1. Sources of History

(1) During the British period newspapers also acted as source of social reformation.

• During the British period, newspapers were not only the source of political events but also acted as a source of social reformation.
• In the pre-independence period, newspapers like Dnyanoday, Dnyanprakash, Amrit Bazaar Patrika, Deenbandhu, and Kesari acted as an important source of awakening the minds of the people.
• Through the medium of newspapers, leaders wrote for the reformation of common people and bringing unity among them.
• Publications like 'Nibandhmala' by Vishnushastri Chiplunkar and 'Shatapatre' by Lokahitawadi commented on various social and cultural issues.

(2) Audio Visual Recordings are considered as the most trustworthy source for the study of Modern Indian History.

• During the modern period, due to the development of technology, there was development in the art of photography, recording, and films.
• Photographs give information of a person or an event in a visual format, which is considered more reliable than mediaeval paintings whose authenticity might be doubtful.
• Recordings provide the actual speeches of leaders or important personalities (e.g., Subhash Chandra Bose) which act as an authentic audio source.
• Films, a unique discovery of the 20th century, provide actual audio-visual recordings of historical incidents like the Dandi Yatra, Salt Satyagraha, and Quit India Movement. Through these films, the events can be seen in reality, making them highly trustworthy.

(1) Photographs

• Photographs are considered a visual source of modern Indian history.
• With the discovery of the art of photography, photographs of various persons, events, objects, structures, and places were clicked.
• Through these photographs, we get information of a person or an event in a visual format.
• Unlike mediaeval paintings, photographs are considered to be more reliable. A photograph of a person provides information about their physical features and dressing style, while a photograph of an event gives a visual image of the event.

(2) Museums and History

• For the study of history, various objects, paintings, photographs, and other such things are preserved in a museum.
• While visiting these sites, we get information about contemporary history, architecture, nature of the monument, and the economic condition of that particular period.
• For example, at the Aga Khan Palace in Pune, different objects and documents give information about the life of Mahatma Gandhi.
• Similarly, visiting the Cellular Jail in Andaman gives information about the revolutionary work of V.D. Savarkar.

(3) Audio sources

• The discovery of the technique of recording was as important as photography and serves as a form of audio source of history.
• During the modern period, the speeches of leaders or important personalities and songs became available in the form of recordings.
• They can be used as a source of history. For example, the National anthem 'Jana Gana Mana' sung by Rabindranath Tagore himself or the speeches of Subhash Chandra Bose can be used as an audio source for the study of the history of Modern India.