Samaja
Encyclopedia
The Samaja is an Oriya
daily newspaper published in Cuttack, Orissa, India
; started in 1919, it is one of the oldest papers in this region. Utkalamani Gopabandhu Das
, a prominent freedom fighter and social work
er started it as a weekly from Satyabadi of Puri district
of Orissa to facilitate the freedom struggle and to revive the moribund Oriya language
. Under Gopabandhu's leadership, and with the support of local people, the paper grew into prominence. In 1928, just before the death of Gopabandhu, the paper was handed over to Lok Sevak Mandal (Servants of People Society), a non-profit organization
started by freedom-fighter Lala Lajapatrai. Servants of the People Society
still runs the paper. Renowned social activist Hemant Goswami
is presently the Chief Executive Officer (CEO) of Samaja
In Orissa, Samaja is seen as a trusted and impartial newspaper. However, the newspaper is often accused of being too orthodox in its approach, which makes it less popular among the younger and urban generation. To reach out to the remotest readers, the Samaja has eight editions at Cuttack, Bhubaneswar, Sambalpur, Rourkella, Kolkota, Vizag, Balasore and Berhampur, as well as an internet edition as well as an e-paper edition.
. He was an ardent supporter of Mahatma Gandhi
, the father of the nation and was involved in the freedom struggle. Moreover, Gandhi is said to have been influenced by the simple life of Gopabandhu and after they came in contact with one another, Gandhi decided to follow a simple lifestyle
. Gopabandhu took to journalism to facilitate reform. He published a monthly magazine called 'Satyabadi'. Later on October 10, 1919, he launched weekly Samaja. The day was chosen to coincide with Vijayadashami, one of the greatest Hindu festivals. He was the first editor of the weekly. With the support of Acharya Harihar Das, Pandit Nilakantha Das, Samaja continued to highlight the wrongdoings of British Government
, and was imprisoned. In 1928, prior to the death of Gopababndhu, Samaja was handed over to the Servants of People Society (SOPS), a non-profit organization founded by Lala Lajpatrai
. In his will, Gopabandhu stated that under SOPS, Samaja would continue to contribute to Societal, political, educational and economic development
of Orissa.
Oriya language
Oriya , officially Odia from November, 2011, is an Indian language, belonging to the Indo-Aryan branch of the Indo-European language family. It is mainly spoken in the Indian states of Orissa and West Bengal...
daily newspaper published in Cuttack, Orissa, India
Orissa
Orissa , officially Odisha since Nov 2011, is a state of India, located on the east coast of India, by the Bay of Bengal. It is the modern name of the ancient nation of Kalinga, which was invaded by the Maurya Emperor Ashoka in 261 BC. The modern state of Orissa was established on 1 April...
; started in 1919, it is one of the oldest papers in this region. Utkalamani Gopabandhu Das
Gopabandhu Das
Gopabandhu Dash known as Utkalamani was a social worker who excelled in the field of politics as well as literature.-Early life : The revolutionary student:...
, a prominent freedom fighter and social work
Social work
Social Work is a professional and academic discipline that seeks to improve the quality of life and wellbeing of an individual, group, or community by intervening through research, policy, community organizing, direct practice, and teaching on behalf of those afflicted with poverty or any real or...
er started it as a weekly from Satyabadi of Puri district
Puri District
Puri being a coastal district of Orissa, is famous for its Historic antiquities, Religious sanctuaries, Architectural Grandeur, Sea-scape beauty,moderate climate.It holds a wealth of attraction for the visitors. It boasts of a continuous history from the 3rd Century B.C...
of Orissa to facilitate the freedom struggle and to revive the moribund Oriya language
Oriya language
Oriya , officially Odia from November, 2011, is an Indian language, belonging to the Indo-Aryan branch of the Indo-European language family. It is mainly spoken in the Indian states of Orissa and West Bengal...
. Under Gopabandhu's leadership, and with the support of local people, the paper grew into prominence. In 1928, just before the death of Gopabandhu, the paper was handed over to Lok Sevak Mandal (Servants of People Society), a non-profit organization
Non-profit organization
Nonprofit organization is neither a legal nor technical definition but generally refers to an organization that uses surplus revenues to achieve its goals, rather than distributing them as profit or dividends...
started by freedom-fighter Lala Lajapatrai. Servants of the People Society
Servants of the People Society
Servants of the People Society is a non-profit organization founded by Lala Lajpat Rai, a prominent leader in the Indian Independence movement, in 1921. The society is devoted to "enlist and train national missionaries for the service of the motherland"....
still runs the paper. Renowned social activist Hemant Goswami
Hemant Goswami
Hemant Goswami . is an Indian social activist working on public health and civil right issues. Besides being known as one of the most vociferous voices against tobacco, Hemant is also credited with creating the first smoke-free city in India and also in any third world country with the effective...
is presently the Chief Executive Officer (CEO) of Samaja
Samaja
The Samaja is an Oriya daily newspaper published in Cuttack, Orissa, India; started in 1919, it is one of the oldest papers in this region. Utkalamani Gopabandhu Das, a prominent freedom fighter and social worker started it as a weekly from Satyabadi of Puri district of Orissa to facilitate the...
In Orissa, Samaja is seen as a trusted and impartial newspaper. However, the newspaper is often accused of being too orthodox in its approach, which makes it less popular among the younger and urban generation. To reach out to the remotest readers, the Samaja has eight editions at Cuttack, Bhubaneswar, Sambalpur, Rourkella, Kolkota, Vizag, Balasore and Berhampur, as well as an internet edition as well as an e-paper edition.
History
The founder of the Samaja Utkalmani, Gopabandhu Das, was a freedom fighter and social reformerReform movement
A reform movement is a kind of social movement that aims to make gradual change, or change in certain aspects of society, rather than rapid or fundamental changes...
. He was an ardent supporter of Mahatma Gandhi
Mahatma Gandhi
Mohandas Karamchand Gandhi , pronounced . 2 October 1869 – 30 January 1948) was the pre-eminent political and ideological leader of India during the Indian independence movement...
, the father of the nation and was involved in the freedom struggle. Moreover, Gandhi is said to have been influenced by the simple life of Gopabandhu and after they came in contact with one another, Gandhi decided to follow a simple lifestyle
Simplicity
Simplicity is the state or quality of being simple. It usually relates to the burden which a thing puts on someone trying to explain or understand it. Something which is easy to understand or explain is simple, in contrast to something complicated...
. Gopabandhu took to journalism to facilitate reform. He published a monthly magazine called 'Satyabadi'. Later on October 10, 1919, he launched weekly Samaja. The day was chosen to coincide with Vijayadashami, one of the greatest Hindu festivals. He was the first editor of the weekly. With the support of Acharya Harihar Das, Pandit Nilakantha Das, Samaja continued to highlight the wrongdoings of British Government
Politics of the United Kingdom
The politics of the United Kingdom takes place within the framework of a constitutional monarchy, in which the Monarch is the head of state and the Prime Minister of the United Kingdom is the head of government...
, and was imprisoned. In 1928, prior to the death of Gopababndhu, Samaja was handed over to the Servants of People Society (SOPS), a non-profit organization founded by Lala Lajpatrai
Lala Lajpat Rai
Lala Lajpat Rai was an Indian author, freedom fighter and politician who is chiefly remembered as a leader in the Indian fight for freedom from the British Raj. He was popularly known as Punjab Kesari or Sher-e-Punjab meaning the samem and was part of the Lal Bal Pal trio...
. In his will, Gopabandhu stated that under SOPS, Samaja would continue to contribute to Societal, political, educational and economic development
Economic development
Economic development generally refers to the sustained, concerted actions of policymakers and communities that promote the standard of living and economic health of a specific area...
of Orissa.