New Forms of Publication
This section discusses how the advent of printing created an appetite for diverse literary forms that began to reflect the individual experiences, emotions, and lives of ordinary people. It focuses on the novel, a literary form that developed in Europe and adapted Indian sensibilities, as well as other new forms like essays, lyrics, and short stories that emphasized human feelings and social contexts. By the late nineteenth century, a new visual culture began to take shape with the proliferation of printing presses, which allowed for the reproduction of art and imagery on a mass scale.
Prominent figures like Raja Ravi Varma emerged, producing art for mass circulation as visual representations of culture and ideas. Caricatures and political cartoons became popular during this time, commenting on various social and political issues, including the challenges of Western influence on traditional norms. Women's engagement with print increased significantly as they began to read and write published works concerning their own lives, contributing to a burgeoning period of literary production targeting women's issues.
The section illustrates the democratization of knowledge through print, highlighting how literature catered to new social groups, particularly women and the working class. Simultaneously, issues such as caste discrimination and social reform found expression in various printed works, marking a transformative period in India's socio-political landscape.