Revision Test
I. Multiple Choice Questions [5 x 1 = 5]
1. Assertion (A): The printing press in India enabled the widespread of religious texts.
Reason (R): Religious texts in vernacular languages made it easier for common people to read and discuss.
Reason (R): Religious texts in vernacular languages made it easier for common people to read and discuss.
2. Match the following religious publications with their publishers or regions:
| Column A | Column B |
|---|---|
| (a) Ramcharitmanas | (i) Persian |
| (b) Sambad Kaumudi | (ii) Tulsidas |
| (c) Jam-i-Jahan Nama | (iii) Rammohun Roy |
3. Which of the following newspapers was the first to be published by an Indian?
4. Which of the following languages in which books were NOT printed by missionaries in the early 18th century?
5. Arrange the following in a Chronological order
(A) Publication of Sambad Kaumudi
(B) Establishment of Deoband Seminary
(C) First Tamil book printed
(A) Publication of Sambad Kaumudi
(B) Establishment of Deoband Seminary
(C) First Tamil book printed
II. Very Short Answer Questions [2 x 2 = 4]
06. What role did newspapers play in shaping public opinion in colonial India?
- Newspapers allowed public discussion on social, political, and religious issues.
- They connected communities across India, creating a shared sense of awareness and pan-Indian identity.
- Through newspapers, people debated reforms, colonial policies, and religious practices.
07. What led Governor-General Warren Hastings to suppress Hickey’s Bengal Gazette?
- Hickey’s Bengal Gazette published criticisms of the Company’s senior officials with lot of gossips.
- He published advertisements, including those that related to the import and sale of slaves.
- TGovernor-General Warren Hastings perceived this as a threat to colonial authority.
- Consequently, Hasting persecuted Hickey .
III. Short Answer Questions [2 x 3 = 6]
08. What was the significance of Rammohun Roy’s Sambad Kaumudi in India’s print history?
- Sambad Kaumudi, launched by Rammohun Roy in 1821, was a pioneering newspaper that promoted social and religious reforms.
- It openly criticized practices like widow immolation or Sati and supported modern values like monotheism.
- This publication played a central role in social reform discussions, challenging orthodox views and igniting debates across Bengal.
- By making use of print, Rammohun Roy reached a large audience, including both literate and illiterate groups.
- Sambad Kaumudi inspired future Indian reformers and underscored the power of press in shaping public opinion.
09. How did the Indian-owned press evolve by the close of the 18th century?
- By the late 18th century, Indian-owned newspapers began to emerge, with Gangadhar Bhattacharya’s Bengal Gazette.
- These newspapers often promoted local interests, social reform, and anti-colonial sentiments.
- Indian-owned newspapers provided a platform for Indians to critique colonial policies and voice issues affecting local communities.
- The press became a critical space for intellectual debate, enabling Indian voices in discussions around modernization and religious reforms.
- The expansion of the Indian press signaled a shift toward independence in information and ideas from colonial influence.
IV. Long Answer Questions [1 x 5 = 5]
10. Discuss the relationship between the printing press and the rise of social and religious reform movements in 19th-century India
- In 19th-century, the printing press was a catalyst for social and religious reform movements.
- Reformers like Rammohun Roy used the press to promote ideas challenging orthodox Hindu practices, advocating for monotheism and opposing practices like Sati.
- Print helps reformist ideas to reach a broader audience, fostering an educated public
- Newspapers became essential for voicing reformist ideals.
- Religious texts became accessible in vernacular languages, which not only allowed the literate public to read independently but also enabled group readings and discussions among the illiterate.
- Muslim reformers also used print to clarify Islamic laws and counter colonial influences on religious practices.
- Print culture enabled different social and religious factions to openly confront each other’s views, creating a dynamic and participative public sphere.
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