Riya parik at 21:48, 14 April 2026

2026-04-14T21:48:07Z

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{{Indian newspaper topics}}
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 the arrival of [[Mahatma Gandhi]], the Indian independence movement peaked and it resulted in the proliferation of Gujarati media. Following independence, the media was chiefly focused on political news. After the bifurcation of Bombay state, the area of service changed. Later, there was an increase in readership due to the growth of literacy and the media houses expanded their readership by publishing more editions. Later, these media houses ventured into digital media also. The radio and television media expanded after 1990.

==Print media==

===History===
[[File:A Page from the Gujarati translation of 'Dabistān-i Mazāhibm' prepared and printed by Fardunji Marzban (1815).jpg|thumb|A Page from the Gujarati translation of 'Dabestan-e Mazaheb' prepared and printed by Fardunji Marzban (25 December 1815)]]
[[File:Daandiyo.jpg|thumb|''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 were published from [[Bombay]], and they covered commercial and business news chiefly. They were mainly published by [[Parsi]] community and served the 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 a biweekly. Later, it became daily in 1855. In 1933, its present publisher, the Cama family, bought it. Another Parsi, Naoroji Dorabji Chandaru, started ''Mumbai Vartman'' in 1830. A year later was renamed ''Mumbaina Halkaru Ane Vartaman'' and converted into a biweekly publication, which was published until 1843. Pestonji Manekji started a weekly ''Jam-e-Jamshed'' in 1831, which was later converted into a daily in 1853. Several other newspapers published between 1832 and 1856: ''Doorbeen'', ''Samachar Darpan'', ''Mombaina Kasud'', ''Chitranjan Darpan'' and ''Chabuk''.<ref name=pii>{{cite web|title=History of Gujarati journalism|url=http://pressinstitute.in/history-of-gujarati-journalism/|date=January 2013|publisher=Press Institute of India|first=Mrinal|last=Chatterjee|access-date=9 October 2014|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20141013054039/http://pressinstitute.in/history-of-gujarati-journalism/|archive-date=13 October 2014|url-status=dead}}</ref><ref name="Kothari2014">{{cite book|author=Rita Kothari|title=Translating India|url=https://books.google.com/books?id=2-xQAwAAQBAJ&pg=PA73|access-date=5 August 2014|date=8 April 2014|publisher=Routledge|isbn=978-1-317-64216-9|pages=73–74}}</ref><ref name="Datta1988">{{cite book|author=Amaresh Datta|title=Encyclopaedia of Indian Literature|url=https://books.google.com/books?id=zB4n3MVozbUC&pg=PA1875|volume=2|year=1988|publisher=Sahitya Akademi|isbn=978-81-260-1194-0|page=1875}}</ref> The first women's magazine in Gujarati, ''[[Stribodh]]'' was established in 1857 by Parsi social activists.<ref name="YagnikSeth2005">{{cite book|author1=Achyut Yagnik|author2=Suchitra Seth|title=Shaping Of Modern Gujarat|url=https://books.google.com/books?id=FYDviPFeoSAC&pg=PT88|date=24 August 2005|publisher=Penguin Books Limited|isbn=978-81-8475-185-7|pages=88–91}}</ref>
[[File:Buddhi Prakash Gujarati periodical 1850.jpg|thumb|left|''[[Buddhiprakash]]'', Gujarati periodical, 1850]]
[[File:Vartamaan Gujarati newspaper 1849.jpg|thumb|left|''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 the efforts of Forbes, ''Surat Samachar'', a biweekly, was introduced in [[Surat]] in 1850, which ran for a 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''.<ref name=pii/><ref name="Datta1988"/>

Several journals 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 was published until 1921. [[Narmad]] launched ''Dandiyo'' in 1864 which was inspired by ''[[The Spectator (1711)|The Spectator]]''. It ran until 1869 and merged with ''Sunday Review'' in 1870. [[Karsandas Mulji]] started ''[[Satyaprakash]]'' in 1855 in Bombay.<ref name=pii/><ref name="Datta1988"/><ref name="YagnikSeth2005"/><ref name="Desai2007">{{cite book|author=Anjali H. Desai|title=India Guide Gujarat|url=https://books.google.com/books?id=gZRLGZNZEoEC&pg=PA42|year=2007|publisher=India Guide Publications|isbn=978-0-9789517-0-2|page=42}}</ref><ref name="Das1991">{{cite book|author=Sisir Kumar Das|title=History of Indian Literature|url=https://books.google.com/books?id=sHklK65TKQ0C&pg=PA534|year=1991|publisher=Sahitya Akademi|isbn=978-81-7201-006-5|pages=534–}}</ref>

The first daily published in [[Gujarat]] was ''Hitechchhu''. It was launched 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 and published until 1950.<ref name=pii/> ''[[Doot (magazine)|Doot]]'', a Gujarati Catholic monthly, was launched from Bombay.

==== 1915—1960 ====
[[File:Navjeevan.PNG|thumb|''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.<ref>{{cite web|url=https://www.firstpost.com/art-and-culture/gandhis-journals-how-the-mahatma-shaped-a-nations-ideas-through-young-india-navjivan-and-harijan-8870621.html|title=Gandhi's journals: How the Mahatma shaped a nation's ideas through Young India, Navjivan and Harijan|access-date=2 October 2020|website=Firstpost|date=2 October 2020 }}</ref><ref>{{cite web|url=https://theprint.in/opinion/as-mahatma-gandhi-turns-150-his-news-magazines-navjivan-and-young-india-turn-100/298484/|title=As Mahatma Gandhi turns 150, his news magazines Navjivan and Young India turn 100|access-date=29 September 2019|website=The Print|date=29 September 2019 }}</ref> ''Saurashtra'' weekly was started in 1921 which was renamed later as ''[[Phulchhab]]''.<ref name=pii/><ref name="Group2004">{{cite book|author=Taylor & Francis Group|title=Europa World Year|url=https://books.google.com/books?id=wGA4o-UhAfgC&pg=PA2093|year=2004|publisher=Taylor & Francis|isbn=978-1-85743-254-1|page=2093}}</ref> [[Hajimahamad Allarakha]] published artistic periodical ''Visami Sadi'' from 1916 to 1920.<ref name="Kendra2007">{{cite book|author=Smt. Hiralaxmi Navanitbhai Shah Dhanya Gurjari Kendra|title=Gujarat|url=https://books.google.com/books?id=g4oMAQAAMAAJ|year=2007|publisher=Gujarat Vishvakosh Trust|page=457}}</ref><ref name="JhaveriAkademi1978">{{cite book|author=Mansukhlal Maganlal Jhaveri|author-link=Mansukhlal Maganlal Jhaveri|title=History of Gujarati Literature|url=https://books.google.com/books?id=DA0RAAAAMAAJ|year=1978|publisher=Sahitya Akademi|location=New Delhi|page=153}}</ref>
[[File:Visami Sadi 1916 Magazine cover.jpg|thumb|Cover of 1916 issue of ''Visami Sadi''. Cover Art by [[M. V. Dhurandhar]]. Edited by [[Hajimahamad Allarakha]].]]
[[File:Navjivan 1931.jpg|thumb|Page of ''Navjivan'' dated 6 December 1931]]

''[[Sandesh (Indian newspaper)|Sandesh]]'' was founded by Nandlal Bodiwala in 1923 following [[Non-cooperation movement (1919–22)|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 a 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 owns a weekly, ''Pravasi'' and a literary journal ''Kavita''. ''[[Jai Hind (newspaper)|Jai Hind]]'' was founded by Babulal Shah in 1948 which is headquartered at [[Rajkot]]. ''Loksatta—Jansatta'' was founded in 1953. <ref name=pii/><ref name="Group2004"/> ''[[The Prabhat]]'' was founded in 1934 by [[Kakalbhai Ravjibhai Kothari|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 <ref> https://amritmahotsav.nic.in/unsung-heroes-detail.htm?15533 </ref>

==== 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 the monthly ''Hindustan Patrika'' in [[Chicago]] from 1977 to 1981 for the Gujarati diaspora. Other monthlies abroad were ''Gujarat Vartaman'' and ''Bharat Sandesh'', both based in Chicago and stopped in the 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.<ref name=pii/><ref name="Group2004"/><ref name="Rangaswamy2007">{{cite book|author=Padma Rangaswamy|title=Namaste America: Indian Immigrants in an American Metropolis|url=https://books.google.com/books?id=yy-2xNW84dsC&pg=PA320|date=21 December 2007|publisher=Penn State Press|isbn=978-0-271-04349-4|page=320}}</ref><ref name=dna>{{cite news|url=http://www.dnaindia.com/india/report-eminent-gujarati-writer-bhupat-vadodaria-passes-away-at-82-1595251|title =Eminent Gujarati writer Bhupat Vadodaria passes away at 82|date=5 October 2011|access-date =31 August 2014|work=DNA}}</ref><ref>{{cite book|title=P.C.I. Review|url=https://books.google.com/books?id=x2w5AAAAIAAJ|year=1986|page=23}}</ref><ref name="ShethMenon1986">{{cite book|author1=Pravin N. Sheth|author2=Ramesh Menon|title=Caste and Communal Timebomb|url=https://books.google.com/books?id=h2YeAAAAMAAJ|year=1986|publisher=Golwala Publications|pages=81–82}}</ref>

==== 2000 onwards ====
''Sambhaav'' was the first media group to enter online media in Gujarat. ''[[Divya Bhaskar]]'' was introduced in 2003 by [[D B Corp Ltd.|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.<ref name="Shah2009">{{cite book|author=Shah|title=Advertising N Promotion|url=https://books.google.com/books?id=QQEiBAAAQBAJ&pg=PA722|year=2009|publisher=Tata McGraw-Hill Education|isbn=978-0-07-008031-7|pages=722–723}}</ref> Divya Bhaskar publishes an edition for the Gujarati diaspora in North America.<ref name=pii/> [[The Times Group]] which publishes ''[[The Times of India]]'', launched Gujarati edition of ''[[The Economic Times]]'' in February 2007 in Ahmedabad<ref>{{cite news|url=http://www.exchange4media.mobi/story.aspx?news_id=29693|title=After ET Gujarati, BCCL all set to launch Hindi edition of Economic Times|first=Abhijeet|last=Mukherji|date=8 February 2008|work=Exchange4Media|url-status=dead|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20141014171746/http://www.exchange4media.mobi/story.aspx?news_id=29693|archive-date=14 October 2014}}</ref> and its Gujarati daily ''[[NavGujarat Samay]]'' in January 2014.<ref>{{cite news|url=https://timesofindia.indiatimes.com/business/india-business/Times-Group-launches-NavGujarat-Samay/articleshow/28909985.cms|title=Times Group launches NavGujarat Samay|date=17 January 2014|work=The Times of India|access-date =9 October 2014}}</ref>

==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 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,<ref name=pii/><ref name="Shah2009"/> PTN News, [[Live Gujarati News]], Gujarati Jagran.<ref>https://www.gujaratijagran.com/gujarat/ahmedabad/gujarat-cm-bhupendra-patel-to-launch-jagran-group-gujarati-news-web-sites-2717</ref>

==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 92.7|Big FM]] and Top FM. There are four campus radio stations in Gujarat, ''Micavaani'' by [[Mudra Institute of Communications, Ahmedabad|MCA]], GURU by [[Gujarat University]], Vallabh Vidyanagar Campus radio and a campus radio by [[Sardar Patel University]], Anand. [[Self Employed Women’s Association|SEWA]] operates the community radio, ''Rudi no Radio'' in [[Sanand]] near Ahmedabad.<ref name=pii/>

==Statistics==
{{update section|date=September 2017}}
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.<ref name=pii/> 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.<ref>{{cite book|url=http://rni.nic.in/pin2015.htm|chapter=II: Analysis Of Registered Publications|title=Press in India 2014-15|page=25|publisher=[[Registrar of Newspapers for India]]|year=2015}}</ref> According to the [[Indian Readership Survey]] 2013, the top three Gujarati dailies were ''Gujarat Samachar'' (4339000 readers), ''Divya Bhaskar'' (3770000), ''Sandesh'' (3724000).<ref name=pii/>

As per 2011, there were more than 4 million television connections in Gujarat.<ref name=pii/>

== Further reading ==
* {{cite book|first=Dr. Sanjay |last=Kachot|title=19 Mi Sadinu Gujarati Patrakaratvana Pravaho ane Prabhav|url=https://books.google.com/books?id=mkwjDQAAQBAJ|date=2014|publisher=RED'SHINE Publication. Inc|language=gu|isbn=978-93-84190-11-8|trans-title=Trends and Impact of Gujarati Journalism of 19th Century}}
* {{cite book|first=Dr. Sanjay |last=Kachot|title=Gujarati Patrakaratvanu Sahityik ane Samajik Pradan|url=https://books.google.com/books?id=KNkhDQAAQBAJ|date=2014|publisher=RED'SHINE Publication. Inc|isbn=978-93-84190-12-5|language=gu|trans-title=Literary and Social Contribution of Gujarati Journalism}}

==See also==
* [[Gujarati literature]]
* [[Gujarati language]]
* [[List of Gujarati-language writers]]
* [[List of Gujarati-language magazines]]
* [[Media of India]]

==References ==
{{reflist}}
{{Newspapers in India}}
{{Gujarati language}}
{{Gujarat}}

[[Category:Gujarati literature]]
[[Category:Gujarati-language mass media]]
[[Category:Journalism in India]]
[[Category:Mass media in Gujarat]]

Media in Gujarati language - Revision history

Riya parik at 21:48, 14 April 2026