VISIT MY BLOG - KALHANA BULLETIN : neterraina.blogspot The Print Media and Jammu & Kashmir (part – I) We are living in the information age, today. Now, it is the world of gadgets, internet, sms messages, twitter, social networking, face book chatting, tablets, video conferences, web cam chats, e mails, mobiles with sensitive applications and various other forms of online communication. Earlier, the era of telephone to laptop and other sensitive electronic means of communication drastically transformed the world. The human minds have enough appetite to learn and find out ways to defeat the opposite. There is enormous competition to carry out researches and translate that into richness of science. Today, an ordinary news, forget the scoops, flash or breaking news is itself in terrific speed to reach out destination to appear on electronic media screens and on the contrary print media offer the headlines and later presents in print. The telecasts of ‘Breaking News” is compete speed and score points. Each channel in electronic media or a publication in print is vigorously engaged in an undeclared war to overtake the rival where the former fights for the TRP and later for circulation. The scenario in Jammu & Kashmir is no different from rest of the country and it all goes on similar lines. Origin The print media in Jammu and Kashmir dates back to mid-nineteen century with producing a small chunk of veterans who have made their place in the pages of the history. The journey has been very tough since the educated were very small in number, means of publishing or printing were invisible and the readership somewhat negligible. The education was affordable to the elite or those well to do. The origin of Journalism in Jammu and Kashmir straightway goes down to the reign of Maharaja Ranbir Singh, who ruled the state between 1857-85 and during the period literary activities in the state attracted many learned men from various parts of India. Pandit Bainkat Ram Shastri from Banaras, established a printing press ‘Bidya Bilas’ in Jammu in 1860. The press published many books and later in 1867 shri Shastri brought out ‘Bidya Bilas’, the sixteen page magazine, the first weekly newspaper in the state. The double column, bilingual - one each in Hindi and Urdu, periodical was to cater the readers of the two main read and written languages in the state. The announcement by the editor said, “The newspaper has been started for the benefit of the public”. The publication had written on the then techniques of journalism in detail. There were no sensational headlines, editorials or comments. The news item used to be grouped under caption of cities and states. The reporters and correspondents used to be there, “In most important cities and towns, we have our correspondents, but readers are invited to send any news of public interest. Such correspondents will be supplied the news free of cost”. Real Journalist The founder editor shri Munshi Harmukh Rai of the ‘Koh-i-Noor’ urdu started the bi-weekly publication from Lahore in 1850. He introduced a Urdu weekly newspaper, “Tofha-i-Kashmir” from Srinagar in 1876 which entitled him the distinction of a real journalist of his times. Munshi Sayeed Nisar started another weekly ‘Jammu Gazette’, himself as the editor in a span of a decade. Maharaja Ranbir Singh’s death brought an abrupt end to such activities in J&K which forced Munshi Nisar Sayeed to shift to Hyderabad. From here, he later brought out a publication ‘Safeer-i-Deccan’ the weekly newspaper in 1888. The ‘Stern Maharaja’ Maharaja Partap Singh, on ascending the throne in 1885 ordered the closure of all newspaper publications throughout the state. Then, a newspaper in the Bodhi language appeared on in 1903 by the Rev. J.E. Peter of the Moravian Mission. The Resident informed Partap Singh about the paper maligned and oppressed Maharaja ordered it closed, “I am against allowing newspapers and journals being published in the state”. He ordered on 10 June 1907 and without disclosing the reasons added, “The reason why the publication of newspaper and journals has been hitherto never been considered desirable are better known to the Chief Minister than being described here”. Thus ordering and announcing the closure of his newspaper, Rev. Peter assessing the Maharaja’s mind wrote in the issue of 5 August 1907, “The Maharaja does not want spread of modern ideas through newspapers. He is afraid that disturbances like those in Rawalpindi early this year might spread in his state. So he has ordered the closure of my newspaper”. Ladakhi Publications About twenty years later, ‘Ladakh News’, a newspaper in Bodhi language appeared from Ladakh in 1903 which was later renamed as ‘Ladakh Phoyian’ in 1908. Some claim that ‘Ladakh Gazette’ was the first paper from Ladakh and called as ‘Ladakh Gazette’ which was later renamed as the ‘Ladakh Herald’, brought out and lithographed in Tibetan characters which became prominent in Ladakh and was widely read in Tibet too. The publication suffered many ups and downs resulting suspension but the publication kept on appearing on and off with good collection of news on social, cultural scenes. The four page publication would never cover political cross-currents around Leh. Japan’s famine and the efforts of some European nations rendering relief to the victims were widely covered by the April1906 issue of the ‘Ladakh Herald’. As earlier discussed, Maharaja ordered closure of newspaper, he promulgated an regulation (ordinance) in September 1904 to close down all publications without any prior permission. The well known journalist of Lahore Munshi Mohammad Din Fauq was communicated clear ‘no’ for shifting the place of publication of his Kashmiri Magazine to Srinagar, the Maharaja while rejecting the request told his High court judge to “draft a regulation with all possible restrictions to safeguard against any undesirable consequences that generally go as sequences with indiscrete people in the abuse of the Press liberty”. The Press and Publication Regulations drafted thus promulgated on 18 September 1914 which specified that the permission for the publication of newspaper vested only with the Maharaja. VISIT MY BLOG: KALHANA BULLETIN: neterraina.blogspot PART-II 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: Fri, 06 Sep 2013 06:32:09 +0000
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