Starting the Saanj

The Parsi contribution to the Gujarati language, journalism and printing is legendary. The first Gujarati types were cut by a Parsi, the first Gujarati newspaper and the first Gujarati almanac were published by a Parsi.

Dr Ratan R. Marshall of Surat, a giant in the field of Gujarati literature, over 56 years ago submitted a dissertation on the "History of Gujarati Journalism.” He notes this was the first dissertation accepted for a PhD in the Gujarati department of Bombay University.

Two years ago Marshall prepared a paper on the contribution of Parsis to Gujarati journalism for a seminar on Irani-Parsi culture. The paper was translated into English by Prof Ashok N. Desai, head of the English department, Z. F. Wadia Women’s College and N. K. Jhota College of Commerce.

An edited and abridged version of Marshall’s paper is being serialized in five parts in Parsiana.

The first part dealt with the establishment of the Mumbai Samachar and the second part with the Jam-e-Jamshed and the Kaiser-E-Hind.

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In the course of the evolution of Gujarati journalism some eminent journals adopted a liberal policy towards politics but opted for a status quo in matters pertaining to social reforms. On the other hand, a few reform minded journals such as Saanj Vartaman remained conservative in politics. Serious differences of opinion took place between Ardesar Beramji Patel, the de facto editor of the Jam-e-Jamshed, and the new young editor Pirojsha Jehangir Marzban. Patel left the Jamé to publish a new journal. He did not have sufficient finance, but found a partner and plunged with courage into the new venture with the result that the Saanj Vartaman press and Saanj Vartaman journal were established on May 1, 1902. At that time no Gujarati newspaper was published in the evening. The Advocate of India was the only newspaper published in the evening in the English language. Patel, with commendable foresight, decided to publish his newspaper in the evening. Within 20 days, the journal ran into a grave crisis as the partner, Nusserwanjee Beramji Jassawalla, withdrew from the partnership. But as luck would have it Rustam Nasarwanji Wachha Gandhi joined the partnership.

The objective of Patel was to give confirmed news at a reasonable price and be instrumental in spreading knowledge and information. Only two paise per copy was the price fixed for Saanj so that it could get popularity and be read by the wider cross-section of society. Half a paise was the commission offered to the news vendor. The attempt to sell a newspaper for just one-and-a-half paise per copy was railed at, but Saanj continued to be sold at the same price for 15 long years. Within three months of the establishment of Saanj, Patel passed away and the entire responsibility came to the shoulders of Wachha Gandhi. He continued it for three decades and brought it in the limelight.

Obviously, Saanj had to face competition in the Parsi community from the Jam-e-Jamshed. It adopted the policy of the Jamé on community issues. Orthodoxy was in favor then. Like the Jamé, the Saanj also became the champion of orthodoxy. In controversies such as the acceptance of non-Parsis into the community, the preparation of the constitution of the board of trustees of the Parsi Punchayet, the issue pertaining to the final rites of the dead — whether to opt for dakhmenashini, cremation or burial — the journal sided with orthodoxy.

Slowly and surely, Saanj Vartaman progressed. Its competitive price and its advocacy for orthodoxy resulted in increased circulation. Its popularity was furthered by offering the latest news.

Wachha Gandhi managed to obtain news from various parts of the country by telegrams. In the earlier days, Jam-e-Jamshed used to publish a pictorial supplementary on the occasion of the Parsi New Year. With the publication of the Pateti supplement of Saanj Varta­man, a new horizon of special supplements was opened in Gujarati journalism. The Saanj Pateti issue was without a parallel for its articles, photographs, layouts, etc. Writers from different communities and overseas contributed articles. The chief reason behind the prosperity and prestige of Saanj Vartaman was its political policy. It always favored the majority opinion. It continued to support the freedom movement. Its independent approach to politics made it considerably popular amongst the Hindus as well. To be continued