Cyclostyle at Midnight, Two Years of India’s Underground Press During the Emergency

Cyclostyle at Midnight, Two Years of India’s Underground Press During the Emergency

Why in News?

The 50th anniversary of the Emergency (1975–1977) has renewed public interest in one of the most extraordinary chapters of Indian democracy—the underground press. At a time when newspapers and radio were censored, a secret network of hand-cranked cyclostyle machines, ink, and paper kept democracy’s voice alive. These clandestine bulletins and pamphlets, produced in dimly lit basements and back rooms, became the lifeline of dissent. They not only chronicled state excesses but also taught readers to “read between the lines” and proved that when speech is policed, literature finds other ways to speak.

Introduction

On the midnight of June 25, 1975, Prime Minister Indira Gandhi declared a state of Emergency across India. Civil liberties were suspended, opposition leaders arrested, and censorship imposed on all forms of communication. The official press—newspapers, radio, and television—was placed under direct control of the government.

For ordinary citizens, truth vanished overnight. Stories of forced sterilisation, mass evictions, and political arrests rarely made it to print. Yet, in this silence, an alternative information network emerged: the underground press.

At the heart of this resistance stood the humble cyclostyle machine—a hand-cranked duplicator used to print bulletins, pamphlets, and leaflets. These papers circulated in secret, often at great risk to the writers, printers, and distributors. Their goal was simple but revolutionary: keep democracy alive when dictatorship ruled.

What the Underground Actually Looked Like

The underground press was fragile, makeshift, and improvised. Reports were typed on stencils late at night, duplicated on cyclostyle machines, and distributed in bundles through couriers, students, and activists.

• Locations: They operated out of safe houses, rented rooms, and even temple basements. Often, these spaces doubled as family homes where unsuspecting neighbours believed nothing unusual was happening.

• Method: News was collected discreetly—whispers from hospitals, slum demolitions, or prisons. Once written, it was typed onto wax stencils. Ink rollers on the cyclostyle would press the stencil onto sheets of paper, producing dozens of copies at a time.

• Circulation: These bulletins were passed hand-to-hand, tucked into newspapers, or slipped under doors. Sometimes, they travelled across states in the false bottoms of trunks or under vegetable baskets.

What they lacked in polish, they made up in urgency. For citizens starved of truth, these bulletins were more trustworthy than government-approved dailies.

Stories They Covered

While mainstream media carried glowing reports of government programmes, the underground press documented the other side:

1. Forced Sterilisation Drives: Sanjay Gandhi’s population control campaign, often coercive, was exposed by underground newsletters.

2. Slum Demolitions: Families evicted from Turkman Gate in Delhi found their struggles chronicled in pamphlets.

3. Political Arrests: Bulletins listed leaders who had been imprisoned—Jayaprakash Narayan, Morarji Desai, Atal Bihari Vajpayee, L.K. Advani, and others—countering official silence.

4. Civic Resistance: They reported protests, satyagrahas, and strikes that the censored press ignored.

These stories carried both information and solidarity, assuring citizens that they were not alone in their suffering or opposition.

Case Studies from the Underground

Several underground publications became iconic during the Emergency:

• “Sandesh” (Message): Produced secretly in Kolkata, it reported regularly on political arrests and censorship.

• “Himmat” and “Freedom First”: Though often harassed by censors, they pushed boundaries and circulated copies discreetly.

• Local Bulletins: From Allahabad to Pune, cyclostyled sheets documented regional events—farmer struggles, student protests, and arrests.

In each case, the effort was collective: writers, typists, printers, and distributors all risked imprisonment under draconian laws like MISA (Maintenance of Internal Security Act).

The Cat-and-Mouse with the State

The government was quick to recognise the threat posed by underground publications. Police regularly raided suspected print locations, seized machines, and jailed those caught with pamphlets.

Yet, the underground network adapted:

• Machines were hidden in false ceilings, trunks, or even under beds.

• Activists used code words to signal safe deliveries.

• When stencils or ink ran short, sympathetic traders smuggled supplies.

Despite the risks, the underground press proved impossible to fully suppress. Each raid was met with renewed determination, and often, the very act of confiscation inspired new bulletins.

How They Sourced Machines, Ink, and Paper

The underground press thrived on resourcefulness. Machines were purchased second-hand or smuggled out of offices by sympathetic clerks. Ink and paper—always in short supply—were procured from friendly shopkeepers or sympathetic officials.

• Cyclostyle Machines: Portable and hand-cranked, ideal for quick relocation.

• Ink: Often homemade substitutes were used when supplies ran out.

• Paper: Recycled or sourced from sympathetic traders at inflated rates.

This logistical chain was as critical as the writing itself, showing how everyday objects could become tools of revolution.

Historical Ecosystem They Shaped

The underground press of the Emergency was more than just journalism—it was a parallel communication network that reshaped how Indians consumed information.

• Readers learned to “read between the lines.” Even in censored newspapers, omissions and silences became signals.

• Trust shifted away from official media. Citizens realised truth could not be found in government-run outlets.

• Democratic imagination survived. These bulletins kept alive the idea that dissent was possible, even when suppressed.

In this sense, the underground press was not only about opposition but also about preserving the memory of freedom.

Weaknesses and Risks

The underground press was heroic, but not invincible:

• Limited Circulation: Most bulletins reached only a few thousand readers at best.

• Quality Issues: Haste, secrecy, and lack of resources often meant poor print quality.

• Risk of Exposure: Each distribution carried the danger of arrest.

Yet, despite these flaws, their symbolic value far outweighed their practical reach. They represented hope in a period of darkness.

The End of the Chain—and What Remained

When the Emergency was lifted in March 1977, and elections were announced, the underground press wound down. Some publications folded, while others transformed into legitimate journals.

But their legacy lived on:

• They proved that censorship could be resisted through ingenuity.

• They showed that ordinary citizens, not just journalists, could defend democracy.

• They created an archive of resistance that continues to inspire future generations.

Today, their story serves as a reminder that press freedom is fragile but essential—and that in times of repression, even a hand-cranked duplicator can become a weapon of truth.

Conclusion

The underground press during the Emergency was a remarkable testament to resilience, creativity, and courage. Armed with little more than cyclostyle machines, ink, and paper, ordinary citizens managed to keep the flame of democracy alive.

At a time when official newspapers became propaganda sheets, underground pamphlets carried the real story of India. Their circulation may have been small, but their impact was immeasurable.

In the words of one activist: “The Emergency taught us to read between the lines. And when speech was silenced, literature found new ways to speak.”

Q&A Section

Q1. Why was the underground press important during the Emergency?
A1. It provided uncensored news about political arrests, forced sterilisation, and civic resistance when mainstream media was silenced.

Q2. What tools were used to produce underground publications?
A2. The primary tool was the cyclostyle machine, along with stencils, ink, and paper—all sourced secretly and at great risk.

Q3. How did the government respond to the underground press?
A3. The state raided printing locations, seized machines, and arrested activists. However, the underground network adapted and continued operating.

Q4. What were the weaknesses of the underground press?
A4. Limited circulation, poor print quality, and constant risk of exposure. Yet, its symbolic power as a tool of resistance was immense.

Q5. What is the legacy of the underground press today?
A5. It stands as a reminder of the importance of press freedom, the resilience of democracy, and the courage of ordinary citizens in times of repression.