The Punjab University College of Information Technology (PUCIT) has test launched the digital archives of Zamindar, the famous Urdu newspaper of the first half-century of the 20th century.
These archives are available at zamindar.pucit.edu.pk free of cost.
Known as Baba-e-Sahafet (Father of Journalism) Maulana Sirajuddin Ahmed and Maulana Zafar Ali Khan, launched it as a weekly magazine from Lahore in January 1903. As the name indicates, it was initially intended to discuss the issues of farmers and landowners.
Maulana Sirajuddin moved the newspaper to Karamabad in district Wazirabad in June 1903. After the death of his father in 1909, Maulana Zafar Ali Khan started the publication from Lahore on May 1, 1911.
Zamindar eventually became a daily Urdu newspaper of immense historical importance to the Muslims of India, particularly, due to its publication of anti-British and pro-Muslim news and editorials. After his death on November 27, 1956, Maulana’s son Akhtar Ali Khan continued to publish the newspaper.
Published in Daily Times, May 19th 2018.