Kakalbhai Ravjibhai Kothari was an Indian freedom fighter, journalist, editor, and social reformer from the Kathiawar region of present-day Gujarat. His contributions were majorly to the struggle of the Indians to get independence especially in his pioneering work on the Gujarati press.[1] Kothari was also a person active in the mobilization of the nationalist cause and expressing the interests of the population in the princely colonials of the time.[2] He was the founder of The Prabhat, one of the first Media in Gujarati language, which has been continuously published for over 90 years.[3]
Kakalbhai Kothari was born in 1902 in Kathiawar, a historical province that contained several princely states.[4] Although there is evidence of his early life and organised education, there is still not enough detailed information about them, but the early contacts of his life with the nationalist thought made him involve himself in the political and journalistic pursuits at a young age.[5] His childhood was filled with national enthusiasm, and this affected him as a youngster, drawing him toward the ideas of freedom of the press and self-governance.[6]
Role in the Freedom Movement
Kothari actively participated in the Indian freedom struggle. In 1920, he participated in the Tilak Swaraj Fund collection in Saurashtra, which was organized to finance the national movement of the Congress.[7] He also worked in arousing Western India's support against the Non-Cooperation Movement and subsequently the Civil Disobedience Movement.[8]
Kothari also led the political awakening of the princely states becoming a part of the Kathiawar States People Convention in the 1930s.[9] This campaign was aimed at placing awareness in the minds of the subjects to the princely rulers that they had a right and that they needed to associate with the larger freedom movement.[10] In a letter to Kothari dated 2 November 1933, Jawaharlal Nehru talks about the correspondence taking place between the two concerning these activities.[11]
Journalism and editorial work
Kothari began his journalism career at Phulchhab, a Gujarati newspaper known for its reformist and nationalist tone. In 1934, he founded his own daily newspaper, The Prabhat, which quickly became a platform for articulating the nationalist agenda.[12] He later edited the weekly Navsaurashtra, which covered socio-political developments and carried articles in favor of swaraj (self-rule).[13]
Kothari was also associated with the Janmabhoomi group of newspapers, through which he continued to disseminate political awareness and press for reforms. His editorials often challenged British policies and called for solidarity among Indian states and commoners.[14] In 1928, he authored a biographical book titled Narveer Lalaji, which detailed the life and contributions of a fellow nationalist and social worker.[15] The book was among the earliest biographical efforts in Gujarati literature to celebrate contemporary freedom fighters.
Later activities and social work
Apart from his journalism and political work, Kothari was a vocal advocate for education, press freedom, and social equity. He campaigned for literacy among rural populations and supported constructive programs aligned with Gandhian principles, such as khadi promotion[16] and sanitation. He also played a role in developing literary circles in Gujarat, encouraging the growth of independent thought and writing. Several journalists and writers who later emerged as leading figures in Gujarat's literary community credited Kothari for mentoring and supporting their early careers.[17]
Legacy
Kakalbhai Kothari has been acknowledged by the Government of India as one of the unsung heroes[18] of the India independence struggle.He is also included in the official portal of the Azadi Ka Amrit Mahotsav initiative, featuring little-known freedom fighters. His presence has not been quite as well-regarded in popular history, but his contribution to the facturation of the popular opinion, confrontation of the colonial discourse in the press, and democratic reforms in state-states under the princes is substantial.[19]
His work is still remembered at journalism schools and in Gujarat circles of historical knowledge where he is credited as an early leader of politically involved Gujarati journalism.[20]
Prabhat group of Newspapers
Kakalbhai Kothari, a Indian journalist, founded the Gujarati daily newspaper The Prabhat, expanding upon his previous editorial ventures with Saurashtra and Phulchhab.Prabhat holds a unique place in the history of Gujarati journalism. It was among the earliest Media in Gujarati language daily newspapers, dedicated to covering socio-political issues, the nationalist movement, and regional affairs.[21] The paper gained a reputation for its fearless critique of colonial administration and its strong editorial stance promoting Indian self-rule.[22]
Over the decades, The Prabhat evolved into a credible source of news for Gujarati readers and has continued its publication for over 90 years, making it one of the longest-running Gujarati newspapers in India.[23] It remains influential in Gujarat's journalistic and political circles even today. It is
The newspaper was printed and published from Prabhat Bhavan, located in Ahmedabad, under the banner of Kothari Printers. It was one of the few newspapers of the time to integrate editorial, publishing, and printing under a single roof. the Prabhat still runs successful by the Kothari family from Ahmedabad, Gujarat, India.
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