Raja Rammohun Roy
1772-1833
Was described by Nehru as the founder of Indian Press.
Earliest champions of freedom of the Press.
Remembered mostly for his strong views on social reforms.
Wanted ‘cultural renaissance in Hindu society’
Knew Hindi, Bengali, English, Persian, Sanskrit & Arabic.
Initially entered the Company’s service but later
resigned to utilize his time and energy for social reform.
Founded Sambad Kaumudi in 1821
Clashed with his Editor, Bhowani Charan Banerjee on
the issue of Sati, found him too conservative.
Banerjee quit SK and later founded Sambad Chandrika
primarily to oppose Roy’s views.
Success of rival newspaper (Samachar Chandrika)
forced Roy to close down his paper.
Started the newspaper again and ran it till Lord
Bentick abolished Sati.
Started Persian weekly Mirat Ul Akhbar in 1822.
For the benefit of Indians who were not conversant in
English or Bengali.
Shut down to protest against the press regulation in
1823.
Presented a petition to Supreme Court on behalf of
natives protesting against the regulations.
But Justice McNaughton ignored the petition.
Brought out a religious periodical Brahaminical
Magazine – to counteract missionaries propaganda.
From the very beginning, Roy provoked the opposition
of the administration who were against his propagation
of reforms and religious activities.
Dismayed with his persistence and indomitable spirit.
Company officials often carried on an active tirade
against his close associates.
Was considered “unrepresentative of the Hindu
opinion”.
Once he realized the massive opposition, kept himself in
the background and encouraged others to work under
his guidance.
Soon, made Bengal, seat of all social and political
reforms.
Strongly protested the deportation of J S Buckingham.
Buckingham gave prominence to native language
journals like Bengali and Persian.
Favored the presence of the British Government on
many accounts.
Believed in the “judicious colonization” of India by
Europeans with education and capital in order to
expand India’s contacts with the West, especially
England’s technical knowledge.
Initially, did not want to end British rule but
wanted to increase the advantages for Indians
under it.
However, believed Indian opinion should be given
attention.
Wanted to provide Indians the opportunities for
higher education.
Wanted to put an end to racial discrimination in court
procedures, legislations, admission of Indians to higher
level jobs in the administration & most importantly
freedom of the Press from arbitrary Govt. restrictions.
Was conscious of the extreme backwardness of India.
Believed no alternative system of rule could be as
advanced and effective as the British’s.
Had his share of detractors.
Mainly people who where from conservative sections
of society.
Associated with 3 journals- The Reformer, The
Inquirer, Gyan Auneshun.
All represented school of progressive Hindu
journalism in the Bengali society till 1831.
Later years ABP attained high circulation.
Aajkal introduced in 1981.
Proved immensely popular for its direct and blunt
style of presentation of news.
1984 saw the birth of Bartaman.
Became very successful.
CPI (M)'s Ganashakti.
Each of these was well laid out by international
standards and each moved increasingly to expand
its readership by catering to the widest possible
audience in and around Calcutta.
Sports and finance became prominent news topics.
Ganashakti was remade in the early 1990s to
compete with other newspapers.
Its marriage advertisements were open only to
those people who were not seeking dowry.
Besides Bengal - sizable circulation in Tripura too.
Language Modern day Bengali newspapers especially
the Ananda Bazar Patrika, were credited with having almost completely transformed the Bengali language as it is written and read.
They had introduced language that was simple and almost colloqial.
Calcutta-centric? Robin Jeffrey argues that in West Bengal, the
newspaper industry remained stuck in Calcutta.
ABP, the largest Bengali daily and nationally influential with English-language publications like the daily Telegraph and the weekly Sunday, maintained only a single Calcutta publication centre.
It supplied the rest of the state in the leisurely old way – by sending bundles of newspapers by bus, train, taxi, and van.
Reasons behind the same Two perceptions may have played a role: 1. Worthwhile intellectual life was based in
Calcutta. 2. No significant market existed in rural
Bengal.
Both these perceptions began to change by the mid-1990s.
The demise of old timers Jeffrey discusses newspapers in the context of
capitalism. Because Indian-language newspapers were
almost all family affairs, they were especially vulnerable to the problems that arise when a new generation in the family takes over.
In India – two notable newspapers failed to continue reflecting both the pressure of the changing times and the pitfalls of the family business.
Amrita Bazar Patrika Founded in 1868 as a Bengali newspaper by
the Ghosh family. Switched to English in 1878 to escape the
Vernacular Press Act. Amrita Bazar Patrika launched its own Bengali
daily, Jugantar, in 1937. In the mid-1980s Jugantar was the second
largest circulated Bengali daily after ABP. In December 1990, both the papers closed
down.
Workers unrest and management’s failure to pay salaries.
The family running the newspaper had failed to come to terms with the changed realities – could not introduce new technology and styles of production.
The cost of newsprint and salaries increased. Circulation and advertising revenues fell. Taken over by more successful rivals.
These papers were restarted in January1994 having received loans of more than Rs. 10 crores.
There were too many people on the payrolls than required.
Close to the Congress party. At the end of 1995, both Amrita Bazar Patrika
and Jugantar closed again.
Bartaman Patrika Founded in 1984 by Barun Sengupta. Quickly grew to become one of the fastest
growing newspapers in West Bengal. Was in close competition with the Ananda
Bazar Patrika. Bartaman is the second-most widely read
Bengali newspaper after ABP. Represents the breed of newspapers which
were started by young capitalists who had the money and passion to start a newspaper and make it succeed.
Apart from the Kolkata edition, the newspaper has four other simultaneous editions, published daily from four major towns of West Bengal – Siliguri, Burdwan, Malda and Midnapore.
The successful approach included sustained attacks on the long-running CPI(M) government.