1. Can James Augustus Hickey be described as the father of Indian Press?

Did Hickey initiate the

struggle for the freedom of the press?
2. Hickey initiated the struggle for the freedom of the press. Do you support this view? Enumerate
Hickeys role in the Indian journalism.
3. Do you think Hickey laid the foundation of Print journalism in India? Give your reasons.
4.James Augustus Hickey is regarded as the father of Indian journalism Discuss.

Journalists said it was difficult to ignore the contribution of Hickey, whose anti-establishment writings
and what some call "scandalous outbursts against the rulers of the day", won him many admirers. Free
press in India owes a debt of gratitude to James Augustus Hickey, the man who almost single-handedly
faced the might of the British Empire in India to espouse the cause of free expression and reining in of
the government by the voice of the people, exposing the actions of the government, and making public
the dirty deals.

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Contrast between two pioneers of Press in India, James Silk Buckingham and
James Augustus Hickey

Introduction
Before, we make the contrast and comparison between the pioneers of Indian press-James Augustus

Hickey and James Silk Buckingham, let us briefly understand about the coming of the press

(newspapers) in India. The newspapers came to India as an alien product, as one the benefits of British

Colonialism. The initial strength and power for launching of newspapers was directly fostered in

England. James Augustus Hickey has the distinction of starting the press in India. Later, James Silk

Buckingham got the title for being called as the Pioneer of true Indian Journalism. I have tried in my

writing to show the contrast between the pioneer of Indian press under the scanner: content and its

influence

Content and its Influence:

James Augustus Hickey was an Irishman who is considered as the founder of Indian press. He started a

newspaper called as Hickeys Gazette or Bengal Gazette; it was aliased as Calcutta General

Advertiser which came into being on January 29th 1780. It declared itself as weekly Political and
commercial paper open to all parties but influence by none. It is very important to observe the

statement which implicates that the newspaper was not influenced by the Government or other party,

but to the interest of people, which although proved to be a tool used by James Augustus Hickeys

personal contention with the British rule or its representative- East India Company.

The content was mainly for criticizing the East India Company. But to make it more catchy and

readable, Hickey added other things to this four page Gazette, like a Gossip column, a poets corner,

news related to the European scandals and most importantly the advertisement. The thing to be noted is

that the content was used to emphasise on criticizing the men in power like Warren Hastings and even

people related to the rulers like Lady Hasting. The content of Hickeys Gazette was used more for

acting as a tool of criticism and not for the benefit of the general masses and public. A severe criticism

can be done to Hickeys Gazette as it lacked the ethics of Journalism and was more abusive-using

nicknames of people, and also it wasn't a benefactor to the common public.

If we compare and set a contrast between Hickeys contribution to the contribution of James Silk

Buckingham; there is no doubt that Hickey provided and initiated a platform for Indian press, but we

cant defy the fact that Buckinghams contribution is more legendary and praise worthy. Buckingham

was an Anglo-Indian who is titled as the Father of true Indian Journalism. He in true sense can be

termed as pioneer of ethical Journalism of India. It is said that in the early years of 19th century,

Calcutta saw the emergence of a first real and outstanding journalist. Jawaharlal Nehru has described

him as the earliest champions of the freedom press in India and one who is still remembered in this

country.Although, he came to India as an editor of the Calcutta Chronicle, which was started by the

Calcutta merchants to safeguard their vested interested, but Buckingham laid more emphasis and meant

his content for uplifting the issues of common public, news of local conditions and purified his content

from making criticism, fashion, advertisement, gossip and Anglo Social Scandals. He was more

concerned about the social reforms and that is the reason, he was more liked by the public. He was also

coordinated by Raja Ram Mohan Roy, as he became a pioneer of not only the freedom of speech and

expression but a social reformer as well. The reason might be that he was more accustomed to the

rituals, cultures, beliefs and values of Indian masses in particular and world in general. He was a

prolific writer and was more successful in influencing the hearts of suppressed people of British India.
In conclusion, it can be said that James Augustus Hickey is the pioneer of Indian press; but the title of

pioneer of true Indian Journalism, must be given to James Silk Buckingham.