Adil J. Govadia
Parsis first entered the printing business in 1743, when Seth Rustomji Khurshedji founded the first printing press using English typeset. Later, Mobed Furdoonji Marzban (1787-1847), a great Persian scholar who migrated to Bombay from Iran in 1805, opened a book-binding shop. In 1814, he pioneered the first Gujarati printing press and published books and periodicals like the first Khordeh Avesta, ‘Parsi Panchang’ (horoscope-related periodical) and the Gujarati calendar, making him the ‘Father of Gujarati Journalism’. In 1822 Mobed Murzban published a Gujarati weekly, ‘Shri Mumbai-na Samachar’ (The Bombay Samachar), almost a decade before the ‘Jam-e-Jamshed’ started in 1832, and ‘The Times of India’ in 1838! In January 1832, this Gujarati weekly became a daily publication.
Seth Framji Cowasji Banaji (1767-1851), first founded ‘Bombay Times’ which later became ‘The Times of India’. He was one of the first team of twelve Justice-of-Peace in Bombay, the first and the only native Indian to purchase shares of the GIP Railway Company, and who also served as its Board Director in 1844. He was also one of the first native Indians to introduce the gas light in Bombay.
In 1829, Seth Pestonji Maneckji Motivala first started the Gujarati printing press ‘Jam-e-Jamshed’. In 1832, he established a weekly newspaper by the same name which generally catered to Gujarati readership, mainly Parsis. Likewise, the ‘Union Press’ was first established in 1859 jointly by Seth Ardeshir Framji Moos (1827-1895) and Seth Nanabhai R. Ranina. They are also credited to have first compiled a 10-volume English-Gujarati dictionary in 1857.
Seth Dinshaw Ardesir Taleyarkhan (1842-1906) from Surat was another famous Parsi journalist from the 19th century who founded the Anglo-vernacular newspaper named ‘Gujrat Mitra’ which soon became the voice of Gujarat and Kathiawar. It was instrumental in exposing the alleged maladministration of Maharaja Malhar Rao Gaikwad. Similarly, Seth Sorabji Shapurji Bengali (1831-1893), the editor of ‘Bombay Samachar’, ‘Rast Goftar’ and ‘Jagat Premi’, was also the Sheriff of Bombay and a Member of the Bombay Municipal Corporation and Legislative Council in 1896. He actively propagated social reforms for the underprivileged Indian natives besides encouraging their literary and physical pursuits.
Seth Kaikhasru Navroji Kabraji (1842-1904) was a renowned author, journalist and social reformer who also served as an editor, first for ‘Parsi Mitra’ and then the ‘Rast Goftar’ (Truth Speaker), that was originally founded in 1851 the revered Grand Old Man of India Dadabhoy Naoroji. In 1882, Seth Kabraji, a champion for female education in India, and also a Member of Bombay Municipal Corporation, served as Member of British Institute of Journalists.
Seth Jehangir Byramji Marzban (1848-1928), often referred as the Mark Twain of Parsi community, was a leader and master of Parsi journalism, having served as editor of ‘Jam-e-Jamshed’. After his demise in 1928, the torch of authoritative journalism and noble benevolence was carried forward by his son Seth Pirojshah Marzban (pen-name ‘Pijam’). Like his father, he served as editor of ‘Jam-e-Jamshed’ and was the harbinger of many struggles waged by his authoritative pen for the preservation of the Parsi-Zoroastrian race. He was also the elected member of the BMC, the Bombay Legislative Council and was appointed as Sheriff of Bombay. He was awarded the Kaisar-e-Hind Silver Medal. His journalistic legacy was carried forwarded by his talented sons – Seth Ardeshir (Adi) and Seth Rustomji Marzban!
A distinguished and eminent Parsi journalist, Seth Rustom N. Vatchaghandy (1865-1930) was the long-serving Editor of the popular ‘Sanj Vartaman’, the first vernacular evening newspaper of Bombay Presidency, serving for almost 30 years. In 1880, Seth Behramji Malabari acquired the ‘Indian Spectator’, an English language daily, which he edited for twenty years until it was merged into the ‘Voice of India’, which Seth Malabari had already been editing since 1883, along with Dadabhai Naoroji and Eilliam Wedderburn. In 1901, he became editor of the monthly ‘East and West’, a position he would hold until shortly before his death in Shimla, on July 12th 1912.
Parsis were also pioneers of the English Press in Quetta and Baluchistan. In March 1888, Seth Nussarwanji Mancherji set up the ‘Victoria Press’ in Quetta that published multiple publications like ‘The Daily Bulletin’, ‘Baluchistan Gazette’, ‘Border Weekly News’ and ‘The Monthly Balochistan Advertiser’. ‘Victoria Press’ ran successfully until 31st May, 1935, when a catastrophic earthquake killed over 50,000 people in the region, including 300 Parsis, completely destroying all offices of ‘Victoria Press’ thus leading to its eventual closure.
Similarly, in 1891, another Parsi in Baluchistan, Seth Dadabhai Golwala, had started an English-language press called ‘Albert Press’, which was also damaged in the 1935 Quetta earthquake but was resurrected by his grandson-in-law, Seth Savak Rustomji. The press continued to run for almost 100 years till Bai Gul Rustomji, Seth Savak Rustomji’s wife, sold it in 1990.
The author of ‘Parsi Prakash’ – a journal recording growth of Parsi community, was none other than Khan Bahadur Bomanji Byramji Patel (1849-1908), a direct descendent of Seth Dorabji Nanabhoy Patel, the first known Parsi migrant to Bombay in 1640. As the author of ‘Parsi Prakash’ his name remains immortalized in the annals of Parsi community – indeed a monumental work which recorded almost every important community event right from the times of Parsi migration into India! Khan Bahadur B.B. Patel was indeed a living encyclopedia of the events relating to the community history who also served as the Justice of Peace.
If there was one alluring star that twinkled in the Indian skies during the last quarter of 19th century was the Sir Pherozeshah Meherwanji Mehta (1845-1915), Bar-at-Law and the architect of Bombay Corporation, considered to be the ‘Father of Bombay Municipality’. He was a dynamic political leader, an activist and a leading lawyer of Bombay who was knighted for his service in legal matters (1904). Sir Pherozeshah Mehta started ‘Bombay Chronicle’ in 1910, an English-language weekly newspaper, which became an important nationalist voice in pre-independent India.
Many other Parsis later gained immense reputation and fame in journalism, prominent being Seth Nowroji Gae (Samachar Durpan), Seth Behramji J. Gandhi (Chitaranjan Durpan), Seth Jal Heerjibehdin (Kaiser-i-Hind), Seth Rusi K. Karanjia (Blitz), Seth D.F. Karaka (Current), Seth A.D. Gorwala (Opinion), Dr. P.B. Warden & Seth Jehangir R. Patel (Parsiana), Seth Dara Meher-Homji (Evening News), Seth C.R. Irani (The Statesman), Seth Burjore K. Karanjia (Filmfare) and several others, thus contributing to a journalistic legacy defined by integrity, intellect, and an unwavering commitment to truth.
