Karnataka > Journalism In Karnataka
The history of Kannada newspaper is just more than one and half a century old. The first Kannada newspaper appeared in Mangalore in July 1843 called 'Mangaloora Samachara' with Rev. Herman Moegling, a Basel Mission priest as its editor. Although the prime idea behind this lithographic venture was propagation of Christianity it contained news also. Soon, others followed Moegling and many more newspapers came into being..
The city of Mysore was the centre of all literary and political activities in the erstwhile Mysore State and naturally, newspapers and periodicals were born there. 'Mysore Vruttanta Bodhini', and 'Karnataka Prakashika' were among them. Newspapers and periodicals were published from Belgaum, Bijapur, Dharwad, Mysore, Shimoga, Karwar and Bangalore also around the same period.
M.Venkatakrishnaiah, popularly known as the Grand Old Man of Mysore, excelled in journalism. He ventured into journalism through the 'Hita Bodhini', a journal of high esteem in 1883. It was edited by M.B. Srinivasa lyengar and M.S. Puttanna. Venkatakrishnaiah started his own weekly, the 'Vruttanta Chintamani' in 1885. Readers were thrilled to read his sharp editorial comments. He started many journals both in Kannada and English in Mysore. 'Mysore Herald' (1886, English), 'Wealth of Mysore' (1912, English Monthly), the 'Sampadabhyudaya' (Kannada daily, 1912) the 'Nature Cure' (English), and the 'Sadhvf (1912). The 'Sadhut, which started as a Kannada weekly was being run as a daily till recently. As a man with reformist ideas, Venkatakrishnaiah has left his incredible impress on Kannada journalism.
In the beginning of the Twentieth Century political movements changed the surface of Kannada journalism. The Indian National Congress and the entry of Mahatma Gandhi on the political scene of India did have their impact on this field. For many young enthusiasts, newspapers became the potent medium to preach, the idea of national freedom. The 'Kannada Kesari' (Hubli), the 'Chandrodaya'(1913), Dharwad, Kerur Vasudevacharya's 'Shubhodaya' (1917) Dharwad and the 'Sachitra Bharata' (1913), the 'Karmaveera' (1921, Dharwad), the 'Kannadiga' (1925, Bagalkot) and the 'Vijaya' (1921, Dharwad) extended their maximum support to the nationalist movement. D.V. Gundappa, a noted Kannada author, was also a journalist par excellence. His journalistic ventures include the 'Bharati' (1907, Bangalore) a Kannada Daily, a bi-weekly the 'Mysore Times' (1909, Bangalore), the 'Artha Sadhaka Patrika' (1915) a Kannada monthly, and the 'Karnataka' (1912, Bangalore) a bi-weekly in English. 'Vibhakara' (191718, Belgaum) a Kannada-English weekly started by Panditappa Chikkodi who spearheaded the movement for the backward classes. 'Mysore Star' from Mysore started by the close of the 19th century did similar work.
P.R. Ramaiah's 'Tai Nadu' (1926, Mysore) was a staunch nationalist newspaper. In the beginning, it was a weekly from Mysore, but later was transferred to Bangalore and converted into a daily (1928). N.S.Seetharama Sastry worked in both the weekly and daily 'Desha Bandhu' (1931, Bangalore) edited by C.Hayavadana Rao. He was succeeded by N.S. Venkoba Rao. The 'Veera Kesari' (1928, Bangalore) of M. Seetharama Sastry made its presence felt, by his sharp editorials. T.T.Sharman who had a penchant for the hecking of authorities, endeared himself to the freedom lovers. The writings in his 'Vishwa Karnataka' (1925) always troubled the authorities. Siddavanahalli Krishna Sharma ran the paper when T.T. Sharma was unable to attend to his work for some time. B.N. Gupta's 'Prajamata' (1931, Madras) was an eyesore to the authorities constantly. When it was shifted to Bangalore it experienced difficulties and to avoid the proscribing of its copies. B.N. Gupta started publishing it under the title 'Prajamitra' from Hubli. Gupta also founded the 'Janavani an evening Kannada daily (1934). Other journals such as the 'Swadeshabhimani (Mangalore, 1907), the Nadegannadi' and the Vikata Vinodini' (monthly) the last being a monthly dedicated to humour, 'Koravanji' being another such venture.
When the nationalist movement was at its peak, several literary journals managed to increase their leadership. Prominent among them are the 'Jaya Karnataka' (1922, Dharwad) of Alur Venkata Rao, Galaganatha's 'Sadbodha Chandrike'(1907, Agadi) the 'Jayanthi (1938, Dharwad), the 'Prabhuddha Karnataka' (1932, Bangalore) and the 'Kannada Sahitya Parishatpatrike' (1916, Bangalore). 'Jeevana' (1940, Dharwad) was later brought to Bangalore where the noted litterateur Masti Venkatesh lyengar edited it.
In North Karnataka, the freedom movement was led by 'Samyuktha Karnataka'. In 1929, it was started as a weekly in Belgaum by a group of energetic men. Kabbur Madhava Rao, Rama Rao Hukkerikar and Ranganatha Ramachandra Diwakar ran it for sometime. In 1933, the Lokashikshana Trust of Diwakar took it over and started publishing it as a daily from Hubli. Its Bangalore edition was launched in 1959. Hanumantha Rao Moharey played a very important role in the development of Samyuktha Karnataka. R.R. Diwakar's 'Nava Shaktl' (English 1923, Dharwad) was a weekly. Patil Puttappa has been editing the 'Prapancha' weekly (1954, Hubli and the 'Vishwa Vani'(1959, daily). The 'Kasturi (1956, Hubli) and the 'Tushara' (1973, Manipal) are the popular monthly magazines in Kannada.
The Printers (Private) Limited, Bangalore, a joint stock company created history with their newspapers, the Prajavani (a Kannada daily) and the 'Deccan Herald' (an English daily) which were started in 1948. Now it is a large institution in the state by virtue of its largest circulation. -Its other publications are 'Sudha' a Kannada weekly and 'Mayura' a Kannada monthly. Another Kannada daily the 'Kannada Prabha' belongs to the Express group of newspapers. Its inagural issue came out on November 4, 1967, with N.S.Seetharam Shastry as its editor.
The Mysore city has a very large number of evening dailies, besides other periodicals and journals. They include, 'Mysore Patrike' (1941), Varthamana'(1947), 'Vishwadoota' (1962), 'Asoka' (1964), 'Rajya Dharma' (1967), 'Sudharma' (1970)-a Sanksrit daily, the 'Aruna' (1947), 'Vijaya' (1947), 'Independent' (1967) and 'Sankranthi'. 'Sadhvi' (1936) was run by Agaram Rangaiah who had his training in Journalism under Dr. Annie Besant.
The beginning of the eighties was the period of censorship. The National Emergency days 1975 caused a suffocating atmosphere for Journals. Journalism in particular had to live down its ignominy of buckling under pressure during the Emergency. Another important circumstance that determined the role of the press was the need for effective opposition due to the one-party rule for a long time in the country. Perhaps one of the most important magazines that caught the spirit this prevailing mood and was successful in expressing it sharply without any adornment was 'Lankesh Patrike' (1978). Not that there were no such attempts before. Sheshappa's 'Kidi' was heralded the trend by exposing the establishment. 'Kidi' was Sheshappa's one-man paper. Though Lankesh followed his example he did it in a different and organised manner. Of late 'Hai Bangalore' is doing a similar job.
The Proprietors Manipal Printers and Publishers Ltd., Manipal started its service, in Journalism by bringing out 'Udayavani' a Kannada daily in 1970. It is being published from Bangalore, Manipal and Mumbai. 'Tushara' a monthly is being published since 25 years. T. Satish U. Pal is the Managing Editor for this. R. Poornima is an active journalist of Udayavani. The Taranga weekly published by the Pais of Manipal, was edited by experienced journalist Santosh Kumar Gulvadi (upto 1996). Sandhya S. Pai has taken charge after him. Vykuntharaju's 'Vara Patrike' became moderately successful with its simple straight and sober handling of public issues. He also edits a popular monthly 'Rajupatrike'. Of the other commendable journalistic attempts were 'Suddi Sangati' of Indudhara Honnapura and 'Saniketha (a fortnightly) of I.K. Jagirdar and M.B.Singh, 'Manvantara' Ashok Babu. 'Mardani' of Janagere Venkataramaiah, 'Abhimani' of T. Venkatesh, 'Vijaya Karnataka' daily, 'Nutana', weekly and 'Bhavana' monthly, under the group of Company of Vijaya Ananda Printers and Publishers etc. The daily 'Vijaya karnataka' (2000) is being published from Hubli, Bangalore and Gulbarga. 'Hosa Diganta', daily from Bangalore is also being published from Bangalore and Shimoga.
Newspapers have played their own role in the political, social and literary life of Karnataka. Their part in the freedom movement is notable. Newspapers supported the Unification movement of Karnataka whole-heartedly and also fostered emotional integration. The encouragement they gave to the cultural activities like drama, music, cinema, art, literarture and sports are commendable. They have played a very prominent part in the propagation of new and progressive thoughts and popularising the spirit of democracy.
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