The first printing press in India was introduced at __

Hint: It was introduced by Portuguese missionaries in the 16th century to aid in religious education. This coastal city was once a major center of Portuguese colonial rule in India.

Let’s Explore the Options to Find the Right Answer

Option A: Surat

The first printing press in Surat was introduced in the early 19th century, around 1812. It was established by Christian missionaries, primarily for printing religious texts and educational material in local languages like Gujarati.

Option B: Bombay

The first printing press in Bombay (now Mumbai) was introduced in 1674. It was established by the English East India Company primarily for administrative and religious purposes, making Bombay one of the early centers of printing in India after Goa.

Option C: Calcutta

The first printing press in Calcutta (now Kolkata) was introduced in 1777. It was set up by James Augustus Hicky, who used it to publish Hicky’s Bengal Gazette, the first English-language newspaper in India. This marked the beginning of journalism and modern print media in Calcutta.

Option D: Goa

The first printing press in Goa was introduced in 1556 by Jesuit missionaries. It was brought to India primarily to print religious texts, marking the beginning of print culture in the country. The press played a significant role in spreading Christianity and was a key step in the history of printing in India.

Correct Answer

Therefore, the correct answer is Option D: Goa.

The first printing press in India was introduced in Goa in the year 1556. This marked a significant milestone in the history of Indian communication, literature, and education. The printing press was brought by the Portuguese missionaries, specifically by Jesuit priests, with the primary goal of spreading Christianity through printed religious texts. Originally intended for Ethiopia, the press was diverted to Goa due to unfavorable conditions in Ethiopia, and it became operational there instead.

The introduction of the printing press not only revolutionized the way information was shared but also paved the way for the growth of Indian literature, journalism, and the preservation of cultural and historical texts. It remains a landmark event in India’s educational and literary history.

Thus, Goa holds the distinction of being the birthplace of print culture in India, thanks to the Jesuit missionaries’ initiative in the 16th century.

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