Marathi Journalist day is celebrated every year on January 6 across Maharashtra in the memory of Late Balshastri Jambhekar, who is known as the ‘Father of Marathi journalism’.
Why January 6?
i.The first issue of the first newspaper in Marathi, ‘Darpan’, founded by Balshastri Jambhekar was issued on January 6, 1832.
ii.Since then this day has been celebrated as the Marathi Journalist day in the State.
iii.Another significance of January 6 is on this day Balshastri Jambhekar was born in 1812 at Sindhudurg district, Maharashtra.
Note – Marathi Journalism has given voice to the common man and also to the Sanyukta Maharashtra movement(was an organisation in India that advocated for a separate Marathi-speaking state in Western India from 1956 to 1960).
Significance of the Day
On this day, journalist across Maharashtra is being felicitated for being exemplary followers
Key Info about Balshastri Jambhekar:
Father of Marathi journalism
He is known as Father of Marathi journalism for his contribution to Marathi Journalism and for starting 1st Marathi newspaper and the 1st Marathi monthly named ‘Digdarshan’ in 1840
Founded & Printed
He also founded ‘The Bombay Native General Library’ and started ‘Native Improvement Society’.
He published research papers in the quarterly journal of the Asiatic Society and became the 1st Indian to do so.
He was the 1st person to print Dnyaneshwari in 1845. It was known as the first ever-printed version.
Languages
He had mastery in many languages including Marathi, Sanskrit, English and Hindi. Apart from that he also had a good grasp of Greek, Latin, French, Gujarati and Bengali.
Worked as
He served as the 1st professor of Hindi in the Elphinstone College, Mumbai, Maharashtra.
He also worked as Director of the Colaba Observatory, Mumbai, Maharashtra.
Books
He wrote books like Neetikatha (stories on morality), Encyclopedic History of England, English grammar, History of India and Mathematics based on Zero.
Other Days Celebrated in Relation to Journalism:
National Journalism Day– November 17
World Press Freedom Day-May 3
