Media resistance in British India

This is in response to Dr. Shahid Siddiqui’s article on the topic ‘Media Resistance in British India’ published on the Op-Ed pages of ‘The News’ dated August 22, 2016. In fact this is a great piece of knowledge published on a perfect time when our youth needs to be aware of the fact that Muslim and non-Muslim press played a vital role against the British empire in India.

The topic provides a solid ground for media research in the universities. This is pertinent to mention that Muslim press played a leading role in the Pakistan movement run by the great leader and the father of our nation Qauid-i-Azam Muhammad Ali Jinnah.

The author Dr. Shahid Siddiqui very correctly described the concept of the construction of reality that was earlier done by the social institutions like family and schools but in the modern ages it has been replaced by the strongest institute of media.

Today, we are living in a media-driven world where our attitudes and behaviors are heavily influenced by media. The said article has been published on a right time when our universities are going away from historical and qualitative media research. There is a great need for the Mass Communication departments of the universities to encourage this kind of historical research that may inform our young generation about the glorious role of media in the Pakistan movement.

— Dr. Saqib Riaz

Islamabad