Question

Write short notes on:
(i) The Gutenberg Press
(ii) The Erasmus idea of the printed book
Or
How were the modern Indian novels useful for the Indians in day-to-day life?

Answer 1

Gutenberg was the son of a merchant and grew up on a large agricultural estate. From his childhood, he had seen wine and olive presses. Subsequently, he learnt the art of polishing stones, became a master goldsmith, and also acquired the expertise to create lead moulds used for making trinkets. Drawing on this knowledge, Gutenberg adapted existing technology to design his innovation. The olive press provided the model for the printing press, and moulds were used for casting the metal types for the letters of the alphabet. By 1448, Gutenberg perfected the system. The first book he printed was the Bible. About 180 copies were printed and it took three years to produce them. By the standards of the time, this was fast production.

Erasmus’s idea of the printed book:

Erasmus thought that books were not good for the sanctity of scholastic knowledge. He was of the opinion that printed books would glut the market with contents which will do more harm than good to society. Because of this, the value of good content would be lost in the din.

OR

The modem Indian novels were useful for the Indians in day-to-day life because
(i) They had the description of domestic life. They showed how people dressed and talked.
(ii) They showed various forms of religious worship, people's beliefs and practices. Indians also used the novel as a powerful medium to criticize what they considered defects in their society and to suggest remedies.
(iii) Many novels told thrilling stories of adventures and intrigues set in the past. Many others helped in creating a sense of national pride among their readers.