It was in the nineteenth century that Hindus and Muslims began to start presses and to print books to suit their requirements.

After the lifting of the press monopoly, two printing presses were founded by Missionaries. One was at Pondicherry and the other in Ceylon.

Due to the tireless efforts of the Missionaries and the exacting standards they set for themselves the Tamil types were developed into clear ones. John Murdoch points out that the books printed by the natives had more errors than the ones by their European counterparts.³⁵ Perhaps this was because the latter by now had gained experience in this line.

It was John Murdoch’s valuable suggestion that a copy of every book printed and published by every press in the country should be sent to the Government and these should be collected for reference and study in public libraries.³⁶ This suggestion which was immediately accepted paved the way for legislation later on which arrangement has benefited the public. This suggestion was a remarkable contribution.

In concluding, we may point out that the contribution of Europeans in this field also has been worthy of merit. They, as it were, opened the doors of education to almost all.

35. Ibid., P. LXII.

36. Ibid., P. LXVII.