Question

Which of the following was India’s first newspaper?
A) Times of India
B) Kesari
C) Bengal Gazette
D) The Hindu

Answer 1

Hint: The newspaper was founded by as Irish man in Calcutta, the then capital of British India. India’s first newspaper was started by James Augustus Hicky in 1779.

Complete answer:
The first newspaper to be printed in both the Indian subcontinent and Asia was the weekly newspaper Bengal Gazette started by James Augustus Hicky. The paper was published for two years, I.e., between 1780 and 1782, before the East India Company seized the newspaper's types and printing press. Why? Because he was a strong critic of Governor General Warren Hastings' administration.

Hickey began publication for the newspaper on 29 January 1780 after printing a prospectus announcing the fact that he will print newspapers. One must realise that the idea of printing a newspaper in India had been floating around for more than 12 years before Hickey took it upon him to execute the idea of printing.

Hicky's Bengal Gazette was known for its sarcastic and provocative writing style. Unlike many newspapers of its time, the newspaper discussed taboo topics proto-class consciousness, arguing for the rights of the poor and the right to taxation with representation
Times of India – founded in 1838
Kesari – founded in 1881
Bengal gazette – founded in 1779
The Hindu – founded in 1878

So, as per the explanation above the correct solution is option (c), i.e. The Bengal Gazette.

Note:
-The first newspaper of India ceased publication on 30 March 1782 when its types were seized by an order of the Supreme Court.
-The newspaper was important for India due to its provocative journalism and its fight for free expression.