What did the spread of print culture in nineteenth century India mean to the poor?

As the literacy rate improved in Europe as well as in India, printed material, especially for entertainment, began to reach even the poor. In England ‘penny magazines’ were carried by peddlers and sold for a penny, so that even poor people could buy them. Those who could not read, could listen to the stories and folklore. These could be read out to them by others. Books could be hired on a nominal fee from some book owners. Even in India very cheap small books were brought to market in 19th century Madras towns, allowing poor people to have an access toprint culture. Public libraries were set up in the early 20th century where poor people could visit and borrow books. Gradually, even poor people began to read religious, stories, books with simple instructions or stories and folklore. read less

The first thing the advent of print did is to increase the number of readers exponentially. However the poor came across only the printed newspapers and not printed books so much. The newspapers reach increased manifold and opinions and thinkings of the nineteenth century leaders became known to the poor. They came to know about the oppressions inflicted by the British on the poor here, there and everywhere and so they joined the National Movement against the of the British government in a body read less