Hicky 's Bengal Gazette - wikipedia Hicky 's Bengal Gazette Hicky 's Bengal Gazette 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 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 1 Newspaper history 2 Editorial Policy 3 Contemporary views 4 Legacy 5 Surviving Copies 6 References 7 External links Newspaper history 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 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 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 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 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 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 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

Question: who started the first english newspaper in india
Answer: James Augustus Hicky