Seema Narendran, Ramnarain Ruia College Ananda Bazaar Patrika

Seema Narendran, Ramnarain Ruia College Anandabazar Patrika first appeared on March 13, 1922 — the day of Holi, as an evening daily, printed in red ink. Founded in 1922 by Prafulla Chandra Sarkar who was the editor as well It was a four-pager, priced at two paise and had a first-day circulation of a thousand copies.

Seema Narendran, Ramnarain Ruia College The newspaper’s red ink led to the contemporary English daily, The Englishman terming it a ‘danger signal’. Largest circulating Bengali daily in India Considered by many to be one of the most popular regional newspaper in India

Seema Narendran, Ramnarain Ruia College Today its concurrently published from Kolkata, New Delhi, and Mumbai The newspaper brings out special festive issues during Durga Puja Synonymous with the Bengali community

Seema Narendran, Ramnarain Ruia College The origins A daily from 1891, Amrita Bazar Patrika by the beginning of the 20th century was recognized as a pillar of the national movement In 1922, generational change within the Ghosh family led to a division A branch split off and started a Bengali daily Ananda Bazar Patrika

Seema Narendran, Ramnarain Ruia College The two newspapers became keen rivals With the common the struggle against the British, they intruded on each other's circulation base After independence, Ananda Bazar Patrika adapted more successfully to the need for management and advertising Under A K Sarkar ( ), in the 1960s, it became India's largest circulating daily published from a single centre

Seema Narendran, Ramnarain Ruia College With its unshakeable patriotic stance, it soon became very popular. Unbiased views, constructive criticism, indomitable courage and an uncompromising attitude were just a few aspects, which went on to make Anandabazar Patrika the ‘voice of Bengal’.

Seema Narendran, Ramnarain Ruia College Its popularity reached new heights when, in 1954, the Press Commission report declared Anandabazar Patrika to be the largest circulated newspaper in the country, published from one location. Over the years, Anandabazar Patrika has achieved many milestones along the way — it was the first in the east and one of the first in the country to use offset printing

Seema Narendran, Ramnarain Ruia College Shook the foundation of the British power in India Helped to enhance the spirit of nationality among the people fighting against the colonial power Gained immense popularity with the masses 1000 copies of the newspaper were sold on the very first day of publication

Seema Narendran, Ramnarain Ruia College Showed immense courage in stating the truth and never compromised Always presented unbiased news Initially consisted of only four pages

Seema Narendran, Ramnarain Ruia College Other than the Kolkata edition, it has introduced editions for other metropolitans like Mumbai and Delhi It is the only Bengali daily to cross 1.2 million in circulation Published, along with Desh, the first large-scale readership survey in 1963, nine years before the first National Readership Survey (NRS) research was commissioned

Seema Narendran, Ramnarain Ruia College Has seven district splits within West Bengal Also has city splits- Uttar Kolkata (North Calcutta), Dakshin Kolkata (South Calcutta), Purbo Kolkata (Salt Lake) & Howrah There is also an internet edition of Anandabazar Patrika and anandautsav.com, the puja website.

Seema Narendran, Ramnarain Ruia College In addition to its city split — Kolkata, it offers supplements like Patrika on Saturdays, Rabibashoriyo on Sundays, Prastuti on alternate Mondays and Kajer Bazar on Tuesdays. Total readership: 72,95,000 (NRS 2006) Readership in Calcutta: 30,61,000 (NRS 2006)

Seema Narendran, Ramnarain Ruia College The group, under Aveek Sarkar launched: The Telegraph- an English daily Sunday- an English weekly (now closed down) Sports World- Sports magazine Business Standard- Daily pink paper

Seema Narendran, Ramnarain Ruia College Starts with four pages, becomes six soon after Anandabazar Patrika becomes a morning daily Ties up with Reuters, Associated Press and the Free Press of India becomes a 16-page wonder First 120-page special supplement on Calcutta Congress - sold out within two hours. Second edition printed on demand.

Seema Narendran, Ramnarain Ruia College Faced with a draconian Press Ordinance, goes out of circulation for a few months Starts coming out everyday Circulation soars

Seema Narendran, Ramnarain Ruia College Anandabazar Patrika was the first to inform about Subhas Chandra Bose’s dramatic escape No ads carried on the front page, the day after Rabindranath Tagore’s demise

Seema Narendran, Ramnarain Ruia College Dailies not printed to protest against regulations imposed on newspapers and the lack of newsprint Mahatma Gandhi’s assassination - landmark coverage, Lord Mountbatten calls it the “greatest homage to the Mahatma.”

Seema Narendran, Ramnarain Ruia College 1960-Entertainment gets a fillip with the Anandalok section introduced in ABP Colloquial Bengali in narrative prose begins. Formal Bengali only in the editorials now

Seema Narendran, Ramnarain Ruia College The first colour printing — the features section of ABP News comes to a standstill as ABP faces a 51-day strike Does not carry a single advertisement as a mark of tribute to Satyajit Ray, who had died the previous day

Seema Narendran, Ramnarain Ruia College The district pages of the ABP are launched its internet edition is launched A new-look Anandabazar Patrika hits the stands.

Seema Narendran, Ramnarain Ruia College Reaches the one-million circulation benchmark Anandabazar Patrika wins Silver for being the best printed non-English daily at the 4th National Awards for Excellence in Printing

Seema Narendran, Ramnarain Ruia College The only newspaper to send a journalist to cover Amartya Sens Nobel Prize investiture ceremony