List of urdu newspapers before 1947

Media History

Pakistan newspapers of West Bengal were the fore-runners of Urdu Press. The newspapers mentioned below are the urdu newspapers before 1947.

● Jam-i-Jahan Numa:- 

• 1822
• First Editor : Suraj Bahan
• Editor : Harihur Dutta
• Place : Calcutta
• Published till 1888
• Mission:

     This newspaper supported the cause of social reforms, acted as medium of conversation of common people, worked for abolition of Sati. It was more a literary magazine than a newspaper.

● Urdu Akhbar:

• 1836
• Editor : Syed Hassan
• Closed in 1857 
• Mission:

                Its main purpose was to highlight the civic issues like drainage, sanitation, adulteration of food and corruption. It became the reason of awareness among people.

● Jame-ul-Akhbar:

• 1840
• Place: Madras 
• Weekly 
• Mission:

     Its purpose is to publish local news and government notifications, to aware public about government activities.

● Nur-e-Mashriq:

• 1844
• Editor : Syed Amir Ali 
• Mission:

     It published local, fort news and court intrigues. It gave little importance to foreign news.

● Kiran-us-Saadi:

• 1852
• Editor : Rama Chandra 
• Mission:

    To aware public both about domestic and foreign proceedings. It was highly critical of British government. 

● Koh-i-Noor:

• 14th January 1850
• Editor: Munshi Harsukh Rai
• Place : Lahore
• Weekly
• Mission:

    It was pro-government newspaper but also sometimes criticize government. It also provides education material.

● Audh Akhbar:

• 1858
• It lasted for 90 years
• Editor : Munshi Nawal Kishore
• First Urdu Newspaper from Lucknow
• Mission:

     It acted as a social reformer. It also contained international news and advertisements.

● Delhi Urdu Guide:

• 1858
• First Urdu Daily
• Editor : Manbir Kabiruddin

● Akhbar-e-Aam:

• Place : Lahore
• Weekly
• Founder : Lal Mukand Lai
• Editor : Pandit Gopi Nath
• Mission:

     Its mission was to develop popular journalism. Sometimes, it also publish Islamic articles.

● Nusrat-ul-Akhbar:

● Nusrat-ul-Islam:

● Mihir-e-Darakhshan:

• 1877
• Editor : Maulvi Nasir Ali
• Mission:

    These 3 newspapers were focussed on current, civil and political affairs. These were aids to Muslim Empowerment.

● Darul Saltanat:

• 1881
• Founder : Sheikh Muhammad Ahsanullah Sandagiri
• Place : Kolkata
• Editor : Mathura Prasad Savmar

● Akhbar-un-Nisa:

• 1884
• It was first woman journal.
• Editor : Syed Ahmad Dehlvi
• Mission:

     It was focussed on the betterment of women’s folk, solving women’s issues.

● Seraj-ul-Akhbar:

• 1885
• Maulvi Fakir Muhammad
• Continued till 1916

● Paisa Akhbar:

• 1887
• Place: Ferozewala
• Editor : Munshi Mahboob Alam 
• Mission: 

     Its purpose was to publish articles of literary and educational value, as well as notes and comments on national affairs.

● Naqeeb-e-Hamdard:

• 1912
• Editor : Maulana Muhammad Ali Johar
• Mission:

     The purpose of the newspaper was to develop political consciousness among people.

● Zamindar:

• 1903
• Editor : Maulana Zafar Ali Khan
• Mission:

     Its starting mission was to focus on agriculturists issues but later it was converted into nationalistic. It used to publish humorous columns regularly.

● Paigham:

• 1921
• Editor : Abdul kalam Azad
• Place : Calcutta
• Mission:

     It launched non-cooperation movement.

● Nawa-i-waqt:

• 1940
• Editor : Hameed Nizami, Shabbir Hassan
• Mission:

     It advocated Muslim cause and published news with objectivity.

● Qaumi Awaz:

• 1945
• Editor : Jawahar Lal Nehru
• Mission:

    It was pro-Hindi newspaper, powerfully Nationalistic and published political issues.

●  Hamdard:

• Editor : Maulana Muhammad Ali Johar
• Closed by Shoukat Ali (Brother)
• Mission:

    It encouraged Khilafat movement. It was a step towards Pan-Islamism ( unity of Muslims).

● Al-Hilal:

• Editor : Maulana Abul Kalam Azad
• Mission:

    To develop political and religious consciousness among people.

● Sayyad-ul-Akhbar:

• Founder : Syed Muhammad Khan (1st Editor)
• After Death, Editor : Sir Syed Ahmad Khan
• Mission:

     To act as a reformer of the of the down-trodden Muslims.

● Shams-ul-Akhbar:

• Both Persian and Urdu
• Publisher : Moother Mohan Mitter
• Mission:

     To give benefit to those who are interested in writing articles.

● Siasat:

• Place : Lahore
• Editor : Maulana Syed Habib
• Mission:

     It was to interpret the feelings of Muslims.

● Akmal-ul-Akhbar:

• Place : Delhi 
• Founder : Hakim Wasal Khan
• Editor : Hakim Muhammad Ajmal

● Sabah:

• Place : Delhi
• Editor : Qazi Abdul Ghaffar