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Hicky 's Bengal Gazette - wikipedia Hicky 's Bengal Gazette Jump to : navigation , search Hicky 's Bengal Gazette <Td_colspan="2"> Front page of Hicky 's Bengal Gazette , March 10 , 1781 , from the University of Heidelberg 's archives . Type Weekly newspaper Publisher James Augustus Hicky Founded January 29 , 1780 Ceased publication March 23 , 1782 Headquarters 67 Radha Bazar Kolkata , India Country India <Td_colspan="2"> Media of India List of newspapers Hicky 's Bengal Gazette or the Original Calcutta General Advertiser was an English language weekly newspaper published in Kolkata ( then Calcutta ) , the capital of British India . It was the first newspaper printed in Asia , and was published for two years , before the East India Company seized the newspaper 's types and printing press . Founded by James Augustus Hicky , a highly eccentric Irishman who had previously spent two years in jail for debt , the newspaper was a strong critic of the administration of the Governor General Warren Hastings . The newspaper was important for its provocative journalism well before its time and its fight for free expression in India . Contents ( hide ) 1 Newspaper history 2 Editorial Policy 3 Contemporary views 4 Legacy 5 Surviving Copies 6 References 7 External links Newspaper history ( edit ) Hicky began publication of Hicky 's Bengal Gazette on January 29 , 1780 , having first printed a prospectus announcing that he would begin printing a newspaper . The idea of printing a newspaper in India had been first floated twelve years earlier by the Dutch Adventurer William Bolts , but Hicky was to execute the concept . Hicky first maintained a neutral editing policy ( his slogan was `` Open to all Parties , but Influenced by None '' ) but after he learned that competitors with ties to the East India Company were intending to launch a rival newspaper , The India Gazette , he changed his editorial stance . Hicky accused an East India Company employee , Simeon Droz , of supporting the India Gazette as punishment for Hicky 's refusal to pay a bribe to Droz and Marian Hastings , Warren Hastings ' wife . In retaliation for Hicky 's accusation , Hastings ' Supreme Council forbid Hicky from mailing his newspaper through the post office . Hicky claimed Hastings ' order violated his right to free expression , and accused Hastings of corruption , tyranny , and even erectile dysfunction . Hicky also accused other British leaders in Calcutta of corruption , including the Chief Justice of the Supreme Court of Judicature at Fort William , Elijah Impey of taking bribes , and the leader of the Protestant Mission , Johann Zacharias Kiernander of stealing from an orphaned children 's fund . Hicky 's editorial independence was short lived as Hastings and Kiernander sued him for libel . After four dramatic trials in June 1781 , the Supreme Court found Hicky guilty and sentenced him to jail . Hicky continued to print his newspaper from jail , and continued to accuse Hastings and others of corruption . He was finally suppressed when Hastings instituted fresh law suits against him . Hicky 's Bengal Gazette ceased publication on March 23 , 1782 when its types were seized by an order of the Supreme Court . Editorial policy ( edit ) Hicky 's Bengal Gazette was known for its sarcastic and provocative writing style . Unlike many newspapers of its time , the newspaper discussed taboo topics like female masturbation , and proto - class consciousness , arguing for the rights of the poor and the right to taxation with representation . It was strongly anti-war and anti-colonial and routinely ridiculed East India Company leadership for their expansionist and imperialist objectives . Contemporary views ( edit ) The memoirist William Hickey ( who , confusingly , was not in fact related to the paper 's founder ) describes its establishment shortly after he had succeeded ( in his capacity as an attorney - at - law ) in having James Hicky released from debtor 's jail : `` At the time I first saw Hicky he had been about seven years in India . During his confinement he met with a treatise upon printing , from which he collected sufficient information to commence ( as a ) printer , there never having been a press in Calcutta ... it occurred to Hicky that great benefit might arise from setting on foot a public newspaper , nothing of that kind ever having appeared . Upon his types &c. , therefore reaching him , he issued proposals for printing a weekly paper , which , meeting with extraordinary encouragement , he speedily issued his first work . As a novelty every person read it , and was delighted . Possessing a fund of low wit , his paper abounded with proof of that talent . He had also a happy knack at applying appropriate nicknames and relating satirical anecdotes '' . Hicky benefited little from the paper , as William Hickey further tells us that he allowed it `` to become the channel of personal invective , and the most scurrilous abuse of individuals of all ranks , high and low , rich and poor , many were attacked in the most wanton and cruel manner ... His utter ruin was the consequence '' . Legacy ( edit ) Hicky 's Bengal Gazette was the first English - language newspaper , and indeed the first printed newspaper , to be published in both the Indian sub-continent and Asia as a whole . The newspaper became very famous not only among the British soldiers posted in India at that time but also inspired the Indians to write newspapers of their own . Pages of Hicky 's Bengal Gazette from the British Library Surviving copies ( edit ) Five archives are known to have copies ( all incomplete ) of Hicky 's Bengal Gazette : University of Melbourne University of Heidelberg National Library of India High Court of Calcutta ( only an extraordinary issue dated June 25 , 1781 . No other archive has this issue ) British Library References ( edit ) Jump up ^ The Memoirs of William Hickey Vol. II ( 1775 - 1782 ) , London : Hurst & Blackett , 1918 , p. 175 . Jump up ^ Hickey , Memoirs , Vol. II , p. 176 . External links ( edit ) Hicky 's Bengal Gazette - online Newspaper copy from British Library Retrieved from `` https://en.wikipedia.org/w/index.php?title=Hicky%27s_Bengal_Gazette&oldid=800787877 '' Categories : Publications established in 1780 Publications disestablished in 1782 Defunct weekly newspapers Defunct newspapers of India English - language newspapers History of Kolkata Culture of Kolkata English - language newspapers published in India Gazettes Talk Contents About Wikipedia বাংলা हिन्दी മലയാളം मराठी پنجابی Edit links This page was last edited on 15 September 2017 , at 17 : 34 . About Wikipedia