The Bombay Samachar, now known as Mumbai Samachar, was established in 1822 by a Parsi scholar and priest Fardunjee Marzban. It is India’s oldest continuously published newspaper in Gujarati and English.
The newspaper is said to have played an important role during India’s struggle for Independence, often quoted by freedom fighters like Mahatma Gandhi, Jawaharlal Nehru, Vallabhbhai Patel and others. It is recorded that Bombay Samachar was respected by both the British and Indians, for its fair, objective and critical analysis.
The newspaper was a weekly till 1832, then a bi-weekly till 1855 when it became a daily. It continues to enjoy the patronage Gujarati-speaking people in India and abroad.
The founder was a pioneer not only of journalism in western India but of all Gujarati printed literature. He founded the first native press in 1812 and in 1814 brought out a Gujarati calendar.
His press, his calendar and his paper continue to be relevant to the present day.
The publication’s policy to allow several small advertisers on the front page rather than one advertiser occupying the solus position is followed till date.
The paper passed through various hands before reaching the Cama Family in 1933. Hormusji N Cama is the present director of the publication.
To commemorate the occasion of 200 years of the newspaper, Prime Minister Narendra Modi participated in the Dwishatabdi Mahotsav of Mumbai Samachar on 14 June 2022 and released a postage stamp.
Keeping up with the times, the nation’s oldest running newspaper’s e-twin, Mumbai Samachar Epaper, engages readers online.
