Mahatma Gandhi and Urdu Journalism
By: Ghulam Mohammed Ansari
A lot has been written on Urdu journalism in India after independence. Then whether it is “Urdu journalism in India and Pakistan” or the history of Urdu journalism in India it may have been written on India’s two hundred years of Urdu journalism, but a sad thing has been that Gujarat has been completely ignored in this regard. In this regard, the writers wrapped up their words in such a way as if no Urdu newspaper had ever come out of Gujarat. In this context, without going into other matters, it would not be wrong if it is said that Gandhiji’s Urdu journalistic services were also ignored.
The truth is that along with the three major newspapers, Gandhiji published another weekly called “Harijan Sevak” from Ahmedabad in Urdu i.e. Persian script. As Gandhiji remained a supporter of the ” Hindustani Zaban”, this weekly in the mixed Urdu-Hindi language of that time was published on Sunday, May 5, 1946, from Jeevanji Dahiyabhai, NavJeevan Press, Taksal Ki Pol, Kalupur, Ahmedabad. The complete file of this Urdu newspaper is available in the Record Room of Gujarat Vidyapith Ahmedabad Library and also safe with Navjeevan Press, Ahmedabad.
The price of this Urdu newspaper was two annas. The editor was Pyare Lal who was very close to Gandhiji. Although, like newspapers in other languages, Gandhi ji also used to look at it carefully and after being satisfied, he used to give it to the press.
It should not be surprising that Gandhiji and Urdu? Actually, Gandhiji learned Urdu from Rehana Taiyabji during the freedom movement and used to write it down as well. He was bound to reply to letters, so he often wrote replies to Urdu letters in Urdu and wrote “MK Gandhi as signature” on them. He also knew how to read and write Urdu well.
Urdu “Harijan Sevak” consisted of 8 pages. While this newspaper continued till January 9, 1949. The above newspaper was published on the type. The newspaper had 4900 as the register number.
Gandhiji was a big supporter of Urdu. This is the reason why in the first issue of Urdu “Harijan Sevak” Gandhiji wrote a historical article “Along with Nagri, Urdu should be a must”. Along with this, Gandhiji has highlighted the aims and objectives of publishing “Harijan Sevak” in Urdu language. Apart from this, in this first issue, the news of “Harijan Sevak Samilan” and “Searching for Mahatma Gandhi” etc. articles appear. Pyare Lal took care of all the instructions of Mahatma Gandhi to promote this newspaper. Urdu “Harijan Sevak” was published every Sunday.
The new year of this newspaper used to start on June 6 every year. At that time, according to Gandhiji’s guidelines, translations of his Hindi, Gujarati and English newspapers were also published in this Urdu edition. As usual, like other language newspapers, it used to publish a weekly column of Gandhiji titled “Gandhiji’s Diary”.
In this first issue of Rashtra Bhasha, Gandhiji wrote “There should be a matter of moving forward by combining both the scripts and the two styles. Because without doing this, the Rashtra Bhasha cannot become a true language that all the provinces consider to be their own language.” “Urdu Harijan Sevak” editorials also shed light on the freedom movement and mutual brotherhood.
Urdu “Harijan Sevak” depended on all the essential columns prevailing at that time. It also included letters from readers. One big thing is that despite the extremely busyness of the freedom movement, Gandhiji also satisfactorily answered the questions and issues raised in the letters of the readers every week.
A total of 136 issues were published from 1946 to 1949. The complete file of “Harijan Sevak” consists of four volumes. This can be seen at Gujarat Vidya Peth Library, Ahmedabad and for further details may be contacted at Navjeevan Press, Ahmedabad.
As is often the case with newspapers, newspapers close due to lack of readership and lack of copy sales. The same thing happened with Urdu “Harijan Sevak”. Gandhiji knew very well that Urdu “Harijan Sevak” could be closed. In this connection, Gandhiji’s Urdu friendship can be said to be unique. Realizing this situation, he wrote in the paper of Urdu “Harijan Sevak” dated 25 January 1948 that “If the paper of Urdu (Harijan Sevak) is closed, Nagri (Hindi Harijan Sevak) should also be closed.” What other example of Gandhiji’s sympathy for Urdu can be given more than this.
He cared about both classes and that no one class should be hurt, so if the Urdu paper was closed, he wanted to close the Hindi paper as well. This situation had a profound effect on the trustees of Nav Jeevan and after mustering great courage they were able to continue it (Urdu “Harijan Sevak”) for one more year. Thus the issue of Urdu “Harijan Sevak” dated 9th January 1949 proved to be the last issue and it was closed forever.
In this regard, Navjeon Trust wrote in its last issue that it has been decided to close the Urdu edition of “Harijan Sevak”. It has so few customers (not even 125) that it has become difficult for me to insist on keeping it running.” Editor.
It should be noted that in those days there was no era of colorful newspapers like today. This newspaper was also published weekly in Persian script. An important thing is that in the newspaper of February 8, 1948, a picture of Gandhiji “Harijan Sevak” was published in Urdu. It should be remembered that before this no picture was ever seen in this newspaper. As Mahatma Gandhi was assassinated on January 30, 1948, his photograph was published in this issue as a tribute.
What the editor wrote in this newspaper paying homage to Mahatma Gandhi can be strongly felt in today’s situation! Under the title “From the ashes of Yamuna Tatt…(Seashore)”, he exhorted people to be patient and wrote, “He told us that ‘As long as God has to deal with my body, He will keep it safe! ”
It may be that their spirit, freed from the bonds of the body, works more freely and creates the means to fulfil their incomplete work. It is possible that his ashes lying on the banks of the Yamuna could produce such powers. Who will blow away all clouds of misunderstanding and suspicion and establish the peace for which they lived and worked? And finally, he fell victim to the assassin’s bullet.”
The truth is that Gandhiji got so mixed up with these newspapers published from Ahmedabad that these newspapers and Gandhiji became life and substitutes for each other. It would not be an exaggeration to say that Gandhiji nurtured these newspapers and these newspapers nurtured Gandhiji.
An important thing is that the period of Gandhiji’s journalism spans 40 years. The interesting thing is that these newspapers used to be published from every place at fixed times. (Newspapers issued from South Africa can also be seen in this background) Gandhiji was constantly on tour but his every paper was never published late. Not even once did it happen that the paper was not published on the day that Gandhiji fixed it for its publication. Under this, it becomes mandatory to give praise to his team.
However, from March 1, 1956, the remaining three papers (Harijan Sevak Hindi, Harijan Bandhu Gujarati & Harijan English) also ceased to be published and thus ended the journey of newspapers published by Gandhiji. But it should be remembered that even today, by carefully studying these newspapers, many unknown corners related to the freedom movement and other activities of the country can be brought to light.
The author is Assistant Editor “Asasa”, an Urdu Quarterly, Ahmedabad. He is a member Screen Writers Association (SWA), Mumbai) and can be reached at [email protected].
