Mumbai: While the world over, print media has been showing signs of fatigue and shutting down, a Mumbai based Gujarati daily, Mumbai Samachar will be celebrating its 198th anniversary on July1.
The daily newspaper will mark the occasion by hosting a charity event, a cultural event in Mumbai and a series of activities across the city aimed at promoting Gujarati language. It will also use the occasion to revamp the publication by introducing 20 new writers.
As part of its anniversary celebrations, it will distribute oxygen masks to traffic constables of Mumbai, one of the most polluted cities in the world. It will also start free Gujarati classes across Mumbai in a bid to promote the language.
“Established in 1822, Mumbai Samachar followed Bengali newspaper Samachar Darpan, launched four years earlier, to become the second language newspaper to ever have been published in India. Named Moombina Samachar, it was a weekly for the first 10 years, then a biweekly and since 1855, a daily in the current format,” says Nilesh Dave, Editor, as he traces the newspaper’s history.
“It is a matter of immense pride for all of us at Mumbai Samachar to reach this milestone. There are very few publications across the world, that have managed to survive for 200 years and continued to stay relevant. What is also notable is that unlike other publications that have moved away from their mandate, we continue to maintain the policy established by our founders. While most newspapers have opted for one advertiser on the front page, we follow our traditional practice of having numerous small advertisements. Also, our editorial policy has remained unchanged. We consciously avoid sensationalising news and maintain sobriety and independence of views, objectively reporting events in a fair and honest manner,” adds Nilesh Dave
With a circulation of 1, 50, 000, Mumbai Samachar is one the leading regional newspapers of India read by a large section of Gujarati speaking people.
Mumbai Samachar was founded by Fardunjee Marzban and is currently owned by the Cama family.
