Gandhi and Journalism
Mahatama Gandhi’s (Mohandas Karamchand Gandhi) journalism played a pivotal role in India’s freedom struggle, serving as a powerful tool for mobilizing public opinion and challenging British colonialism. He believed in the importance of a free press and used his newspapers to spread his message of non-violence, truth, and self-reliance.
Newspapers Started by Gandhi:
Indian Opinion (1903): Launched in South Africa on June 4, 1903, this weekly newspaper was Gandhi’s first venture into journalism. It was published in English, Gujarati, Hindi and Tamil. It served as a platform to voice the grievances of Indians in South Africa and educate them on sanitation, self-discipline, and good citizenship. Gandhi was the founder-editor, with Mansukhlal Naizer serving as the first editor.
Young India (1919): This bi-weekly publication was started in India, with Gandhi as its editor. Its first issue published on May 1, 1919. It focused on issues like the non-cooperation movement, Khilafat movement, and Hindu-Muslim unity. Before Gandhi took over, Young India was a bi-weekly journal published by Jamnadas Dwarkadas in Bombay (Mumbai). When Gandhi took the editorial helm in October 1919, he moved the operations to Ahmedabad and changed it to a weekly format to better align with his other paper, Navajivan.
Navjivan (1919): A Gujarati weekly, Navjivan was another important platform for Gandhi to connect with the masses. Its first issue published on November 7, 1919. It covered topics like Swaraj, untouchability, and village industries.
Harijan (1933): This English weekly, along with its Gujarati and Hindi counterparts, Harijanbandhu and Harijansevak, was launched to crusade against untouchability and poverty in rural areas. Its first issue published on February 11, 1933.
| Newspaper | Year Started | Location | Purpose/Focus |
| Indian Opinion | 1903 | South Africa | To fight for the rights of Indians against racial discrimination. |
| Young India | 1919 | Ahmedabad (Gujarat), India | An English weekly used to spread the philosophy of non-violence and Swaraj. |
| Navajivan | 1919 | Ahmedabad (Gujarat), India | A Gujarati weekly (later in Hindi) focused on reaching the rural masses. |
| Harijan | 1933 | Ahmedabad/Sabarmati (Gujarat) India | Aimed at the upliftment of the “untouchables” and social reform.
English, Gujarati (Harijanbandhu), and Hindi (Harijansevak) |
***Untouchables: Are the people in the Hindu religion who were devoid of basic human rights by self-proclaimed upper-castes as per the Verna System. They are not considered as equal to people belonging to the so called upper-caste. It is derogatory system which grossly violated the human rights of the persons declared as Untouchables. It was an epitome of exploitation of extreme level which is beyond imagination. It can be considered as “Colourless Apartheid.” In South Africa black people were discriminated on the basis of their colour which is known as Apartheid.