Fardunjee Marzaban or Fardoonjee Marazban (22 August 1787– 17 March 1847)[1] was, among other things, a printer and a newspaper editor. He established the first vernacular printing press in Bombay, India.[2] He also started India’s oldest running periodical called the Bombay Samachar, which was printed primarily in Gujarati. He pioneered vernacular journalism in India,[3] as also the production of Gujarati types.[4]
Fardunjee Marzban was born at Surat[5] in 1787 into a family of Parsi-Zoroastrian priests in Gujarat, and initially trained for the priesthood. His father and grandfather had been scholars of Zoroastrian religious literature (i.e. Middle Persian and Avestan texts), and Marzban followed their example.
In 1805, Fardunji went to Bombay[1] and learnt Persian and Arabic languages under Mulla Feroze. In 1808, Fardunji opened a book-bindery.[2]
It was while working as a book binder that he met the printer Jijibhai Chhapghar. Perhaps it was his interaction with Jijibhai Chhapghar that inspired Fardunji to open an Indian printing press.[6]
The press was set up in 1812, but the first book would not be printed until 1814. This book would be an Almanac for the Hindu Samvat Year 1871.[2] No copy of the work survives.[2]
Between 1814 and 1822 he printed several other works. In 1815 he printed a Gujarati translation of the Persian book Dabistān-i Mazāhibm,[1] which he had himself prepared. The work was priced at Rs 15 per copy.[2] In 1817 he published a Gujarati translation of the Khordeh Avesta.
Later, he would also publish translations of the Shahnameh in 1833, the Gulistan in 1838, the Bostan (posthumously in 1849). He even published a Persian dictionary in 1833.[1]
Fardunji’s Bombay Samachar, which started off as a weekly paper, priced at Rs 2 per month,[5] was turned into a daily in 1832.[2] It would serve as a template for the foundation of several other Parsi-run newspapers, including the Indian Spectator (later the Voice of India) and the Bombay Times (now a supplement of the Times of India).
1832 was not a fortuitous year for Fardunji Marzban. He had to withdraw from the Bombay Samachar that year. It appears that his printing Gujarati translations of Parsi scriptures caused great controversy. In addition to this, he also lost his trading ship (which traded with China) that he owned. The ship was called Hindustan. Perhaps because of these double losses in his journalistic enterprise and trade, he had to leave Bombay.[7]
He went to Daman, then a Portuguese settlement, where he practiced medicine.[8] He died on 23 March 1847.[1]
Notes
^ abcdeCE Buckland, Dictionary of Indian Biography, (New Delhi: Cosmo Publications, 1999), p. 278
^ abcdefAK Priolkar, The Printing Press in India: Its Beginnings and Early Development, (Mumbai: Marathi Samsodhana Mandala, 1958), p. 78
^These types were not, however, very elegant, but it must be remembered that these resulted from a pioneering enterprise. Gujarati types would be improved by Ganpat Kishanji and Javji Dadaji. See Priolkar, The Printing Press in India, pp. 78, 101-2.
^ abVeena Naregal, Language Politics, Elites, and the Public Sphere, (New Delhi: Orient Blackswan, 2001), p. 178
^paraphrase of a quotation in Priolkar, The Printing Press in India, p. 73
^In a footnote, Naregal, Language Politics, Elites, and the Public Sphere, p. 178
^The Portuguese settlement would then have been the joint territory of Goa, Daman and Diu. See Buckland, Dictionary of Indian Biography, p. 278; and Naregal’s footnote, Language Politics, Elites, and the Public Sphere, p. 178. Also, Buckland qualifies that it was an ‘oriental’ medicine that Fardunji practiced.
References
Darukhanawala, Hormusji Dhunjishaw (1939), Parsi Lustre on Indian Soil, vol. 1, Bombay: G. Claridge
fardunjee, marzban, fardunjee, marzaban, fardoonjee, marazban, august, 1787, march, 1847, among, other, things, printer, newspaper, editor, established, first, vernacular, printing, press, bombay, india, also, started, india, oldest, running, periodical, calle. Fardunjee Marzaban or Fardoonjee Marazban 22 August 1787 17 March 1847 1 was among other things a printer and a newspaper editor He established the first vernacular printing press in Bombay India 2 He also started India s oldest running periodical called the Bombay Samachar which was printed primarily in Gujarati He pioneered vernacular journalism in India 3 as also the production of Gujarati types 4 Contents 1 Life and work 2 Notes 3 References 4 See alsoLife and work EditFardunjee Marzban was born at Surat 5 in 1787 into a family of Parsi Zoroastrian priests in Gujarat and initially trained for the priesthood His father and grandfather had been scholars of Zoroastrian religious literature i e Middle Persian and Avestan texts and Marzban followed their example In 1805 Fardunji went to Bombay 1 and learnt Persian and Arabic languages under Mulla Feroze In 1808 Fardunji opened a book bindery 2 It was while working as a book binder that he met the printer Jijibhai Chhapghar Perhaps it was his interaction with Jijibhai Chhapghar that inspired Fardunji to open an Indian printing press 6 A Page from Fardunji s Dabistan i Mazahibm 1815 The press was set up in 1812 but the first book would not be printed until 1814 This book would be an Almanac for the Hindu Samvat Year 1871 2 No copy of the work survives 2 Between 1814 and 1822 he printed several other works In 1815 he printed a Gujarati translation of the Persian book Dabistan i Mazahibm 1 which he had himself prepared The work was priced at Rs 15 per copy 2 In 1817 he published a Gujarati translation of the Khordeh Avesta Later he would also publish translations of the Shahnameh in 1833 the Gulistan in 1838 the Bostan posthumously in 1849 He even published a Persian dictionary in 1833 1 Fardunji s Bombay Samachar which started off as a weekly paper priced at Rs 2 per month 5 was turned into a daily in 1832 2 It would serve as a template for the foundation of several other Parsi run newspapers including the Indian Spectator later the Voice of India and the Bombay Times now a supplement of the Times of India 1832 was not a fortuitous year for Fardunji Marzban He had to withdraw from the Bombay Samachar that year It appears that his printing Gujarati translations of Parsi scriptures caused great controversy In addition to this he also lost his trading ship which traded with China that he owned The ship was called Hindustan Perhaps because of these double losses in his journalistic enterprise and trade he had to leave Bombay 7 He went to Daman then a Portuguese settlement where he practiced medicine 8 He died on 23 March 1847 1 Notes Edit a b c d e CE Buckland Dictionary of Indian Biography New Delhi Cosmo Publications 1999 p 278 a b c d e f AK Priolkar The Printing Press in India Its Beginnings and Early Development Mumbai Marathi Samsodhana Mandala 1958 p 78 see endnote Arun Chaudhuri Indian Advertising 1750 to 1950 A D New Delhi Tata McGraw Hill 2007 p 256 see also http timesofindia indiatimes com city bombay times Culture talk articleshow 1809179847 cms retrieved 31 August 2010 These types were not however very elegant but it must be remembered that these resulted from a pioneering enterprise Gujarati types would be improved by Ganpat Kishanji and Javji Dadaji See Priolkar The Printing Press in India pp 78 101 2 a b Veena Naregal Language Politics Elites and the Public Sphere New Delhi Orient Blackswan 2001 p 178 paraphrase of a quotation in Priolkar The Printing Press in India p 73 In a footnote Naregal Language Politics Elites and the Public Sphere p 178 The Portuguese settlement would then have been the joint territory of Goa Daman and Diu See Buckland Dictionary of Indian Biography p 278 and Naregal s footnote Language Politics Elites and the Public Sphere p 178 Also Buckland qualifies that it was an oriental medicine that Fardunji practiced References EditDarukhanawala Hormusji Dhunjishaw 1939 Parsi Lustre on Indian Soil vol 1 Bombay G ClaridgeSee also EditBhimjee Parikh Retrieved from https en wikipedia org w index php title Fardunjee Marzban amp oldid 1043234362, wikipedia, wiki, book, books, library,
