The Bengali Press (1818-1868)- A Study in the Growth of Public Opinion By Smarajit Chakraborti

Book Description

Preface

Bengal holds a distinctive place in the history of Indian journalism, being the birthplace of both the first English and the first vernacular newspaper in the country. It is widely recognized that many significant socio-religious, educational, and political movements of the last century, which ultimately shaped modern India, originated from this region. The narrative of this transformative period is intricately linked to the evolution of the Bengali press.

This work offers a comprehensive and critical examination of the Bengali press—including all newspapers, journals, and periodicals published in the Bengali language—focusing on its role as both a builder and a conduit of public opinion in Bengal from 1818 to 1868. Our study begins with the launch of the first Bengali newspaper and concludes with the inception of the Amrita Bazar Patrika, effectively covering the first fifty years of Bengali journalism's dynamic history.

It is important to emphasize that this is not a conventional history of the Bengali press. Instead, it explores the growth of public opinion in Bengal, highlighting how the educated and increasingly aware segments of society responded to the forces of change and modernization, as well as the injustices and abuses of British rule. While several articles and a few books have addressed this topic, many have simply provided a factual or chronological account of the press’s history in Bengal or India. Even when citing views from notable newspapers or journals, these works often neglect to connect them to the broader historical context or subsequent developments. The impact and significance of the opinions expressed in these publications have not been thoroughly analyzed.

This study aims to fill that gap by systematically examining the role of the Bengali press in shaping public discourse during this pivotal period.