Muslim Exclusion from Journalism Since Muslims were at forefront of Freedom Movement, they became the central target

of British carnage. A massive bloodshed emerged during the terrible incidents of 1857. As far as journalism is concerned, Muslims were detached of journalistic practice and their newspapers were banned. Some newspapers even closed their business themselves, in fear of the British atrocities. In 1853, there were thirty five vibrant Urdu newspapers. In 1857 there remained only twelve, in which, just one newspaper was owned by any Muslim. This catastrophe completely isolated the Muslims from journalism in Subcontinent. But in the years ahead, Muslim press developed from morsel and struggled for the independence with our great leaders. At the time of independence, Quaid-e-Azam Muhammad Ali Jinnah was editor of his own newspaper DAWN.

Qanoon-e- Zuban Bandi(urdu): Through this ordinance, license custom was made obligatory in order to start or keep running a printing press or newspaper. It allowed government to confiscate any license from anyone at any time. As if printing press or newspaper, or both could immediately be stopped. In addition, it let government to impose censorship on the newspapers. This law was equal for regional & national as well as English language newspapers, journals, periodicals or gazettes. It is regarded as the destructive era of British atrocities on press and journalistic practice in sub-continent. Following the law, the government initiated an operation against the press, regional & national newspapers and printing presses were crushed. Note that, only those, English newspapers were targeted which were owned by the natives of sub-continent, not those which were in hands of British or Anglo Indians. Indeed, Anglo Indian newspapers were permitted to write anything in agitation of the natives. So, they wrote that Delhi should be demolished, Jama Mosque should be destroyed and a church should be constructed over there. They asked to implement-compulsory the study of New Testament in schools and colleges. Even they suggested imposing tax on every individual of eighteen to sixty years of age. More to the point they meant that only Christians should rule. This was the role and absurdity of English newspapers which later sparked the development of press from scrap. Role of Delhi newspapers in revolution Till 1857 revolution, British could not invade Delhi owing to the fact that it was full of sympathizers and patrons of Bahad-ur-Shah Zafar. The newspapers of Delhi made every effort to sustain the revolution. The endeavors and sacrifices of DelhiUrdu Akhbar, Sadiq-ul-Akhbar and Siraj-ul-Akhbar (the court gazette of Bahad-ur-Shah Zafar) could never be forgotten. When the revolution ended, these newspapers also diminished. Owner of Delhi Urdu Akhbar, Maulvi Muhammad Baqar was killed and arrest warrant of (his son) Maulana Muhmmad Hussain Azadwas issued. Editor of Sadiq-ul-Akhbar, Jameel-ud-Din faced a trial and eventually he was sentenced for three years imprisonment.

Newspapers of Sialkot and Multan After Lahore, the next important centre of Urdu journalism was Sialkot. Where, Munshi Dewan Chand started newspaper for the first time. He released six newspapers before the revolution of 1857. Among which Chashma-e-Faiz andVictoria Paper were very famous. Victoria paper continued for fifty years. It is interesting to know that Sialkot had the largest circulation of newspapers. Thereare two main reasons, given by scholars, for increased distribution of newspapers in Sialkot. First is that the literacy and education acquisition was emphasized upon by the British. Secondly, the East India Company implemented juristic education reforms. One example is that of the large construction of various Schools. As result literacy rate increased quite great and the readership of newspapers spread throughout Sialkot. Where Multan is concerned, two or three newspapers started in the city before 1857. For the most part Riyaz-e-Tor was a famous paper. Its editor Munshi Mehdi Hasan became target of British atrocities; he was sentenced for seven years imprisonment.

Newspapers of Delhi
More then a dozen newspapers and periodicals started in Delhi. Comparatively ,two were most significant and had a profound effect on the Muslim society. FirstDelhi Urdu Akhbar and second was Syed-ul-Akhbar. Delhi Urdu Akhbar continued for twenty one years. Maulvi Muhammad Baqar was its first editor.Later on his son, Maulana Muhammad Hussain Azad took the responsibility. Thefirst page of Delhi Urdu Akbar was used for the activities of Last Mughal Emper or Bahaddur Shah Zafar. Then the movement and actions of British residents and other officials were included. News from Delhi had special emphasis. Wherever needed, comments were given at the end of the news. This newspaper brought tolight the tomfoolery of both British and Emperors court. In every issue an odealso was put in. Syed-ul-Akhbar came into being in the year 1837. Its founder was Syed Muhammad Kahan, real brother of Sir Syed Ahmed Khan. After nine years, he died in young age and the paper continued in the editorship of Syed AhmedKhan. But the name of editor was kept concealed. In 1950,Syed-ul-Akhbar was closed because of financial problems.

Newspapers of Lahore
First Urdu newspaper of Lahore was Koh-e-Noor, started in 1850. And, continued for more than half a century. Munshi Harsukh Raey was its founder who was specially called by the British after invasion in Punjab. He was financially supported by British in establishing a printing press and a newspaper. As a matter of fact this fact it was a pro Government newspaper, but keeping the idea of freedom under the umbrella of force, it sometime criticized the government also While in technical quality, no doubt, it was a unique paper with matchless enhancements. It provided not only news and views, but enormous educative material for educators. Koh-e-Noor had largest circulation in all the Urdu papers of the subcontinent. In fifty years of its existence, a various editors worked for its betterment. The second chief newspaper of Lahore was Darya-e-Noor which could not continue because it openly condemned the British rule. It had a very short but lively life.