By Javed Jamaluddin
The sudden closure of the Rashtriya Sahara Urdu newspaper in Mumbai, Kolkata, and Bangalore has marked the end of a chapter for Urdu journalism in India. For many in the Urdu-speaking community and journalism circles, this decision by Sahara India Mass Media feels like a cultural and professional loss. As someone who dedicated 24 years to journalism, with a crucial 10-year span at Sahara, this news feels particularly personal and emotional. Rashtriya Sahara has been more than a newspaper; it has been a lifeline and a voice for the Urdu-speaking population across India.
The Cultural and Linguistic Legacy of Rashtriya Sahara
Subrata Roy, the founder of the Sahara India family and popularly known as Sahara Shri, has always expressed profound respect for the Urdu language, regarding it as more than just a medium of communication. He once shared with me that he believed Urdu to be a symbol of India’s Ganga-Jamuni Tehzeeb, the harmonious cultural blend that epitomizes the country’s unity in diversity. According to Roy, this cultural heritage is as essential to India as any political or economic pillar. This commitment to preserving and promoting Urdu is what inspired Rashtriya Sahara and helped sustain it as a trusted name for Urdu readers.
This recent decision to halt editions in key cities is a move that impacts not only the readership but also the essence of the organization’s founding principles. Rashtriya Sahara became an indispensable voice for the Urdu-speaking community, a platform that reported stories of the community’s aspirations, challenges, and achievements with a distinctive sensitivity.
Background of the Closure and Employee Impact
Sources within the company have indicated that financial challenges led Sahara India Mass Media to discontinue these editions, which had been in circulation in some cities for over 17 years. Staff members were given the choice to either relocate to active offices in cities such as Lucknow, Delhi, and Gorakhpur or to resign from their posts. Sadly, despite their dedicated service, many employees remain uncertain about their outstanding dues and the future of their employment within the organization.
For the Urdu-speaking community and for the employees themselves, this has been a difficult development. The Mumbai, Kolkata, and Bangalore offices, which collectively served thousands of readers, were abruptly informed of the closures, leaving both staff and readers disheartened and unsure of what lies ahead. Meanwhile, other city editions from Delhi, Lucknow, Hyderabad, and Gorakhpur continue operations, although there are ongoing concerns about the Hyderabad edition’s future.
A Moment with Subrata Roy: Urdu’s Place in India
During a significant gathering of Sahara staff in 2015, when Roy was detained in Tihar Jail, I had the rare opportunity to ask him about his vision for Urdu and its future in India. Over a video call with 4,000 staff members gathered at the Sahara Star Hotel in Mumbai, I questioned him on how he saw Urdu evolving, especially given historical challenges dating back to 1857 when Sir Syed Ahmed Khan, founder of Aligarh Muslim University, foresaw hurdles for the language after the first freedom struggle. Roy’s response was heartfelt and full of pride. He affirmed that Urdu was indeed an Indian language and that its roots were entwined with India’s cultural fabric. His words resonated deeply with me and my colleagues, instilling a renewed sense of pride in our work.
The Journey of Rashtriya Sahara: A Timeline
Rashtriya Sahara began its journey with the weekly Sahara in Hindi, followed by Aalmi Sahara in Urdu. Under the late writer Kamleshwar, who played an influential role in shaping Sahara’s Hindi editorial standards, Sahara became a trusted source for balanced news. By 2000, Rashtriya Sahara Urdu edition was launched from Lucknow, and within a few years, editions from cities such as Kolkata, Patna, Mumbai, Hyderabad, and Bangalore followed.
During these years, Aziz Burney, a distinguished editor, steered the Mumbai edition with vision and dedication. Burney’s guidance not only expanded Rashtriya Sahara’s reach but also brought forward the local voices of the community in ways that were previously unheard of. His innovative strategies leveraged both technology and early internet platforms to broaden the newspaper’s impact, a forward-thinking approach that proved indispensable when digital news became mainstream during the COVID-19 era.
Personal Reflections on My Journey with Rashtriya Sahara
In 2006, Burney personally extended an invitation to me to join Rashtriya Sahara as the Bureau Chief in Mumbai. It was an honor to be part of the Sahara family and work closely with Burney, whose mentorship was pivotal in my career. My role eventually expanded to managing the Bangalore edition, where I witnessed firsthand how impactful local journalism could be under the Sahara banner.
Burney’s leadership was instrumental in shaping not only the newspaper’s editorial direction but also the cultural resonance that Rashtriya Sahara held within the community. His belief in the role of technology in journalism allowed us to implement digital solutions more than a decade before they became necessary, proving to be a significant advantage as the media landscape evolved.
In 2010, my association with Rashtriya Sahara reached a new milestone when I was selected to join an official tour to Europe with then-Vice President of India, Hamid Ansari. This opportunity, made possible by Burney’s encouragement, underscored the support that I had received throughout my career and reinforced the importance of Urdu journalism in representing India on a global scale.
A Lasting Impact on Urdu Journalism
The closure of Rashtriya Sahara editions in key cities marks not just a shift in the media landscape but a significant cultural loss. For nearly two decades, this newspaper gave voice to millions, reflecting their daily lives, their triumphs, and their struggles. The impact of Rashtriya Sahara will be remembered for its service to the community, its commitment to accurate reporting, and its role in preserving the Ganga-Jamuni culture of India through the Urdu language.
For those of us who worked with the newspaper and contributed to its mission, this closure is a poignant reminder of the challenges faced by the Urdu press in India today. But it is also a testament to the resilience and importance of Urdu journalism, which, even in difficult times, has always found ways to endure.
“Translated from Urdu, originally written by Javed Jamaluddin”
