Question

Name the first English Newspaper of India.
A. India Daily
B. Newspaper Daily
C. National Daily
D. Bengal Gazette

Answer 1

Hint: An Irishman, James Augustus Hickey, was a strong critic of the administration of then Governor-General Warren Hastings. He authored an English weekly named Bengal Gazette in 1780 in Calcutta (now Kolkata), the center of colonial expansion. He showed his provocative Journalism and free expression through this publication.

Complete Answer:
Bengal Gazette was the first English Newspaper of India. The English Journal, The Bengal Gazette was also called as ‘Calcutta General Advertiser’ as it was filled with lots of advertisements with this name. He was the sole editor, writer, and publisher of this newspaper. Initially, the journal had a neutral tone, but when the English official started targeting him and demanded a bribe, he criticized the corrupt English officials, even the Wife of Warren Hastings. He accused them of inefficiency, corruption, and Maladministration. As a result, he was jailed but he continued writing his views and accusing company officials of bribery and corruption from jail. The journal, the India Gazette, supported and funded by Warren Hastings, worked as a rival journal to the Bengal Gazette. Consequently, Hickey’s Journal stopped and was driven out of business.
So, the correct answer is Option D.

Note: The Bengal Gazette led to the other Indian Newspapers by Indian reformers and journalists. For example, Bombay Herald, Bengal Journal, Indian Mirror, Sambad Kaumudi, Banga Duta, Bombay Times, and so on. Through this journal, Hickey used to mock and poke at the East India Company officials with whom he was having personal differences. He used to make names and characters to talk about realities.