The Rise of Urdu Journalism: An Insight into History of Pre-independence Era

It’s an underwritten fact that the first Urdu newspaper was published by none other than the visionary ruler of Mysore Tipu Sultan in 1794. His newspaper was exclusively meant for the Soldiers (Faujis), hence the name ‘Fauji Akhbar’. Several newspapers sporadically emerged as the torchbearers of Urdu in the subsequent times. Urdu Akbar (in 1810) from Calcutta, Meerat-ul-Akhbar, Milap, Azad-e-Hind, Zamindar, Al-Hilal, Sidq-e-Jadeed, Rehbar-e-Deccan, Paisa and Payaam were some popular journals.

Some scholars claim that Jaam-e-Jahan Numa released on 29^th March 1823 is the first Urdu journal while testaments in history point otherwise. It was a weekly. In 1857, Urdu journalism had its first taste of martyrdom when Moulvi Mohammed Baqar, editor of Delhi Urdu Akhbar was arrested, imprisoned and later killed in cold blood by tying to the face of the cannon for being an intrepid journalist.

Urdu journalism was at its peak after 1857. Meanwhile, several printing presses found establishments in the country, thus providing the enthusiasts an opportunity to roll out different newspapers from various parts of country. Some of these remained generic in context while others centred on themes like women, children, etc.

From 1857-1947, many intellectuals including Moulana Azad, Moulana Zafar Ali Khan, Hasarath Mohani, Moulana Barkatullah Bhopali, Lala Lajpat Rai, Moulana Abdul Majid Dariyabadi, Abdul Waheed Siddiqui, Qazi Abdul Ghaffar, Jamnadas Akhtar, Munshi Mehboob Alam, Mohammed Ali Johar, Shourish Kashmiri and Abdul Razzak Maleeh Aabadi emerged as prominent Urdu journalists.

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

Stay tuned. To be continued…