‘REPORT ON THE ADMINISTRATION OF THE BOMBAY PRESIDENCY FOR THE YEAR 1882-83.’ [‎171r] (350/498)

1882 - 83.1
LITERATURE AND THE PRESS. 275 Chap. VII.
INSTRUCTION.
THE VERNACULAR PRESS.
Vernacular newspapers are published in Marathi, Gujardti and Kanarese. There is no Newspapers.
Sindi paper, but a Persian newspaper is published at Karachi, and the Urdu population
support 3 newspapers m their vernacular.
6 newspapers stopped publication in the year, and 22 others were brought into existence,
so that at the close of the year there were 112 newspapers on the register, of which 4 are
published in the Berars and the rest in this Presidency The name given to each of the three divisions of the territory of the East India Company, and later the British Raj, on the Indian subcontinent. . The papers which died out were—
1 English, 1 Maiathi, 2 Gujaiati, 1 Uidu and 1 Urdu and Persian; those which commenced
publication were 13 JVlaiathi, 4 Gujarati, 3 Anglo-Gujar&ti and 2 Urdu. The papers are °*e-
nerally printed, except in the smaller towns, where they are lithographed A lithograph is an image reproduced from a printing plate whose image areas attract ink and non-image areas repel it. . They are, with few
exceptions, published weekly or fortnightly. 45 are issued in Bombay, 11 in Poona, 6 in
Surat, 5 in Ahmadabad, 5 in Ratnagiri and 4 in Thana; 3 papers are published in each of the
districts of Kaira, Kolaba, Khandesh, Satara, Belgaum, Ahmadnagar and Dharwar; there
are 2 each in Nasix, Sholapur and Broach, and 1 each in Kaladgi, Kolhapur, Limbdi, Rdikot
and Karachi. Taken by divisions Bombay has 45 papers, the Deccan 44, Gujarat 18, and
Sind only 1. The subscription is very small, and generally ranges from 8 annas to 3 rupees Indian silver coin also widely used in the Persian Gulf.
a year. Some of the papers are used for sectarian purposes, or for the advancement of
particular castes. The Nagar Udaya supports the interests of the Nagar Brahmans; the
Jews, or Israels as they are called here, have 3 papers in their interest; the goldsmiths
have 2, and the Marathas have 1. The Subodh Patriha is an organ of the Theistic Asso
ciation, and the Christian missionaries control 2 papers. The Mardtha and the Kesari are
twin papers under the same editor, the one written in English and the other in Marathi.
The Kesari has the largest circulation of any paper, and the prevailing tone is unfriendly to
Government, which may also be said of the Poona Vaibhav, the Arunodaya, the Gujardthi
and the lUtechchhu. The Indu PraJcash and Native Opinion occupy the leading position
among Mardthi papers; and the Bombay Samdchdr, the Jdme Jamshed, the Guzerdt Mitra
and the Past Goftdr among the Gujarati papers. The Quarterly Journal of the Sarvajanih
Sabha written in English is conducted with care and ability. The Din Bandhu is written
in the interests ox the Sudras, and is antagonistic to Brahmans, to whose ascendancy it
attributes the fallen condition of India. A purely sectarian paper among the Parsis has died
out for want of support, and the space devoted to sectarian instruction in another paper has
been applied to secular matters which would seem to imply that the Parsis are not so attentive
to the teachings of their religion as formerly.
A few of the topics discussed by the native press may be noticed. Russian progress Topics discussed,
in Central Asia and the treaty with Persia excited uneasiness, and the adoption of strong
measures to resist this progress was advised. The employment of native* troops in the expe
dition to Egypt was applauded, and great satisfaction was expressed at the success of the
campaign in which the native troops bore a distinguished part. It was, however, urged that
India should not be made to pay for the cost of the expedition, which should be recovered
from Egypt, and opportunity was taken to recommend a reduction of British troops and an
increase of the native army on improved pay. The proceedings regarding the Kolhapur
State were anxiously discussed, and Government was considered to have sided too much with
the Divan in the criminal action for libel against the editors of certain papers. The rumour
that the Raja King would be set aside in favour of a new adoption was disliked, but great satis
faction was expressed when the constitution of the Regency was announced. The festivities
at Baroda at the installation of the Gaikwar attracted great notice, and the speech of the
Governor was much praised; but the gift of 3 lakhs One lakh is equal to one hundred thousand rupees of rupees Indian silver coin also widely used in the Persian Gulf. to the chief minister was
strongly condemned, and his resignation of office was not considered a matter for regret.
The administration of several Native Chiefs in Kathiawar was said to be objectionable, and a
warning was conveyed that the people of Cambay were much dissatisfied with the state
authorities.
The repeal of the Vernacular Press Act appears to have excited a warm enthusiasm in
favour of the Government, and recommendations were made that the Arms Act should also
be repealed or greatly modified. The severity of the Forest Act was condemned, and its
repeal was also urged. Complaints were made of the taking up of arable land for the
purposes of forest, of the increase of wild beasts, and the scarcity of firewood, and meet
ings were held in Thana and Kolaba to represent the grievances of the people to Go
vernment. The unsatisfactory working of the Deccan Agriculturists^ Relief Act was fre
quently noticed, and recommendations were made for the appointment of a commission to
inquire into the effects of the Act. The proposal to revive the Cotton Frauds Act was
condemned, and the Gujarati press drew attention to defects in the Parsi matrimonial and
divorce law, and made suggestions for its amendment. The attitude of the Bombay Govern
ment in the matter of the local self-government scheme was strongly condemned, and it was
maintained that so long as District Collectors are allowed to remain presidents of municipal
°r local fund boards, no practical benefit would result even if the right of electing members
were conceded to the rate-payers. In the matter of the Legislative Council suggestions
were made that the non-official element should be greatly strengthened in order to prevena
^asty and ill-considered legislation.
In matters of finance the native papers vehemently protested against the sacrifice of
Indian interests in the abolition of the cotton duties for the benefit of Manchester, which was
all the more pointed when contrasted with the action of the Government in England in ref us-