PR THROUGH THE AGES - EVOLUTION OF PR IN INDIAN AND GLOBAL CONTEXT

PR THROUGH THE AGES: From Press Agents to Influencers

Topic: Evolution of Public Relations in Indian and Global Context

Group Size: 3–4 students

THE MISSION

You are a team of PR historians. Your job is to travel through the history of Public Relations and discover: How did PR change from simply creating publicity to managing relationships, reputation and digital conversations?

You will investigate six stages of PR evolution and finally create your own “PR Evolution Map.”

 

STEP 1 — FORM YOUR PR HISTORY TEAM

Divide yourselves into groups of 3–4.

Assign these roles:

·       PR Historian – looks at the historical development.

·       Indian PR Expert – focuses on Indian developments.

·       Global PR Expert – focuses on international developments.

·       Digital PR Expert – focuses on modern PR.

Record the group's final answers.

 

STEP 2 — THE SIX STAGES OF PR

Your group must study the following six stages. You do not need to research them. Use the information provided below.

STAGE 1 — EARLY PUBLICITY

Global context

·       In the early days, organisations mainly tried to attract public attention.

·       Publicity, posters, announcements and newspapers were important.

Key idea: “Get attention.”

 

STAGE 2 — PRESS AGENTRY

Global context - In the late 19th and early 20th centuries, press agents worked to generate publicity for individuals, businesses and entertainment.

P.T. Barnum became famous for publicity and promotional techniques.

Key idea: “Create publicity and get people talking.”

STAGE 3 — PROFESSIONAL PR

Global context - PR gradually became more organised and strategic.

Ivy Lee promoted the idea of providing accurate information to journalists and maintaining communication with the public.

Edward Bernays helped develop PR as a profession and connected it with ideas from psychology and public opinion.

Key idea: “Understand the public and influence public opinion.”

 

STAGE 4 — PR DEVELOPS IN INDIA

Public communication in India has a much longer background, including communication used by rulers and public institutions.

In modern India, organised government communication developed during the colonial period.

After Independence, government communication expanded through institutions such as the Press Information Bureau (PIB).

PR gradually developed in business, government, public-sector organisations and professional associations.

Key idea: “Inform and communicate with citizens and stakeholders.”

STAGE 5 — CORPORATE PR

As Indian industries and businesses expanded, PR became increasingly important for:

·       corporate reputation

·       media relations

·       investor communication

·       crisis management

·       employee communication

·       brand image

PR moved beyond simply getting newspaper coverage.

Key idea: “Build and protect reputation.”

STAGE 6 — DIGITAL & SOCIAL MEDIA PR

Today PR operates across:

·       Instagram

·       YouTube

·       X

·       LinkedIn

·       websites

·       podcasts

·       influencers

·       online communities

Audiences can now respond, share, criticise and create content themselves.

PR is therefore increasingly about conversation and relationship-building, not just sending messages.

Key idea: “Listen, engage and build relationships.”

 

STEP 3 — BUILD THE PR TIMELINE

On your paper, draw this:

EARLY PUBLICITY → PRESS AGENTRY → PROFESSIONAL PR → INDIAN PR → CORPORATE PR → DIGITAL PR

Under each stage, write:

1. Main purpose: What was PR trying to achieve?

2. Main medium: How did PR communicate?

3. Audience: Who was being addressed?

4. PR professional's role: What was the PR person expected to do?

Complete the table:

Stage	Purpose	Medium	Audience	PR Role
Early Publicity
Press Agentry
Professional PR
Indian PR
Corporate PR
Digital PR

 

STEP 4 — INDIA vs THE WORLD

Now compare the Indian and global evolution of PR.

 

Complete these statements:

Global PR

PR initially focused heavily on:

---

It gradually moved towards:

---

Indian PR

PR initially developed strongly around:

---

It later expanded into:

---

One major similarity:

India and the world both moved from __________________ to __________________.

One important difference:

---

 

STEP 5 — THE BIG PR QUESTION

Imagine that you are a PR professional in 1900.

Your client says:

“I want everyone to know about my new business.”

What would you do?

Write three PR activities you could realistically use.

 

 

Now imagine you are a PR professional in 2026.

The same client says:

“I want everyone to know about my new business.”

Write three PR activities you would use today.

 

 

Compare:

1900 PR

---

---

---

2026 PR

---

---

---

Then complete:

“The biggest change in PR is not just the technology; it is the change from __________ to __________.”

 

 

FINAL CHALLENGE — CREATE THE PR EVOLUTION FORMULA

As a group, create a one-line formula showing how PR has evolved.

For example:

Publicity → Information → Persuasion → Reputation → Relationships → Engagement

But your group must create its own version.

Give your formula a title:

“Our PR Evolution Formula”

 

FINAL SUBMISSION

each group should submit one sheet containing:

✅ Six-stage PR timeline
✅ Completed PR table
✅ India vs Global comparison
✅ 1900 vs 2026 comparison
✅ Answer to the “Big PR Question”
✅ Your group's PR Evolution Formula

STUDENT DETECTIVE - TO STUDY MARSHALL MCLUHAN'S MEDIUM IS THE MESSAGE

STUDENT INSTRUCTIONS

STEP 1 — Choose ONE situation

Your group must select ONE of these:

A. Your college announces a holiday because of heavy rain.

B. Your college announces its annual cultural festival.

C. India wins an important cricket match.

D. A new movie becomes a huge hit.

E. Your college announces an important examination timetable.

Write your choice at the top of your paper.

 

STEP 2 — Become the Medium

Imagine that the same information has to be communicated through these FOUR media:

1. NEWSPAPER

Discuss:

·       What would the headline be?

·       What information would be included?

·       How would the audience consume it?

·       Would the audience respond immediately?

Write 2–3 sentences.

 

2. TELEVISION

Discuss:

·       What would viewers see?

·       What would the anchor say?

·       Would visuals be important?

·       How would the audience experience the information?

Write 2–3 sentences.

 

3. WHATSAPP

Discuss:

·       What would the message look like?

·       Would people forward it?

·       Would people comment or reply?

·       Could misinformation spread?

Write 2–3 sentences.

 

4. INSTAGRAM REEL

Discuss:

·       What would the Reel show?

·       What kind of music/visuals might be used?

·       How long would it be?

·       Would entertainment become important?

Write 2–3 sentences.

 

STEP 3 — The Media Detective Table

Complete this table.

Question	Newspaper	TV	WhatsApp	Instagram
How fast is it?
Mainly text or visual?
Audience participation?
Possibility of sharing?
Entertainment value?
Personal or public?

Use simple words such as:

High / Medium / Low

 

STEP 4 — Crack McLuhan's Code

 

Now answer these questions.

Question 1

The information remained the same, but the experience changed.

Why?

Write 2–3 sentences.

 

Question 2

Which medium changes the audience's behaviour the most?

Why?

 

Question 3

Which medium encourages the most audience participation?

Why?

 

Question 4

Complete this sentence:

“The medium becomes part of the message because __________________________.”

 

FINAL CHALLENGE 🕵️

5 minutes

Your group must now give McLuhan a score:

Was McLuhan right?

Circle one: YES / PARTLY / NO

Then give THREE reasons.

For example:

YES.

·       Different media make us consume information differently.

·       Some media make communication faster.

·       Digital media allow audiences to participate and share information.

📝 WHAT EACH GROUP MUST SUBMIT

By the end of the exercise, each group should have ONE completed sheet containing:

✔ Part 1 - Chosen situation

✔ Part 2 - Newspaper explanation

✔ Part 3 - Television explanation

✔ Part 4 - WhatsApp explanation

✔ Part 5 - Instagram explanation

✔ Part 6 - Completed comparison table

✔ Part 7 - Four McLuhan questions

✔ Part 8 - Final verdict: YES / PARTLY / NO + 3 reasons

 

 

 

 

INDIAN SCIENTIFIC THOUGHT: MATHEMATICS, GEOMETRY, ASTRONOMY & CHEMISTRY - IKS

Ancient India had a rich tradition of scientific thinking and practical knowledge. Indian scholars observed nature, developed mathematical methods, studied the movement of planets and stars, and worked with metals, medicines and other substances.

Indian scientific thought was generally based on observation, reasoning, calculation and practical application. Much of this knowledge was recorded in texts such as the Sulba Sutras, Vedanga Jyotisha, Aryabhatiya, Siddhanta Shiromani and various works on Ayurveda and metallurgy.

1. Mathematics

Mathematics was one of the strongest areas of ancient Indian scientific thought. Indian mathematicians made important contributions to numbers, arithmetic, algebra, geometry and calculation.

Major Contributions

a. Concept of Zero

The development of zero as a number and a placeholder was a major contribution of Indian mathematics.

For example:

• 105 → zero shows that there are no tens.
• 5 + 0 = 5
• 5 × 0 = 0

The mathematician Brahmagupta explained rules for calculations involving zero in the 7th century.

b. Decimal Place-Value System

Indian mathematicians developed and used a decimal system based on place value.

For example:

5,432

Here:

• 5 = thousands
• 4 = hundreds
• 3 = tens
• 2 = units

This system made large calculations much easier.

c. Algebra

Indian mathematicians developed methods for solving equations and working with unknown quantities.

Bhaskara II, for example, made important contributions to algebra and arithmetic.

d. Negative Numbers and Fractions

Indian mathematical texts also discussed negative numbers, fractions, square roots and mathematical operations.

Simple Example

If a person has ₹500 and spends ₹175:

₹500 − ₹175 = ₹325

The ability to perform such calculations systematically developed through India's long mathematical tradition.

Remember

Indian Mathematics → Zero + Decimal System + Algebra + Arithmetic

 

2. Geometry

Geometry is the study of shapes, sizes, distances, areas and spatial relationships.

In India, geometry developed largely from practical requirements, particularly the construction of fire altars, buildings and other structures.

Sulba Sutras

The Sulba Sutras are important ancient Indian texts dealing with geometric principles. The word Sulba refers to a measuring cord or rope.

These texts explain how ropes could be used to:

• Measure distances
• Construct geometric shapes
• Create right angles
• Calculate areas
• Construct fire altars

Pythagorean Principle

The Sulba Sutras contain statements corresponding to the principle commonly known today as the Pythagorean theorem:

a² + b² = c²

Practical Application

Imagine workers need to create a perfectly right-angled corner while constructing a building.

They can use a triangle with sides:

3 : 4 : 5

Because:

3² + 4² = 5²

9 + 16 = 25

Therefore, the angle opposite the 5-unit side is a right angle.

Importance

Geometry was not merely theoretical. It was connected to:

• Architecture
• Construction
• Religious structures
• Measurement
• Land planning

Remember

Indian Geometry → Measurement + Construction + Shapes + Practical Application

 

3. Astronomy

Ancient Indians had a strong interest in the Sun, Moon, planets, stars, seasons and measurement of time.

Indian astronomy developed through continuous observation of the sky.

Vedanga Jyotisha

The Vedanga Jyotisha is one of the early Indian texts associated with astronomy and calendrical calculations.

It dealt with:

• Movement of celestial bodies
• Calculation of time
• Seasons
• Lunar cycles
• Calendrical systems

Aryabhata

One of India's most famous astronomers was Aryabhata, who lived around the 5th–6th century CE.

His famous work was the Aryabhatiya.

Aryabhata made important contributions to:

• Calculation of planetary positions
• Measurement of time
• Mathematical astronomy
• Understanding eclipses

Earth's Rotation

Aryabhata proposed an explanation in which the apparent daily movement of the stars could be understood through the rotation of the Earth.

This was an important example of using mathematical reasoning and observation to explain an astronomical phenomenon.

Eclipses

Indian astronomers developed mathematical explanations for solar and lunar eclipses rather than treating them simply as supernatural events.

A simple way to understand a lunar eclipse:

Sun → Earth → Moon

When Earth comes between the Sun and Moon, Earth's shadow can fall on the Moon.

Calendars

Astronomical calculations were also important for developing calendars and determining:

• Months
• Seasons
• Festivals
• Agricultural cycles
• Time

Remember

Indian Astronomy → Observation + Planets + Eclipses + Time + Calendars

 

4. Chemistry

Ancient Indian scientific thought also included considerable knowledge of metals, minerals, dyes, medicines, fermentation and chemical processes.

Although the modern science of chemistry developed much later, ancient Indian practices demonstrate an understanding of materials and their transformation.

Metallurgy

India developed sophisticated knowledge of working with metals such as:

• Iron
• Copper
• Gold
• Silver
• Zinc

Indian metalworkers developed techniques for smelting, purification, alloying and casting.

Iron Pillar of Delhi

The Iron Pillar of Delhi is a famous example of India's historical expertise in ironworking.

Its resistance to corrosion demonstrates sophisticated knowledge of iron processing and material properties.

Zinc Production

Ancient Indian metallurgists developed techniques for producing zinc through distillation. The technology associated with zinc production at sites such as Zawar in Rajasthan is an important example of India's metallurgical heritage.

Ayurveda and Chemical Knowledge

Traditional Indian medical practices also involved knowledge of:

• Herbs
• Minerals
• Oils
• Salts
• Extracts
• Fermentation
• Preparation of medicines

Texts associated with Ayurveda and Rasashastra describe various methods of processing and preparing substances.

Everyday Example

When a traditional practitioner prepares an herbal preparation by:

heating → extracting → filtering → concentrating

there is a practical understanding of how heat and processing can change the properties of materials.

Remember

Chemistry → Metals + Minerals + Medicines + Processing + Material Knowledge