📰 James Augustus Hicky: The Rebel with a Printing Press!!
The First Voice of Indian Journalism (1780)
A step-by-step storytelling journey for every aspiring journalist!!!
A Stranger with a Purpose
James Augustus Hicky wasn’t born in India. He was an Irish printer who arrived in Calcutta in the late 1700s. What made him different? He believed India deserved a voice—a free voice that could question and criticize power.
👉 Lesson: You don’t have to be born in a place to fight for its truth. Journalism has no nationality only courage and conscience.
📰 Birth of India’s First Newspaper
In 1780, Hicky launched Hicky’s Bengal Gazette, the first newspaper in India. It was small, printed weekly but powerful.
He didn’t just report facts he challenged the British rulers, exposed corruption, and dared to criticize authority in a time when even whispers of dissent were dangerous.
👉 Lesson: Journalism isn’t about size or resources. It’s about speaking when others are silent.
🧨 Fearless in the Face of Power
Hicky’s Gazette published stories that exposed British officials’ misconduct. His boldness made the rulers uncomfortable. He didn’t stop. He wrote harder.
Until the day came—they arrested him. They confiscated his press. They tried to shut him down.
👉 Lesson: True journalists don’t fear consequences—they face them, because truth must outlive fear.
🔥 A Press Silenced, A Fire Ignited
Yes, Hicky’s printing press was shut down. But by then, he had already lit a spark—a spark that would become the flame of Indian journalism.
Even in silence, his story spoke volumes. He became a symbol of free press, independent thought, and fearless journalism.
👉 Lesson: Even if you are stopped, your work can inspire generations. Journalism is not about fame—it’s about impact.
🌟 Why You Should Be Inspired Today
If Hicky could challenge empires in 1780, without technology, rights, or support—why can’t you in 2025?
If you want to join the media:
- Be curious, like Hicky.
- Be brave, even when it’s hard.
- Be truthful, even if it’s unpopular.
👉 Legacy: James Augustus Hicky was not just India’s first journalist—he was its first rebel of truth.
✊ You are the Next Chapter
Every aspiring journalist today holds a digital pen, a camera, and a platform. But do you have the fire?
At BMA Academy, we don’t just teach journalism—we teach you to carry forward this legacy of fearless truth. If you feel the spark, now’s your time.
📣 Be like Hicky. Be the voice of the people. Be the reason truth survives.
