25
Bengali Journalism - II Paper – Indian Regional Journalism

Bengali Journalism - II Paper – Indian Regional Journalism

Embed Size (px)

Citation preview

Bengali Journalism - II

Paper – Indian Regional Journalism

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.

Bengali Press

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.

Aajkaal Published from Kolkata, Siliguri and Agartala. Started in 1981 by Abhik Kumar Ghosh. Aajkaal strives to survive in a very

competitive newspaper market. Secured niche created by its leftist

perspective and sports news. The first editor of the newspaper was the

journalist G.K. Ghosh.