Indian Newspaper Day: Celebrating the power of press-Puri
Jaswant Singh Puri/ January 29,2024
The birth of journalism in India marks the day when ‘Bengal Gazette’ was published from Calcutta. The first English language newspaper saw the sunrise on 29th January, 1780. The Indian Newspaper Day is celebrated on January 29 every year to promote Indian Newspapers and their significance. The day marks to raise awareness among people and the masses about the role of reading newspaper.
However, the history of composed news traces back to the Roman Empire around 59 B.C. Most antiquarians credit the introduction of the standard composing news updates to the Romans. However, the newspaper in India was first published on 29th January, 1780 by James Augustus Hickey under the British rule. It was named ‘The Bengal Gazette’ or ‘Calcutta General Advertiser’. He was the hero figure of reporting who propelled a harvest of bold writers in India. His newspaper was a guard against the wrong doings of the government and the defilement in the general public. Various writers still pay honour to James Augustus Hickey as a personality of daring news casting. Decker’s lane in Kolkata has now been rechristened as James Hickey Sarani.
The year 1857 is famous as the development year of reporting in India. This year is set apart by the division of Indian Press and British Press by virtue of the Vernacular Press Act of 1786. In 1861, the principal version of The Times of India was published by Robert Knight. Then ‘Amrit Bazar Patrika’ rolled out which was mainly engaged with the social reformers and political pioneers. In fact, the newspaper in India is the pomp and show custom of the population in general. It has become an inevitable part of life. It is a potential means of amusement and conveys the current round up of the nation and abroad. During British Rule, Indian newspaper participated in the opportunity battle of India. But after India got freedom, the job of the newspaper changed and it became industrialized. Newspapers thrive on four influential news organizations – Press Trust of India, United News of India, Samachar Bharati and Hindustan Samachar. However, before independence, the British Government forced severe observation on the print media.
Since the inception of Newspapers in India, its perusal makes a healthy routine and it is now a part of life. According to Indian Newspaper Society also, it is the way of recognizing milestones in print journalism.
The Press Council of India is also preserving the freedom of the press by maintaining and improving the standards of newspapers and the news agencies in India. It is a quasi-judicial autonomous authority which was reestablished in the year 1979 under an act of Parliament, Press Council Act, 1978. The council can undertake studies and express its opinion in regard to any bill, legislation law or other matters concerning the press and convey its opinion to the government or the persons concerned. It ensures on the part of the newspaper, news agencies and journalists the maintenance of high standards of public taste and creates a sense of both the rights and responsibilities. It is vital that people support the newspaper industry. So the day aims at promoting newspaper and their usage also. Bharat Kapadia says: “It is our way of recognizing the milestones crossed by the print medium and the fact that it has grown by leaps and bounds over the year. New media such as Internet may have entered the scene but it hasn’t changed the structure for print. The newspaper remains the primary mode of information for consumers and occupies a huge part of their daily lives.” There have been studies that advertisement in print is pacing ahead at a greater pace than the other mediums.
“A newspaper must be open to all interests but subject to none. It must give due respect to advertising. There is no doubt that newspapers help people to become better readers. Introducing children to newspaper can help them develop their reading and comprehension skills. Newspaper gives life to ideas and current affairs. These promote participation in civic life. It is fun to read newspaper. Media freedom forms the soul of democracy. Nothing can stoutly oppose and defeat any move to put checks on media freedom.” The PM Narendra Modi praised the contribution of the press made by India for the country. The voice of Home Minister Amit Shah also signified that the government is committed to the freedom of press. Very recently, the Press Council of India issued an advisory asking “Print Media organization to refrain from publishing content that may be false or manipulated or which has the potential to disturb communal harmony. Newspaper shall “as a matter of self-regulation” exercise due restraint and caution in presenting any news, comment or information which is likely to “jeopardize, endanger or harm the paramount interests of the state and society”. India is the second largest newspaper market in the world with daily newspapers reporting a combined circulation of over 240 million copies. There are publications produced in each of the 22 scheduled languages of India and in many of the other languages spoken throughout the country. Hindi language newspaper has the largest circulation, followed by English and Telugu. ‘Rajyasamacharam’ was the first newspaper in Malayalam and started in 1847. ‘Malya Manorma’ bears the record for the largest selling regional language newspaper in India. Punjabi language newspapers are published and circulated in India and other countries. ‘Daily Ajit’, ‘Jagbani’, ‘Punjabi Tribune’, ‘Punjabi Jagran’, ‘Rozana Spokesman’, ‘Desh Sewak’ etc. are the Punjabi newspapers ‘Chardikala’ is published from Patiala. There are numerous other newspapers. Other important newspapers are: The Times of India, Hindustan Times, The Indian Express, The Hindu, Financial Chronicle, Deccan Chronicle, The Economic Times, The Statesman, The Pioneer etc. The Tribune is a popular newspaper which was founded by Dyal Singh Majithia.
Some of the important journalists have earned a name and fame in the realm of journalism like MJ Akbar, Barkha Dutt, Nalini Singh, Ritika Saini (eminent photo journalist), Chandan Mitra, Indu Jain, Jagjit Singh Dardi. The list of newspapers and leading journalists is very long.
Reading a newspaper becomes significant. Newspapers have revolutionized the dissemination of information. It is worth noting that the oldest existing newspaper in India, Mumbai Samachar (Formely Bombay Samachar) published for the first time in 1822 in Gujrati. Hindi newspapers have the highest circulation, followed by English and Telugu. As the power of media is known to all, and it comes with bringing information to everyone at every nook and corner of the world, 29th January is just a day to honour the newspapers of the country.
Arthur Miller stated: “A good newspaper is a nation talking to itself.” Mahatma Gandhi quoted once: “The newspaper is a powerful engine in the promotion of moral and social progress.”
Note: The views expressed are personal.This article is dedicated to Smt. Alka Puri, M.A. wife of Dr. Ajit Singh Puri and mother of Jaswant Singh Puri.
