How media helped create the idea of a free India
The article traces the history of journalism in India, starting with James Augustus Hicky's Bengal Gazette in 1780. It discusses how early newspapers evolved from social critique to political tools that challenged British colonial authority.
Why it matters
It underscores the foundational role of the press in shaping public opinion and national identity during the struggle for independence.
Did you know that back in 1780, Calcutta (now Kolkata) was the capital of British India? An Irishman who went by the name James Augustus Hicky set up a newspaper there in 1780 titled Hicky’s Bengal Gazette , also known as the Original Calcutta General Advertiser . This English language weekly newspaper was not just the first of its kind in India, but in fact was the first newspaper printed in Asia!
Known for his eccentric nature, Hicky had his newspaper running for two years and was openly critical of the administration of Governor General Warren Hastings. This naturally meant that the East India Company took offence, and they soon swooped in to seize the newspaper’s types and press.
Hicky's Bengal Gazatte was India’s first newspaper. | Photo Credit: The Hindu Archives
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