Shams al-Nahar (English: Midday Sun), variously spelled as Shams ul-Nahar or Shamsul Nahar, was the first printed periodical publication in Afghanistan from 1873 until it ceased operations in 1878. It was published during the rule of Amir Shir Ali Khan. Recognized as the earliest newspaper of the country, it signified the formal beginning of Afghan media history. The periodical was released biweekly in Persian, though some sources claim it was also available in Pashto—two of the official languages widely spoken in Afghanistan. The issue comprised 16 pages.[1][2] Its establishment is attributed to initiatives to introduce journalism in Afghanistan,[3] with Jamal al-Din al-Afghani playing a central role in its conception. Shams-u-Nahar represented Afghanistan's initial interactions with regional journalism practices and laid the preparations for the subsequent development of media in the country.[4]
 Periodical from Afghanistan, published during the reign of Amir Shir Ali Khan in 1873–1877 | |
| Type | Biweekly |
|---|---|
| Format | Lithographic |
| Editor-in-chief | Mirza Adb al-Ali |
| Founded | 1873 |
| Language | Persian |
| Ceased publication | 1877 |
| Headquarters | Kabul, Afghanistan |
| Country | Afghanistan |
| OCLC number | 47170442 |
History
editShamsul Nahar emerged at a time when Afghanistan was opening itself to regional and global influences, aiming to facilitate dissemination of information and ideas in the public. With an organized network of reporters, both inside Afghanistan and in neighboring regions such as Iran and India, it attempted to showcase a new model of journalism. It was influenced by the foreign newspapers—especially those from Iran and India.[4]
The writing style of Shams-u-Nahar was impacted by English journalism practices. One feature was the consistent use of the English term "correspondent" instead of the Persian synonym "guzarushgar," indicating the influence of Western media terminology on its editorial approach.[1]
The newspaper was edited by Mirza Abdul Ali, who served as the chief editor until its closure. The periodical managed to publish 40 to 48 issues before being discontinued, a result of both political instability and foreign intervention in the region.[1]
Closure
editShams-u-Nahar ceased publication in 1878 following the outbreak of the Second Anglo-Afghan War and the death of Amir Shir Ali Khan. The British occupation during this period played a central role in restricting media activities, fearing that free information flow might incite mass mobilization against colonial rule. As a result, the British authorities pressured the Afghan government to halt Shams-u-Nahar, thereby silencing the press for almost three decades.[5]
The closure of the newspaper suggested a setback in the development of Afghanistan's media history. No significant publications emerged until the early 20th century, making Shams-u-Nahar a pioneering yet short-lived venture in Afghan journalism.[1]
References
edit- ^ a b c d "Shams al-nahār". Afghanistan Digital Library. Retrieved 29 Oct 2024.
- ^ "LibGuides: National Bibliography and Publishing in Afghanistan, 1871-2009: Introduction". LibGuides at University of Illinois at Urbana-Champaign. 8 Apr 2009. Retrieved 29 Oct 2024.
- ^ "Shamsul Nahar, 1st Printing House Printed Shamul Nahar Newspaper – Bakhtar News Agency". Bakhtar News Agency. 23 May 2012. Retrieved 29 Oct 2024.
- ^ a b "A century of struggle: Afghanistan's media development under monarchies". Islamic Communication Journal. Retrieved 29 Oct 2024.
- ^ (واشنطن), إيلي يوسف; (بيروت), بولا أسطيح; (كان), «الشرق الأوسط»; آباد), عمر فاروق (إسلام; الله), «الشرق الأوسط» (رام (25 Feb 2019). "الإعلام الأفغاني ... حكاية بدايتها «شمس النهار» وحاضرها فوضى". الشرق الأوسط (in Arabic). Retrieved 29 Oct 2024.
Further reading
edit- KARIMI, ALI (18 Aug 2020). "The Bazaar, the State, and the Struggle for Public Opinion in Nineteenth-Century Afghanistan". Journal of the Royal Asiatic Society. 30 (4). Cambridge University Press (CUP): 613–633. doi:10.1017/s1356186320000437. ISSN 1356-1863.