Hyderabad and Urdu Journalism

The history of Urdu journalism in Hyderabad predates to introduction of the first quarterly medical bulletin ‘Risala Tababat’ (Medical Journal) published in 1857, and according to another report, in 1859. Aftaab-e-Deccan published in 1860 under the editorship of Qazi Mohammed Qutub became the first Urdu daily newspaper while Asif-ul-Akhbar introduced in 1878 by N.Narayan Rao earned the distinction as the first Urdu weekly from Hyderabad. Until the dawn of the 19^th century, Peak Asafi introduced by Syed Hasan in 1884, Safeer-e-Deccan (1888) by Amjad Ali, Deccan Punch (1887) by Pundit Kishan Rao which was later renamed as Musheer-e-Deccan, Akbar-e-Asifi (1887) by Syed Mohammed Sultan Akhil were notably popular representations of Urdu media.

In 1920, Rehbar-e-Deccan under the editorship of Ahmed Mohiuddin, Saheefa (1911) by Moulvi Akbar Ali, Nizam Gazette (1927) by Habeebullah Rushdie and Viqar Ahmed, Subah-e-Deccan (1928) by Ahmed Arif and Ali Ashraf, Majlis (1928) by Hakeem Ghufran Ahmed, Waqt and Manshoor by Abdul Rahman Rayees in 1929, Sultanat (1930) by Ahmedullah Qadri, Raiyyat (1934) by Narsing Rao, Payaam (1936) by Qazi Abdul Ghaffar, Paisa and Evening News by Ahmed Ullah Qadri in 1930, Meezan (1942) published in three languages by Ghulam Mohammed Calcuttawala with Urdu editor Habeebullah Awaj, Ittehad (1947) by Abdul Quddus Hashmi with Mustakbil, Taamir-e-Deccan, Inquilab, Mohibb-e-Watan, Aawaz and Jinnah (later renamed as Manzil in 1948), Imroz (1948) by Shoebullah Khan, Humdum (1948) by Mustafa Qadri, Aghaaz (1948) by Moinul Haq, Iqdaam (1948) by Murtuza Mujtehdi, Nai Zindagi by J. N. Serma, Hamdard by Naksh and Hamara Iqdaam by Abid Zainul Abideen in the same year were introduced.

In 1949, Rahnuma-e-Deccan (known as Rehbar-e-Deccan before Independence) by Mahmood Waheeduddin (present editor Syed Vicaruddin), Siasat by Abid Ali Khan (present editor Zahed Ali Khan who completed 50 years in Urdu journalism in 2014), Milap by Yudhvir Ji were born. Angaara (1950) by Murtuza Mujtehdi was later renamed in its pluralistic form as Angaaray by Moin Farooqui. Apart from these papers, Amar Bharat, Watan, Naya Zamana, Sadaaqat, Zabeeh and Haq were some of the Urdu papers.

In 1976, Azeem Askari introduced Naveed-e-Deccan. Later, Mehboob Alam Khan became its editor. Munsif (1979) was introduced by Mr Mahmood Ansari, and businessman Mr Khan Lateef Khan took over the management in 1996. In the year 1996, Hyderabad edition of Urdu Daily Awam by group editor Shahid Siddiqui, Resident editor Fazil Hussain Parvez and editor K.M.Arif was introduced.

In the year 1999, Gawah by Syed Fazil Hussain Parvez emerged to eventually become one of the most coveted Urdu weekly newspapers in India. Rashtria Sahara (2005) by Sahara Parivar became the first Urdu paper to simultaneously publish in multi-editions. Group Editor Aziz Barni (and now Faisal Ali) and Resident Editor Shoukat Ali Sufi assumed responsibility.

Etemaad (2006) by Burhan Uddin Owaisi, popped up in 2006, with printing machinery and printing technology unprecedented in the history of Hyderabad’s Urdu journals. In 2014, Sahafi-e-Deccan by S.D.N Saber was introduced. Many such Urdu dailies sprouted gradually, and many faded into oblivion.

An opulent number of periodicals and tabloids published from Hyderabad are also published. Popular periodicals like Sab Ras, Shugoofa, Viqar-e-Hind, Rang-o-Boo, Khusboo Ka Safar, and may other periodicals are published.

This article is part of an elaborate research-based series on Urdu Journalism : Past, Present and Future

Stay tuned. To be continued…