Hindi Journalism Day today.
Hindi Journalism Day today.
News2News.in Explainer: Hindi journalism started in India on this day. The first Hindi language newspaper named Udant Martand was published in Bengal on 30 May 1926. Since then 30 May is celebrated as Hindi Journalism Day.
Prior to this, other newspapers were being published in Bengal in English, Persian and Bangla, but no newspaper was being published in Hindi. At such a time Pandit Jugal Kishore Shukla started the publication of Udant Martand from Calcutta which started as a weekly newspaper.
Who was Pandit Jugal Kishore
Pandit Jugal Kishore Sharma, a resident of Kanpur, Uttar Pradesh, was proficient in many languages. Apart from Hindi, he also had good knowledge of Sanskrit, English, Persian and Bangla. Before launching a weekly newspaper, he had also been a lawyer, processing leader in the court.
This is how the first Hindi newspaper started
Due to poor economic condition, Udant Martand daily newspaper was converted into weekly newspaper even before its launch. This newspaper started with its 500 copies. Since Hindi readers were less in Bengal and this newspaper was of Hindi, postal tax was levied on sending this newspaper from Bengal to Hindi speaking states. To reduce the postal tax, Pandit Jugal Kishore wrote a letter to the then British Government, but the British Government did not give him any exemption in tax.
Only 79 issues could be published
The economic situation could not support favorably in running the Udant Martand newspaper and on December 4, 1827, the newspaper published every Tuesday had to be closed.
Hindi newspaper came after waiting for 46 years
In 1780, 46 years before the publication of Udanta Martand, an English newspaper started being published in India. On 29 January 1780, James Augustus Hickey, an Irish citizen, started publishing an English newspaper named Calcutta General Advertiser from Bengal itself. Which was the first newspaper of the Indian subcontinent. Four and a half decades after its publication, the first Hindi newspaper named Udant Martand was published.
post-independence journalism
With the country getting independence, Hindi journalism also started moving forward very fast, black and white and color printing came in India after independence and then Hindi journalism started. According to the news registrar, maximum number of Hindi language newspapers are published in the country.
Today many newspapers and magazines are being published in Hindi language, including Navbharat Times, Dainik Jagran, Hindustan, Dainik Bhaskar, Amar Ujala, Deshbandhu, Navbharat, Rashtriya Sahara, Lokmat, Aaj, Swatantra Bharat, Jansatta, News2News.in, Rajasthan Patrika , Punjab Kesari, Prabhat Khabar, Ranchi Express etc. are well known names of major newspapers. Newspapers, which used to run with limited resources, are in good financial condition today.
Hindi journalism in freedom movement
Hindi journalism has been an important contribution in the Indian freedom movement, Indian journalism has been a witness to the freedom movement. Emergency and undeclared emergency were also seen by the Indian press and Hindi journalism. Despite all the obstacles, restrictions and adverse conditions, Indian journalism decided its journey of development. Hindi journalism will be 200 years old in the coming year 2026. Journalism, print and electronic have an important contribution in the preservation and promotion of Indian democracy. Hindi journalism has played a major role in India’s glorious freedom struggle.
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when did the first press act come
The first Press Act to curb the freedom of Indian journalism came to the fore in 1799 itself, during the reign of Governor General Wellesley. The Hickey Gazette, the newspaper of the father of Indian journalism, John Augustus Hickey, faced the first ban due to the rebellion. Hickey was sentenced to one year’s imprisonment and fined Rs 2,000.
After the Press Act, the Ganging Act in 1857, the Vernacular Press Act in 1878, the News Papers Act in 1908, the Indian Press Act in 1910, the Indian Press Ordinance in 1930, the Indian Press Act in 1931 were repressive laws by the British government to curtail the freedom of the press. were implemented for the purpose of The English government, taking the help of these black laws, used to impose restrictions or fines on any newspaper or magazine whenever it wanted.
