Sindhi Journalism History- 7 - Usama bin zain Eng

Usama bin zain (اساما بن زين)

BS part – III

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Sindhi Journalism 7(سنڌي صحافت٧)

The daily “Azad" newspaper's first editor was Moulana Abdul Kareem Chishti and later Moulana Deen Muhammad Wafai, Moulai Sheedai also become it’s editors. 

Later this Azad became the weekly newspaper under Ali Nawaz Wafai's editorship started from Karachi, with less professional approach. Mr Gobind lo Karam remained editor of Azad. 

In 1941 the Rijhumal Agnani left Daily “Sansaar Samachaar” and started his daily newspaper “Hindu Sansaar". In the same year the monthly magazine  “Adeeb Sindh" was released by Sindh Sudhar Society of Larkana whose different editors remain in different times and those were master Jumma Khan “gareeb" , Abdul Fateh “Abd" Aqili and raees Ziauddin. This magazine continued till 1952 and from this Sindh poetry guided many of youngsters. This magazine’s backbone was Haji Mahmood Khadim of Larkana. In the same year a monthly magazine was released named as “Gul Phul” by ‘Sundal sahat mandal’ for Mela Ram Wasani's children, which contains children’s stories and essays. This magazine served till 1948. 

In 1941 Muhammad Usman Diplai of Hyderabad started a monthly magazine named as ‘Ibrat' , which became weekly on 13^th of February 1946 and in 1956 when it came under the Gazi family hence Ibrat become the daily newspaper. 

In Sindhi journalism the Ibrat group of publications has served a lot. Muhammad Usman Diplai managed it in a best way and created a group of readers when Ibrat was monthly and weekly. Shaikh Ali Muhammad was made editor of Ibrat when it became daily. In 1969 after the went of Shaikh Ali Muhammad the Khair Muhammad Khokhar was made its editor, which continued it till his death on 23^rd may 2006. Now it's head chief editor is Qazi Asad Abid who not only has the unique recognition in journalism but also in politics and society. 

From 31 years the Ibrat magazine has been publishing from Ibrat group of publications, and it’s current editor is Wahid Paras Hesbani. From many years weekly Sindhu, monthly Hazaar dastaan, monthly Bakhtawar magazine is still publishing today. Taj Joe and Zaib Sindhi given a successful publications of weekly ‘Sindhu’ from 1994-95. 

The weekly newspaper ‘Talpur' was started under the guidance of editor Muhammad Ismail Zargar on 1^st September 1941, which was admired that it was not only out of religious talk but this newspaper also made the right example of journalism. In the same era Moulvi Khair Muhammad Nizamani started ‘Bab-ul-Islam' , ‘Ghazi' and weekly ‘Awaam' and also daily newspaper. In that time period politically  Moulvi Khair Muhammad Nizamani with the help of their knowledge became famous because of their newspapers and also became the hero of youngsters. 

In 1942 the weekly magazine  ‘Janam Bhumi' started from Mirpurkhas, whose editor was Mr Hardaas Premchand Waswani which was of congressional thoughts. In 1943 the monthly filmy magazine ‘Filmistan' was started, whose publisher was Moti Taij Bawandas Mehta. In 1945 Aga Badar-u-din started daily ‘Inqilab' from Sukkur, which  continued till 1948. 

On 5^th November 1946 the daily ‘Hilal Pakistan’ was started from Hyderabad, whose 1^st editor was Rahim dad khan Molai Sheedai and also BismalThakrai has been working there. 

Mehran and literary journalism

In the same year (1946) from Sindh government a magazine ‘Mehran' was started. Mehran continued for two eras the first one was started from January 1946 to June 1948  and the second one was started from 1955 till today.

G.M. Syed being an education minister has worked a lot for Sindhi language, education and literature, in which the Sindh literature ’Adabi' board is an important accomplishment. Under the guidance of G.M. Syed and with the help of Syed Miraan Muhammad Shah started a Markazi SalahKari (advisory) board for Sindhi literature ‘Sahat' under the charge of education ministry in 1940. In which a best Sindhi magazine was also started. As there was a war in that era so due to financial crises board couldn’t release the magazine. At the end of war the board chairman Syed Miraan Muhammad Shah and secretary Usman Ali Ansari took control and started magazine. The advisory board board’s publication department was at his peak in that era, whose duty was to publish magazine, the best book publications and organising literature conferences were its first priority. The same process went on and started Mehran magazine. Mehran's starting news editorial board was of Mr Usman Ali Ansari(chairman), Moulana Deen Muhammad Wafai (chief editor), Dr Haromal Sadar Nagani (editor) and Lalchand Amar Dinonal Jantiyani was it’s managing editor. 

They published ‘Mehran’ in a best way. Again it was started in 1955. Editor Muhammad Ibrahim Joyo remained it’s editor from 1955 to 1956.Later it’s editor was Dr Umer Bin Muhammad Daudpoto who remained from 1957 till 1958. In 1958 Mr Hasaam-u-din Rashdi was it’s editor. Moulana Ghulam Muhhamad Grami remained editor from 1959 till 1976. Muhammad Usman also has a basic valuable person in Mehran, cause he was managing editor in 1956. Imdad Hussaini for the first time selected it’s editor from 1976 till 1979, and again from 1992 till 1993 he remained editor. 

Then selected as a chief editor from 2004 to 2006. In this magazine Nafees Ahmed Nashad Shaik remained it’s editor for a long period of time. He was assistant editor from 1972 till 1979, and then he was editor from 1980 to 2010. Later Tariq Alam Abro remained the editor of this best magazine till his death on 20^th June 2011. Tariq Alam took the responsibilities of editor in Mehran magazine for short period of time. After him Deen Muhammad Kalhoro was niminated as a editor, but when he got lectureship job in Sindh education department so he left. 

 In Sindh literature ‘Mehran’ had played an important role and has served a lot. 

Sada Bahar children Magazine

In the same year in (1946)a monthly magazine ‘Sada Bahar' was started for children, which was controlled by ‘Ratan Sahtiya Bandal'. 

In 1946 a weekly Sindhi newspaper was started from Hyderabad named as ‘Niyaz Nama', whose head was G.M. Khan and editor was Masool Muhammad Ismail Munshi. ‘Nai Dunya' and ‘Baagi' magazine were also started in that era, who was representing Taraqi Pasand Tehreek. In the same year in January the Daily ‘Qurbani' responsibilities were given to Moulvi Khair Muhammad Nizamani, who took it for three months. In the same year the weekly ‘Alhaider' from Thatta and ‘Thari Gazette' from Mirpurkhas were started. 

In 1947 a monthly magazine ‘Tameer' was started in Karachi from Kumar Sindhi. Jetmal Parsaram again started ‘Ruhruhaan' and Kanayae Lal Gaba started a magazine named as ‘Perstaan'. In June 1947 biweekly magazine ‘Chitar Kar' was started, its speciality was that two columns were added of Urdu literature to it. Magazine contained filmy literature, questions answers, stories and poetry. 

In 1947 a daily newspaper named as ‘Aftab' was started from Hyderabad by Shaikh Ali Muhammad. 

In January of 1948 a magazine ‘Haqeeqat-ul-Islam’ was started. This was started from Hyderabad by Qazi Abdul Razak. This magazine was related to pure religious thoughts. biweekly magazine  ‘Moazin' was started in September of 1948. It was also related to religious thoughts, this was started from Hyderabad by Moulvi Khair Muhammad Nizamani. In the same year 1948 in August on the first birthday of Pakistan the Sindh government started a weekly magazine  ‘Atlaat Sindh' . 

In 1949 Syed Muhammad Shah started  a magazine ‘Irfan Lateef', which contained the essays on topics religious, politics and on history. His first edition published with a name ‘Lateef Number' because of the name of Shah Lateef. 

In 1950 under the control of Moulvi Abdul Haq Rabani a magazine  ‘Mubalig' was published, which also contained data about current situations of country and essays on religious topics. In November of 1950, ‘Elan-e-Haq' was published from Badin by Nazeer Hussain Haidri. It was also representing the religious thoughts. In 1955 ‘Ada' magazine was started from Nawabshah, it not only contained religious, political and social topics but also essays on literature. 

In 1956 Saleem Halai from Hyderabad started a magazine named as ‘Goth Sudhar'. In was publishing the data about social goodness. It was government sponsered magazine. 

In 1957 Beugm Zeenat Abdullah Channa published a magazine ‘Marvi' from Hyderabad for women issues. After it in 1958 the martial era was started. 

From 1947 till 1957 about  60 magazine was started, in which 11 were political, and remaining were religious, social, literature and for children and women. 

When Ayub Khan started the era of Martial Law in 1958, then Sindhi press got much restrictions. Sindh own separated capacities were ended due to one unit, whose reaction was too strict. 

Sindh's chief minister Abdul Sattar Pirzada, passed the bill by majority from Sindh assembly against the One Unit. On his this act Sindh government was discarded and Abdul Sattar Pirzada was replaced by Ayub Khuhro and became the chief minister. The then Sindh assembly speaker Ghulam Ali Talpur  was arrested and jailed him in Tharparkar. In that time if anyone spoke against One Unit, was arrested immediately. 

In those days the students youth politics started to pay attention about it, journalism was also seem euphoric, every newspaper was showing the conditions of Sindh except Ayub khuro's newspaper ’Nawan-e-Sindh'. All newspapers started writing editorials against one unit. Government raised the restrictions on ‘Al Waheed'. 

The Sindh literature  friends also talked against Ayub era. The funding was ended for Sindh Adabi board means the restrictions was increased in freedom writing. After some time the restrictions was decreased, but the Sindhi newspapers remained the same. 

In 1961, another issue raised on the language problem, with about education forced to decrease the official language Sindhi and Urdu from tenth grade to sixth and made compulsory. From the beginning Sindhi newspapers were having a harsh attitude against the Ayub dictatorship later this raised again over this issue. Beside it the increasing populations of others, and the abductions on Sindhi community sources created the in occupation for Sindhi community so this problem was also raised by newspapers. When these all problems raised so it created a clang. In 1962, the West Pakistan Assembly of Sindh-Balochistan members issued a joint statement on 9^th January and it was that there should be celebrated as 'Sindhi Language Day' a demurrer. The members who signed the bill were Mir Rasul Bakhsh Talpur, Major Afsaruddin, Ghulam Mustafa Jatoi, Makhdoom Taleban Alumi, Sheikh Abdul Majid Sindhi, Qazi Fazlullah, Khair Bakhsh Marri, Pir Ghulam Rasool Jilani, Moula Bakhsh Soomro, Agha Ghulam Nabi Pathan and Ghulam Mohammad Wassan. 

In that era the daily ‘Mehran' wrote in its editorial was that: “the government decision about Sindhi language will leads to disaster of commonalty. Newspapers continuously wrote hard editorials for 15 years, which resulted the end of official concessions. 

Yahya khan ended the one unit and gave the provinces their separate status. The Sindhi newspapers of 1970 appreciated Yahya khan on ending the One Unit. In 1969 Yahya khan also broke the constitution of 1962 and the situations started to get good. In those days, Zulfiqar Ali Bhutto also got the chance to enter in politics. 

By the end of martial law there had been changing in Sindhi journalism. ‘Al Waheed' came back in the world of journalism, but it was not as much best as it was in past era. After some time its publication was close without any reason. A magazine ‘Rooh Rohan' was also started in this era from Hyderabad whose editor was Hameed Sindhi. In that time ‘Nawae Sindh’ was transferred from Karachi to Hyderabad and it became daily.

Sindhi journalism 7(سنڌي صحافت٧ )

 Hilaal Pakistan was one of the historical and famous newspapers of that time, especially in the era of 1971 when Zulfiqar Ali Bhutto bought it and made it's editor to Siraj-ul-Haq Memon. Siraj Memon ran this newspaper in a best way and they also have a freedom speak even under the guidance of government. 

In 1977, Siraj-ul-Haq refused to take dictation from General Zia-ul-Haq’s military government and resigned from the editorial. Hilal Pakistan suffered from different eras, in which Kathiawar Memon Muhammad Hashim of Karachi, Shaikh Abdul Rahim, Sardar Qureshi, Nasir Brohi, Sheikh Abdul Halim Josh (Poet and retired director of Sindh Information Department), Iqbal Dil, Dastgir Bhatti, a famous writer, poet and journalist Shamsherul Haidari, Alam Shah (PPP member, who had never been associated with journalism) and Madad Ali Sindhi became the editor of this newspaper. Now a days this newspaper is govern by Sherazis  of Thatta and it’s editor is Iqbal Dal.'Hilal-e-Pakistan' was published from Karachi in the era of Siraj Memon and Mahmud Yusufani, Aslam Azad, Manzoor Qureshi, Dastagir Bhatti, GN Mughal, Naseer Aijaz, Mohammad Khan Siyal, Anwar Pirzadi, Faqir Mohammad Lashari and also the whole team which was of experienced journalists. In which assistant editor, news editor, magazine editor, sub-editor and reporter, etc.Governed the newspaper and it’s colourful editions and magazines were also released and with special news they published it in a new way. This newspaper was also became famous because of columns of Amar Jalil and other famous writers. Siraj Memon for the 1^st time in Sindhi journalism introduced cartoons. Syed Mehmood Ali a famous cartoonist worked for many years in Hilal Pakistan. After it a new cartoonist Abdullah Thebo also worked in newspaper. After Hilal Pakistan many Sindhi newspapers started to make cartoons. 

In 1977 after martial law till military government this newspaper raised as ‘The voice of Sindh' and it was under the controlled of Siraj Memon and even many people remained in line and waited to buy this. Hilal Pakistan worst time was the 8 months of Sardar Qureshi, in which a lot of journalists and workers were dismissed, news agency’s service was closed and by the translation of old Urdu newspapers and released, which resulted as the selling of newspaper was almost none. This newspaper of 67 years. 

In 1991 when Ali Ahmed Brohi became the deputy administrator of ‘Shaikh Sultan trust’ so he dismissed more than 30 journalists and workers and separated the newspaper from trust and gave it to the remaining workers, which they had been trying to ran as ‘workers share holders’, but after some years they faced failure and sold it to Shirazi brothers of Thatta, which newspaper is still publishing today. 

In 1972 a magazine was started named as ‘Sojhro' from Karachi. Whose editor was Gulbano Sultana. Qurab Jafri, Taj Baloch were helpers. Later Fehmida Memon (Fehmida Hussain) introduced new topics, especially on women's in which ‘Sughrin Sath' and ‘Sojhro' magazine played an important role in the history. 

After this Sehar Balouch  (Sehar Imdad) was also included in it’s team, now again this magazine is publishing under the control of Taj Baloch. Beside it in Awami Awaz newspaper Sultana Waqasi also wrote pages for women. The journalism was high in that time. Chief Minister Ghulam Mustafa Jatoi started 'Nao Niyapo (new message)' from Hyderabad. This magazine was not only literary and informative, but it was mostly representative of party and Masood Noorani was running it. 

In 1975, a nationalist magazine ‘Charan' was also started from Hyderabad. In the same way the Rasool Bakhsh Palijo started a monthly magazine named as  'Tehreek', whose editor was Syed Alam Shah. This magazine was totally political and the student youth was active in politics. This magazine was closed down in the blame of publishing an inappropriate material, it’s accusations was rejected it’s editor was also jailed. 

In those days, Abdul Wahid Arisar started a magazine ‘Peghaam', which was also closed and Arisar  was sent to jail. Perih Phutti magazine was published by a group of left wing students working in SIndh National Students Federation and was edited by Sohail Sangi. This magazine played an important and unique role for nation. After it the Sindh government started a magazine named as ‘Pegaam', which was published by the officers of information. In 1966 famous writers in which Ghulam Nabi Mughal, Tariq Ashraf, Nazir Sheikh and Manzoor Qureshi started a magazine ‘Sohni’beautiful and it also played a good role in the context of scientific, literature and political. 

In 1975 the restrictions was increased on this magazine ‘Sohni' (beautiful)and for two years (1977) it’s publication remained closed.  

Beside it ‘Firdos', ‘Badal' was also famous literature magazine of their time. Badal magazine firstly released by Umer-u-deen Bedar, and after him it was releasing under the control of Abdul Haq Azeem. 

In the era of Bhutto's late seventies, Kazi Muhammad Akbar launched the Daily ‘Sindh News' from the central city of Sindhi journalism Hyderabad. This newspaper introduced new approaches in Sindhi journalism. Shaikh Aziz was the editor of this newspaper who was a senior journalist and a writer. His team included Sohail Sangi, Rahim Bux Burq, Saif Banvi. In that days the department of journalism was also established in Sindh university Jamshoro. Sudden death of Saleem Kazi younger son of Kazi Akbar and later death of Kazi Akbar put this newspaper in problems, which were further supplemented and complemented by the restriction and censorship of Zia Martial Law. Hence this newspaper was closed down. 

In the martial law of Zia-ul-Haq none of new Sindhi newspaper was released, although magazine were released in different times. 

In 1985 the Junejo government came into power and the federal minister of foreign affairs became the Qazi Abdul Majid Abid, earleir editor inchief of Daily Ibrat, in which newspapers got some limit in freedom to write. 

From 1988 to 1989 the new era of Sindh journalism was started. In this era newspapers got a chance to write with complete freedom. 

New era of Sindhi Journalism - Resistance journalism

In 1989 the first computerized newspaper ‘Awami Awaz' was appeared under the editorship of Sohail Sangi. This newspaper got a team of political orientation editorial staff including Sohail Sangi, Faqeer Muhammad Lashari, Anwar Prizado,  Imdad Odho, Abdul Rahman Naqash, Sadiq Burdi. Later FM Lashari joined Jago.

Modern style and beautifully presented ‘Awami Awaz' produced a new version in Sindhi journalism which was unique getup in all Sindhi newspapers. This newspaper is not only beautiful, but also represents the nation problems of Sindh. Especially this newspaper give a chance to young journalists to rise. Awami Awaz under leadership of Sohail Sangi introduced some new topics for news and reporting like environment, anthropology, archeology, human rights, which were new in the Sindhi journalism. In those days Awami Awaz had woemn page first edited by Atiya Dawood, Sultana Waqasi, and Zaibunisa Janjhi. It has also literary and children pages. 

Women maagzines

In 1998 a Sindhi magazine ‘Saghri Sath'  was released for women under control and in the editorial of Fehmida Hussain and Anisa Rehman. 

At the same time, under the control of Dastgir Bhatti, so 'Hilal Pakistan' also started computerised publication of half newspaper with the help of grandsons of Shaikh Abdul Majeed Sindhi. In the year of 1990 a magazine ‘Sartiyun' was released for women by Sindh Adbi board(Sindh literature board) whose editor is Gulbadan Jawed Mirza. Beside it the Sindh Adbi board(Sindh literature board) started magazine ‘Gul Phul' in 60s, which is continued till today, whose editors are Ghulam Rabbani Agro, Anwar Hallai, Akbar Jisakani, Tariq Alam Abro and others. 

Kazi Aslam and Kazi Ali launched first evening newspaper named as ‘Khadim Watan'. In 1990 daily ‘Kawish' was started from Hyderabad. This newspaper recognized itself because of it’s colours, low price and quick reporting. This group of newspaper gave a new business model to Sindhi journalism. They opted for low cost paper and aggressive marketing. plus colour printing. 

Ibrat group also started an evening newspaper ‘Sindhu' in the competition with ‘Khadim Watan. From 1988 to 1991 some other newspapers were also started. 

In 1991,the ‘Jago' newspaper was also started from Karachi with the efforts of Siraj Memon, Ghulam Qadir Palijo and Dr. Suleiman Shaikh, under the editorship of Faqir Mohammad Lashari. Ghulam Hussain Sacharvi started a 'Sarwan' newspaper from Hyderabad, whose editor was Abdul Rahman Memon. 

The time period of Benazir Bhutto government was the 1^st time period in the development of Sindhi newspapers. In this era Sindhi newspapers and magazines were frequently published. In Sindhi magazines one was the complete and political magazine was ‘Sany'Yah' magazine was started in that days from Hyderabad, which is still releasing today, it’s editor was Khaki Joyo. In the context of Sindh national problems the ‘Sany'Yah' played a good role. After the separation from  ‘Awami Awaz', Imdad Odho started Daily ‘Sindh Sujag'. In the beginning he started magazine with this name from Jacobabad.

 In this period ‘Al Waheed'  was again started for the third time, but it didn’t last for long. ‘Pukaar' newspaper of Sukker was also started from Karachi for some time, but also it didn’t last and recognized itself. After the elections of 1993when People’s party came into power, so by the name of Mohtarma's daughter ‘Bakhtawar' a newspaper was started from Hyderabad. The editor of this newspaper was Moula Baksh Chandio who was the representative of people’s party, after some time Madad Ali Sindhi remained it’s editor. For some time it was ranbyJamal Rind. In 1994, a newspaper named as 'Barsat' was started from Karachi. 

From 1971 by the name ‘Barsat'a magazine was started, which was made a daily newspaper by Yousuf Shaheen. The chief editor of this newspaper was appointed to Shaikh Ayaz. Later a senior journalist Naseer Aijaz became it’s editor and Badar Abro became it’s assistant editor. In 1996 after the arrest of Yousuf Shaheen it’s managing editor was made to Naseer Aijaz and editor to Badar Abro. ‘Barsaat' made it’s name to a great name, because it was highlighting the problems of Sindh seriously and famous writers also wrote in it. Barsaat published an especial magazine and gave it free with newspaper which was on some main problems of Sindh. 

In 1997 even having financial crises the newspaper released a daily colourful magazine, which was lasted for two months. After it Barsaat still is in financial crises, but still working today. Barsaat with converting magazine into newspaper also started an English newspaper named as ‘Sindh Tribune' , which is back now after running of it for few years due to financial problems. In 1995 a newspaper was started named as ‘Sindh'. The team of this newspaper is consisted of youngsters and it became famous. This newspaper’s editor was Rasheed Rajar, and now it’s editor was Jafar Memon. In that days a newspaper was started from Hyderabad named as ‘Khalq'.  The editor of this newspaper was a young journalist Hussain Mujtaba. 

In 1990’s many other new newspapers was started, in which a daily newspaper ‘Halchal' was started from Hyderabad in 1998. Now the chief editor of this newspaper is Muhammad Yunis Mahar. In 1998 the daily ‘Koshish' was started by Kawish group, the editor of this newspaper is Rasheed Rajar. 

The daily ‘Sham' was also started by Kawish group in 1999, the editor of this newspaper is Naaz Sahito, this newspaper releases in evening. The daily ‘Tameer Sindh' was started from Karachi by Qazi Shah Muhammad in 1998, now it’s editor is Qazi Shaheed, but now this newspaper is the form of dummy. The daily ‘Pak Sindh’ was started from Sukker in 1993. Rafeeq Pirzada is it’s chief editor. The daily 'Khabroon' was started from Karachi by Liberty Papers Limited in 2002. This newspaper’s chief editor is Zia Shahid. The daily ‘Soubh’was started from Karachi in 2004. 

#SindhiJournalism 

Practical work carried under supervision of Sir Sohail Sangi 

Media & Communication Studies, University of Sindh