India by Russians media view in 19 century

by Katrina Peshakova

Russian reader was known about India still 15 century when the famous traveler and merchant Afanasyi Nikitin had journey to India and Persia. He was wrote about it in his journal, and published. It was first knowledge about India in Russia. In it time Mr.Saltikov wrote his “letters from India”. In 15th century India in the Russians view was as country of rich peoples, who had more of knowledge about spiritual. In Russian mind India was country as from child’s stories…

Only in 1820 indology started as new subject….The main of idea in that government was popularization of Marxism. And Indian culture learning by it side. Russian government saw his role in help to Indian nation in British opposite and popularization Marxism in it country.

So, mass media should did public following it way. In mass media about India had written on the basis of foreigner press. It was shirt publications, in generally about British rule. Russian mass media in sharp words blamed British government. The famous writers and journalists wrote about their opinion in newspapers. Like in newspaper “Vetnik Evropi” (“European news”) 1818 year, I find an article: “Why Britishers following by two politics? Why they think what they can allowed do theft in India, but never do it in Europe? They precipitate Indian rules from law but never do same in Europe. But they would remember what nation can rise opposite from his oppressor”.

One of popular Russian writer Mr. Belinskyi with him Mr. Gercen saw in India same problems as in Russia. They both with passion condemned British government in profits from India. They were very upset after knowing that only few Indian peoples opposite to British. All Russian revolutionary feel what India need reforms.

Around 1840, in Russian journalism Indian themes got finally form. All media wrote about it. And the main topic was nation revolt in 1857-1859. The magazine “Otechestennie zapisky” (“Native notes”) had written: “today in politics the main question is situation in India…. The entire world with impatience looks news from India…. ”. It was short publications, after it description of developments in detailed, and next descriptions every battles and critics to Indian rules. Unfortunately, none of the media had correspondents in India and about developments they got knowledge from England newspapers.

If I ask that, “What all Russian intelligence did critic to England?” It is false. In that time Russia had different views and in that situation it look very good. View of official government was expressed in the main newspaper “Le Nord”, in 1857 year newspaper written: “All Russians forgot about hate of British occupation and see only specimen of civilization, whom threaten barbarism”. In that year another popular newspaper “Peterburgskie vedomosti” did public view of the famous conservative writer Mr. Tarasenko-Oreshnikov, where he else do warrant to England. About destructive British rule in India was write Mr. Korsh in article called “Indian revolt, his cause and consequence”. However, Mr. Korsh, as any liberals, did critic only extreme of British rules and do not make point to all system of colonial exploitation.

Russian intelligence’s view giving democrats, it was not the main. Mr. Chernishewskiy and Mr. Dobrolubov in the newspaper “Sovremennik” were published articles where they do support of revolt’s ideas.

In 1890, Mr. Saturin wrote most of articles about India. He was not only did critise British government, also written about economic and Indian culture. He had Indian friends which were famous journalists and writers, he was very much known about Indian mass media and political situation. He had given the most of attention to develop capitalism in India. He had opinion what still bourgeoisie in India grown up, middle class of India would grown up too, for in future have strong to be opposite to British government.