The Printed Word, Polemics and Debate in Northern India up to 1860s

Christian missionaries used printing facilities in a major way for the purpose of Evangelization. They were trying to reach the 'elite' audience, especially the Muslims, by translating New Testament, Biographies of the Christian Saints and other literature in Arabic, Persian and Urdu languages. Apart from the Translations, the original tracts were also composed in these languages, some of them with highly objectionable content. The intent was to make them Muslim friendly by imitating the Muslim way of writing. Nevertheless, the colonial administrators kept a check on the use of printing facilities by the 'natives' through various legislative laws and regulations. In spite of these safeguards, the Indians especially the Muslims made full use of the new technology, owned numerous printing units and published a number of newspapers, polemical tracts and works of theologian literature. Certain hitherto little-known aspects can be studied on the basis of the material obtained from archival records and missionary registers to take up questions: how far the printing venture of the missionaries had the tactic support of the Government of East India Company? Did the Government of East India Company really stand against the religious zeal of the missionary societies so that it could claim pursuing the policy of non-interference in matters of religion? Some data is also available to see how the 'Natives' especially the Muslims were aware of these complexities'. How far they were making use of these facilities and of modern printing technology, to run counter propaganda and produce polemical literature of their own?