NOTE: THIS IS PART - II OF THE ARTICLE VISIT MY BLOG: KALHANA BULLETIN: neterraina.blogspot The Print Media and J & K (part – II) Again, after a decade or so, an Urdu weekly ‘RANBIR’ in 1924 appeared on the scene. ‘RANBIR’ was brought out by Lala Mulkh Raj Saraf which disappeared later in 1950. Thereafter, the only publication, Jammu and Kashmir Government Gazette was the official weekly with the circulation of 900 mostly from the neighbouring province of Punjab. However, the newspapers from Lahore widely used to cover Kashmir affairs and imported into the dominions of Maharaja. The education in the state had improved and these publications had a positive effect not on the people alone but the Government too. The constitution of Glancy Commission and its recommendations for the freedom of the press resulted a free association of the masses for political activity. After 1931 An Urdu weekly publication, Vitasta by Pt. Premnath Bazaz in 1932 from Srinagar lead other publications like the Martand, Sadaqat, Rehbar, Haqiqat, Bekar, Kashmir-i-Jadid, Al-Barq, Khalid, Hidayat, Wakil, Kesari, Desh, Nur, Daily Hamdard, Khidmat, Hurriyat, Paigam, Kashmir Gaurdian, Islah and Muslim. The Vitasta a real torch bearer served the cause of social reformer in Kashmir especially for the issues like child marriage and juvenile ‘hooka and tambaco’ smoking. On August 1, 1935, Sheikh Mohammad Abdullah and Pt. Prem Nath Bazaz in collaboration started Hamdard which laid the foundation for “progressive nationalism in the state”. The Hamdard played a vital role to convert Muslim Conference to National Conference in 1938-39 but the later (MC) continued even after the formation of the former (NC) as nationalist party. The two veterans disassociated and Hamdard turned daily. The publications like Sadaqat, Haqiqat, Nav Yug and Khalid openly supported Sheikh Mohammad Abdullah’ and his associates political movement while as Khidmat, the official organ of All Jammu and Kashmir National Conference was edited by Moulana Mohammad Sayeed Masudi. Nur attained the name since published by Mohy-ud-din Nur and championed the nationalists cause and used to raise issues pertaining to the distress of cultivators and labour community. Pt. Kashyap Bandhu’s Desh advocated the leftist approach while as Isla, a Qadiani inspired publication supported the two nation theory. The Muslim and Khidmat preferably used to cover the religious issues. Moulana Mohammad Yusuf Shah advocating the cause of separate Muslim state while as Martand representing the minority community, Kashmiri Pandit view point belonged to the Sanatan Dharam Yuvuk Sabha. Martand had the distinction of the first paper of the state published daily with circulation as much as 1900. This phase followed the era of English dailies, as earlier Kashmir Chronicle in 1934 and later in 1939. The Kashmir Times subsequently appeared on the scene. The journalism era started in 1931, three dailies were being published in 1946 and inspite of the imposed limitations it was emerging as an effective organ of the public opinion in 1947. In this period, any enterprising common man could bring out a publication. The press offered dissemination of idea offered opportunity to leaders like Sheikh Mohammad Abdullah, Prem Nath Bazaz, Maulan Mohaammad Sayeed Masudi , Maoulana Mohammad Yusuf Shah and Kashup Bandhu and many more to feel allured by print media to reach out to the masses and share their opinion. Thereafter, journalism in the state progressed slowly and contributed to enhance the literary activism in J&K. Galaxy of Veterans The media in the state has been represented by a galaxy of veterans like Lala Mulkh Raj Saraf (Ranbir), Sheikh Mohamaad Abdullah (Hamdard), Moulana Mohammad Sayeed Masoodi (Khidmat), Kashmir Chronicle (Gwashlal Kaul), down to other publications in Hindi, Urdu and other state languages from Jammu, Kashmir and Ladhak. Later on, shri Radhakrishan Kak (besides the foreign newspapers and The Indian Express in Srinagar), B P Sharma, Nandlal Wattal (Khidmat), Ved Bhasin (Kashmir Times), S D Rohmetra (Daily Excelsior), J N Ganhar (Kashmir Herald), Pushup Saraf (India Express, at Jammu), Pushkernath Kaul Vakil (Kashmir Sentinel), Shyam ji Kaul (AIR Srinagar), O P Ganjoo (The Patriot and The Statesman), D C Prashant, ML Kak (The Tribune), G M Sofi (Daily Aftab), C B Kaul ( Indian Express, both the capitals, Jammu and Srinagar), Shamim Ahmed Shamim (Aaina), Pran nath Jalali (PTI), B L Kak (The Telegraph, Sunday magazine and Daily Excelsior), Gulam Nabi Khayal (India Today), Zafar Mehraj, J N Raina (UNI) Bashir Ahmed Bab (famous cartoonist with his family publication Srinagar Times). The late seventies- early eighties could add up few names more. Jagmohan Singh Raina and myself (Neter Raina) were in journalistic infancy without any formal training or education but successfully brought out a magazine, State Reporter from Srinagar. My ‘Guru’ late Shri Radha krishan Kak corrected the flow of my pen’s initial write-ups with his sharp visionary experience and guided me to develop into a successful freelancer. Shri S Vishvam (The Statesman) and shri V K Dethe (The Times of India), very good senior friends in the field also helped me to learn the fundamentals of Journalism. Numbers and Circulation In early eighties, around 180 publications regularly or irregularly, 127 alone in Urdu roughly constituting 95,000 copies were being published. Also, 19168 English national dailies besides 9349 Urdu and 14761 Hindi were coming into the state. Later, in 1993, Punjab Kesari and Hind Samachar 18,275 and 9192 respectively, Times of India, Economic Times and Nav Bharat 3961, Hindustan Times 2764, Tribune 869, Ajit 640, Indian Express, Jansatha and Financial Express 3995, The Hindu 137 and The Statesman 52 used come into J &K daily. The magazines like Filmfare 197 to Jammu and 437 Srinagar, Debonair 359 Jammu and 145 Srinagar were coming during this period besides The Week 296, The Frontline 197, Sunday 550 used to come to J & K. India Today 1965 to Jammu and 2037 Srinagar were regularly coming into the state meet the readership. Today, there are around 12 prominent dailies published with 6 in English, 3 Hindi and 3 Urdu. The state has about 10,15,273 circulation from the 12 publications with 8,70,875 for English, 90, 282 Hindi and 54,116 Urdu language. Nawadays, a large number of youth from J & K is associated with the media in the state and outside spread all over the country. Today, the print and electronic media has developed enormously in J & K and touched new heights to flourish with results are before us.
Posted on: Tue, 03 Sep 2013 05:43:15 +0000
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