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As Asia’s oldest continuously running newspaper Mumbai Samachar has managed to retain its loyal Gujarati speaking readership at a time when the print medium is gasping for survival. To mark the entry into its bicentennial year on July 1, 2021, the Samachar unveiled a full version of its online paper in a format different from its e-paper (that continues to be a replica of the physical copy of the Samachar) with detailed reports, videos and agency news. It can be accessed for free from its website.
"The younger generation prefers bite-sized news,” stated director Hormusji Cama, voicing the lament of most people in the print media. "Digitally, we will survive…You will soon find printed newspapers in museums…I do not see the print version of Samachar going into its 300th year,” he predicted, adding, "It is different for Parsiana… You are in a unique position… Every Parsi wants it.” Hormusji has in the past helmed many newspaper associations, Indian Newspaper Society, Press Trust of India and the Press Council, among others. His cousin Mehli Cama, also a director who had served the committee of The Indian and Eastern Newspaper Society, concurred about the future of the print medium: "It is fast fading out… Soon it will not be feasible to sustain a print run…Maybe not in our lifetime, but…” he trailed off.
Planning low-key celebrations the publication is contemplating on holding essay and drama competitions in Gujarati to promote the language.

 

 

 

 

 

 

Founded by the formidable Mobed Furdoonjee Murzbanjee, a protégé of the leading Oriental scholar Mulla Feroze, in 1822, the Samachar has always been owned by Parsis. In 1866 the press line indicated that Maneckji Burjorji Minocher Homji was its owner, printer and publisher. The last descendant of the Minocher Homji family sold the newspaper and the printing press to Naoroji Belgaumwala who was more involved in Mahatma Gandhi’s civil disobedience movement than in managing the finances of the Samachar and its sister publication, the Bombay Chronicle (in English language, established by Sir Pherozeshah Mehta). One of his major creditors was Muncherji Nusserwanji Cama to whom the newspapers were handed over in 1933 to wipe off the outstanding debts.
"What will the employees do?” was the new owner Muncherji’s main concern when faced with the prospect of taking legal steps to liquidate the then 111-year-old publication. "There were huge creditors…the machinery was hypothecated to Central Bank of India, with loan instalments pending… rent for Red House (where the paper and the press were operating) that was owned by Lady (Hirabai) Jehangir was pending.” At a meeting with the creditors, "Grandfather told them that if they were patient, they would get back every rupee that the business owed them, but if they wanted to be paid right away, they would get only 10 paise for each rupee outstanding… Most of them settled for the 10 paise per rupee and walked out,” recalled Hormusji, sitting in his office on the first floor of the iconic Red House in Bombay’s Horniman Circle.
Around the same time, Lady Jehangir wanted the rent arrears of Rs 15,000 to fund the Sidhwa family who were constructing the Regal Cinema. "Grandfather bought Red House from her and then told the Bank ‘Your machinery is on my premises, take it away.’” Not knowing what to do with the machinery, flummoxed Bank officials "forgot the arrears” and sold the machinery to the Camas at an affordable price. Red House continues to bear the stamp of Samachar. Fifteen years ago the Bombay Municipal Corporation unanimously resolved to name the road nearby the Red House as the Bombay Samachar Marg.
Mehli (son of Rustomji or Rusi) and Hormusji (son of Nusserwanji or Noshir), are the third generation from the Cama family ensuring that the values and ethics practiced by their grandfather Muncherji continue to govern the management of this secular institution. Not a single member from their "family” of 150 staffers was retrenched during the pandemic although a salary cut for senior management and no emoluments for those at the top were inevitable.
A dip in circulation and advertising due to the pandemic was anticipated by the Cama cousins who gave credit to their "discerning readers” who have not complained about the per copy price hike of the daily to Rs 10 and their "loyal advertisers, some of whom have been with us for decades.” Mehli referred to their pockets of readership in Tanzania and Fiji where "the Gujarati diaspora exists.” In a phone interview he bemoaned that "less and less Parsis” are able to converse in Gujarati.
"We follow a policy of neutral news… The owners do not interfere on a day-to-day basis in editorial matters,” current editor Nilesh Dave told Parsiana. Stated Mehli, "We cousins take all major decisions jointly.” "You must be qualified and good at your job to lead a business. I do not believe in family continuity… Look at the House of Tatas,” observed Hormusji. But some family members are reportedly hopeful of the fourth generation of Camas continuing the family tradition.