Illustrated London News
Topic: Studying Indian History: Sources, Dating and Historiography · NCERT: Class 12, Ch 1 "Colonialism and the Countryside"; Class 12, Ch 2 "Rebels and the Raj"
Meaning
The Illustrated London News was a British weekly magazine, started in 1842, that printed news along with many pictures. Its engravings (pictures cut into wood or metal and printed) showed events in India to readers in Britain. These pictures shaped how the British public saw India and Indians. Today historians treat them as visual sources. They show how events were presented to the public, and not always exactly what happened.
Example
During the revolt of 1857, the magazine printed pictures of the fighting and of rebels being punished. These images stirred British public feeling and support for crushing the revolt.
Don't confuse with
- Report of the Native Newspapers: these were government translations of articles from Indian newspapers. The Illustrated London News was a British paper made for British readers.
Related concepts
- Alexander Cunningham
- Archaeological Survey of India
- Discovery of the Harappan civilisation
- Ancient Monuments and Archaeological Sites and Remains Act 1958
- National Monuments Authority
- National Mission on Monuments and Antiquities
- Antiquities and Art Treasures Act 1972
- Repatriation of antiquities