The reader is part of the prestigious Themes in Politics series, which presents essays on important issues in the study of political science and Indian politics. It examines the role of the media in India's history and development, bringing together a collection of essays on its interplay with politics, society and culture. The book surveys the range of communication media in India and shows how their regulation and use has developed from the pre-independence period to the end of the twentieth century. This innovative and critical selection of essays has been organized thematically; the discussion moves from the public sphere in colonial times to the development era, the rise of the vernacular media, the impact of television and the emergence of newer forms of media like the Internet in the 1990s. The readings cover a range of disciplines, from history to political science and anthropology, and have been written by experts in the field. The reader will be of interest to students and scholars of Indian politics and governance, media and culture studies, sociology as well as the informed lay reader.