Question

What were the impacts on mass communication during emergency?

Hint:

Remember to mention both the control mechanisms (censorship, propaganda) and the acts of resistance (underground press, symbolic protests like blank editorials). This provides a more complete picture of the situation.

Answer 1

Step 1: Understanding the Concept:
The National Emergency declared in India from 1975 to 1977 saw the suspension of fundamental rights, including the freedom of speech and expression (Article 19). This had a profound and direct impact on all forms of mass communication, particularly the press.
Step 2: Detailed Explanation:
The key impacts on mass communication were:
1. Strict Press Censorship: The government imposed pre-censorship on all newspapers, journals, and publications. This meant that every news item, editorial, and article had to be submitted to government-appointed censors for approval before it could be published. Any content that was critical of the government, its policies, or its leaders was blacked out.
2. State Propaganda: The government-owned media, namely All India Radio (AIR) and Doordarshan, were used extensively as tools for propaganda. They broadcasted only the government's narrative, publicizing its programs (like the 20-Point Programme) and denouncing the opposition.
3. Intimidation and Arrests: Journalists, editors, and publishers who resisted censorship or attempted to report the truth were targeted. Many were arrested under preventive detention laws like the Maintenance of Internal Security Act (MISA). The government also cut off electricity to newspaper offices and cancelled their official accreditations to intimidate them into compliance.
4. Rise of Underground Press: As a form of resistance, an underground press emerged, where activists circulated cyclostyled newsletters and pamphlets to disseminate information that was being censored by the mainstream media.
Step 3: Final Answer:
During the Emergency, mass communication was severely crippled by government control. The press was subjected to strict censorship, state media was converted into a propaganda machine, and dissent was crushed, leading to a near-total blackout of independent news and views.