How did print help connect communities …

Print connected communities and people in different parts of India through newspapers, by encouraging public debates on important issues. New ideas emerged in Sambad Kaumadi published by Raja Ram Mohan Roy’s from 1821, which provoked debate on widow immolation, Brahmanical priesthood, idolatary, by printing ideas in every language spoken by ordinary people. In retalitation, Hindu orthrodoxy started Samachar Chandrika to oppose his opinions.
In north India, ulamas fearing colonial rulers will change Muslim personal laws, published Persian and Urdu translations of holy scriptures and printed religious newspapers and tracts.The Deoband Seminary published thousands of fatwas telling Muslim readers how to conduct themsleves in their everyday life and explaning Islamic doctrines.
Hindus also published religious texts in Vernacular languages. Ramcharit Manas of Tulsidas came out in Calcutta in 1810. Naval Kishore Press at Lucknow and Shri Venkateshwar Press in Bombay published numerous religious texts in Vernacular languages.

The religious texts reached a very wide circle of people encouraging discussions, debates and controversies within and among different religions.

Newspapers conveyed news from one place to another, creating pan-Indian identities.Thus, print not only stimulated publication of conflicting opinions, it also connected communities and people in different parts of India.