Mass Mobilization: Divinity as the Prime Source of Indian Nationalism in the Madras Presidency: 1910-1912

Abstract

The Government of British India came with a spate of legislations to control the pro-Swadeshi sentiments of the Indian Press. When the Swadeshi Movement was in peak, the Indian press constantly exhibited the public opinion against the Government and succeeded in creating 'as emotional and sentimental relationship between the people and the press. In initial stage of movement, the vernacular press published frequent articles directly against the British authorities. Irked by this, the Government of India passed the Indian Press Act in February 1910. In March 1910, the India, the Vijaya and the Suryodayam newspapers published in Tamil in French Pondicherry were proscribed under section 12(1) of the Indian Press Act of 1910. All these papers were published by S.Srinivachari, Bharathi and Neelakanda Bramachari. Moreover, the British authorities proscribed a number of Swadeshi pamphlets, tracts and leaflets in the Madras Presidency.