Fardunjee Marzban
Encyclopedia
Fardunjee Marzaban or Fardoonjee Marazban (1787–1847) was, among other things, a printer and a newspaper editor. He established the first vernacular printing press in Mumbai. He also started India’s oldest running periodical called the Bombay Samachar
, which was printed primarily in Gujarati. He pioneered vernacular journalism in India, as also the production of Gujarati types.
In 1805, Fardunji went to Bombay and learnt Persian and Arabic languages under Mulla Feroze. In 1808, Fardunji opened a book-bindery.
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.
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. No copy of the work survives.
Between 1814 and 1822 he printed several other works. In 1815 he printed a Gujarati translation of the Persian book Dabistān-i Mazāhibm, which he had himself prepared. The work was priced at Rs 15 per copy. 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.
Fardunji’s Bombay Samachar
, which started off as a weekly paper, priced at Rs 2 per month, was turned into a daily in 1832. 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.
He went to Daman, then a Portuguese settlement, where he practiced medicine. On 23 March 1847, he breathed his last.
Bombay Samachar
The Mumbai Samachar is the oldest continuously published newspaper in India. It is published in Gujarati and is one of the most trusted newspapers of Mumbai-History:...
, which was printed primarily in Gujarati. He pioneered vernacular journalism in India, as also the production of Gujarati types.
Life and Work
Fardunjee Marzban was born at Surat 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 and learnt Persian and Arabic languages under Mulla Feroze. In 1808, Fardunji opened a book-bindery.
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.
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
Samvat
Samvat is any of the various Hindu calendars. In India, there are several calendars in use:* Vikrama Samvat: lunar months, solar sidereal years* Shaka Samvat : lunar months, solar sidereal years* Shaka Samvat : solar tropical...
Year 1871. No copy of the work survives.
Between 1814 and 1822 he printed several other works. In 1815 he printed a Gujarati translation of the Persian book Dabistān-i Mazāhibm, which he had himself prepared. The work was priced at Rs 15 per copy. In 1817 he published a Gujarati translation of the Khordeh Avesta
Khordeh Avesta
Khordeh Avesta may refer to either:* a formal category of certain short Avestan language texts. For a list of nineteen texts included in this category, see Khordeh Avesta texts....
.
Later, he would also publish translations of the Shahnameh
Shahnameh
The Shahnameh or Shah-nama is a long epic poem written by the Persian poet Ferdowsi between c.977 and 1010 AD and is the national epic of Iran and related societies...
in 1833, the Gulistan
Gulistan of Sa'di
The Gulistan is a landmark literary work in Persian literature, perhaps its single most influential work of prose. Written in 1259 CE, it is one of two major works of the Persian poet Sa'di, considered one of the greatest medieval Persian poets. It is also one of his most popular books, and...
in 1838, the Bostan (posthumously in 1849). He even published a Persian dictionary in 1833.
Fardunji’s Bombay Samachar
Bombay Samachar
The Mumbai Samachar is the oldest continuously published newspaper in India. It is published in Gujarati and is one of the most trusted newspapers of Mumbai-History:...
, which started off as a weekly paper, priced at Rs 2 per month, was turned into a daily in 1832. 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.
He went to Daman, then a Portuguese settlement, where he practiced medicine. On 23 March 1847, he breathed his last.