Emergence of the Local Print Culture in Banaras, 1800-1900

Abstract

When the Europeans established most printing presses in different parts of India, an indigenous print culture emerged in Banaras during the nineteenth century. Despite the direct influence of missionaries and the British government, Banaras lacked the mission or government printing presses. It was indigenous people who played a pioneering role in the establishment of printing presses in Banaras. The local patronage, traditionally dominant literate groups and the introduction of the lithography printing press accelerated the growth of the print culture in Banaras. This development marked the transition from private printing press ownership to print entrepreneurs. The development of print culture could be seen in two phases, i.e., the pre-mutiny period and the post-mutiny period, which eventually produced a multilingual literary sphere in nineteenth century Banaras. While discussing all these nuances, this article explores how the Indians established private printing presses and helped in the rise and growth of the local print culture in Banaras in the nineteenth century.