Processes of Democratisation
- Hueiyen Lanpao Editorial :: October 19 2015 -
It was during the British colonial dispensation in India that the actual project of modernity was introduced using systems of communication.
The telegraph, press, radio and films were introduced primarily as a means to reinforce the colonial regime.
However, the print and folk media eventually became a way to express the emergent national consciousness and anti-colonial stance till most colonies achieved independence.
The seed of communications in the Indian subcontinent in the postcolonial phase was sown during British rule.
Here, it is worth noting that the foundation of communications in India was accompanied by a system of regulations over ownership and control of the media specifically from a “governance” point of view.
The convention lasted even after the post-colonial phase with the implicit and explicit support from the elites.
While the rules of the game did not change dramatically, the post-colonial states retained the imperial role in exercising control over broadcasting.
It should be remembered that it was primarily the private firms which were interested in the business of the print media donning on a role spawned by the necessities of national objective of unifying amorphous Nation State left behind by the colonial power.
According to available records, the State’s seriousness of expanding the media under its control stems from the fact that in 1947, there were only six radio broadcasting centres in India.
By 1983, the number increased to 86. Towards the end of the 1985, 95 per cent of the entire population was covered by the radio.
From being an experimental project in the late 1950s to the formation of a separate division in 1976 there was a country-wide expansion.
By 1982, almost 100 per cent of the country’s landmass could receive the Indian television network.
However, by the mid 1980s, radio was “marginalized” to a great extent in favour of television.
With the change and opening up of the Indian economy to the logic of liberalisation, the country was opened up to foreign television channels.
The changing nature of politics and shift in policies are also credited with the satellite and cable television revolution in India.
The consolidation of regional political powers as evident from the rise of linguistic, religion and caste-based politics too had its bearings on the media revolution.
Against the backdrop of expanding media, it has often been argued that the growing expanse and reach of the media, with or without political patronage, do not necessarily translate into actual processes of democratisation.
* Comments posted by users in this discussion thread and other parts of this site are opinions of the individuals posting them (whose user ID is displayed alongside) and not the views of e-pao.net. We strongly recommend that users exercise responsibility, sensitivity and caution over language while writing your opinions which will be seen and read by other users. Please read a complete Guideline on using comments on this website.