Nawab Hamidullah Khan's photograph on the front page of Nadeem: Old photograph of Urdu daily's special issue in Bhopal

 

Shams Ur Rehman Alavi

On the left is an old issue of Urdu daily Nadeem, one of the oldest newspapers in the country. 

It was a special issue and the newspaper had carried the photograph of the last ruler of the erstwhile princely state.

It's the photo of a young Nawab Hamidullah Khan on the front page of the special issue. 

It is clear that this is the silver jubilee edition of the newspaper, as it is dated November 20, 1960.

The paper also has an advertisement of Usha and the company's products--sewing machine and fan. 

It's a part of the front page--top part. Nawab Hamidullah Khan was the last ruler of the princely state of Bhopal. The princely state was established in the first quarter of eighteenth century i.e. 1715-1720 AD.

Dost Mohammad Khan was the founder of the dynasty. It was in his reign that the constructions began and over the period, Bhopal became a town and later developed into a city--one of the most well-known cities in the era, due to its unique culture. The princely state patronized authors and poets.

Four women ruled the state, three of them in succession, for over a century. After Sultan Jahan Begum, her son Hamidullah ascended the throne. He was the last Nawab. It was in 1949 that the state formally merged into Indian Union. Nawab Hamidullah Khan had passed away on February 4, 1960. 

What language media, regional press need to do: For Urdu newspapers too, original reports from ground are the key for impact, survival

Shams Ur Rehman Alavi

If a language newspaper carries news that is available elsewhere too, then there is no uniqueness. 

It is seen as just translation of news available from other sources. 

In today's world, that's no longer not enough, it shows lack of imagination and if you run a established regional media group with a legacy, you are doing grave injustice to your own capabilities.

Language media or regional press doesn't mean carrying the same story that is reproduced in every other outlet, in your own language. Of course, when you pick up papers, most of the stories would be similar but ONE or TWO unique stories are necessary. 

Regional media or language press i.e. newspapers in states or the papers in other languages are not just supposed to carry the news which people are already getting from other sources, TV, social media and mobiles. 

They must have certain other strong points--either should be known good network in that area or for their exhaustive ground reports. This is important to understand because those consuming your work, are doing it just because of a habit.

You can't catch next generation or create impact, if you don't have a difference. Or if you have certain things that only you can provide them. As far as Urdu media is concerned, it is even more important, because it caters to a particular section. 

People are already getting stories from links that are shared on Facebook, Twitter and WhatsApp. They also get stories from TV, internet and Mobile Apps. Unfortunately, many established Urdu media groups and seasoned journalists ignore this aspect and the change that's coming fast.

It is by 'doing stories, coming out with fresh, original and interesting reports, breaking stories or even data based insights, little known facts, that they can get huge mileage. It helps in building a brand, which is necessary.

Not only this is the way to gain credibility, you can present yourself as expert of the region or at least a particular area, community or section. And also its make others [non-Urdu media] acknowledge your work, its importance or even follow it. 

The fixation with 'Views' hurts the Urdu media. VIEWS are important but NEWS is foremost. You are upset with others reporting biased news. Fine. You can simply go to field, report from the ground, change the news narrative completely. 

If you come up with fresh insight, a new angle, a better follow up the next day, then they'll be forced to carry your reports, give you credit, which will enhance your reputation and strengthen your voice. Also, in city or state, your group will gain credibility. At least, people will know that these are established groups. 

There are dozens of ways to get your media house or newspaper attain prominence without spending much amount. Some points I have mentioned in an article earlier. I hope to write it in a few posts in future.

[Photograph is just for representational purpose. It shows Acharya Pramod Krishnam reading popular Urdu daily, Sahafat]

Multi-edition Urdu papers now printing in remote corners of country: Urdu newspapers in Gangtok,Guwahati

Shams Ur Rehman Alavi

Once it was unthinkable that an Urdu daily would be published from a city in a state like Sikkim.

But today Urdu papers are being published from Gangtok (Sikkim) and Guwahati (Assam).

Taasir is a newspaper that is published from ten cities that include Patna, Muzaffarpur, Bhagalpur, Ranchi, Howrah, Bangalore and even down South, Chennai.

This is a new trend as multi-edition Urdu newspapers are now publishing from cities that were not considered 'Urdu cities'. Roznama Sahara has nine editions and the other major newspaper is Inquilab that has even more editions.

Inquilab focuses more on UP and Bihar. Apart from Delhi and Mumbai, its editions are in Lucknow, Varanasi, Meerut, Aligarh, Bareilli, Gorakhpur, Allahabad and Kanpur in UP. The other editions include Patna, Muzaffarpur and Bhagalpur. In all, it has 13 editions.

It is an interesting aspect that major Urdu papers are now getting published from Tier 2 and Tier 3 cities. That not just Allahabad, Banaras, Aligarh and Gorakhpur or Meerut, but Muzaffarpur, Bhagalpur and Saharanpur have Urdu paper(s), is quite heartening.

Sahara has nine editions that include Delhi, Mumbai, Kolkata, Hyderabad, Lucknow, Bengaluru, Patna, Gorakhpur and Kanpur.

Earlier, In Dinon was probably the first paper that was published from many big and small cities across the country.

Today, it has these editions--It is now published from New Delhi, Jaipur, Lucknow, Saharanpur, Patna, Mumbai and Bangalore.

There are umpteen papers in states and are published from different sets of cities. For example, Saeban is published from Delhi and the two major state capitals, Patna and Bhopal.

Qaumi Muqaam is published from Allahabad, Chitrakoot, Mirzapur, Raipur and Lucknow. Urdu Action from Burhanpur and Bhopal. Similarly, there are several papers with editions in Jharkhand-Bihar and West Bengal, the Eastern part of India.

And, papers that are published from different cities in Karnataka apart from Hyderabad like Salar and Siasat. Salar is published from Bengaluru, Hubli and Kalaburgi (Gulbarga). Siasat too has an edition in Bangalore.

However, reaching cities down South and North East is important. The papers also need to publish from Western part of the country, particularly, Gujarat, Rajasthan and Konkan belt, though Mumbai is a big centre.

READ: List and links of Urdu daily, weekly newspapers in India

[Shams Ur Rehman Alavi, is a journalist for more than two decades. He had started his career with National Mail in the nineties. Later, he worked as Special Correspondent with Hindustan Times, also as an Assistant Editor with DB Post, subsequently Metro Editor with Absolute India, Contributing Editor with The Huffington Post. He has written for First Post, The Wire, Newsd & several other major publications.]

Controversy surrounding Urdu newspaper Avadhnama after publishing Charlie Hebdo cover and its editor's problems

First, the facts of the entire controversy. Mumbai-based Urdu daily Avadhnama stopped its publication after the controversial cover of French paper Charlie Hebdo was reproduced in this paper.

The editor of Avadhnama, Shirin Dalvi, is now out of job. She has several FIRs in police station in different cities in Maharashtra, for hurting the sentiments of Muslims, and is living in hiding for fear of being attacked.

Either it was mistake or foolhardiness, the newspaper had published apology for the photo. The issue should have ended there. The Avadhnama group shouldn't have shut the paper. Some Urdu editors said that she shouldn't be harassed after the apology.

Her problems, her living away from her children, has been mentioned in several news reports [See the news link HERE], people tweeted in her support, but will this help her? No. The reason is double standards in applying law in the country. Her LETTER, [read it on NDTV website], 'I, an underground citizen...' led to outrage on social media.

Why just 'outrage' won't work: Double standards in applying law in the country

1. Getting multiple FIRs registered against a person is a sure shot way to harass him/her, in a big way. The person would spend years, making rounds to the police stations and courts, dealing with lawyers.

2. In MP, an influential Hindi newspaper published the Charlie Hebdo cover. There were massive protests (and yes a law-and-order issue of bigger magnitude than the one cited in Maharashtra), but the police didn't register a single FIR. The Cops said, 'We are examining the complaints and will take action after preliminary investigation'.

3. But, in Maharashtra, FIRs against Shirin Dalvi was registered in half-a-dozen police stations in different cities. Why? It is because she is not a big shot and probably because her paper was not influential enough.

4. Though, both Maharashtra and MP are BJP ruled states, and the laws are also same. The issue was exactly the same, then why police in MP didn't register FIR despite huge gatherings. The reason is 'show me the Man (person), I will show you the rule' style of functioning.

5. It is totally in the hands of police to deal with such issues. If those at the 'top' give nod, FIR is registered, else police conveniently say, 'give us a written complaint, we will examine'. This is a way to delay the FIR and hush up the issue. Often, people are satisfied by just handing their complaint.

6. It requires political or administrative will to take a decision at that level, not going by the book. Citing law-and-order, police may register FIR or they may not. This happens in almost all crimes around us, depending on complainant/accused's influence, financial status, connectivity.

7. There are exceptions though. Someone like Raj Thackeray may have numerous cases registered against him, but being a politician with a cadre, he can get away for long. MF Husain also faced scores of FIRs but he had the means to live away lavishly, though he had to leave the country.

8. It is just like, if you have a row with an MLA or MP or business tycoon, and you go to police station, they generally ask you to leave your complaint, not registering FIR immediately, unless you also have some 'weight' or you are too persistent. This is the problem in our 'system'.

9. The issue is this 'freedom' to register FIR or not register FIR, at will. To register FIR or not register FIR, under pressure or influence. Everyone is affected by these double standards. And even 'police reforms' in certain states and the introduction of commissioner system in certain states, failed to tackle the anomaly.

10. The issue of filing multiple FIRs also needs to be redressed. Though it is a fundamental right, but often, organisations with all-India presence, do it to hound a person. They are able to do it because of their network. Should such FIRs be clubbed or can it be discouraged! Can this issue be redressed?

Famous Bangalore-based Urdu weekly newspaper Nasheman stops publication after 52 years, can it be revived?

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Famous Urdu weekly newspaper Nasheman stopped publication recently. It was a sad news for Urdu readers, who were addicted to this Bangalore-based tabloid.

Under the late Usman Asad, Nasheman, had once become the largest-selling weekly Urdu newspaper in India. What I loved about this newspaper was its satire and its irreverential  [no excessive respect] language towards the leaders [and politicians].

The newspaper didn't care about personalities and used harsh words for leaders without caring about their power and position. When a leader failed to deliver, the paper simply tore him apart, with its harsh words and mocking tone.


Columns like 'ThapDakhain', that had brief satirical lines on current events, was read with great interest. The masthead of Nasheman, along with founder and current editor's names, carried the Urdu couplet:

Nasheman par nasheman is qadar taamir kartaa jaa
Ki bijli girte girte aap khud bezaar ho jaaye

Barely a month ago, I was passing by a walled City locality, when I saw a group of persons sitting under a electricity pole close to a tea shop. One of them was reading Nasheman aloud, and all others were listening to him.

There was a mosque where I often found people sitting on the bench, reading this paper. I first started reading this paper in the late eighties. In those days, Zamzam, was the other weekly that came from Bangalore.

Those were the days when Meem Afzals' Akhbar-e-Nau, Masoom Muradabadi's Khabardar, International Jareeda Times and Blitz (Urdu) were the main weekly papers. Most of them changed layouts but for 52 years of its existence, Nasheman remained the same newspaper--black and white.

Much later, it introduced the blue colour in the background for headlines. It was accused of sensationalism at times. Tabloids are sensational generally. But it had unique style of presenting news, interesting columns and above all the editorial.

                                                                         PHOTO (C) ANINDIANMUSLIM.COM

After Usman Asad's demise, his wife continued running the paper.

Had she brought an internet edition, its reach would have increased further.

I gather that she didn't want to make changes to the newspaper, and wanted to keep her just like it was during her husband's times.

Sadly, it had to be closed. Not because of lack of money but due to other reasons as told by Asad sahab's son Rizwan Asad HERE.

Wouldn't it have been better had the family given a thought to bring the paper on internet also. Perhaps, then they might have realised its reach.


Experiment of English newspaper, Under-estimating strength of Urdu press

One of the family members had brought out an English newspaper briefly. I hear that Asad sahab's son intends to bring out Nasheman again.

I hope he would bring out the Urdu paper on similar lines but in accordance with modern needs and with wider coverage [not just restricted to politics].

Urdu-wallas often under-estimate the power of Urdu press. They don't realise that starting and running an English newspaper is not easy, as this is a crowded market, where even pumping hundreds of millions won't yield result.

A new English daily doesn't sell easily because of established players. Even Reliance and other major groups that wanted to run national dailies had to shelve their plans. The benefit with running an Urdu paper is that even politicians give importance because they feel that their message would directly reach a large segment viz. the Muslims.

Even advertisements aren't difficult to get. Unfortunately, lack of confidence and poor marketing skills are the sole reason if any of the owners of existing Urdu papers aren't able to make good profit. Success of Roznama Sahara or even the political clout enjoyed by K Narendra [owner of Delhi-based Urdu newspaper Pratap] are just a few examples.

Will Rizwan Asad revive the newspaper? 

There is definitely a void after Nasheman's closure. In the weekly newspaper segment, few papers like 'Nai Dunia, 'Chauthi Duniya'  and 'Al-Jamiat' survive. The newspaper was a habit for thousands of readers across the country. Despite claims, papers that are once closed, rarely get back to print.

Though magazines like Biswin Sadi, have been revived, they have lost their original sheen. Let's hope he is able to launch the newspaper again and take forward the legacy of his father, who had established a mass circulated Urdu paper in South India.

UPDATE: December 2013. Nasheman will be relaunched again.