First English Newspaper of India: History, Facts

The first English newspaper in India was the “Hickey’s Bengal Gazette,” which was published by James Augustus Hickey. It was first issued on January 29, 1780, in Calcutta (now Kolkata). Hickey’s Bengal Gazette played a significant role in the history of Indian journalism, providing a platform for news and discussions during the colonial period.

In this article, we have discussed the first English newspaper of India, the Interesting history behind the First English Newspaper, the development of newspapers in India, and many more.

Let’s dive right in.

First English Newspaper of India

First English Newspaper of India

The Irishman James Augustus Hicky’s Bengal Gazette was the first English newspaper of India on the subcontinent and started in 1780. It was a weekly English newspaper published in Calcutta, which inspired Indians to launch a newspaper of their own. James Augustus Hicky, who had spent some time in prison, strongly criticized the administration of Governor-General Warren Hastings. The Bengal Gazette was also known as ‘Calcutta General Advertiser’ as it was filled with lots of advertisements with this name.

Newspaper	Founder	First Issue Date	Location	Key Points
Hickey’s Bengal Gazette	James Augustus Hickey	January 29, 1780	Calcutta	– Established by James Augustus Hickey, an Irishman living in British India during the late 18th century.

Hicky was the sole editor, writer, and publisher of this newspaper. Initially, the journal had a neutral tone, but after being a constant target by the English official and being told to give a bribe, he went on to strongly criticize the corrupt English officials, including Warren Hastings’s wife. He accused them of several things, like inefficiency, corruption, and maladministration.

The Bengal Gazette had a sarcastic and provocative tone. Unlike many newspapers of its time, the newspaper discussed taboo topics and proto-class consciousness, arguing for the rights of the poor and the right to taxation with representation.

Due to this, he was imprisoned but continued writing his views and accused company officials of bribery and corruption from jail. His journal, the India Gazette, which was supported and funded by Warren Hastings, worked as a rival journal to the Bengal Gazette. Consequently, Hickey’s India Gazette was stopped and driven out of business.

The Bengal Gazette served as an inspiration for other Indian newspapers that were started by Indian reformers and journalists like the Bombay Herald, Bengal Journal, Indian Mirror, Sambad Kaumudi, Banga Duta, and Bombay Times, to name a few.

First English Newspaper of India Key Points

The following is the some keypoints about the first English Newspaper of India:

1. James Augustus Hicky’s newspaper, the Bengal Gazette, was also called the original ‘Calcutta General Advertiser,’ an English-language weekly.
2. It was published in Calcutta, the center of colonial India during that time.
3. He was the newspaper’s sole writer, editor, and publisher.
4. The paper had a tabloid format, and he used it to poke fun at various East India Company officials with whom he had personal differences.
5. Initially, the paper was neutral about certain issues. But later, he started ridiculing the company and its officials.
6. He often used innuendoes and made-up names to talk about real-life personalities.
7. His paper was much-read by colonial officials in Calcutta, who didn’t take well to what was being written.
8. He accused the East India Company and Governor-General Warren Hastings of corruption, inefficiency, and maladministration.
9. This led to him being sued for libel and imprisoned.
10. James Augustus Hicky continued to publish his paper from jail and further accused Hastings & Company through his writings.
11. Fresh lawsuits were filed against him. Then, another rival paper, the India Gazette, which was funded by Hastings, came up.
12. The Bengal Gazette could not stand up to the competition and was soon driven out of business. It ceased publication on March 23, 1782.
13. Even though short-lived, Hicky’s Bengal Gazette was an inspiration for later educated Indian reformers to start their own newspapers with a more serious anti-colonial and nationalistic sentiment.
14. Other newspapers published in the 18th century: Calcutta Gazette, Bengal Journal, Oriental Magazine of Calcutta, Bombay Herald, etc.
15. The Bombay Samachar, started in 1822, was the oldest newspaper in Asia. It is still in print, in Gujarati.
16. Today, India is the second-largest newspaper market in the world. Newspapers have played an essential role in India’s freedom struggle and post-independence. It played a role in spreading information and knowledge by keeping public opinion alive on several issues.

People also View:
The Role of Newspapers in the Indian Struggle for Freedom	Difference between Print Media and Electronic Media
Role of Print Culture to Grow Nationalism in British-India	How to Make a Newspaper in Microsoft Word

Development of Newspapers in India

The following are the brief history of development of Newspaper in India:

Period	Key Developments
1780s	– Hickey’s Bengal Gazette: James Augustus Hickey establishes the first English newspaper in India, Hickey’s Bengal Gazette, in Calcutta in 1780.
1822	– Bombay Samachar: Fardunjee Marzban starts the Bombay Samachar, considered the oldest continuously published newspaper in India.
1850s	– Expansion of Vernacular Press: Vernacular newspapers in regional languages gain prominence, reflecting local perspectives and issues.
1857-1947	– Role in Indian Independence Movement: Newspapers play a crucial role in shaping public opinion and fueling the Indian independence movement. Prominent publications include The Hindu, The Statesman, and others.
1920s	– Birth of Nationalist Papers: Publications like Hindustan Times and The Indian Express emerge with a nationalist perspective.
1947-1990s	– Post-Independence Era: The press continues to grow, and new publications are launched. Press freedom is recognized, but occasional censorship occurs.
1986	– Introduction of Computers: The Times of India becomes the first newspaper in India to be produced using computer technology.
1990s	– Liberalization and Globalization: Economic reforms lead to the liberalization of the media sector, fostering the growth of private media companies.
21st Century	– Digital Transformation: Newspapers embrace digital platforms, with online editions and websites becoming integral to news dissemination. Social media further influences news consumption.
Present	– Diverse Media Landscape: India has a vibrant and diverse media landscape, with a mix of print, television, and digital media outlets covering a wide range of topics.

Conclusion the First English Newspaper of India

The First English Newspaper of India was James Augustus Hicky’s Bengal Gazette, which was a weekly newspaper published every Saturday. It was first published in Calcutta, the capital of British India. Hicky was the author and founder of the oldest newspaper “Bengal Gazette” in India. Because of his efforts, journalism developed in India.

The newspaper discussed taboo topics and proto-class consciousness, arguing for the rights of the poor and the right to taxation with representation. It had anti-war and anti-colonial sentiment and criticized the East India Company’s leadership for their expansionist and imperialist objectives. It became known among the British soldiers posted in India and served as an inspiration for Indians to write newspapers of their own.

FAQs on The First English Newspaper of India

1. What was the Bengal Gazette known for?

The Bengal Gazette was started by James Augustus Hicky, a highly eccentric Irishman. This newspaper strongly criticized the administration of Governor General Warren Hastings for its inefficiency and corruption. It was known for its provocative journalism and its fight for free expression in India.

2. What was the writing style of the Bengal Gazette like?

Hicky’s Bengal Gazette was known for its provocative journalism, fight for free expression in India, and sarcastic and provocative writing style. Unlike many newspapers of its time, the newspaper discussed taboo topics and proto-class consciousness, arguing for the rights of the poor and the right to taxation with representation. It had anti-war and anti-colonial sentiment and criticized the East India Company’s leadership for their expansionist and imperialist objectives.

3. Why was Hicky critical of the British administration?

Hicky was the sole editor, writer, and publisher of this newspaper. Initially, he had a neutral tone but was constantly targeted by the English officials and was told to give a bribe. This led to him being a strong critic of corrupt English officials, including Warren Hastings’s wife. He accused them of several things, like inefficiency, corruption, and maladministration. As a result, he was imprisoned but continued writing his views, accusing company officials of bribery and corruption.

4. What was the Bengal Gazette also known as?

The Bengal Gazette was also known as ‘Calcutta General Advertiser’ as it was filled with lots of advertisements with this name.

5. What are the Newspaper which inspired by the Bengal Gazette.

The Bengal Gazette served as an inspiration for other Indian newspapers that were started by Indian reformers and journalists like the Bombay Herald, Bengal Journal, Indian Mirror, Sambad Kaumudi, Banga Duta, and Bombay Times, to name a few.

6. Which is the oldest newspaper in India?

The “Bombay Samachar” is considered the oldest continuously published newspaper in India. It was first published in Gujarati on July 1, 1822, by Fardunjee Marzban. Later, it expanded to include an English edition as well.

7. Who wrote the first Newspaper in India?

The first newspaper in India, “Hickey’s Bengal Gazette,” was written by James Augustus Hickey. Hickey, an Irishman, founded the newspaper, and it was first published on January 29, 1780,

8. What is the oldest newspapers in the world?

The Haarlemsche Courant is considered as the oldest newspaper in the world. This Dutch newspaper was first published in 1656 in Haarlem, Netherlands. It began as a weekly publication and is recognized by the International Federation of Newspaper Publishers (FIEJ) and the Guinness World Records as the oldest continuously published newspaper.