I recently discovered that the first Hindi newspaper was launched way back in 1826. It was called "Udant Martand" which translates to "The Rising Sun". The newspaper was founded by Pandit Jugal Kishore Shukla, who was a prominent scholar and journalist. It's fascinating how this publication marked the beginning of Hindi journalism in India. I can only imagine the impact it had on the Hindi-speaking population at that time, giving them access to information and news in their own language.
First Hindi Newspaper: What Made It Groundbreaking?
If you’ve ever wondered which paper started the Hindi press, the answer is Udant Martand. Launched in 1826 from Calcutta, it is widely recognized as India’s first Hindi newspaper. Its founder, Lala Laxmi Narayan Singh, wanted a platform that could speak to Hindi‑speaking readers and push ideas about reform, education, and national identity.
How Udant Martand Got Started
Back then, most printed material was in English or regional scripts like Bengali and Persian. Laxmi Narayan saw a gap – Hindi speakers had no regular news source. He pooled money from local merchants, hired a skilled printer, and began publishing once a week. The paper covered everything from British policies and local court cases to cultural events and poetry.
Its name, meaning "Rising Sun," reflected the hope that Hindi journalism would brighten India’s future. Even though it only ran for a few years (1826‑1832) before financial troubles forced it to shut down, its impact lasted decades. It inspired later publications such as Hindustan Samachar (1850) and Punjab Kesari (1920).
Where to Read the Old Issues Today
Good news – you don’t need a dusty library to see the original pages. Several Indian universities have digitized the Udant Martand archives. The National Digital Library of India offers a searchable collection where you can scroll through scanned pages. Indian government portals like the Digital Library of India also host PDF versions of select issues.
If you prefer a mobile experience, a few apps let you download the PDFs for offline reading. Just search “Udant Martand PDF” in your app store and pick one that mentions “public domain” to avoid copyright hassle.
For deeper context, read biographies of Laxmi Narayan Singh and articles on early Hindi journalism. They explain why the paper chose a simple Hindi style instead of the more formal Sanskrit‑based prose that dominated elite circles.
Today, the legacy of that first Hindi newspaper lives on in every modern Hindi daily – from Navbharat Times to Dainik Jagran. Those papers still carry the same mission: giving Hindi readers a voice in politics, culture, and everyday life. Knowing where it all began helps you appreciate the power of language in shaping public opinion.
So, next time you flip through a Hindi news app, remember the humble beginnings of Udant Martand and the brave writer who dared to print in the language of the masses. It’s a reminder that a single newspaper can spark a whole movement.