Abstract
The ongoing theorization of the idea called Public Sphere plays an essential role in the field of Social Sciences, Humanities, Communication and today’s world of Social Media. The idea was generated in the twentieth century by eminent philosopher Jargen Habermas, although the implications of it can be studied in the context of today’s digital era too. How the public sphere is generated in present time, the question can arise to any curious mind and a little aware observation of the world around can lead to the answer. The same can be asked to the nineteenth century Gujarat when the nation was coming into the contact with some novel varieties/changes which is widely studied as ‘Colonial Modernity’ by South Asian scholars. Some major pillars of this modernity are; Print, Publication, Education, establishment of major literary associations, Social Reforms and New Inventions in the field of Science and technology etc. All these pillars are significant areas of study in present academic. However, this paper attempts to study the Print, Periodicals and Public Sphere in Nineteenth Century Gujarat. It is one of the revolutionary inventions in the development of human civilizations which led to the proliferation of publication. It has been seen as prime carrier of modernity. Thus, the paper aims to trace the history print and publication and how these both factors played a major role in the formation of public sphere in nineteenth century Gujarat. It will also make an attempt to categorize the periodicals according to the larger aim of their publications and focus on women’s magazines specifically.
Introduction:
The concept of Public Sphere has attracted extensive scholarships. Scholars from various disciplines have studied/ critiqued the concept from different perspectives and approaches according to the societal and cultural context to their respective continents. The concept, Public Sphere is originated by one of the most influential German philosophers Jargan Habermas, in his book Structural Transformation of Public Sphere in 1962. The book was translated in English in 1989 and started gaining the attention widely and considered as a foundation of Public Sphere theorization. The book provides in-depth social history of the “development of the bourgeois public sphere from its origin in the 18th century salons up to its transformation through the influence of capital driven mass media” (Standard Encyclopedia online).
According to Hebarmas, the public sphere is “a sphere of private people come together as a public” (27). In other words, it is an engagement of society in a critical public debate in which all citizens have access. However, the feminist thinker Nancy Fraser argues, the bourgeois public sphere constitutes, “number of significant exclusions” like “women and historically marginalized groups” (56). As a result of this condition of “access to have” generates counter arguments from the feminist and Dalit scholars. She also states, the marginalized groups formed subaltern and counter public sphere. In recent research in Dalit Studies, scholars have started talking about Dalit Public Sphere, which is a significant juncture in creating a counter narration of the public sphere.
Print, Periodicals and Public Sphere in Nineteenth Century Gujarat:
It would be a herculean task to point out or write down exact date of the beginning of any tendency or attitude of any particular time while studying the history of language and literature. However as Gujarati writer and critic, Dipak Mehta notes down, “no efforts are made by historian and writers of Guajarati literature to point out the beginning of modernity in Gujarat and Guajarati literature”. Nevertheless, Mehta considers the beginning of modernity on 29th January 1797 in Gujarat, since that day the first paragraph in Guajarati script was printed in ‘Bombay Courier’ published form Mumbai (5). He further criticizes the rigid stake of Guajarati literary historians for their partial attitude of ignoring the contributions of Parsi and Christian missionaries in establishment of print, publication and prose writing (6). His book Deepe Arunum Prabhat (2005) is a remarkable attempt to find out minute details about nineteenth century Gujarati print, publications and publishers.
Now shifting towards the major objective of the paper is to understand the formation of public sphere in nineteenth century Gujarat. Under the colonial modernity, as Mehta rightly observed, “The seven factors which are known as markers of modernity coming into being before the birth of Narmad on 24th August 1833. One of the major factors was making of the Guajarati print. A Parsi named Behramji Jijeebhai Chhapgar (died 1807) formed Gujarati types in Bombay (now Mumbai) for the first time in 1797 at the Bombay Courier Press for an announcement about stray cattle in the streets of the city (1). The establishment of Guajarati printing press led to the publication of books, newspapers and periodicals and prose in Guajarati as a medium of writing. Universities were established; the elites of the society enrolled themselves in it and came into contact of English literature education. In addition to it, travel to the foreign lands and writing/ publishing those experiences increased publication of travelogues (5-7).
As a result of establishment of Gujarati printing press, the first book got published in 1808 in Bombay Courier Press, titled, The Illustration of the Grammatical parts of Guzeratee, Mahratta and English Languages by Robert Drummomd. Even though it was a book of language learning, the coming of the books can be seen as a massive change in the life of nineteenth century Gujarat. American historian in print culture, Elizabeth L. Eisenstein, in her book Printing Press as an Agent of Change says, “the advert of printing altered way of thinking, learning, perceiving among literate elites”(7). In the history of Indian literature, Sisir kumar Das states, “the most important event that revolutionized the literary production by changing relationship between the author and the audience and the nature of transmission process of texts was the advent of printing press” (32) Following both of these arguments we can say that both the Guajarati and the Parsi elites came into the influence of this colonial modernity and the process of learning and thinking commenced. As a result of it, establishment of printing press, publications of books and periodicals flourished. The construction of associations like, ‘Manav Dharma Sabha’ by Durgaram Mehta, ‘Gujarat Vernacular Society’, ‘Buddhivardhak Sabha’, ‘Forbes Gujarati Sabha’ etc elevated social and literary activities. All these associations took extensive attempts in spreading of knowledge. As Kishor Vyas, in his articles rightly observes, people who were not acquainted the reading the prose had started welcoming the message of enlightenment and new changes were coming so quickly that people turned towards reading of newspapers and magazines to sustain with it (47). So, the formation of the Public sphere can be traced in the activities of the newly emerged intelligentsia of that time and their social background, the formation of forums and associations and publications of newspapers and periodicals, the contribution of British officers in the promotion of vernacular languages etc.
Christian Missionaries Marshman and Ward had started Bengali newspaper in 1818 at that time there was no regional newspaper in Mumbai province. Fardunjee Marzban established the first printing press in 1812. The credit of starting the first Guajarati newspaper ‘Mumbai Samachar’ (1822) also goes to him. The news paper first appeared as a weekly and in later on turned into daily (11-13). Therefore, the contribution of these two entrepreneurs Fardunjee Marzban and Behramji Jijabhai Chhapgar should be recognized in the history of Guajarati language. On January 29, 1815 ‘Society for Promoting the Education of Poor within the Government of Bombay’ was established, and schools were started according to British system. Dhurgaram Mehta founded ‘Manav Dharm Shabha’ and ‘Pustak Prakashan Mandli’ in 1854, which reflected the waves of that time to promote new values.’ Gujarat Vernacular Society’ was established in 1848, Budhdivardhak Sabha in 1851 in Mumbai which are seen as major milestones in the history of Gujarati literature. After the formation of ‘Forbes Gujarati Sabha’ and ‘Gyanprachark Mandali’ the spreading of knowledge and social awareness got force in elevation (48).The first lithograph printing press was set up in Ahmedabad in 1848. In the same year ‘Gujarat Vernacular Society’ initiated publishing to the weekly called Vartman on every Wednesday (28-29). The forum named Buddhiprakash began to publishing a fortnightly named Buddhiprakash in 1850 and Kavasji Sorabji began a weekly called Chitar Ganen Darpan on every Tuesday, later on he sold it to Behramji Kharshedji in 1851(6).
The editor of the book, Sahiytik Samayiko (Literary magazines), Hasit Mehta writes in the introduction, “Periodicals, newspapers, magazines are fortune and unfortunate at the same time because on the one hand they become witness of the particular time, and on the other hand they have very short existence” (6). In the early phase, the publication of newspapers and the magazines were weekly or fortnightly in nature, gradually the newspapers started appearing daily and the periodicals became monthly. Customarily, the Buddhipraksh is considered the first magazine of the Gujarati language by the historians of Guajarati literature. But as Mehta Suggested, some other magazines were already flourishing before the publication of Buddhiprakash. According to him, the monthly called Vidhyasagar was started by Naoroji Fardunji in 1840, which run up to 1847. It was well received by both Guajarati and Parsi people. The magazine was published informative and thoughtful articles. In 1849 Mumbai Gyan Prasarak Forum started publishing the monthly named Gyan Prasarak. The next important magazine Rahnuma Jarthosti was commenced by Fardunji and Dastoor Aedalji Sorabji Sanjana. Khoj Dost was edited by Ramdas Bhauji was printed in Union Press of Rustambhai Ranina. In the press of Mumbai Samachar, Jaganmitra was published under the editorship of Sorabji Shapurji. He also started another magazine called Jagatpremi in 1851. The Irish Presbyterian mission press, Surat published magazine called Gyan Dipak in 1855 in English and Gujarati translation of it. Therefore, the above survey of the period before 1850s clearly shows the proliferation of many periodicals.
The categorization of these periodicals of the first half of the nineteenth century can be done according to the aim of its publishers. The publishers were both from Parsi and Gujarati communities. Even though, the motive of the publications was to spread knowledge to the masses, for instance, Buddhiprakash, the name itself suggests that the monthly aims to provide something related to develop the intellect. Same like, Gyan Prasarak and JagatMitra. With the same motive of “Cultivating Women’s mind” Some Parsi and Gujarati reformers began a monthly called Stree Bodh in 1857. Therefore in the category titled women’s magazines has the only one named appeared is, Streebodh. The section below tries to carry forward the discussion on it.
Women’s magazines:
Stree bodh is one of the earliest women’s magazines appeared in 1857 and run up to 1950. According to Sonal Shukla, Guajaratis were pioneered in the field of women’s Journal, because it is the first women’s magazine in India (63). The four Parasi intellectuals formed a Mandali (Forum) named Streebodh were Dosabhai Faramji Camaji, Kharshedji Nasarvanji Camaji, Sorabji Shapurji Bengali and Behramji Kharshedji Ghandi and Janhagir Vachchhca became secretary of it and they begun a monthly on January 1857, which is Streebodh. Many known and renowned intellectuals and social reformers of the time had contributed in it After Janhagirji Vachchha and Sorabji Bengali, Behramji Kharshedji became editor of it. Later on, Nanabhai Haridas became the editor. In 1860 social reformer Karshandas Mulji handled the editorship and in 1862 Rustambhai Ranina. However the monthly started flourishing under the editorship of K Khushru Kabaraji between 1863-1865. In 1870, he again became the editor of it till his death in 1904. After his death his daughter Shirin became editor of it and in 1912 his daughter in law Putalibai took the responsibility (128-130). So Stree bodh witnessed several editors in its long journey and according to the editors the form of it changed time to time. The minute observations from the cover page to size of it, conveys many things to the reader.
As the preface to the first issue states its purpose to “bring out a publication in order to support and add to the commendable efforts already made in fields like women’s education and improving the condition in which women live” (quoted in Shukla 63). So the magazine was mainly aiming to educate women for better family set up. The content and sections were designed to guide women about health, household and hygiene.
Conclusion:
The paper has tried to provide a detailed survey of print, publication and periodicals in nineteenth century Gujarat and made an attempt to understand how the public sphere was constructed through the various activities. It has also focused on the establishments of literary and social forums. The paper has also addressed the issue of the recognition of contributions of Parsi intellectual and reformers in the development of print and publications. Lastly, it has attempted to discuss the first women’s journal Stree-bodh and its contribution.
Work Cited