Constraints and Priorities of Urdu Journalism in Post-Colonial Bengal: A Study of the Urdu Daily, Äzād Hiṉd

This Urdu journalism in postcolonial India has been subjected to significant criticism with regard to its contribution towards the shaping of Muslim public consciousness. The genre is believed to be devoid of secular susceptibilities and has been accused of stirring up religious sentiments of the Muslim community. Although there had been regions where evidence suggests that the Urdu journalism upheld the secular values and remained steadfast in proliferation of the democratic ideals among the Muslim Community. After the independence of India, Urdu language and literature faced several challenges. Despite many difficulties, Urdujournalism thrived and many newspapers sprang up in the young nation although only a few made positive impressions. This paper attempts to highlight the role of one among these newspapers, the leading Urdu daily of East India, Äzād Hiṉd. This paper played a pivotal role in augmenting the democratic ideals, imbibing them in its readers and strengthening secular values among Muslims in the postcolonial era.