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Journalism / Mass Communication QUESTION #6415
Question 1
In the context of early mass communication, what role did newspapers play in the independence movement of the Indian subcontinent, based on the textbook's historical account?
  • Newspapers actively opposed the independence movement because most were controlled by the colonial administration
  • Many Urdu newspapers like Zameendar, Hamdard, Al-Hilal, and others actively supported the freedom struggle and were pivotal in creating political consciousness among the masses✔️
  • Newspapers were banned during the independence movement and played no role in it
  • Newspapers only reported cricket matches and avoided political content to remain commercially viable
Correct Answer Explanation

The textbook provides an extensive list of pre-independence Urdu newspapers that supported the freedom struggle: Khilafat, Siasat, Ujala, Taj, Roznama-e-Hind, Ajmal, Hilal, Milap, Partap, Tej, Qaumi Awaz, Jung, Anjam, Inqualab, Nawa-e-Waqt, Hindustan, Aftab, Jumhuriat, Iqbal, and many others. Key figures include:

  • Zameendar (1903, Lahore): Circulation of 30,000, actively supported the freedom struggle, first newspaper to use news agency sources
  • Maulana Abul Kalam Azad started Al-Hilal (1912) — became the largest circulated newspaper after Zameendar
  • Maulana Muhammad Ali Jauhar started Hamdard (1912)
  • Jawaharlal Nehru started Qaumi Awaz from Lucknow (1945)

The press thus functioned as the primary instrument of political mobilisation, consciousness-raising, and resistance against colonial rule — embodying the Libertarian ideal of media as a watchdog and social change agent.