User:Anindita smiles/History of Dhaka Printing and Publishing

It can not be certainly said where the first printing machine was set up in Bangladesh.Based on the gleaned information,it is conjectured that the first printing machine was in Rangpur during 1847,far away from Dhaka.The first printed piece was a weekly newspaper named 'Rongopur Bartaboho'(রঙ্গপুর বাত্তাবহ)in August,1847.So the printing machine in Rangpur is considered the first one of Bangladesh.In addition to ,the first two Bengali weekly newspapers were published from Rangpur. Printing machine took more than sixty years to reach East Bengal or Dhaka from Kolkata.The first English Weekly newspaper,'The Dacca News' was printed and published from Dhaka in 1856.So,it is assumed that after nine years of Rangpur press,the first printing machine of Dhaka was established and the press was named 'Dacca Press'.

Dacca Press
The first printed edition of 'The Dacca News' came on 18th April,1856 from 'Dacca Press'.At the beginning,it was of one page costing two annas per copy.It was published on every Saturday.From its 13th version,the page increases to four along with the 'suppliment' where current market price was the main concern.From its second volume ,the pages increase to eight.Perhaps there were five owners of Dacca Press who were also the owner of the newspaper.They were A.M Camaron,N.P Pogose,J.A Greg,J.P Wise,K.A Goni.It was a tumultous period when the riot between English Indigo planters and Bengali peasants was going on.Most of the owners were zaminders and they published newspaper to secure their interest. Alexander Forbes was the editor of 'The Dacca News'.Forbes wrote in an edition of 'The Dacca News': "In an out-of-way.if not the most out of-the-wayest corner of the world,we established a press.We had not a single compositor,or Printer,or Devil.We had to educate them all.We set up,in type,a great part of our first numbers with our own hands.We have been,down to the present day,our own chief corrector of proofs. A Bengali named Sreenath Dutta was found as a printer till the 13th edition.Probably Forbes trained him.At this time,printing faces a severe adversity though Dhaka was of once capital of Bengal and one of the major cities of the East Bengal.Forbes mentions in one of the editions of 'The Dacca News' of 1856 that he could not print a report lack of necessary types.

Kattra Press
A Bangladeshi writer and historian,Muntasir Mamun's book Unish Shotoke Dhakar Mudron o ProkashonaItalic text' (1848-1900) informs us that he finds a fairly printed book(পুস্তিকা)named The First Report of the East Bengal Missionary Society.MDCC-CXLVIII.With an Appendix etcItalic text' while he was working in India Office Library of London.The book(পুস্তিকা) was in octave form containing forty pages."Dacca:Printed at the Kattra Press,1849" was written on its title page.It suggests that the printing machine exists in Dhaka before 1856.Thus it can be said that printing machine first starts working in the year 1848/49 in Kattra.Here,Muntasir Mamun means Chhoto Kattra where the Baptist Missionaries resided and set up their offices.So the book published in 1849 by the Baptist Missionaries is the first printed piece.Two more Bengali books named ProhelikaItalic text and Prarthona Anukrom were from Kattra.Though Prohelika Italic text was the first Bengali book of East Bengal,it was not printed completely in Bengali.

During 1847, Reverend Johanes Hebarlin was in charge of East Bengal Missionary Society of Dhaka. Evangelical Missionary Society of Basel sent Samuel Boast and Frederick Lehman to assist him.Boast was skilled in the field of printing.Under his direction the first machine was set up in 1848 in Chhoto Kattra and the machine was brought from Basel.

Graham William Shaw speculates that the Kattra Press survives four years.Then it was bought in order to publish 'The Dacca News'.It is not known whether more were printed except the report and two books from there. When 'The Dacca News' stops printing,another english newspaper 'The Bengal Times' was published from Dacca Press and existed till the twentieth century.

Bangala Jontro
During 1848-1857,two more machines werw brought into Dhaka but they did not impact much on the business of printing and publishing.The establishment of 'Bangala Jontro' in 1860, was a watershed in the printing history of Dhaka.A Bengali was its proprietor and from this time,Bengali books and newspapers started publishing frequently.Following this, many machines were coming up in Dhaka.

Printing press became important as a tool of exchanging thoughts or opinions.Even the Brahma movement played a vital role in the printing history.For example,the Brahmas published 'Dacca Prokash' from Bangala Jontro,while the orthodox Hindus published 'Hindu Hiteishini' from Sulov Jontro, in response to this.

Abdul Kayum quotes from the essay of Girijakanto Ghosh that the owners of the Bangala Jontro were Brojosundor Mitra,Vogoban Chandra Basu and Kashikanto Mukhopadhaya. Brojosundor Mitra undertook the enterprise but there were many partners of Bangala Jontro.On the fifth year,one of the personnels of 'Dacca Prokash',Gobindo Prosad Roy bought the ownership of Bangala Jontro.After the death of Gobindo Prosad,his son-in-law,Jadab Chandra Sen took the responsibility of 'Dacca Prokash' and Bangala Jontro.He continued only for two years and handed it over to Talukdar-Babu,Guruganga Aich Chowdhury of Charipara of Manikganj.Talukdar-babu became the owner of Bangala Jontro and 'Dacca Prokash'for 3450 tk worked sixteen years as an editor over there.Due to monetary crisis,he handed the ownership over to Shrijukto Mukundo Bihari Chakravorty(B.A) and Radha Romon Ghosh(B.A).After a few days,Mukundo Bihari became the sole owner and run it for thirty years.'Dacca Prokash' was yet published in 1954 and then the editor was Abdur Rashid. The first Bengali periodical,monthly 'Kobita Kusumaboli' of East Bengal or Dhaka was published From Bangala Jontro in 1860.Its editor was poet Krishna Chandra Majumdar.The publication of it stopped in this 1860.In this year,a monthly,'Nobobyabohar Songhita' edited by lawyer Ram Chandra Bhowmick was published from there.Dinobandhu Mitra's Nil DarpanItalic text'' was also from Bangala Jontro in 1860.

Other Printing Presses
In 1862,another machine called 'Nuton Jontro' was established in Dhaka.But the name of the owner remains unknown.Monthly 'Obokash Ronjika','Chitto Ronjika' were probably printed from this machine.

'Sulov Jontro' was set up in 1863.Poet Harish Chandra Mitra was the manager of it but not is known about its ownership.The published newspapers,periodicals edited by Harish Chandra from Sulov Jontro were respectively 'Dacca Darpan'(1863),'Kabbyo Prokash'(1864),a weekly-'Hindu Hiteishini'(in against the Brahma movement),'Shuvo Sadhini' and 'Hitokori'(1871).Lots of Mussalmani Puthi were also printed from this.

In 1864,Girish Chandra Roy oy Baliati established 'Biggaponi Jontro'.In 1865,a weekly 'Biggaponi' edited by Krishna Chandra Majumdar was published from this machine.Biggaponi Jontro was tranferred to Mymensigh in 1866 and within two years,it got closed.

In 1869,Girish Chandra Roy again established a machine named 'Girish Jontro' in Dhaka.Harish Chandra Mitra (founder of 'Hindu Hiteishini') published a periodical,'Mitra Prokash' from this Girish Jontro.In 1874,Kali Prasanno ghosh bought the machine.Edited by him,a monthly'Bandhob' was printed from there.Being a literary person,he was a skilled business as well.Within a few days,Girish Jontro impacted greatly on the arena of printing industry.Most of the books of Dhaka were printed from it and it survived for a long time.Foyjunnesa Choudhurani's RupjalalItalic text(1876) was also printed from Girish Jontro.

The Brahmas,Hindus,Europeans initiated the printing project in dhaka.From the 1870s,the Muslims started entering into the market.They mainly printed puthi.

According to professor Kayum,'Mohammadi Jontro' was the first muslim printing press of Dhaka at Fajle Alir Bazar,near Begum Bazar.Munshi Mohammad Jan was its owner.'Sayedi Jontro'was set up in the same place and Abul Baset was the owner of it.'Azizia Press' was perhaps established in 1882 in Mogoltuli.The owner of the press was puthikar Munshi Foyejuddin.

Location
The presses of Dhaka were not centred around a specific place.Most of were from Banglabazar to Begumbazar.Apart from that some machines were in Mogoltuli or Armanitola.As books wear usually sold in from Patuatuli to Baburbazar,most of the printing machines were set up within these areas.The presses of Dhaka became a centre of socio-economic exchange.Book-shops,libraries were not available then.All types of people like authors,publishers,editors,printers,compositors,workers,retailers,friends of them- all who are associated with the books,always gathered over the places from Banglabazar to Begumbazar.

Type of Printing Machines
What type of machines were used in Dhaka can not be definitely said but 'Dacca Prokash'was printed by 'Chila or Colombian Press'.Albion Press was also popular then.These were made by iron.Albion Press was of Good quality.That is why,Albion machines were the most imported ones from Kolkata.

Law
The British colonisers created the laws for the Indians and attempted to translate it ino Bengali to make them aware of them.The Middle class started believing this as neutral which will save them.At this time, law as a profession was booming,many people involved in it.So the books on law were in demand.During the nineteenth century,not many books of this genre but about forty-four books were published from Dhaka.

Biographical/Autobiographical books
About thirty biographical and autobiographical books were published from Dhaka in the nineteenth century.Only three books were autobiographical among them.The oldest autobiography was EtibrittoItalic text'(1868) by poet Krishnachandra Majumdar and the others were Songkhiptto Jibon BrittantoItalic text'(1882) by Rashbihari Mukhopadhay and Shekaler Darogar Kahini(1888) by Girish Chandra.In 1898, a biography namedVictoria ChoritItalic text by kamakhya Charan Bandhopadhay was published.

History Books
In the 19th century, only twenty historical books were published from Dhaka.Banga Etihash er SharItalic text'(1866) by Gobinda Chandra Chattapadhay was the oldest among them.Some books were used as school or college text books like Bangalar Etihashby Kedareshwar Chakrabarty and Bangladesh o Assamer Songkhiptto BiboronItalic text' by Deenanath Sen.

Novel
19th century can be marked as the first phase of writing Bengali novels.But then novels were not in its full form.Bankim Chandra Chattapadhay developed this protonovelistic phase and thus novel gets its full form.The published novels from Dhaka were few in number than kolkata.Only twenty six novels were published from dhaka and Jagroto SwapnoItalic text(1864) by Baroda Prasad Roy was the oldest among them. Religion became a major factor in some of the novels.For example,Islam in Prem Darpan by Arjumund Ali,Bramho in RajkumariItalic textby Ananda Chandra Mitra,Christianity in Haranchandra Raha's Sarola.

Poetry
In the second half of the 19th century,poetry plays a very vital role.The major poets of East Bengal were Michael Madhusudan Dutt,Ananda Chandra Mitra,Kaykobad,Krishna Chandra Majumdar,Nabin Chandra Sen,Govinda Chandra Das,Harishchandra Mitra and so on.The first monthly paper published from Dhaka was of poetry 'Kusumaboli'.Edited by Krishnachandra Majumdar,Harishchandra Mitra and Prashanna Kumar Sen,'Kusumaboli' was published in 1861.'Chittaranjika'(1862) and 'Mitra Prakash'(1870) by Harishchandra Mitra were published.

Books on Medical Science
In order to establish the western medical science,British Governor George Campbell in 1873 decided to set up medical schools in Kolkata,Dhaka and Patna and to teach in Bengali medium.This necessitated the publishing of Bengali books on medical science for the medical students.Dhaka contributed much in publishing these books than others.The first book published from Dhaka was Formulary BookItalic textby Ainuddin Ahmed in 1872.Many journals on it were also published from Dhaka.They were 'Ayurved Sonjiboni','Chikitsa','Chikitsa Darpan','VIshok','Homeopathic Onubadika' and 'Homeopathic Procharok.The notable writers were Kashi Chandra,Durgadas Roy,Dwarakanath Gupta,Surya Narayan Ghosh,Hari Prasad Chakravorty.

Religion
A strong religious sense never allows the Bengali to think freely.This gradually makes life complex and thereby,they started attempting to reform religious issues and it took a form of movement.As consequences of the movement,Brahmism was emerged out to uproot the evils in orthodox Hinduism like 'Sotidaho Protha','Koulinnyo Protha' and so on.Islamic doctrines were also attempted to change.By this time,in the Indian Subcontinent,missionaries started spreading Christianity.In the first half of the nineteenth century,they published many books on Christianity.The first book published from Dhaka was also on Christianity.Most of the religious books from Dhaka contained the various methods of performing the respective prayers.Koulinnyo Shongshodhoni,and Bollali Shonshodhoni by Rasbihari Mukhopdhaya were significant among the books.

Play/Farce
Plays, farces were written to portray social disparity,moral depriciation and above all the complete picture of the society.Harish Chandra Mitra and Harihar Nandi were famous among the farce writers.Eight farces of Harish Chandra were published from Dhaka.They were-Myao Dhorbe ke?,Janoki Natok,'Ghar Thakte Babui Bheje,'Agomoni,Shuvosro Shighhrom,Hotovagyo Shikkhok,Prahlad Natok,and Nirbasita Sita.

Panchali
Bengali were extreme believer of fatalism.As a result of that,a great number of panchali were published from Dhaka.According to the 'Press and Registration of Books Act'(1867),most of the panchalis were not submitted to the Government.Thus little is known about the panchali.The published panchali from Dhaka were mainly written on Shoni-dev,Satya(Satya -as Narayana to Hindus and Peer to Muslims),Trinath and so on.They were cheap,small in size(not more than 12 pages).During 1870's most of the panchalis were published from Dhaka.

Puthi
Most of the puthis were based on the subjectof Islam and its sages,Thus,puthi differed from panchali.Dhaka became the centre of the publication of puthi as Muslims were the majority in Dhaka.The popular puthi-writer(পুথিকার)of Dhaka were Khoaz Master,Abdul Gofur,Abdul Karim,Sayed Jan,Moniruddin Ahmed,Munshi Azimuddin,Munshi Abdur Rahim and so on.Del Aram'Italic text(1867),Sher MashgulItalic text'(1885),Shah Porir Poth'Italic text(1887),Yousuf Jolekha'Italic text(1896) by Munshi Goribullah and so on were published from Dhaka.

Prose
Around the first half of the nineteenth century,in the Indian subcontinent,missionaries began writing proses to disseminate Christianity.Later Raja Rammohan Roy developed the field .But few proses were published from Dhaka because the writers did not achieve the creativity and intellectuality of writing proses at thet time.In 1869,Kaliprashanno Ghosh's first book Nari Jati Bishoyok Prostab'Italic text was published from Dhaka.Hindu MosolmanItalic text' by Abdus Sobhan,one of the significant proses from Dhaka.