Newspapers are an important source for the study of the national movement because contemporary newspapers, published in English as well as different Indian languages, tracked Mahatma Gandhi's movements and reported on his activities. They also represented what ordinary Indians thought of him.

However, newspaper accounts should not be seen as unprejudiced. They were published by people who had their own political opinions and world views. These ideas shaped what was published and the way events were reported. For instance, accounts published in a London newspaper would be different from reports in an Indian nationalist paper.