Hindi Journalism Day, celebrated on May 30th, is indeed a proud day for journalism. Hindi journalism has made a special contribution in the increasing supremacy and respect of Hindi in the world. Journalism is a profession that rests on language to a large extent. It is said that the most important quality of becoming a journalist is to have a command on the language, that is, to be strong in the language.
Newspapers in India were first started in the English language. All the newspapers that came after this were mostly in Persian or Bengali language. At that time languages like English, Persian and Bengali used to have maximum readers. Meanwhile, on May 30th, 1826, the first Hindi newspaper appeared. Whose name was ‘Udanta Martand’. Pandit Jugal Kishore Shukla, a resident of Kanpur, started its publication from Kolkata. The city used to be the capital of the country then, and it can be also called the capital of journalism.
However, ‘Udant Martand’ could not remain with the readers for long due to financial difficulties and legal hurdles of the British government. So, the only hindi language newspaper could resist in society for a very short span of time.
If we talk about today’s era, then Hindi or any other mother tongue is being seen as inferior in front of English in our own country. Along with this, the standard of journalism has also fallen down a lot. Journalism needs to take inspiration from the banyan tree. The banyan tree is the longest-lived among the plants because, the higher the banyan tree rises, the more it strengthens its root, its origin. Similarly, journalism should also make sure that while rising above, it should also take care of the strength of its roots.
The power of journalism is emphasised in the line by ‘Akbar Ilahabadi’: “Kheencho Na Kamano Ko Na Talwar Nikalo, Jab Tope Ho Mukabil To Akhbar Nikalo” which translates to “Don’t pull the bows, don’t take out the sword, when the cannon is a match, then take out the newspaper.” He viewed journalism as the most influential force for bringing about change. However, over time, the power of journalism has diminished.
We need to revitalise not only Hindi journalism but whole of the journalism by addressing the declining standards and ethics within the profession. Journalists must strive for accuracy, impartiality, and integrity in their reporting, upholding the principles of ethical journalism. This includes fact-checking, responsible sourcing, and avoiding sensationalism. By adhering to these principles, Hindi journalism and the whole media world can rebuild its credibility, gain the trust of the public, and create a positive impact on society.
Indian journalism surely has so much power that it can irrigate itself. All it needs is to hold fast to its roots, its language. Hindi journalism in true sense acts as a bridge between the government and the public. Every section of the society, whether it is a farmer, a labourer, an educated class or a common man who thinks about the society, all of them consider themselves connected with Hindi journalism.
(Author is associated with Indian Institute of Mass Communication, Dhenkanal)