Blitz (newspaper)

Blitz
Type Weekly newspaper
Format tabloid
Founder(s) Russi Karanjia
Editor Russi Karanjia
Founded 1 February 1941
Language English, Hindi, Urdu, Marathi
Ceased publication Mid 1990s
Headquarters Mumbai, India

Blitz, was a popular investigative weekly tabloid newspaper published and edited by Russi Karanjia from Bombay. Started in 1941, it was India's first weekly tabloid and focussed on investigative journalism and political news.[1] It was published in English, and with editions in Hindi, Urdu and Marathi languages.[2] It ceased publication several years before Karanjia's death in mid-1990s, although there were some attempts to revive it.

First published on 1 February 1941,[3] it was a pioneer in investigative journalism in India,[4] Cartoonist R. K. Laxman's early cartoons were published in Blitz as did Abu Abraham.There was also another cartoonist Cecil Lancelot Dawes who contributed heavily to Blitz and Karanjia. Cecil Dawes was known for his pocket advertisements. He also inaugurated the foundation stone of the Holy Family Hospital with Vice President Radhakrishnan. He also designed the logo for Ambassador Hotel, Delhi and "courage is destiny" for the Frank Anthony Schools in India and others. He was also well known to the founder of Oberoi Hotels. Cecil Dawes painted a huge glass picture for the opening of an Oberoi hotel in Delhi which he destroyed in a rage because Oberoi`s son did not come fast enough to say hello to Cecil Dawes`s baby son.His daughter Shirley Dawes also worked for Karanjia for many years before migrating to the west. Noted writer K. A. Abbas wrote popular column "Last Page", which ran for over 40 years.[3] P. Sainath, worked as deputy editor with Blitz for over a decade, before starting his career in writing for rural poverty and later winning the Magsaysay Award.[2]

Later in 1975, Blitz also started a film magazine, Cine Blitz, with, Karanjia's daughter Rita Mehta as its editor.[3] In 1983, criminal-politicians Gopal Rajwani and Pappu Kalani executed the brutal knife murder of the A V Narayan, sub-editor of Blitz.[5]

Karanjia founded a morning tabloid called The Daily for some years.[3] After reaching its zenith in the 1980s sales declined in the 1990s. In 1996, Karl Mehta, then managing director and publisher, and Karanajia's son-in-law reached an agreement with the Daily Mirror to publish news from the Daily Mirror, Sunday Mirror, The Independent and People magazine. At the time, chairman of United Spirits Vijay Mallya owned 8% stake in Blitz.[6]

Karanjia died on 1 February 2008, on the same day he started his newspaper 67 years earlier.[2]

The Bangladesh tabloid with the same name is unrelated.

References

  1. ↑ The tabloid and the city, in Mumbai Fables, Gyan Prakash, Princeton University Press, 2010, p. 158-204
  2. 1 2 3 Kulkarni, Sudheendra (2008-02-02). "He launched Blitz on Feb 1, died on Feb 1-it's no coincidence". The Indian Express. Retrieved 2011-07-24.
  3. 1 2 3 4 "R.K. Karanjia: Living through the Blitz". The Hindu. 6 February 2008. Retrieved 2014-05-01.
  4. ↑ "Russi Karanjia". Tehelka magazine. 16 February 2008. Retrieved 2014-05-01.
  5. ↑ "Sena leader Gopal Rajwani shot dead". Rediff. 25 January 2000. Retrieved 2014-05-01.
  6. ↑ Menezes, Saira (29 May 1996). "A Renewed Blitz". Outlook. Retrieved 6 October 2018.
  • Vir Sanghvi (2 February 2008). "Karanjia and his Blitz". Hindustan Times. Archived from the original on 2 May 2014.


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