Hindi Journalism Day is celebrated annually on May 30 to commemorate the beginning of Hindi-language journalism in India. This day honors the launch of the first Hindi newspaper and recognizes the contributions of journalists working in Hindi media.
📜 Historical Background
First Hindi newspaper: Udant Martand (उदन्त मार्तण्ड), meaning The Rising Sun of News.
Date of publication: May 30, 1826.
Place: Calcutta (now Kolkata).
Founder and editor: Pandit Jugal Kishore Shukla, a lawyer and journalist originally from Kanpur, Uttar Pradesh.
Udant Martand was printed every Tuesday and was a weekly newspaper. It was aimed at promoting Hindi language journalism and informing the Hindi-speaking population, which was underserved at the time.
🌟 Significance of Hindi Journalism Day
Tribute to Pioneers: Honors the legacy of Pandit Jugal Kishore Shukla and other early Hindi journalists who worked under colonial censorship and limited resources.
Cultural Pride: Celebrates Hindi as a medium of mass communication, literature, and public discourse in India.
Freedom of Press: Reminds us of the role journalism has played in India’s freedom struggle and in building a democratic society.
Encouragement to Journalists: Recognizes and encourages ethical, responsible journalism in the Hindi language across print, television, and digital media.
📰 Challenges Faced by Udant Martand
Financial constraints.
Limited readership due to low Hindi literacy in Bengal.
No government support (unlike some English publications).
It eventually shut down after a year and a half of publication.
Despite its short life, its symbolic value as the birth of Hindi journalism remains enormous.
🗓️ How Hindi Journalism Day is Observed
Tributes and seminars: Media houses, journalism schools, and press clubs hold events to discuss media ethics, language journalism, and media freedom.
Awards and recognitions: Some institutions honor outstanding journalists working in the Hindi language.
Social media campaigns: Posts and articles remembering Udant Martand and celebrating the evolution of Hindi media.
✨ Hindi Journalism Today
From Udant Martand to today's digital platforms, Hindi journalism has grown into a major force in Indian media, with top newspapers like:
Dainik Bhaskar
Dainik Jagran
Amar Ujala
Navbharat Times
It reaches hundreds of millions of readers across India, playing a crucial role in shaping public opinion.