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When the Mumbai Samachar (MS) completed 200 years the milestone was celebrated in style on June 14, 2022 at India’s most state-of-the-art Jio World Convention Centre at the Bandra Kurla Complex. A postal stamp commemorating the newspaper was launched by Prime Minister (PM) Narendra Modi who came to Bombay especially for the occasion at the request of the Cama family which has owned the newspaper for nearly a 100 years now. It was uncertain until the last moment whether the PM would be able to spare the time; but he did, and in great style too.
An audience of over 10,000 was delighted to hear both the PM and the then chief minister of Maharashtra, Uddhav Thackeray, praise the Gujarati speaking population of the country. Also present were the state’s governor Bhagat Singh Koshyari and leader of the opposition, former chief minister Devendra Fadnavis, whose support (MC) director Hormusji Cama referred to. Cama reminded the PM of their conversation when Modi was chief minister of Gujarat, that he would next meet him when he took over as the PM of India. This Modi acknowledged, remembering it fondly.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Speaking in Marathi followed by Gujarati, Cama narrated the origins of the Bombay Samachar, "the press having begun in 1812, the newspaper in 1822.” He stated that they have always been foremost in technology as well as trust and credibility, which is one of the several reasons why they have a loyal readership which in turn has enabled them to continue publishing the 200-year-old newspaper. Due to the readers’ trust and faith in the Camas, even though the Samachar is perhaps the most expensive newspaper in Bombay, it commands a good readership. As long as this situation continues Cama does not envisage MC going out of print. It is a matter of pride that the Samachar is amongst the 10 oldest newspapers in the world and the oldest in Asia.
Nilesh Dave, only the second non Parsi editor of the Samachar (though decades ago, two Maharashtrian brothers were appointed as editors for a very brief period to steady the ship rocked by mounting debts until the Cama patriarch, Mancherji, steered the newspaper into safe harbor), welcomed Modi in an emotional address, describing him as "Bharat bhagya vidhata (shaper of the nation’s destiny).” This prompted the PM to remark that he was no savior but only a servant of the people.
In his 23-minute ex tempore address Modi spoke of the Samachar’s contribution to the freedom struggle. Mahatma Gandhi frequently met the senior Cama who gave free rein to his editors, both of the Samachar and its stable mate, The Bombay Chronicle. These publications had legends like Benjamin Guy Horniman and Sayed Abdulla Brelvi as editors, daring journalists of great independence. The road where the newspaper’s iconic red brick building stands even today, opposite the Horniman Circle, has been named after Brelvi. During Indira Gandhi’s Emergency, this was the only leading newspaper in whose office no censor official was posted, even though the Samachar refused to be pre censored. Modi also singled out for mention former Indian Civil Service officer A. D. Gorwala who after retirement published the fearless weekly, Opinion. When it was ordered to be shut down during the Emergency, Gorwala took to cyclostyling the copies. (The stencil was cut by a Parsi lady and the printing done by an Irani Zoroastrian who had a small shop near the stock exchange — editors.)
After extolling the role of the Camas (both current director Mehli Cama and Hormusji were listening intently to the PM), Modi urged the Camas to digitize the archival copies of the newspaper as it was of great historical interest. He also used the occasion to shower unstinted praise on the Parsi community. Some of the newly appointed trustees of the Bombay Parsi Punchayet looked on pleased, seated in the front rows of an auditorium packed to capacity and chanting "Modi! Modi!”
India has given shelter to many immigrants who came to its shores as also afforded them opportunities to prosper, said the PM. The most outstanding among these are the Parsis who made the country their own and who, despite being probably the tiniest of micro minorities, have contributed disproportionately to every field of human endeavor including industry, the arts, journalism and sports. Most significantly, in the nation’s fight for Independence. Modi also extolled the role of Parsis in the Indian armed forces.
The PM was all smiles while describing the Parsi sense of humor (if you visit a Parsi home, you will hear peals of laughter). And he actually laughed out loud while recalling Parsi theater performances. The nation is proud of the community reiterated Modi, who is known to have a soft corner for this exemplary minority, a beacon light to others.
The commemorative stamp of Rs 5 denomination displays the façade of the distinctive red brick building showing the name board and a collage of issues of the newspaper with the legend "@200 Mumbai Samachar” at the bottom.