history of urdu journalism in sub continent. this topic based on news writing and reporting.

1. NAME: MEHWISH ANWAR
CLASS: BS III
COURSE TITLE: NEWS WRITING
AND REPORTING
COURSE INCHARGE: SIR SOHAIL
PRESENTATION
TOPIC: HISTORY OF
URDU JOURALISM IN
SUB-CONTINENT

2. BEGINNINGOF JOURNALISM
In the sub-continent, journalism started
with preliminary handwritten news
sheets,
prepared by government news-writers
during the Muslim rule. They were
written,
dated, appeared at regular and frequent
intervals. Such news sheets provided
the rulers
with information from all corners of the
empire, regarding public occurrences,
current-events, mischief in societies
and hardships faced by the people.

3. FIRSTPRINTEDNEWSPAPERS
With the downfall of Mughal rule, Britain started offensive invasion into
the sub- continent. In the revolution of 1857, such papers played an
effective role.
HICKY GAZETTE
The first ever printing press was set
up by the British at Bombay in 1674.
The first printed newspaper of sub-
continent appeared in 1780, with the
name of “Hicky Gazette”, published
by James August Hicky. He was soon
jailed. In November 1781, a
newspaper with name of “India
Gazette” was introduced which was
pro Government and against Hickey

4. Indian World
William Duane was one of those editors who
struggled hard for freedom of press. Earlier, he
was a fanatical editor of Bengal Journal. Soon, he
started his own newspaper, “Indian World” which
was more authentic and openly critical to East
India Company. The British released two
consecutive newspapers to combat it, but failed.
 Progress & Development
Within twenty years of the installation of
printing press in sub-continent, dozens of
(English language) newspapers and periodicals
appeared in the cities of Calcutta, Bombay and
Madras. These newspapers in general included
poetry, tales, and short compositions, translated
Persian stories. Moreover, they brought to light
the culture, qualities and mischief of the British
residents of that time.

5. NEWSPAPERS OF NATIONAL & REGIONAL LANGUAGES
 NEWSPAPERS OF NATIONAL
LANGUAGES
1. Jam-e-Jahan Numa
First printed Urdu newspaper
was “Jam-e-Jahan Numa”,
published in Calcutta in 1822
under the supervision of
British. Its editor was Munshi
Sada Sukh. After some weeks,
its language was changed into
Persian because the
circulation remained
extremely low.
2. Maraat-ul-
Akhbar
The first printed Persian
newspaper “Marat-ul-
Akhbar” appeared in
Calcutta in 1822. Its
founder and editor was
Raja Ram Mohan Raey.
He started Bengali
newspapers also.

6. Newspapers of regional languages
When journalism entered in other
parts of sub-continent, several
newspapers of regional languages
also emerged. For instance, Bengali,
Hindi, Gujrati, Marhati and Tamil
language newspapers. These
newspapers included short articles,
ephemeral topics, some illustrations
and service articles (classifieds)

7. URDU JOURNALISM
Urdu journalism started with Jam-e-Jahan
Numa but in point of fact its history
begins from 1836, when the father of
Maulana Muhammad Husain Azad,
Maulvi Muhammad Baqar started “Delhi
Urdu Akhbar”. Some significant factors
behind the progress of Urdu journalism
were that:

8. ELEMENTS OF URDU JOURNALISM IN SUB-CONTINENT
a. In 1830, East India Company declared Urdu the official language of small
government institutions and court of law. So, the importance of Urdu increased
fourfold.
b. After 1835, many newspapers of regional languages came at frontline. Among
them Urdu language newspapers were most important because Urdu was the official
language.
c. In 1836, Litho-type printing was started. It was more attractive and inexpensive.
So the cost of newspapers could be reduced. Consequently, it became easier to
start an Urdu newspaper.
d. Government intended to promote Western Studies in the sub-continent. Since,
Urdu newspapers were appropriate medium for the purpose, the government used to
purchase a certain quantity of newspapers for officials, schools and colleges. This
setup financially supported some of the newspapers.

9. NewspapersofDelhi
First “Delhi Urdu Akhbar” and second was
“Syed-ul-Akhbar”. Delhi Urdu Akhbar continued
for twenty one years. Maulvi Muhammad Baqar
was its first editor. Later on his son, Maulana
Muhammad Husain Azad took the responsibility.
The first page of Delhi Urdu Akbar was used for
the activities of Last Mughal Emperor Bahaddur
Shah Zafar. In every issue an ode also was put in.
Syed-ul-Akhbar came into being in the year 1837.
Its founder was Syed Muhammad Kahan, real
brother of Sir Syed Ahmed Khan. In 1950, Syed-ul-
Akhbar was closed because of financial problems.

10. Newspapers of Lahore
 First Urdu newspaper of Lahore was “Koh-
e-Noor”, started in 1850. Munshi Harsukh
Raey was its founder who was specially
called by the British after invasion in
Punjab. Koh-e-Noor had largest circulation
in all the Urdu papers of the sub-continent
 The second chief newspaper of Lahore was
“Darya-e-Noor” which could not continue
because it openly condemned the British
rule. It had a very short but lively life

11. Conclusion
It is safe to say that journalism had its roots in the sub-continent since the
Muslim rule. A perfect communication system did exist when the British
invaded the sub- continent. With the development of press, not only
stringers, news-writers and editors enhanced their journalistic practice and
skills, but an audience responsive to a mass press took birth. In short, it
was the mutual co-ordination between press and readership, which paved
the way to act upon the right of freedom of speech. Even after the
exclusion of Muslims from journalism in 1857, the Muslim press grew from
scrap and fruitfully served the cause of independence.