Mahamana as a Journalist

A Promise Broken

The real opportunity to formally work in journalism came up when the Raja of Kalakankar, Rampal Singh, immensely impressed with the youngster's first speech in the Congress Session of 1886 at Calcutta, offered him the editorship of his Hindi daily, Hindosthan at a princely sum of Rs 200 per month. Apart from Malaviyaji's keen interest in public affairs and familiarity with current issues, his natural ability to convey ideas in a powerful language, both in Hindi and English, made most suitable for this post.

Malaviyaji was very successful as an editor and made many improvements in the layout of the newspaper. Actually, there was no model available prior to this for comparison. When Malaviyaji took the charge of Hindosthan, it was published as a daily newspaper and subscribed to a foreign news service. Apart from journalism Malaviyaji had inclination for literature and published literary prose and poetry. The newspaper succeeded in promoting Hindi poetry and many writers were attracted to it. Malaviyaji also supported the cause of Hindi, as opposed to Urdu. The newspaper had evolved a style of its own in close to standardized Khari boli because Malaviyaji was in favour of simple Hindi in his correspondence and in his editorials. because Malaviyaji was in favour of simple Hindi in his correspondence and in his editorials. The newspaper became very popular and its circulation rose to 500 quickly. Malaviyaji worked for Hindosthan as its joint editor from 1887 to 1889. The Government of NWP observed that "Hindosthan is perhaps the most ably conducted and ambitious of all the vernaculars."

Aware of the Raja's drinking habits, Malaviyaji put a condition, for accepting the editorship that the raja would never talk to him in an intoxicated condition at any time. One day, the Raja, in an inebriated state, talked ill of the respected advocate Pt Ajudhia Nath, for whom Malaviyaji had immense respect. Malaviyaji resigned from editorship immediately as the Raja had broken his promise. The Raja repentantly said: "I have no idea at all of what I said when drunk. Even so, if any insulting words escaped from my lips, this head is before you and you may inflict what punishment you like on it". Malaviyaji would not budge from his stand. The Raja reluctantly let go off his able editor only after getting an assurance that he would pursue his studies in Law and that the Raja will have sent Rs. 100 every month towards expenses during this period.