First Hindi Newspaper to First Full Feature Hindi Film: Many Firsts of Hindi!

As we celebrate World Hindi Day, let’s circle back in time and revisit the very firsts of Hindi, be it the first book ever published or the first Indian state to adopt it as the official language. These materials have either marked the dawn of new beginnings for the language or helped in taking a revolutionary step with their presence. Let’s have a look at some of the firsts of Hindi and how it shaped society.       

First Hindi Newspaper 

The very first Hindi language paper published in India was उदन्त मार्तण्ड (Udant Martand) (lit. 'The Rising Sun'). It was first published in 1826 by Jugal Kishore Shukla and Munnu Thakur. The circulation of this newspaper first began in Calculate, and it was published every Tuesday. 

One of the First Published Books in Hindi

One of the first published books in Hindi was प्रेमसागर (Prem Sagar), written by Lallu Lal. It is the tale of the deeds of Krishna, the invincible avatar of Vishnu. Based on the tenth book of the Bhagavata Purana, the Prem Sagar, which means 'Ocean of Love' (one of Krishna's epithets), was composed between 1804 and 1810.

The First Poem in Hindi - Khariboli 

The first poem in Hindi (Khariboli) was written by the famous poet Amir Khusro. The Khari Boli in Hindi is often believed to be invented by Khusro. He is also believed to be the first person who wrote simultaneously in Hindi, Hindvi, and Persian.

First State to adopt Hindi as the official language

Bihar replaced Urdu with Hindi as its sole official language in 1881, becoming the first state in India to adopt the language. Following this, Hindi also became the official language of other states, including Uttar Pradesh, Haryana, and Rajasthan. 

First Hindi Magazine 

Sarva Hitaishi was the first Hindi magazine published in Patna, Bihar, in 1890. 

First Hindi Online Newspaper 

नई दुनिया (NaiDunia) was the first Hindi newspaper to launch an online edition. This move set a precedent for other Hindi newspapers, demonstrating the importance of adapting to technological advancements to maintain relevance and reach a wider readership.

First Full Feature Hindi Film

Raja Harishchandra was India's first full-length feature film. It was released in 1913 and directed by Dadasaheb Phalke. The film was a silent, black-and-white adaptation of the Hindu mythological story of King Harishchandra.  

Other Facts About Hindi:

• Hindi is an official language in Fiji and Hindi is acknowledged as a regional language and spoken in Suriname, Guyana, Nepal, Mauritius, and Trinidad & Tobago. 
• Hindi is one of the seven Indian languages that can be used to create web URLs. 
• Many Hindi words, such as "achcha", "surya namaskar", “jugaad”, and “dadagiri” are included in the Oxford Dictionary. 
• The Constitution of India's Part XVII discusses the topic of the national language. 
• In 1977, Atal Bihari Vajpayee gave a speech in Hindi at the United Nations. 
• The top three spots in India's most-read newspaper rankings are held by Hindi newspapers;  Dainik Jagran, Dainik Bhaskar and Hindustan. 
• Hindi is one of the most spoken languages in the world.