History

Print Culture and the Modern World

Question:

Explain the role of print in the religious reforms in India. [CBSE 2011]

Answer:

(i) Debate over social issues: Print initiated an intense controversies between social and religious reformers and the Hindu orthodoxy over matters like widow immolation, monotheism, Brahmanical priesthood and idolatry. In Bengal, as the debate developed, tracts and newspapers proliferated, circulating a variety of arguments. To reach a wider audience, the ideas were printed in the everyday, spoken language of ordinary people.
(ii) Ideas of Reformers: Print carried the ideas of social reformers to the common people. For example Sambad Kaumudl carried the ideas and philosophy of Raja Ram Mohan Roy.
(iii) Reforms in Muslims: In north India, the ulama were deeply anxious about the collapse of Muslim dynasties. They feared that colonial rulers would encourage conversion, change the Muslim personal laws. To counter this, they used cheap lithographic presses, published Persian and Urdu translations of holy scriptures, and printed religious newspapers and tracts. The Deoband Seminary, founded in 1867, published thousands upon thousands of fatwas telling Muslim readers how to conduct themselves in their everyday lives, and explaining the meanings of Islamic doctrines.
(iv) Reforms in Hindus: Among Hindus, too, print encouraged the reading of religious texts, especially in the vernacular languages. The first printed edition of the Ramcharitmanas of Tulsidas, a sixteenth- century text, came out from Calcutta in 1810.

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Print Culture and the Modern World

Q 1.

How was sale of books promoted in small towns?

Q 2.

Name the printing presses which published numerous religious texts in vernaculars from the 1880s.

Q 3.

Which material was used to print pictures in Japan?

Q 4.

What is manuscript ?

Q 5.

Name the first Weekly that appeared in India. Who bought it out ? (CBSE 2014)

Q 6.

What is calligraphy?

Q 7.

What was print revolution ?

Q 8.

Who started publishing Sambad Kaumudi from 1821?

Q 9.

Name two scholars whose writings inspired French people.

Q 10.

Who printed the first Tamil book ?

Q 11.

Write about the different innovations in the printing technology during the 19th century ? [CBSE Sept. 2010]

Q 12.

Explain how the print culture assisted the growth of nationalism in India. [CBSE Sept. 2010, 2011]

Q 13.

Explain the main features of the first printed Bible. [CBSE Sept. 2010]
Or
Describe any three main features of the first printed Bible. [CBSE 2014]

Q 14.

Write a brief note on Martin Luther.

Q 15.

Describe the issue of caste as taken by the novelists in India. [CBSE 2013]

Q 16.

Who developed the first printing press ?

Q 17.

What were Chap books ? (CBSE 2014)

Q 18.

Who wrote Istri Dharam Vichar ?

Q 19.

Give a brief description of the first form of print technology.

Q 20.

Name the first weekly that appeared in India. Who brought it out ? (CBSE 2014)

Q 21.

Study the given paragraph and answer the following questions that follow :
Liberty of speech…. liberty of the press freedom of association. The government of India is now seeking to crush the three powerful vehicles of expressing and cultivating public opinion. The fight for Swaraj, for Khilafat …. means a fight for this threatened freedom before all else ….'
(i) Who said these words ?

(ii) Name the freedoms he is talking about.

Q 22.

Who brought out the first Indian newspaper published in English?

Q 23.

Why did people in the eighteenth century Europe think that print culture would bring enlightenment and end despotism?  [CBSE 2011]

Q 24.

Who was the major producer of printed material in China ? For what purpose this material was used ?

Q 25.

What was the role of cartoons and caricatures in the French Revolution ?

Q 26.

Who was Martin Luther ?

Q 27.

What were Biliotheque Blue ?

Q 28.

Name any two women novelist of the 19th century.

Q 29.

Name any four languages in which Indian manuscript was prepared before the age of print.

Q 30.

Who was the author of Amar Jiban ?

Q 31.

Name any four Indian women writers of the 19th century.

Q 32.

Who wrote Gulamgiri ? (CBSE 2014)

Q 33.

What was Vernacular Press Act ? (CBSE 2014)

Q 34.

’Liberty of speech … liberty of the press … freedom of association. The government of India is now seeking to crush the three powerful vehicles of expressing and cultivating public opinion, the fight for swaraj, for Khilafat … means a fight for this threatened freedom before all else….’
Who said these words ?

Q 35.

How the growth of print culture lead to women empowerment ? Explain.

Q 36.

Analyse the impact of print revolution on religion. [CJBS £ 2012]

Q 37.

Explain how print culture assisted the growth of nationalism in India.

Q 38.

Not everyone welcomed the printed books, and those who did also had fears about it.' Explain by giving examples.

Q 39.

In north India, the ulama were deeply anxious about the collapse of Muslim dynasties. They feared that colonial rulers would encourage conversion, change the Muslim personal laws. Mention any two steps taken by them to counter this.

Q 40.

Mention any four social values which print culture promoted.

Q 41.

The printing press is the most powerful engine of progress and public opinion and a force that will sweep despotism away.'

Q 42.

The shift from handprinting to mechanical printing led to the print revolution.’ Explain.

Q 43.

What medium was used for writing ancient Indian scriptures?

Q 44.

Trace the history of print in China.
Or
How did China remain a major producer of printed materials for a long time ?
Or
The imperial state in China, was the major producer of printed material.' Support this statement. [CBSE 2014]

Q 45.

Explain the impact of print culture on Indian women. [CBSE 2009 (O), Sept. 2012]
Or
Explain any three impact of printed books on women in India in the nineteenth century.
[CBSE Sept. 2010]

Q 46.

Who invented power driven cylindrical press ? What were its advantages ?

Q 47.

Why did Governor General Warren Hastings persecute Hickey ?

Q 48.

Which was first Indian newspaper ? By whom was it brought ?

Q 49.

Name the paper with which Bal Gangadhar Tilak was associated.

Q 50.

Give reasons for the following :
(a) Martin Luther was in favour of print, and spoke out in praise of it.
(b) The Roman Catholic Church began keeping an Index of Prohibited books from the mid-sixteenth century.
(c) Gandhi said the fight for Swaraj is a fight for the liberty of speech, liberty of the press and freedom of association.