PRESS DURING EMERGENCY in INDIA

Summary

The press in India experienced significant control and censorship under Prime Minister Indira Gandhi during the 1975-77 Emergency, with laws restricting freedom of speech and press activities. After the emergency ended, the Janata Party under Morarji Desai restored press freedom. However, under Indira Gandhi's return to power in 1980 and her son Rajiv Gandhi's leadership in the mid-1980s, the press faced renewed pressures. Despite these challenges, the Indian press displayed remarkable resilience, growing in influence and continuing to advocate for freedom in a rapidly evolving democracy.

Takeaways

• 😀 The Indian press experienced significant restrictions during the emergency period from 1975 to 1977, under Prime Minister Indira Gandhi's authoritarian regime.
• 😀 Indira Gandhi's government imposed strict censorship on the press, demanding news, comments, and reports be approved by government authorities before publication.
• 😀 The government introduced various legal frameworks, such as the Prevention of Publication of Objectionable Matters Act of 1976, to suppress dissent and control media content.
• 😀 Journalists faced severe consequences during the emergency, including arrest, expulsion, and imprisonment. A report revealed that 253 journalists were arrested.
• 😀 The government's manipulation of media during the emergency period involved practices like cutting off electricity to newspaper offices and controlling advertisement allocations to media outlets.
• 😀 After the emergency, the press regained its freedom under Prime Minister Morarji Desai's government, which repealed the restrictive laws and supported a free press.
• 😀 Desai's government actively supported the press and emphasized the importance of maintaining fundamental rights, including freedom of the press, even during emergencies.
• 😀 Following Rajiv Gandhi's rise to power in 1984, there was a shift in the government's attitude towards the press, with an initial smooth relationship giving way to increasing attempts to curtail press freedom.
• 😀 Rajiv Gandhi's government passed the Defamation Bill in 1988, attempting to suppress criticism, but public and media pressure led to its withdrawal.
• 😀 The history of the Indian press has been marked by frequent confrontations with the government, with periods of censorship and control, but also resilience and growth of the press over time.
• 😀 Despite government efforts to suppress it, the Indian press has consistently recovered, driven by public opinion and a developing democratic tradition, which has contributed to its enduring influence.

Q & A

What was the state of the press in India during the emergency period of 1975-1977?

During the emergency from 1975-1977, the press in India was heavily censored and controlled by the government. The government, led by Prime Minister Indira Gandhi, imposed strict pre-censorship on all media outlets, preventing any reports critical of her government or its policies.

How did Indira Gandhi's approach to the press differ from that of her father, Jawaharlal Nehru?

Indira Gandhi's approach to the press was authoritarian, unlike her father Jawaharlal Nehru, who supported freedom of the press. While Nehru tolerated criticism, Indira Gandhi sought to suppress any media opposition and expected the press to blindly support her government.

What legal measures did the government implement to control the press during the emergency?

The government implemented several measures including the Central Censorship Order, which required all news to be submitted for government approval before publication. The Prevention of Publication of Objectionable Matters Act of 1976 empowered the government to prohibit any publications deemed harmful to national security or public order.

What were the consequences for journalists and media outlets during the emergency?

Journalists faced arrest, loss of accreditation, and imprisonment during the emergency. The government manipulated the media, reduced advertisements to hostile newspapers, and even cut off electricity to press offices to control the flow of information.

How did the press react during the emergency, according to the script?

Most of the Indian press complied with government censorship, effectively becoming a tool for propaganda. The press was described as 'sterile,' offering only government-approved content, with very little intellectual independence.

What role did the Das and Sha Commissions play in examining press excesses during the emergency?

The Das Commission and Sha Commission were set up after the emergency to investigate the violations and excesses related to the press. The Das Commission revealed that 253 journalists were arrested, and several foreign correspondents were expelled or banned. The Sha Commission documented efforts to distort and manipulate the press through measures like power cuts to media offices.

How did the press situation change after the emergency was lifted in 1977?

After the emergency ended in 1977, there was a resurgence in press freedom. The Janata Party, under Prime Minister Morarji Desai, removed the restrictions on the press, and Desai reaffirmed his commitment to upholding constitutional rights, including press freedom.

What actions did Morarji Desai take to restore press freedom after the emergency?

Morarji Desai's government took swift action to repeal the Prevention of Publication of Objectionable Matters Act of 1976, restoring press freedom. Desai appointed LK Advani as Minister of Information and Broadcasting, who also supported the press's return to its pre-emergency status.

How did Indira Gandhi's government in the early 1980s differ from her previous stance on the press?

In the early 1980s, after her return to power, Indira Gandhi showed some restraint, stating that there would be no censorship as long as the press behaved responsibly. However, her son Rajiv Gandhi's government later attempted to curb press freedom through the defamation bill of 1988, though it was eventually withdrawn due to public pressure.

What can be inferred about the Indian government's stance towards the press based on the historical timeline in the script?

The Indian government has fluctuated between supporting and restricting press freedom, with periods of authoritarian control, especially under Indira Gandhi, and periods of liberalization, such as under Morarji Desai. Despite these fluctuations, the press in India remained resilient, supported by public opinion and democratic traditions.