Fardunjee Marzban

Fardunjee Marzaban or Fardoonjee Marazban (22 August 1787– 17 March 1847)^[1] was, among other things, a printer and a newspaper editor. He established the first vernacular printing press in Bombay, India.^[2] He also started India’s oldest running periodical called the Bombay Samachar, which was printed primarily in Gujarati. He pioneered vernacular journalism in India,^[3] as also the production of Gujarati types.^[4]

^ CE Buckland, Dictionary of Indian Biography, (New Delhi: Cosmo Publications, 1999), p. 278
^ AK Priolkar, The Printing Press in India: Its Beginnings and Early Development, (Mumbai: Marathi Samsodhana Mandala, 1958), p. 78
^ see endnote: Arun Chaudhuri, Indian Advertising: 1750 to 1950 A.D., (New Delhi: Tata McGraw Hill, 2007), p. 256; see also: http://timesofindia.indiatimes.com/city/bombay-times/Culture-talk/articleshow/1809179847.cms (retrieved: 31 August 2010)
^ These types were not, however, very elegant, but it must be remembered that these resulted from a pioneering enterprise. Gujarati types would be improved by Ganpat Kishanji and Javji Dadaji. See Priolkar, The Printing Press in India, pp. 78, 101-2.

[Buckland_278-1] CE Buckland, Dictionary of Indian Biography, (New Delhi: Cosmo Publications, 1999), p. 278

[Priolkar_78-2] AK Priolkar, The Printing Press in India: Its Beginnings and Early Development, (Mumbai: Marathi Samsodhana Mandala, 1958), p. 78

[3] see endnote: Arun Chaudhuri, Indian Advertising: 1750 to 1950 A.D., (New Delhi: Tata McGraw Hill, 2007), p. 256; see also: http://timesofindia.indiatimes.com/city/bombay-times/Culture-talk/articleshow/1809179847.cms (retrieved: 31 August 2010)

[4] These types were not, however, very elegant, but it must be remembered that these resulted from a pioneering enterprise. Gujarati types would be improved by Ganpat Kishanji and Javji Dadaji. See Priolkar, The Printing Press in India, pp. 78, 101-2.

[1]

[2]

[3]

[4]