Venkatraman on Press Freedom in Travancore State

V. Venkatraman, Rajapalayam Rajus’ College, has posted Implementation of Press Legislations and Political Control Over the Writings of the Press in Travancore State, 1910-1935:

The public opinion was chiefly mobilized by the press in Travancore state very actively since 1910. The press and political literature in Travancore state have contributed much to the political movement against the Diwan of Travancore and also the British Government. The Malayalam Press started writing against the Government of Travancore frequently. Irked by this, the Diwan of Travancore treated these publications as seditious, disloyal and contemptuous statements against them and spread disaffection among the people of Travancore state.

The Government of Travancore passed series of legislations to control the anti-British stand of the press from 1903 to 1935. They are (a) Press Regulations 11 of 1079(M.E)(1903); (b) Section 117 and 145A of Travancore Penal Code, 1923; (c) Press Legislations of 1926; (d) Travancore Press(Emerging Power) Act, 1930; (e) Press Regulations, 1935.

The Travancore Press carried in various discussions and deliberations in their papers. They remarked the highhandedness of the Government authorities and continued their stand up to the establishment of responsible Government in Travancore.

--Dan Ernst