The first newspaper of Madras Presidency had a 36-year run

In 1783, Richard Johnston, a captain in the British Army, came to India for growth in his military career. As his hopes did not materialise, he became a printer, founding the first newspaper in Madras Presidency in 1785

In 1783, Richard Johnston, a captain in the British Army, came to India to join his brother-in-law, Sir John Burgoyne, who was commanding a regiment in Madras. He was hoping for growth in his military career. As his hopes did not materialise, he became a printer, employed by the government run by the East India Company. The decision to pursue an alternative career, however, earned him a name in history as being the founder of the first newspaper in Madras Presidency in 1785, five years after the Bengal Gazette, the first newspaper in India, came out from Calcutta.

The weekly newspaper, named Madras Courier, became the journal which was officially recognised for the publication of government notifications. It ran with the company’s patronage, at least in its initial years. The first issue came out on October 12, 1785.

The Vestiges of Old Madras (1640-1800), written by Henry Davison Love, which records some of the communications between the company and Johnston, shows he received a waiver of postage for circulating the paper within the presidency and waiver of freight charges for importing equipment through the company’s ships.

The paper ran from four to six pages and carried the motto in Latin Quicquid agunt homines, which roughly translates to ‘Whatever people do’. According to Love’s book, the newspaper, measuring 20 by 12 inches, slightly bigger than a tabloid, was marked “Post free, Price one Rupee.”

While extracts from British newspapers occupied the first two pages, the third page carried letters to the Editor and Indian news, and the fourth was filled with poetry and advertisements. Initially, it came out every Wednesday and later switched to Thursdays.

The newspaper was careful not to offend the East India Company in any manner, in contrast to the Bengal Gazette run by James Augustus Hicky, who was critical of the company and ended up in jail with his newspaper having to shut shop just two years after its launch.

Johnston even lobbied with the company to ward off competition in the beginning. In 1788, three men wanted to establish a printing office that can print characters in some Indian languages along with English. However, Johnston requested the company not to grant permission as it would affect the huge investments his company had made with little profit.