Udant Martand, History, Founder, Significance and Hindi Journalism

Udant Martand was a weekly newspaper that played a pioneering role in expanding access to news in Hindi, promoting public awareness and shaping the development of Indian-language journalism under British rule.

About Udant Martand

Udant Martand was the first newspaper published in Hindi using the Devanagari script.

• It was launched on 30 May 1826 in Calcutta (now Kolkata).
• Pandit Jugal Kishore Shukla founded and edited the newspaper, while Manna Thakur was its publisher.
• It was published weekly, every Tuesday.
• The name Udant Martand means “The Rising Sun”.
• It carried local news, reports from India and abroad, government announcements, market prices and advertisements.
• Its language included forms of Khari Boli and Braj Bhasha.
• The newspaper ceased publication on 4 December 1827 due to limited readership, high postal costs and inadequate financial support.
• Despite its short lifespan, Udant Martand marked a significant milestone in the development of Hindi journalism under British rule.

Why Was Udant Martand Started?

Udant Martand was launched to address the limited availability of newspapers for Hindi-speaking readers during the early nineteenth century.

• Newspapers were already being published in English, Bengali and Persian, but Hindi-speaking readers had limited access to news in their own language.
• Pandit Jugal Kishore Shukla aimed to make news and public affairs accessible to Hindi-speaking people.
• The newspaper also reflected the growing use of Indian languages in print and public communication under British rule.

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Udant Martand Significance 

Udant Martand played a pioneering role in the growth of Hindi journalism and the use of Indian languages in public communication during British rule.

• It marked the beginning of Hindi-language newspaper journalism using the Devanagari script.
• It helped establish Hindi as a medium for news reporting and public discussion.
• Its use of Khari Boli and Braj Bhasha reflected the linguistic diversity of Hindi writing at the time.
• It holds an important place in the history of the Indian press and the development of Indian-language journalism.

Why Did Udant Martand Close Down?

Udant Martand ceased publication on 4 December 1827, after approximately eighteen months, mainly because it could not sustain its readership and finances.

• Limited readership: There were relatively few Hindi-speaking subscribers in Calcutta.
• High postal costs: Distributing copies to readers in northern India was expensive.
• Inadequate financial support: Efforts to secure government assistance and postal concessions did not provide the support needed to continue publication.

Growth of Hindi Journalism After Udant Martand

Although Udant Martand was short-lived, Hindi journalism continued to develop through the efforts of other publishers and writers.

• Bangadoot (1829): Associated with Raja Rammohan Roy, it was published in Hindi, Bengali, English and Persian.
• Benaras Akhbar (1844): Started by Raja Shiva Prasad in Varanasi, it was an early newspaper to use the Devanagari script in the North-Western Provinces.
• Samachar Sudha Varshan (1854): Edited by Shyam Sunder Sen, it is recognised as the first Hindi daily newspaper and was published in Hindi and Bengali.
• Bharatendu Harishchandra: His contributions to Hindi literature and journalism helped strengthen modern Hindi as a language of public expression.

Hindi Journalism Day and Udant Martand

Hindi Journalism Day is observed on 30 May to commemorate the launch of Udant Martand in 1826.

• The day recognises the contributions of early journalists to the growth of Hindi-language media.
• It highlights the role of Indian-language newspapers in expanding access to news and public affairs.
• Udant Martand remains a landmark in the history of Hindi journalism despite its short publication history.