Media in Gujarati language

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The Media in Gujarati language started with publication of Bombay Samachar in 1822. Initially the newspapers published business news and they were owned by Parsi people based in Bombay. Later Gujarati newspapers started published from other parts of Gujarat. Several periodicals devoted to social reforms were published in the second half of the 19th century. After arrival of Mahatma Gandhi, the Indian independence movement peaked and it resulted in proliferation of Gujarati media. Following independence, the media was chiefly focused on political news. After bifurcation of Bombay state, the area of service changed. Later there was an increase in readership due to growth of literacy and the media houses expanded its readership by publishing more editions. Later these media houses ventured into digital media also. The radio and television media expanded after 1990.

Contents

History

A Page from the Gujarati translation of 'Dabestan-e Mazaheb' prepared and printed by Fardunji Marzban (25 December 1815) A Page from the Gujarati translation of 'Dabistan-i Mazahibm' prepared and printed by Fardunji Marzban (1815).jpg
A Page from the Gujarati translation of 'Dabestan-e Mazaheb' prepared and printed by Fardunji Marzban (25 December 1815)
Daandiyo, dated 1 September 1864 (first issue) Daandiyo.jpg
Daandiyo, dated 1 September 1864 (first issue)

1822—1915

The printing was introduced in Gujarati in 1812. The first printed book published was the Gujarati translation of Dabestan-e Mazaheb prepared and printed by Parsi priest Fardunjee Marzban in 1815. Early newspapers in Gujarati are published from Bombay and they covered commercial and business news chiefly. They were mainly published by Parsi community and served area of Bombay (now Mumbai). On 1 July 1822, the first Gujarati newspaper Bombayna Samachar was started by Fardunjee Marzban as a weekly business journal with 150 subscribers. In 1832, it was renamed Bombay Samachar and converted into biweekly. Later it became daily in 1855. In 1933, its present publisher Cama family brought it. Another Parsi, Naoroji Dorabji Chandaru started Mumbai Vartman in 1830. A year later was renamed Mumbaina Halkaru Ane Vartaman and converted into biweekly which published until 1843. Pestonji Manekji started a weekly Jam-e-Jamshed in 1831 which later converted in daily 1853. Several other newspapers published between 1832 and 1856: Doorbeen, Samachar Darpan, Mombaina Kasud, Chitranjan Darpan and Chabuk. [1] [2] [3] The first women's magazine in Gujarati, Stribodh was established in 1857 by Parsi social activists. [4]

Buddhiprakash, Gujarati periodical, 1850 Buddhi Prakash Gujarati periodical 1850.jpg
Buddhiprakash , Gujarati periodical, 1850
Vartaman, Gujarati newspaper, 1849 Vartamaan Gujarati newspaper 1849.jpg
Vartaman, Gujarati newspaper, 1849

The Gujarat Vernacular Society of Ahmedabad, founded by British Magistrate Alexander Kinloch Forbes, started Vartaman in 1849. The society also published Budhvar weekly and Buddhiprakash magazine. Due to efforts of Forbes, Surat Samachar, a biweekly, was introduced in Surat in 1850 which run for short period. Dinshaw Ardeshir Talyarkhan started Gujarat Darpan in 1863 as a biweekly. It was merged with Gujaratmitra in 1894 and was renamed Gujaratmitra Gujarat Darpan. [1] [3]

Several journal during those times were dedicated to social reform. Parhejhgar of Surat was devoted to prohibition. Lallubhai Raichand launched Shamasher Bahadur in Ahmedabad in 1854. Social reformer Dadabhai Navroji introduced Rast Goftar (The Truth Teller) to clarify Zoroastrian concepts in 1854 which published until 1921. Narmad launched Dandiyo in 1864 which was inspired by The Spectator . It run until 1869 and merged with Sunday Review in 1870. Karsandas Mulji started Satyaprakash in 1855 in Bombay. [1] [3] [4] [5] [6]

The first daily published in Gujarat was Hitechchhu. It was launched a biweekly in 1861 and later became daily in 1873. Prajabandhu was introduced in 1895. A weekly from Kheda, Kheda Vartman was started in 1861 and completed its centenary. An evening newspaper Sanj Varman of Bombay was introduced in 1902 which published until 1950. [1] Doot , a Gujarati Catholic monthly, was launched from Bombay.

1915—1960

Navjivan dated 8 August 1920 covering death of Lokmanya Tilak Navjeevan.PNG
Navjivan dated 8 August 1920 covering death of Lokmanya Tilak

Gujarati journalism was greatly influenced by the Indian independence movement between 1915 and 1947. Mahatma Gandhi who led the independence movement, introduced Navjivan in 1919. It was renamed Harijan Bandhu in 1932 and published until 1940. It was revived and published again from 1946 to 1948. [7] [8] Saurashtra weekly was started in 1921 which was renamed later as Phulchhab . [1] [9] Hajimahamad Allarakha published artistic periodical Visami Sadi from 1916 to 1920. [10] [11]

Cover of 1916 issue of Visami Sadi. Cover Art by M. V. Dhurandhar. Edited by Hajimahamad Allarakha. Visami Sadi 1916 Magazine cover.jpg
Cover of 1916 issue of Visami Sadi. Cover Art by M. V. Dhurandhar. Edited by Hajimahamad Allarakha.
Page of Navjivan dated 6 December 1931 Navjivan 1931.jpg
Page of Navjivan dated 6 December 1931

Sandesh was founded by Nandlal Bodiwala in 1923 following Non-cooperation movement. Gujarat Samachar was started in 1932 following Dandi March and civil disobedience movement. Amritlal Seth founded Saurashtra Trust in 1931 and launched Janmabhoomi on 9 June 1934 in Bombay. It was edited by Samaldas Gandhi. After sometime, Samaldas Gandhi left Janmabhoomi and launched Vande Mataram. Following business war between two newspapers, Amritlal Seth founded the Indian Languages Newspapers Association. He also founded a cooperative society to finance other newspapers. It expanded its reach by publishing and acquiring several magazines and newspapers. It owns Vyapar (1948), the first business magazine in an Indian language founded in 1948, Phulchhab (1921) publishing from Rajkot and Kutchmitra (1955) publishing from Bhuj. It also own a weekly, Pravasi and a literary journal Kavita. Jai Hind was founded by Babulal Shah in 1948 which is headquartered at Rajkot. Loksatta—Jansatta was founded in 1953. [1] [9] The Prabhat was founded in 1934 by Kakalbhai Kothari after leaving Phulchhab. He was the driving force of Phulchaab around the years 1932 and later edited the weekly 'Navsaurashtra', a part of the Prabhat Group of Newspapers [12]

1960—2000

Following Mahagujarat Movement in 1960, Bombay state was divided into Gujarat, with Ahmedabad as its capital, and Maharashtra with Mumbai as its capital. The newspapers published from both capital cities changed their area of coverage accordingly. Akila Daily started in 1978 from Rajkot. Gujarat Samachar and Sandesh expanded its number of editions in 1980s. Sandesh was headed by Chimanbhai Patel from 1958 who introduced weekly supplements in Gujarat. Pradyumna Mehta published monthly Hindustan Patrika in Chicago from 1977 to 1981 for Gujarati diaspora. Other monthlies abroad were Gujarat Vartaman and Bharat Sandesh both based in Chicago and stopped in 1980s. Gujarati Samachar based in New York City was published also. Bhupat Vadodaria established Sambhaav media group in 1986 which publishes evening tabloid Sambhaav Metro in Ahmedabad. It also publishes Abhiyaan, a socio-political weekly. [1] [9] [13] [14] [15] [16]

2000 onwards

Sambhaav was the first media group to enter in online media in Gujarat. Divya Bhaskar was introduced in 2003 by Dainik Bhaskar Group which led to another business war in Gujarati print media. It quickly expanded across Gujarat and took over Saurashtra Samachar based in Bhavnagar in 2004. [17] Divya Bhaskar publishes an edition for Gujarati diaspora in North America. [1] The Times Group which publishes The Times of India , launched Gujarati edition of The Economic Times in February 2007 in Ahmedabad [18] and its Gujarati daily NavGujarat Samay in January 2014. [19]

Digital media

Gujarat was the first state in India where the rural high frequency television transmitter was established. In 1975, it was established at Pij, Kheda district. The state owned Doordarshan was the first to enter in television and it operates DD Girnar. Other privately operated TV channels are Colors Gujarati, P7 News, Dainik Gujarat, Gujarat First News, TV 9 Gujarati, Bizz News, VTV Gujarati, Sandesh News, GSTV News, ABP Asmita, [1] [17] PTN News, Live Gujarati News.

Radio

The first radio station in Gujarat was founded by Sayajirao Gaekwad III of Baroda State in 1939. Later it was merged with All India Radio in 1948 after independence of India. In 2011, there were 10 radio stations in Gujarat run by All India Radio including Vividhbharti. There were several other radio channels owned by private media groups in Gujarat including Radio Mirchi, Radio City, Red FM, My FM, Radio One, Big FM and Top FM. There are four campus radio stations in Gujarat, Micavaani by MCA, GURU by Gujarat University, Vallabh Vidyanagar Campus radio and a campus radio by Sardar Patel University, Anand. SEWA operates the community radio, Rudi no Radio in Sanand near Ahmedabad. [1]

Statistics

In 1984, there were 735 publications in Gujarati including 43 dailies. It grew to 3005 publications in 2007—2008 as per Registrar of Newspapers for India including 220 dailies and 1410 weeklies. [1] They further grew to 4836 registered publications in 2014-2015 which include 539 dailies, 19 bi/triweeklies, 2189 weeklies, 548 fortnightly, 1324 monthlies, 105 quarterlies, 17 annuals and 95 others as per Registrar of Newspapers for India. [20] According to the Indian Readership Survey 2013, the top three Gujarati dailies were Gujarat Samachar (4339000 readers), Divya Bhaskar (3770000), Sandesh (3724000). [1]

As per 2011, there were more than 4 million television connections in Gujarat. [1]

Further reading

See also

Related Research Articles

Kheda is a city and a municipality in the Indian state of Gujarat. It was former administrative capital of Kheda district. India's First Deputy Prime Minister Vallabhbhai Patel Was Born In Kheda District of Gujarat State. Kheda city is famous for tobacco farming. The nearest railway station is Mahemadavad Kheda Road. The nearest airport is Ahmedabad airport. The nearest bus station is Kheda Bus Station.

<i>Sambhaav</i>

Sambhaav Metro is a Gujarati newspaper published six days a week only from Ahmedabad Sambhaav, a broadsheet Gujarati Newspaper when it started has modified into an afternoon tabloid "Sambhaav Metro", focusing more on the news and happenings in and around, or related to Ahmedabad, India.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Bardoli Satyagraha</span> Civil disobedience and revolt in the Indian Independence Movement

The Bardoli Satyagraha, was a farmers' agitation and nationalist movement in India against the increased taxation of farmers by the colonial government. It demanded a cancellation of the 22% tax hike being levied in Bombay Presidency. The movement began on 12 June 1928. It was eventually led by Sardar Vallabhbhai Patel, and its success gave rise to Patel becoming one of the main leaders of the independence movement.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Chandrakant Bakshi</span> Gujarati writer

Chandrakant Keshavlal Bakshi was an Indian Gujarati-language author from Gujarat, India and a former Sheriff of Mumbai. He was known for his bold and new concepts in writing during his time in Gujarati literature. He is also addressed as Bakshi or Bakshibabu. Born in Palanpur, he completed higher education and had a business in Calcutta. He started writing there and later moved to Mumbai for his teaching career. He wrote 178 books, and wrote extensively in newspaper columns.

Fardunjee Marzaban or Fardoonjee Marazban was, among other things, a printer and a newspaper editor. He established the first vernacular printing press in Bombay, India. He also started India’s oldest running periodical called the Bombay Samachar, which was printed primarily in Gujarati. He pioneered vernacular journalism in India, as also the production of Gujarati types.

<i>Gujarat Samachar</i> Gujarati language daily newspaper

The Gujarat Samachar is the leading Gujarati-language daily newspaper published in India. Its headquarters are in Ahmedabad with a branch in Surat. It is distributed from Ahmedabad, Vadodara, Surat, Rajkot, Bhavnagar, Mumbai, Mehsana, Bhuj and New York City.

<i>Divya Bhaskar</i> Indian newspaper

Divya Bhaskar is a Gujarati newspaper in Gujarat, India, owned by D B Corp Ltd. It is one of the highest circulation Gujarati dailies. With the most local editions in Gujarat, it is published from Ahmedabad, Vadodara, Surat, Rajkot, Jamnagar, Mehsana, Bhuj, Bhavnagar and Junagadh.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Ravishankar Raval</span> Painter, art teacher, art critic, journalist and essayist from Gujarat, India (1892–1977)

Ravishankar Raval (1892–1977) was a painter, art teacher, art critic, journalist and essayist from Gujarat, India. He worked for the magazine Vismi Sadi until it closed in 1921, and then founded the cultural magazine Kumar.

The history of Gujarati literature may be traced to 1000 AD, and this literature has flourished since then to the present. It is unique in having almost no patronage from a ruling dynasty, other than its composers.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Narmad</span> Indian Gujarati-language author, poet, scholar and public speaker

Narmadashankar Lalshankar Dave, popularly known as Narmad, was an Indian Gujarati-language poet, playwright, essayist, orator, lexicographer and reformer under the British Raj. He is considered to be the founder of modern Gujarati literature. After studying in Bombay, he stopped serving as a teacher to live by writing. During his prolific career, he introduced many literary forms in Gujarati. He faced economic struggles but proved himself as a dedicated reformer, speaking loudly against religious and social orthodoxy. His essays, poems, plays and prose were published in several collections. His Mari Hakikat, the first autobiography in Gujarati, was published posthumously. His poem Jai Jai Garavi Gujarat is now the state anthem of Gujarat state of India.

<i>Sandesh</i> (Indian newspaper) Gujarati daily newspaper

Sandesh is a leading Gujarati daily newspaper that started publications in Ahmedabad, Gujarat in 1923. It has the second largest readership in Gujarat as of 2019 according to the Indian Readership Survey. The paper focuses coverage on local and regional stories consequential to the various city editions in print, published from Vadodara, Surat, Rajkot, Bhavnagar, and Bhuj. The newspaper was purchased from the founder in 1958 by Chimanbhai S. Patel and has since been a core business division of 'The Sandesh Limited'.

Hasubhai Zinzuwadia was an Indian cricketer. He was a right-handed batsman and right-arm offbreak bowler who played for Gujarat. He was born in Ahmedabad.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Indulal Yagnik</span>

Indulal Kanaiyalal Yagnik was an Indian independence activist, who purchased indian tri colour flag from Germany to India. He was a leader of the All India Kisan Sabha and one who led the Mahagujarat Movement, which spearheaded the demand for the separate statehood of Gujarat on 8 August 1956. He is also known as Indu Chacha. He was also a writer and film maker.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Vibhut Shah</span> Indian writer (1933–2020)

Vibhut Shah was a contemporary Gujarati novelist, playwright and short story writer from India.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Vinod Bhatt</span> Indian essayist and biographer (1938–2018)

Vinod Bhatt was a Gujarati humour essayist and biographer from Gujarat, India.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Bhupat Vadodaria</span>

Bhupat Vadodaria was an Indian author and journalist. He worked with various newspapers in Gujarat and in the Information Office of Government of Gujarat before founding his own media group. He had authored more than fifty books.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Kaajal Oza Vaidya</span> Indian author and radio personality (born 1966)

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<i>Navjivan</i> (newspaper) Indian newspaper

Navjivan India is an Indian newspaper published by The Associated Journals Ltd who have been publishing the daily Navjivan since 1 November 1947. Prior to this, a newspaper called Navjivan was published by Indian activist and leader Mahatma Gandhi, and The Associate Journals started publishing Navjivan with his permission.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Pranav Pandya</span> Gujarati poet from India

Pranav Vinodbhai Pandya is a Gujarati-language writer, poet and columnist from Gujarat, India. In 2013, he received Kavi Ravji Patel Yuva Sahitya Pratibha Award, instituted by Gujarat Samachar. In 2019, the Indian National Theatre awarded him the Shayda Award for his contribution to Gujarati poetry.

References

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