History of Newspaper in India
Newspaper can be defined as a printed means of conveying current information. Today the
newspaper in India is a proud institution of our society. While working as a vehicle of
persuasion its basic function is to provide info-edu-tainment (information, education and
entertainment). It also plays the role of ‘watch dog’ of the society.
Man is a social animal and every human being has an unquenchable thirst to communicate.
Now a day’s man has evolved various systems and technologies for communication. From the
development of language and scripts to printing and finally to the world-wide-web of the
internet, we have developed an impressive array of communication systems. With the help of
these systems only, we are able to send messages instant across vast distances and arouse
similar meanings in millions of people simultaneously. Be it newspapers, magazines, books,
radio, television etc.
The first newspaper in India was published on 29 January, 1780 by James Augustus Hicky under
the British Raj and its name was ‘The Bengal Gazette’. It was also called as ‘Calcutta General
Advertiser’ and people simply remember it as ‘Hicky’s Gazette’.
It was very small two sheet weekly newspaper. And the paper was filled with lots of
advertisements with the name- The Calcutta General Advertiser. In fact, its front page was filled
with advertisements only.
- After few months of Hicky’s paper Messer B Messinck and Peter Read brought out the ‘Indian
Gazette’ in November 1780. Many other newspapers were also started, namely Calcutta
Gazette (1784), The Bengal Journal (1785).
- In 1785, Richard Johnson in Madras brought out ‘Madras Courier’ in English language. R.
William’s ‘Madras Gazette’ in 1795 and Humphrey’s ‘India Herald’ in 1796.
In Bombay first newspaper was ‘Bombay Herald’ in 1789‘, Bombay Courier’ in 1789 and
‘Bombay Gazette’ in 1791.
This period was marked by strict government control and censorship. If some newspapers print
any news against the government then the strict punishment was given.
Golden Era of Newspaper in India
Therefore, in the late 18th and early 19th century, no reputed journalist or newspaper
emerged. Then some merchants of Calcutta in 1811 started ‘Calcutta Chronicle’ and the editor
was James Silk Buckingham. He had introduced a new approach to Journalism in India. He
initiated clear journalistic practices and covered the problems of local people and their lives.
Even he had started a movement against the evil practice of ‘Sati’.
Then, Raja Ram Mohan Roy a social reformer recognized the power of newspapers and started
a Bengali newspaper ‘Sambad Kaumudi’ in 1822 and a Persian paper ‘Mirat-ul-Akhbar’ in 1822.
Fardaonji Murzban in 1822 started ‘Bombay Samachar’, he was a pioneer of the Vernacular
Press in Bombay.
3 November, 1838 - The Times of India issued its first edition as The Bombay Times and Journal
of Commerce.
1857 is known as the year of the emergence of journalism in India
In 1857, newspapers owned by Indians and British were divided and the government passed
the Vernacular Press Act in 1876.
1861 - The first edition of The Times of India was published by Robert Knight. Up to 1947 this
newspaper continued to support the causes of Britishers. Now, more than 150 years of service
Times of India has grown the biggest English daily in the country.
1868 - 'Amrit Bazaar Patrika' was started by two brothers, Shishir Kumar Ghosh and Motilal
Ghosh.
This was the time when social reformers and political leaders had started contributing to the
field of journalism, including C.Y. Chintamani, N. C. Kelkar, Ferozeshah Mehta were prominent.
1878 - "The Hindu" was started in the English language, which was mainly distributed in Tamil
Nadu and Kerala.
In newspapers, many changes took place after Independence. Even the working style of
journalists changed. After independence, most of the newspapers brought into the hands of
Indians. News agency services became available on a regular basis with the Press Trust of India
which was started in 1946.
Now missionary phase of newspaper was replaced with a professional approach. It started
provided employment to the public and so, the newspaper agency became profit-oriented.
Various technological developments took place, it involved in a readership battle, literacy level
rises, interest to know what is happening in the surrounding made grow newspaper.
In India by 1970s newspapers acquired the status of an industry. In fact the Indian newspaper
industry is one of the largest in the world. It has a long and rich heritage. All through these
years, the Indian newspaper industry has evolved into a powerful force. It informs, entertains
and also educates the readers so that they can fully participate in the affairs of the state.
Role of Newspapers
During the British rule Indian newspaper came into existence and played an important role in
the country’s freedom struggle. In fact newspaper worked as ‘mouth pieces’ of the freedom
struggle whether at the national and regional level.
Bal Gangadhar Tilak brought Kesari and Mahratta newspaper, Mahatma Gandhi started Young
India and Harijan. Jawaharlal Nehru started the National Herald.
Now, after Independence, Indian newspapers started playing the role of a ‘watchdog’ and also
have been playing the role of catalytic agent to hasten the process of social and economic
development in the country.
However, Indian newspapers are characterised by their overt emphasis on politics and crime.
But now, Indian newspapers have a lot of entertainment content in their columns, with colour
pages and new designs.
From the trials of Tilak in 1897 and 1908, Mahatma Gandhi in 1922 , Vernacular Press Act of
1878, the Newspapers Incitement to offences Act of 1908, the Indian Press Act 1931, the Press
Objectionable Matter Act of 1951, the Newspaper Price and Page Act of 1956 bear testimony of
the suppressive and oppressive measures taken against the Indian newspapers.
However, all these suppressions and oppression reached brutal heights during the 1975-77
Emergency regime of Indira Gandhi. But later the conditions of Press changed and reached to
its zenith. Freedom of the press is a very important and also news-media, press enjoys greater
freedom in a democratic country.
Current scenario and future of Newspapers
As television and the new media, internet emerges, it is said that newspapers are becoming
irrelevant in terms of providing the latest news. But now a day’s many newspapers in India and
in the world to some extent started providing analysis of news as well.
Daily newspapers like Times of India, The Hindu, Hindustan Times, The Statesman, Economic
Times, The Tribune, Dainik Jagran, Dainik Bhaskar, Amar Ujala, etc. have become the most
circulated newspapers in the country.
We all know that newspaper acts as an important check on Government and Administrators
plans and policies. Press also raise their voice if anything went wrong in the society. They raise
voice against dictatorship, corruption and malpractices. They also keep us informed of what is
happening in the country. It plays a vital role in strengthening the sovereignty and integrity of a
nation. It also makes us aware of the problems faced by the people.
With the help of number of agencies information is fed to the newspapers. The press
Information Bureau give information to the Press on the government policies, programmes and
activities. It also receives feedback from the people. Do you know that India has four major
news agencies namely Press Trust of India united News of India. Samachar Bharti and Hindustan
Samachar. Also, the newspapers are published in English, Hindi and other regional languages.
The need of print media is to understand the importance of its power and reach. So, they
should provide the true picture of the society as a whole.
