Press in SubContinent
MCOM 309: Media History
First newspapers
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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
Indian World
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William Duane was one of those editors who
struggled hard for freedom of press.
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
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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 on judiciary;
therefore, he was exiled and his investment
of thirty thousand was seized by force.
He was a valiant journalist. He went to
America through England and continued his
practice.
Progress & Development
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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
Newspapers of Lahore
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First Urdu newspaper of Lahore was “Koh-eNoor”, 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
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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
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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.
Characteristic of Urdu
Journalism
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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.
Characteristic of Urdu
Journalism
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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.
Characteristic of Urdu
Journalism
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Newspapers had no well arrange 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.