationalism in
India by providing easy access to nationalist ideals and
ideas of freedom and equality to the masses. Social
reformers could now print their opinions in
newspapers, which sparked off public debates. The
power of reason made the common people question
the authority of colonial power. Interestingly, when
the British tried to censor and control print media,
nationalist newspapers grew in number everywhere in
the country. They reported on colonial misrule and
encouraged people to participate in nationalist
activities. Attempts to censor anti-colonial publications
aroused militant protests as well.
Question 1:
Give reasons for the following:
(a) Woodblock print only came to Europe after 1295.
(b) Martin Luther was in favour of print and spoke out
in praise of it.
(c) The Roman Catholic Church began keeping an
Index of Prohibited books from the mid-sixteenth
century.
(d) Gandhi said the fight for Swaraj is a fight for
liberty of speech, liberty of the press, and freedom of
association.
Answer :
(a) Woodblock print was invented around the sixth
century in China. It came to Europe, along with Marco
Polo, in 1295. Marco Polo returned to Italy after many
years of exploration in China, and he brought the
knowledge of woodblock print with him on his return.
(b) Martin Luther was in favour of print and spoke out
in praise of it because print media helped popularise
and spread his ideas. In 1517, he wrote the Ninety
Five Theses, criticising the practices and rituals of the
Roman Catholic Church. These writings were
immediately reproduced in vast numbers and read
widely. His translation of the New Testament was also
accepted and read by thousands. This was only
possible due to the improvements in print technology
which had allowed even the working classes to gain
access to books.
(c) The Roman Catholic Church began keeping an
index of Prohibited books from the mid-sixteenth
century because its authority was being put in danger
by the several individual and distinctive readings and
questionings of faith prompted by the easily accessible
popular religious literature. To supplement its
inquisition and repression of heretical ideas, the
Roman Catholic Church exercised strict control over
publishers and booksellers, and also began to keep an
Index of Prohibited Books from 1558.
(d) Gandhi said the fight for Swaraj is a fight for
liberty of speech, liberty of the press, and freedom of
association because he considered these to be
powerful modes of expression and cultivation of public
opinion. The denial of these freedoms was not
compatible with the idea of self rule and
independence. Hence, the fight for these freedoms,
according to him, was intrinsically a fight for swaraj or
self rule.
Question 2:
Write short notes to show what you know about:
(a) The Gutenberg Press
(b) Erasmus’s idea of the printed book
(c) The Vernacular Press Act
Answer :
(a) The Gutenberg Press: It was established by Johann
Gutenberg. By 1448, he had perfected the system of
printing with olive and wine presses, using
contemporary technological innovations. The first
book that he printed was the Bible, making 180 copies
in 3 years. Although these books were printed, a
unique touch remained in the handmade decorations
of the front page, illuminated borders and purchaser-
specified designs. The Gutenberg Press was the first-
known printing press in the 1430s.
(b) Erasmus’s idea of the printed book: He was critical
of the print medium. He believed that though some
books do provide worthwhile knowledge, others are
simply a bane for scholarship. Erasmus accused
printers of publishing books that were not mere
trifling but “stupid, slanderous, scandalous, raving,
irreligious and seditious”. He also felt that large
numbers of such books reduce the value of the quality
writings.
(c) The Vernacular Press Act: Modelled on the Irish
Press Laws, it was passed in 1878. This law gave the
government tyrannical rights to censor reports and
editorials in the vernacular press. If a seditious report
was published and the newspaper did not heed to an
initial warning, then the press was seized and the
printing machinery confiscated. This was a complete
violation of the freedom of expression.
Question 3:
What did the spread of print culture in nineteenth
century India mean to:
(a) Women
(b) The poor
(c) Reformers
Answer :
(a) Women: The spread of print culture in nineteenth-
century India brought about educational reforms for
women. Liberal husbands and fathers educated their
womenfolk at home or sent them to schools for
women. Women who had been restricted to a
domestic life for generations, now found a new
medium of entertainment. They also began to write
articles for journals, in favour of women's education
and literacy. Some even wrote books; Rashsundari
Devi’s autobiography “Amar Jiban” was the first full-
length autobiography, published in 1876.
Conservatives believed that education and reading
would make women widows, or corrupt them. Many
women learnt to read and write in secret in such
traditionalist environments.
(b) The poor: They benefitted from the spread of print
culture in India on account of the availability of low-
price books and public libraries. Enlightening essays
were written against caste discrimination and its
inherent injustices. These were read by people across
the country. On the encouragement and support of
social reformers, over-worked factory workers set up
libraries for self-education, and some of them even
published their own works, for example, Kashibaba
and his “Chhote Aur Bade Sawal”.
(c) Reformers: Print culture’s popularity was an
advantage for social and religious reformers as they
could now spread their opinions, through newspapers
and books, across the masses. These
ideas could then be debated upon by different groups
of people. Reformist ideas were put forward in the
local, everyday languages of the common people so as
to create a wider platform for the same.
Discuss
Question 1:
Why did some people in eighteenth century Europe
think that print culture would bring enlightenment
and end despotism?
Answer :
Some people in eighteenth-century Europe thought
that print culture would bring enlightenment and end
despotism. Its easy and cheap availability meant that
literacy would no longer be restricted to the upper
classes. While the clergy and monarchs feared the
enlightenment that a vast reading public would gain,
reformers like Martin Luther welcomed the change.
They felt that it would mark an end to the blind
adherence to the rulers’ ideology. This can be seen in
the French Revolution as well. The print medium
allowed the ideals of freedom, equality and
brotherhood set forth by Rousseau and Voltaire in
their writings to reach the public. It created a new
culture of dialogue and debate that initiated the
working class into questioning and re-evaluating social
customs and norms. The power of reason that the
public gained initiated social reform, and brought an
end to despotism.
Question 2:
Why did some people fear the effect of easily available
printed books? Choose one example from Europe and
one from India.
Answer :
The people who feared the effect of easily available
printed books were the ones who held some power,
whether in terms of religion, caste, class or politics.
The fear was that their power and authority would get
eroded if ideas questioning their power and authority
gained mass popularity. In Europe, for example, the
Roman Catholic Church conveyed its sense of
apprehension for the print medium by stating that the
promotion of new "printed" readings of faith would
lead to blasphemous questionings of faith and
encourage heretical ideas. It considered itself to be the
sole authority for interpreting religion. Hence, it set up
the Index of Prohibited Books in 1558 to repress any
published material that it felt corroded this authority.
In India, apart from the colonial government which
did its bit in regulating and suppressing newspapers
and books that questioned and criticised colonial
authority, the religious leaders and the upper castes
also displayed their fear of the print medium. They
understood that their religious and social superiority
was in danger due to the easily accessible "printed"
ideas contradicting their systems of beliefs. They knew
that the popularisation of such ideas would incite
people to rebellion.
Question 3:
What were the effects of the spread of print culture
for poor people in nineteenth century India?
Answer :
The poor people benefitted from the spread of print
culture in India on account of the availability of low-
price books and public libraries. Enlightening essays
were written against caste discrimination and its
inherent injustices. These were read by people across
the country. On the encouragement and support of
social reformers, over-worked factory workers set up
libraries for self-education, and some of them even
published their own works, for example, Kashibaba
and his “Chhote Aur Bade Sawal”.
Question 4:
Explain how print culture assisted the growth of
nationalism in India.
Answer :
Print culture assisted the growth of nationalism in
India by providing easy access to nationalist ideals and
ideas of freedom and equality to the masses. Social
reformers could now print their opinions in
newspapers, which sparked off public debates. The
power of reason made the common people question
the authority of colonial power. Interestingly, when
the British tried to censor and control print media,
nationalist newspapers grew in number everywhere in
the country. They reported on colonial misrule and
encouraged people to participate in nationalist
activities. Attempts to censor anti-colonial publications
aroused militant protests as well.
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