Colonial oppression against Tamil Journals in Madras Presidency: A historical view

Pages: 287-291
P. Loganathan (Department of History, Annamalai University, Annamalai Nagar, Tamilnadu)

The term “Journal” means a daily record, as of occurrences or observations. It includes a newspaper especially a daily one, a periodical or magazine especially published for a learned society. The Journals played an important role and awakened the people and infused them in the sense of patriotism and consciousness for nationality. Richard Johnston was the founder of the first newspaper in Madras presidency. His paper “The Madras Courier” came in to existence on 12th October, 1785. The Pioneer Tamil Journal was the “Tamil Magazine” which was published on 1831 started by the Madras Religious Tract Society. The Swadeshamitran, Hindunesan, India, Desabakthan, Prapanchamitiran, TamilNadu, were the foremost Tamil Journals in the path of the struggle against the Government. The above mentioned Tamil Journals were severely affected by the Government oppressive measures. The British Government passed many act against the Tamil Journals in Madras Presidency like Licensing Act of 1857, Registration Act of 1867, Act of India Penal Code of 1870, Vernacular Press Act of 1878, Newspapers Act of 1908, Indian Press Act of 1910. But the Tamil Journals brought about remarkable changes in politics during the initial decades of the twentieth century.