Chapter 5 Print Culture and The Modern World Solutions
Question - 11 : - Why did some people in the eighteenth century Europe think that culture would bring enlightenment and end despotism?
Answer - 11 : -
a. The spreading of new ideas after the coming of print culture, the ideas of scientists and philosophers now became more accessible to the common people. Ancient and medieval scientific texts were compiled and published.
b. Books as Medium of Progress By the eighteenth century, books became a medium of spreading progress and enlightenment, which could change society and the world. It was also believed that the books could liberate society from despotism and tyranny.
c. Writings of Scholars: The writings of thinkers such as Jean Jacques Rousseau, Thomas Paine and Voltaire were also widely printed and could gain popularity. Thus their ideas about science, rationality and reasoning found their way into popular literature.
d. Scientific Discoveries: Maps and more accurate scientific diagrams were widely printed when scientists like Issac Newton began to publish their discoveries. They could influence a much wider circle of scientifically-minded readers.
Question - 12 : - Why did some people fear the effect of easily available printed books?
Answer - 12 : - ┬аChoose one example from Europe and one from India.
Answer
Some people, especially from the upper class fear the effect of easily available printed books due to the spread of literacy among the common people. They feared that they might lose their position or authorities. Some people thought that it might lead to the spread of rebellions and irreligious thoughts.
Example:
(i) In Europe, the Roman Catholic Church tried to curb the printed books through the Index of Prohibited Books.
(ii) In India, the Vernacular Press Act imposed restrictions on Indian press and various local newspapers.
Question - 13 : - What were the effects of the spread of print culture for poor people in nineteenth-century India?
Answer - 13 : -
Public libraries were set up from the early twentieth century, expanding access to books. These libraries were located mostly in cities and towns and at times in prosperous villages. For rich local patrons, setting up a library was a way of acquiring prestige.
From the late nineteenth century, issues of caste discrimination were written about in many printed tracts and essays.
Jyotiba Phule, the Maratha pioneer of тАШlow casteтАЩ protest movements, wrote about the injustices of the caste system in his Gulamgiri (1871). In the twentieth century, B.R. Ambedkar in Maharashtra and E.V. Ramaswamy Naicker in Madras (better known as Periyar) wrote powerfully on caste, and their writings were read by people all over India. Local protest movements and sects also created a lot of popular journals and tracts, criticising ancient scriptures and envisioning a new and just future.
At the very least, it made pooer people aware of their rights and their place in society and Print media showed the way in which they can improve their lot in life.
Question - 14 : - Explain how the print culture assisted in the growth of nationalism in India.
Answer - 14 : -
Print culture assisted in the growth of nationalism in India in the following ways:
a. By the end of the 19th century, a large number of newspapers in Indian vernacular languages were published, making it easier to circumvent the language barriers among the various ethnic groups of Indians.
b. These newspapers published articles written by national leaders. Their ideas were communicated to the masses through these newspapers.
c. The people of different communities and places were thus connected by print media. Newspapers conveyed news from one place to another, creating a pan-Indian identity.
d. The nationalist newspapers exposed the colonial misrule and encouraged nationalist activities. As these were written in spoken languages of various regions, the common man could easily understand the content.
e. For example, when Punjab revolutionaries were deported in 1907, Balagangadhar Tilak wrote articles sympathising with them. He was arrested which provoked protest among masses.
Thus it is clear that print culture assisted the growth of nationalism in India.