COMRADE

COMRADE

Maulana Muhammad ali Johar started Comrade from Calcutta on 1^st January 1911 as a weekly newspaper.

Comrade was later shifted to Delhi in 1912 Maulana Muhammad Ali Johar wanted to issue the newspaper from the main capital of India as it targeted the main offices and institutions of the state, so when the capital was shifted from Calcutta to Delhi the issuance of Comrade also moved to Delhi.

When first newspaper of Comrade was issued from Delhi at that time Turkey was under a war of Tarablas and Balkan, and Comrade was the first of the newspapers that covered the foreign issues of war in Muslim state.

In 1914 when Turkey was at war Maulana Muhammad Ali Johar after a continuous sitting of 36 hours wrote his memorable editorial “the choice of Turks” a befitting to the insulting article to the “London times” under the same caption. The Indian government for-fitted its security he was marked as a dangerous man by the authorities and his paper for-fitted its security several times.

Objectives

Comrade was to create a sense of political awareness among the Muslims and convey the Muslim’s point of view to the rulers about the current situation.

Contents

Its contents main attraction were the coverage, articles, short stories, poems and few separate pages of comics that were based upon the international politics.

Its most important aspect were the editorials and columns written by Maulana Muhammad Ali Johar himself he had a thorough command over English that attracted the Britishers as well.

Comrade had set an example of independent journalism and was a class by itself, it played a vital role in molding the political outlook of modern india.

Due to its frank views and flawless English Comrade gained acclaim in the official circles rapidly. An ex-British finance member of the government of india took its mounted copies to England and it played an important role for awakening of muslim masses and in forming their political outlook.

Maulana Muhammad ali johar’s views were similar to those of jamal ud din afghani on international level and he stood for muslim brotherhood and Islamic unity across the globe.

He waged full fleged support for the salvation of khilafat in turkey because it was a source of spiritual unity of muslims of the world.

He also played a vital role to present a Turkish point of views during the war when the First World War started turkey and Germany an alliance Maulana Muhamad Ali Johar wrote a 19 column comprehensive editorial that supported the Turkish stance claiming that it should not be divided.

As a result Maulana Muhammad Ali Johar was deprived of his paper and security of 2000 rupees and asked for another 1000 rupees under the press act 1910. So it went difficult for him to arrange such a large sum which caused it to be shut down.

Comrade remained closed for 10 years from 3^rd November 1914 to 1924.

Maulana Muhammad Ali Johar wrote the editorial prior to the war and against the propagation of war, which went against the British interest and they forced it to be closed on the basis of fines, that were unable to be beard by the newspaper.

Journalistic ideology of Maulana Muhammad Ali Johar for “Comrade”

About the role of journalist he said “a journalist should not be the only source of public opinion but it should be a guide, he should not only support the desires and views of public but also give lessons from the journalistic platform.

About the news he said “news should be authentic and true that a historian can base a structure of history upon it,”

About editorial he said “it should be written with full devotion, hard work, analysis and research whatever is written should have seriousness of purpose and be above persons.”