PREVIOUSLY ASKED IN:
WBPSC Miscellaneous Preliminary 2023
Answer
Samachar Darpan
Explanation
The 'Samachar Darpan' was the first newspaper published in the Bengali language. It was launched as a weekly newspaper on May 23, 1818, by the Serampore Mission Press in Bengal. It was edited by John Clark Marshman. It played a pivotal role in the development of modern Bengali prose and social awakening.
Key Points
- > Year of publication: 1818.
- > Language: Bengali.
- > Editor: John Clark Marshman (Serampore missionaries).
- > Hicky's 'Bengal Gazette' (1780) was the first newspaper in India, but it was in English.
- > 'Sambad Kaumudi' (1821) was published by Raja Ram Mohan Roy.
- > 'Somprakash' (1858) was associated with Ishwar Chandra Vidyasagar.
- > The paper helped establish a standardized Bengali prose syntax.
Additional Information
Historical Newspapers in Bengal
| Newspaper | Editor/Founder | Year | Language |
|---|---|---|---|
| Samachar Darpan | J.C. Marshman | 1818 | Bengali (First) |
| Bengal Gazette | J.A. Hicky | 1780 | English (India's First) |
| Sambad Prabhakar | Ishwar Chandra Gupta | 1831 | Bengali (First Daily) |
| Tattwabodhini | Akshay Kumar Datta | 1843 | Bengali |
Memory Tips
- Darpan means Mirror: Think of the very first Bengali newspaper acting as a mirror (Darpan) to the Bengali society in 1818.