Urdu Literature - Urdu Journalism

Urdu Journalism

The Persian newspapers of West Bengal were fore-runners of the Urdu press. Two prominent periodicals were Jam-i-Jahan-Numa, founded by Lal Sadasukh Lal in 1822 and Mirat-ul-Akhbar (Mirror of News) by Raja Rammohan Roy. After the decline of Persian as an official language, Urdu gained prominence. There was extensive growth in Urdu jurnalism from the 1850s till Independence in 1947.

On 14 January 1850, Munshi Harsukh Rai started the weekly Kohinoor, which had a remarkably high (for those times) circulation of 350 copies. In 1858, Manbir Kabiruddin started the Urdu Guide, the first Urdu daily, from Calcutta. Another important paper founded that year was Roznamha-e-Punjab from Lahore. Oudh Akhbar by Munshi Nawal Kishore was the first Urdu newspaper from Lucknow, also begun in 1858.

The first Urdu newspapers of Delhi were Fawaid-ul-Nazarin and Kiran-us-Sadai, founded by Rama Chandra in 1852. The Urdu press in Delhi became highly critical of the British government. The best example of them is the Urdu Akhbar, edited by Syed Hasan, which highlighted many civic issues like drainage, sanitation, adulteration of food, and corruption.

In 1877, Maulvi Nasir Ali, one of the founders of Anjuman Islamia- the Islamic intellectual and political movement- founded 3 newspapers- Nusrat-ul-Akhbar, Nusrat-ul-Islam and Mihir-e-Darakhshan. All three focused on current civil and political affairs and were valuable aids of Muslim empowerment. In 1877, Oudh Punch, the first humour magazine in Urdu was started by Sajjid Hussain. The first women’s journal in Urdu was Akhbar-un-Nisa.

Urdu journalism took on a strongly nationalistic note towards the turn of the 20th century. Zameendar, was started in Lahore in 1903. It was the first Urdu newspaper to subscribe to news agencies. Zameendar was intensely nationalistic, which boosted its circulation to over 30,000 copies. In 1902, Maulvi Sanaullah Khan started the weekly Watan, meaning motherland. Watan was intensely nationalistic and continued for 33 years. Maulana Muhammad Ali Jauhar started Naqeeb-e-Hamdard in 1912. Another powerful political periodical was the Madina, edited by Hamidul Ansari.

The greatest Urdu periodical that time was Al Hilal, started by Maulana Abul Kalam Azad. (refer notes).

In 1919, the Pratap was started in Lahore by Mahshe Krishnan. It vigorously supported Gandhi’s policies and the Indian National Congress. It was a victim of government harassment and suspended publication several times. It had great influence among the Urdu reading Hindus of Punjab and Delhi.

In 1923, Swami Shraddhanand founded the Tej with Lala Deshbandhu Gupta as editor. It had a wide circulation in Rajasthan, U.P. and Delhi. It was confiscated several times by the government and banned in a number of princely states. In the same year, 1923, the Arya Samaj started the Milap, a daily in Lahore. It was known for its powerful nationalistic editorials. Jawaharlal Nehru founded Qaumi Awaaz in 1945.

Urdu journalism suffered heavily, during and after Partition. Riots in Lahore lead to mobs raiding the office of Milap and burning machines and newsprint. Its Managing Editor, Ranbir was stabbed and the paper was closed for six weeks. It then shifted to Delhi. Due to the unrest, the Pratap also shifted to Delhi.

Syed Fakhruddin Balley is also very known in the field of Journalism. Mr.S.F.Balley Alig was the Founder Editor of more than 18 Magazine.First of all he became the Editor of "The Union"(Magazine of AliGarh Muslim University)in late 1940s. Syed Fakhruddin Balley migrated to Pakistan in 1951 and Joined the Information Service. He was the Founder Editor/Chief Editor of so many Magazines like "The Bahawalpur Review', "The Lahore Affairs", "Muslim League News. _ Lahore'"Nawa-e-Baldiyat", "Aawaz-e-Jaras" Lahore, Monthly "Humwattan'/Monthly "'AUQAAF/Monthly "Yaaran-e-Wattan',Islamabad. He lived his life as a working Journalist. He worked with Faiz Ahmad Faiz, Ahmad Nadeem Qasmi, Munnoo Bha'ee, Jamilluddin AAlli, Waqar Anbalvi, Hameed Nizami, Meer Khalill Rehman, Abdul Qadir Hassan. Nazeer Naji, Iqtedaar Ali Mazhar, Molana Hasrat Mohani, Masood Asha'ar and so many known journalists and Writers like Qudratullah Shahab, Mumtaz Mufti, Zameer Jafri, Tufail HoshiyarPuri, Shahzad Ahmad Shahzad, Seraj Muneer, Wasif Ali Wasif, Hanif Ramey Dr. Foaq Kareemi, Dr. Syed Abdullah, Mohd Tufail, Ashfaq Ahmad, Allama Shabeer Bukhari and so many other known. Syed Fakhruddin Balley was also the founder of Aawaz-e-Jaras Publications & MOEEN ACADEMY-Lahore. He born in India in 1930 and died in Pakistan in 2004.He wrote / Compiled and Published more than 150 Books & Publications.The Of "Mohsin-e-Fun", "Man of the Stage" and "Thinker of the East" were given to Syed Fakhruddin Balley Alig.

Some of the Urdu newspapers after partition in India are Dawat, now a bi-weekly, started by the Jamat-e-Islami Hind. Maulana Abdul Waheed Siddiqui in 1951 started Urdu Daily Nai Duniya, which had to close its publication with in a decade of its publication due to government seizing its deposit everytime. It was relaunched as a popular Urdu weekly by him in 1973 as its Editor proprietor till his death in 1982,now run by his son Shahid Siddiqui.

Founder of Modern Urdu Journalism in post Partitioned India a house hold name Maulana Abdul Waheed Siddiqui who died in New Delhi Nizamuddin East residence on 19 April 1982 at the age of 84 was born in Ghazipur UP in the year 1898.

His father and grandfather were eminent highly educated wealthy rich Muslims of their era. Maulana had his early education from an English Medium school of Western Uttar Pradesh and among his classmates was Dr. Zakir Hussain who till his last remained a family friend.

Maulana’s father Abdul Aziz was a highly successful man from Ghazipur. He had three sons and two daughters. The eldest son Abdul Hafeez was a partner of world acclaimed OBT carpets which still operates from Mirzapur . Abdul Aziz during his services in the police department as Chief of Ghazipur is credited to have arrested Sultana Dacoit.

Abdul Aziz had a branded life style, loved horse riding and had personal horses in his Haveli.A Haveli which fell to conspiracies.

Maulana’s Father died when he was studying in school, he was the youngest of three brothers and two sisters. His fathers dream to send Maulana to England for Barrister ship ended with untimely demise of Abdul Aziz.

Maulana’s families struggle started with the early death of his father. Even Abdul Aziz lost his father at an early age and had to struggle a lot to reach to a status which few Ghazipurians have till this date.

The family properties and assets were the bone of contention when Abdul Aziz as a child was saved by his caretaker Daai and taken away from his enemy relatives secretly to his maternal uncle to be raised by him.

On his return to Ghazipur Abdul Aziz built the largest Haveli. But his death left Maulana Abdul Waheed Siddiqui an orphan at a very young age.

Maulana Abdul Waheed Siddiqui never looked back to Ghazipur though his relations called him many times to come and take care of his properties and Haveli in acres. But Maulana was not a materialistic man and never was interested in them..

During this period Maulana had to pursue his studies and support himself also. He worked as Moazzin of a Mosque in Saharanpur where he married Naeema Khatoon Shaikh. He was blessed with Four sons and four daughters.

Maulana's wife's family were the known Nawab family of Saharanpur which was known for education and piousness in Saharapur. They also had an Urdu Newspaper Mohafiz from Deoband which was also edited by Maulana Abdul Waheed Siddiqui.

He founded the Darul uloom Deobands department of Tanjeem -o-Taraqqi and served as its Nazim. An Orater of fiery class Maulana Abdul Waheed Siddiqui travelled whole of India and addressed Muslims in post partition period when most were even afraid to utter a word against government biases and extorted Muslims to support cause of Madrasas and Urdu.

Maulana was the founder editor of Qasmi a monthly publication of Darul Uloom Deoband and also served at Darul uloom Deobands popular Daily Newspaper Al-jamiat as Editor after Maulana Mowdoodi left for Pakistan.

In his early years Maulana associated him self with war against British rule in India and supported the cause of Great freedom fighters through his Newspaper from Deoband in 1914 Mohajir.

Well before partition Maulana moved to Delhi as Editor Aljamiat and from Ballimaran house which belonged to his brother in law Iftikhar Sheikh he launched Indian Muslims first voice Urdu Daily Newspaper Nai Dunya in 1951 against Discrimination and oppression of Muslims in Congress rule.

Maulana was also supported in this venture by his four sons 22, 20, 10 and 4 years old and hosts of relatives and friends.

Maulana left Deoband and gifted the house in which he lived for two decades after developing differences with Jamiat Ulema-E-Hind’s pro Congress Government stand viv a vis Muslims facing isolation, communal bias and daily hardships.

Daily Nai Dunya was forced to close after hardships faced by it due to the hostile government. His eldest son Ahmed Mustafa Siddiqui was jailed as he was one of the frontline Editor of Urdu Daily Nai Dunya along with his father.

Maulana’s family again went through the period of Financial hardships, court cases and political witch hunting but Maulana never lost hope and in late sixties he gave Urdu World two more unique gifts Urdu Monthlies HUMA and HUDA.

After this success Maulana launched his passion Nai Dunya as a weekly in 1971 as its editor, printer, publisher and proprietor till his death in 1982.Since then it has been the sole proprietorship of his youngest son Shahid Siddiqui.

He also owns an Urdu Daily Awaam, Harf e Aakhir, New Shama and Hindi Weekly Nai Zameen from New Delhi. He remains one of the most popular Muslim Editor politician in India with one term as Rajya Sabha MP and several Interviews of National and International personalities. He is a post graduate in political science and a DU topper. For a short period he also taught at Deshbandhu College in South Delhi.

Huma, Huda and Nai Dunya have been divided among his sons after Maulana Abdul Waheed’s death.

His fourth son Tariq Siddiqui had clicked with an Urdu filmi publication Adakar for a short period but made a great name in the Urdu publication world after Maulana’s death with Urdu Char Rang, Hazaar Rang, Bhayanak Jaraim, Kubra and Aaj ki Khatoon.

After Maulana’s death his grandson in 1985 launched TAHA ISLAMIC DIGEST in Hindi as its Editor, printer, publisher and proprietor along with his father Maulana Ahmed Mustafa Siddiqui "Rahi" who now manages both the publications HUDA and TAHA Islamic Digests as Chief Editor.

Maulana Ahmed Mustafa Siddiqui "Rahi" has served as a Delhi Waqf Board member and a member Delhi state Haj Committee. He remains the only Urdu Journalist to Interview late Prime Minister Mrs. Indira Gandhi besides a close friend late Sanjay Gandhi, Dhirendra Brahmachari and several cabinet Ministers.

Anwar-e-Jahan fortnightly, Beti and Paak Daman monthly publications were also launched by this group.

Ahmed Sohail Siddiqui also had a very successful popular Hindi and Urdu Weekly "Hamara Qadam" which had to be closed because of conspiracies and government targeting.

HUMA managed by Khalid Mustafa Siddiqui has also added popular publications since 1985 like Pakeeza Anchal and Khawateen Digest for the Urdu World, Mahakta Aanchal and Khoobsoorat Andaaz in Hindi are also very popular publications of this group.

The Sahara Group started a weekly-Aalmi Sahara. There are more number of urdu newspapers published in hyderabad, IndiaThe Siasat Daily, The Munsif Daily, Indian Etemaad and Rehnuama E Deccan.Bombay now Mumbai also have some good publication of urdu daily The inquilab daily and Urdu Times and from West Bengal Urdu newspapers like The Azad Hind daily, The Akhbaar -e- Mashriq daily, The Aabshaar daily and The rashtriya Sahara daily are also being brought out from CALCUTTA at present Kolkata In Pakistan the Daily Jang is one of the most widely circulated newspapers in the country. Other popular news papers are Daily Imroze, Daily Mashriq, Khabrain, Millat and Nawa-i-Waqt.