GrowthofMuslimPressinthesub-continent.ppt

Press in Sub- Continent
Maj/MC-103: History of Mass media
(Print and Electronic)

First newspapers
 The first printed newspaper of sub-continent
appeared in 1780, “Hicky Gazette”, published by
James August Hicky.
 November 1781, a newspaper with name of
“India Gazette” was introduced which was pro
Government and against Hickey
 With this haphazard changing scenario, many
new newspapers came on the scene. Some
supported the government and others strived for
freedom

Hickey Gazette
 Editor: James Augustine Hickey.
 Date : 29-Sep-1780
 Language : English
 Place: Calcutta
 Content: Ads, Cartoons, Caricature, Joke, News
stories.
 Weekly newspaper, readership was low, later be
came popular.
 Hickey used to criticize people.

Hickey Gazette
 Severely criticized some important figures of East
India Company.
 He was sent to jail 1781, and charged rupees 400
 He continued his criticism through publishing
new-spaper from jail.
 Hickey press was confiscated on March 1782

William Duane
 William Duane was Irish-American Journalist.
 He was one of those editors who struggled hard
for freedom of press in subcontinent.
 At the inception of Bengal Journal in 1791, Duane
tried to demonstrate his compliance with governm
ent attitudes.
 Instead of following his own advice, however,
Duane and his newspaper became a platform for
the discontented and pro-revolutionary

Indian World
 He was a fanatical editor of Bengal Journal, but
the government violently removed him with force.
 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.

Indian World
 Circulation of Indian World increased more than
expectations.
 It was alarming for the Company that this Indian
paper could get to England and may defame the
Company in England.
 William Duane once criticized judiciary; therefore,
he was exiled and his investment of thirty
thousand was seized by force.
 He published last issue of Indian world on Dec,
26, 1794.
 He was a valiant journalist. He went to America
through England and continued his practice.

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.
 Readership was limited to British because of
language.
 These newspapers in general included poetry,
tales, and short compositions, translated Persian
stories and sometime even the translated odes
of native-poets Sadi and Hafiz.
 They brought to light the culture, qualities and
mischief of the British residents of that time.

Progress & Development
 The language of educated people in the
sub-continent was Persian.
 But the British disliked it because it preserved the
memories of Muslim’s power of influence afresh.
 So, they promoted Urdu language and financially
assisted newspapers for their publication in Urdu
language.

Jam-e-Jahan Numa
 First printed Urdu newspaper
 Published in Calcutta in 28-March1822 under the
supervision of British
 It was founded by Harihar Dutta in 1822 in Kolkata
(then Calcutta).
 He was the son of Tara Chand Dutta, eminent
Bengali journalist and one of the founders of
Bengali weekly Sambad Koumudi.
 Editor was Munshi Sada Sukh.

Jam-e-Jahan Numa
 After some weeks, its language was changed into
Persian because circulation remained extremely
low.
 Later, after two years, it was integrated with a four-
page Urdu news sheet for the reason that some of
the British officials had learned Urdu where on the
other hand people could be mobilized to use Urdu
language.

Jam-e-Jahan Numa
 Jam-e- Jahan Numa featured news items from
other hand-written news sheets of autonomous
states, English newspapers and some of its own.
 After English and Bengali, Urdu was the third
language newspaper in India. It continued to be
published till 1888.

Mirat-ul-Akhbar
 The first printed Persian newspaper “Marat-ul-Ak
hbar” appeared in Calcutta in 1822.
 Editor/Owner: Raja Rammohan Roy, James Silk
Buckingham
 Language: Persian
 Raja Rammohan was a spiritual leader of Hindus.
 He started Bengali newspapers also.

Mirat-ul-Akhbar
 His intention to start newspapers in general was to
enhance the knowledge of common people and
acquaint them with the policies, laws and line of
action of the British government.
 Role: Newspaper was showing the political and
social news. Supported Turks and wrote about war
of Independence.
 Banned : 4 –April – 1823
 Mirat-ul-Akhbar was undoubtedly the brilliant
among the early newspaper.

Newspapers of Delhi
 More then a dozen newspapers and periodicals
started in Delhi.
 Comparatively, two were most significant and
had a profound effect on the Muslim society.
 First “Delhi Urdu Akhbar” and second was “Syed
-ul-Akhbar”.

Dehli Urdu Akhbar
 The Dehli Akhbar, renamed Dehli Urdu Akhbar
in 1840
 Founded by Maulavi Muhammad Baqir in 1836
or 1837
 Printed on a lithographic press, Maulavi Baqir
bought from Dr. Sprenger, the principal of the
Delhi College.

Dehli Urdu Akhbar
 Delhi Urdu Akhbar continued for twenty one
years.
 Maulvi Muhammad Baqar was its first editor.
 Later on his son, Maulana Muhammad Hussain
Azad took the responsibility.
 The first page of Delhi Urdu Akbar was used for
the activities of Last Mughal Emperor Bahaddur
Shah Zafar.

Dehli Urdu Akhbar
 Then the movement and actions of British
residents and other officials were included.
 News from Delhi had special emphasis.
 Wherever needed, comments were given at the
end of the news.
 This newspaper brought to light misbehaviour
of both British and Emperor’s court.
 In every issue an ode also was put in.

Dehli Urdu Akhbar
 Delhi Urdu Akhbar is said to play the most
courageous role during the War.
 This newspaper, that earlier had a very careful
tone, seemed completely changed once the revo
lt started.
 Its contents were filled with anti-English
sentiments.
 Maulvi Mohammad Baqir had to pay very heavy
price of his courage.

Dehli Urdu Akhbar
 He was sentenced to death by the British rulers o
n charges of supporting the mutiny.
 His son veteran Urdu writer and poet Moulana
Mohammad Hussain Azad and his family suffered
a lot, their property was confiscated and was
forced to leave Delhi.

Syed-ul-Akhbar
 Syed-ul-Akhbar came into being in the year 1837.
 Its founder was Syed Muhammad Kahan, real
brother of Sir Syed Ahmed Khan.
 After nine years, he died in young age and the
paper continued in the editorship of Syed Ahmed
Khan.
 But the name of editor was kept concealed.
 In 1950, Syed-ul-Akhbar was closed because of
financial problems.

Newspapers of Lahore
 First Urdu newspaper of Lahore was “Koh-e-
Noor”, started in 1850.
 Continued for more than half a century.
 Munshi Harsukh Raey was its founder who was
specially called by the British after invasion in
Punjab.
 He was financially supported by British in
establishing a printing press and a newspaper.
 It was a pro Government newspaper, but
keeping the idea of freedom under the umbrella
of force, it sometime criticized the government
also.

Newspapers of Lahore
 It provided not only news and views, but
enormous educative material for educators.
 Koh-e-Noor had largest circulation in all the
Urdu papers of the sub-continent.
 In fifty years of its existence, a various editors
worked for its betterment.
 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.

Characteristic of Urdu
Journalism
 In early stages of journalism, the readership of
Urdu newspapers was not very remarkable.
 Statistical information tells that Koh-e-Noor had
highest circulation with three hundred and fifty
copies a day.
 Syed-ul-Akhbar had the lowest circulation of only
twenty seven copies.
 Majority of the newspapers produced nearly fifty
copies per day.
 Some papers even sold two hundred copies
because the British used to take fifty to hundred
copies for officials and schools on permanent
basis.

Journalism
 The reason behind low readership was that most
newspapers at that time cost fifty cents (8 aaney)
per copy. We can safely assume that only well-
off people were able to afford.
 Secondly, literacy rate was considerably low.
 At least forty customers were required to make
self-govern (independent) a weekly.
 Regional, national and international news were
published.
 News of educational reforms had exceptional
emphasis in Urdu newspapers.

Journalism
 Sources of news were other hand-written news
sheets of emperor’s stringers, English
newspapers and contemporary Urdu and
Persian newspapers.
 Editorials were not included.
 Notes or comments were given at the end of
columns.
 Editor’s suggestions and interpretations were
also put in under separate column.
 Newspapers were not very goof-looking or
impressive.
 Pictures were not used, however, a little bit;
hand-made pictures were printed sometimes.

Journalism
 Newspapers had no well arranged material in
order or sequence.
 Koh-e-Noor was the only Urdu newspaper, in
which material was arranged in a definite series.
 One most enhanced quality of Koh-e-Noor was
printing of annual Index, through which
concerned news items could be easily searched
out.
 Not all Urdu newspapers criticized the
government.

The 1857 Saga and the Press
 Till May 1857 there was no change in the laws
governing the newspapers in India.
 When the War broke out in May 1857, the Indi
an press had no less than, 75 years old traditi
on.
 Apart from English language press, which was
largely patronized by the British ruling class, p
ress may be classified into four categories.

 English and vernacular press that enjoyed full
support and patronage of East India Company,
their officers and other English citizens, and w
as playing its role accordingly.
 Jam-i Jahan Numa, Fawa’id al-Nadrin, Qiran
al-Sa’adayn, Koh-i -Noor, Qadar al-Akhbar,
Kurrachi Advertiser, Lahore Chronicle and The
Panjabee are only a few to mention.

 Those English, Bengali, Persian and other language new
spapers, which were founded by educated Indians, like
Raja Ram Mohan Rai, Dawarka Nath Tegore, Hari Dutt an
d many others.
 Their reformist press was different from that of Delhi and
adjoining areas.
 These nationalist Indians used their press with a complet
e understanding of the changing political economic and
cultural environment with major focus on development of
society and the people.

 There were some Urdu newspapers that were supported
by the rulers and Nawabs of Indian States,
 Mostly these newspapers pleased the newspaper owners
or to make use of them for achieving certain goals.
 For example, Raja of Nepal, supported Banaras Gazette.
Madhur-al-Suroor of Bharat Pur, Gawaliar Gazette and
Bagh-o-Bahar, Banaras come in this category.
 Those Urdu and Persian newspapers which were coming
out from the areas where war actually broke out, like Del
hi and adjoining areas, Lukhnow, Agra and Banaras.

Enforcement of the Gagging
Act 1857
 Promulgated by the Governor General Lord Canning on 1
3th June 1857, a new press regulation was imposed in w
hole of the India as an immediate result of the 1857 upri
sing.
 According to the new law, all the newspapers have to ge
t license before their inception.
 government of East India Company was determined to c
urtail the press freedom to make the native rebellious pre
ss under control.
 Anglo-Indian press started campaigning against the Mus
lims and demanded their literal extermination and exclusi
on from all government posts.

Enforcement of the Gagging
Act 1857
 According to one source, the Urdu press of India, before
the War of Independence, was consisted of 103 newspa
pers including printing presses.
 In 1853 the number of Urdu newspapers was thirty-five
which, in 1858, came down to only twelve,
 Out of which there were six old and six new newspapers
;
 And out of these twelve, the editor of only one newspap
er was a Muslim.

Reporting the War: Some Reflecti
ons from Urdu and Persian
Newspapers
 Dilli Urdū Akhbar of Moulvi Mohammad Baqar, who was s
entenced to death by the British rulers on charges of su
pporting the mutiny, is said to play the most courageous
role during the War.
 This newspaper, that earlier had a very careful tone, see
med completely changed once the revolt started.
 The text of the paper that contained the news of revolt b
egan with the verses of Holy Quran

Newspapers
 Editor declared:
 “The mighty rulers whose strength, rule and administrati
on, could not even imagine of the downfall, it did happe
n in the blink of an eye … Most of the people still think w
hether this all has happened or they are still in a state of
dream.”
 In the subsequent text the editor gave an objective eye
witness account of the events that took place on 11th M
ay 1857 in Delhi.
 The paper continued to publish the contents that reflecte
d different dimensions of the revolt; these contents were
filled with anti-English sentiments.

Newspapers
 Following are the extracts of the news items published in
the issue of 24th May:
 Kol: It has been heard that four companies of Kol appear
ed before the king after disgracing the English, killing ev
ery Englishman they came across and allowed the peopl
e to loot the treasury and the public looted it thoroughly
and everyone grabbed what he would catch hold of.
 Lucknow: It is reported that in Lucknow Englishman suff
ered the way they feared. It is also rumoured that the bro
ther of the deposed king who was known to be mad has
occupied the throne and the state is being ruled in his n
ame.

Newspapers
 Sadiq al-Akhbar while supporting the revolt also publish
ed fatwa of 35 Ulema in which fight against British was o
penly declared as Jihad.
 After the War of Independence the editor of Sadiq al-Ak
hbar, Jamiluddin Khan, was arrested on charges of misr
eporting against the Government and was sentenced to j
ail for three years.

Reporting the War
 Persian and Urdu newspapers of that era played a vital r
ole in creating and forming anti-British public opinion, e
ven prior to the War.
 When the war finally broke out, their tone became even
bitter against the policies of the East India Company and
expression of dissent and discontent became louder.
 The content of almost all the Persian newspapers are fo
und to be filled with disclosures of the ruler’s wrongdoin
gs.
 Mah‘alam Afroz, AÍsan al-Akhbār and A’inah-i Sikandri a
re the few other newspapers of this cadre.
 These had to pay very heavy prices in the form of forcibl
e closures, trials and punitive action even life sentences.

Tone of the press after 1857
 Government seemed to have given official patronage an
d subsidies to a few loyal papers which were there to av
ail themselves of the opportunity.
 Great rebellion of 1857 had impacted Urdu journalism in
terms of number of publication, volume of circulation an
d content.
 While some new Urdu papers appeared during this perio
d, a much larger number ceased publication.
 The number of publications dropped from 35 in 1853 to
12 in 1858.

Major Newspaper
 Some major papers like the Oudh Akhbar Lucknow;
 the Scintific Gazette, Aligarh,
 the Tahazib-ul- Akhlaq,Aligarh;
 the Oudh Punch, Lucknow;
 the Akmalul Akhbar, Delhi;
 the Punjab Akhbar, Lahore;
 the Shamsul Akhbar, Madras;
 the Kashful Akhbar, Bombay;
 the Qasim-ul-Akhbar, Bangalore and the
 Asiful Akhbar Hyderabad.

Oudh Akhbar
 Launched in 1858 from the Naval Kishore Press in Luck
now, Oudh Akhbar was the most lucrative journalistic ve
nture.
 At a time when most Urdu papers were short-lived, it re
mained in circulation up to the year 1950, its life span of
almost a century covering a crucial period in the history
of colonial India.
 Oudh Akhbar lived long and was soon converted into a d
aily.
 It shot into great prominence under the editorship of Rat
an Nath'Sarshar'.

Oudh Akhbar
 Oudh Akhbar is credited with having “launched the care
er of one of the most important prose fiction writers in U
rdu Ratan Nath Sarshar who, in turn, brought about the h
eyday of the paper’s fame.
 Aim of newspaper was to work towards the progress and
welfare of India by informing and educating the Indian p
ublic through a broad news coverage.
 Yet at the same time the paper also assumed the functio
n of a literary journal.
 It promoted both poetry and prose writing, covered litera
ry events, announced new publications and provided a f
orum for literary debate.

Features of Islamic Journalism
Thursday, March 21, 2024
44

 In 1919 Zamindar again appeared on
horizon with the same policy and zeal.
 During this time Maulan Abdul Majid Salik
was its editor.
 In 1919 Siasat appeared from Lahore in
the editorship of Maulana Syed Habib.
 Syed Habib was also imprisoned for
three years.
45
Journalism of 1918-1923

Journalism of 1918-1923
 Maulan Mohammad Akram issued Zamana
from Calcutta in 1920.
 Maulan Abdul kalam Azad started Paigham
in 1921 from Calcutta.
 During this time Govt. Asked securities
from newspaper owners which they could
not deposit.
46

Journalism 1918-1923
 Editors made different declarations. In case
one paper closed down they started new one.
 During this period due to different political
movements the number of dailies increased
and their circulation went high.
 Readership also increased and competition
between newspapers started.
 Political poetry flourished and comic columns
appeared on editorial pages.
47

Islamic Journalism between 19
24-1937
 At this time journalism in subcontinent
split in two groups.
 One group of newspapers (Nationalists)
was in favor of Hindu Muslim unity for
the independence of India.
 Other group demanded political
settlement between Muslims and Hindus
before joining hands with the Congress.
48

Islamic Journalism between
1924-1937
 Some were in favor of separate homeland
for Muslims as well.
 Zamindar and Hamdard were popular
newspapers of this time.
 Maulana Abdul Majeed Salik and Maulana
Ghulam Rasool Meher resigned from
Zamindar and started their own daily
Inqilab from Lahore in 1927.
 Allama Iqbal fully supported this newspaper
49

1924-1937
 At first Inqilab followed the policy of Zamindar
which was Nationalist and in favor of Congress.
 But after Simon Commission Report and Nehru
Report, Inqilab became leader of the second
group.
 Another newspaper from Lahore was Ehsan
started in 1934. Its editor was Maulana
Maikash
 Allama Iqbal contributed in this as well.
50

1924-1937
 In 1937 feroze Sons established English daily
Eastern Times from Lahore. Its editor was
Allama Abdullah Yousaf.
 Later Sardar A H Ahsan was made its editor.
 Due to lack of resources it was converted
into weekly. But in 1940 again became daily.
 At that time only one Muslim journal Musalman
was in existence in Calcutta.
51

1924-1937
 Khawaja Shahab-ud-Din and his family started
a daily Star of India.
 Its first editor was Pothan Joseph,a professional
journalist.
 Its most interesting content was the column of
Pothan “Over a cup of Tea”.
 It was the only English newspaper owned by
Muslims and was spokesman of Muslim League.
.
52

1924-1937
 Star of India created political awareness in
educated class.
 It covered activities of Muslim League in
Punjab, Frontier and Sindh.
 Khawaja Noor-ud-Din and Abdul Rehman
Siddiqui laid the foundation stone of Morning
News, when Star of India ceased to appear.
 Star was another newspaper issued from
Bombay.
53

1924-1937
 Its editor was renowned journalist Aziz
Baig.
 The Star (Allahbad) and Dakkan Times
(Madras) were also mouth organ of
Muslims.
 All Muslim journals of this time were
very weak as compared to Hindu
Newspapers.
54

GrowthofMuslimPressinthesub-continent.ppt

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