Indian Newspaper Day 2025: Ritual of Chai and Newspaper In Indian Household

Indian Newspaper Day 2025: Newspapers played a poignant role in disseminating information and collecting the masses under the British Raj. The varied reach and popularity of newspapers made them a pivotal part of the lives of Indians, hence we have a day dedicated to honoring and celebrating the role and power of newspapers in shaping the freedom, and growth of our country. 

When is Indian Newspaper Day celebrated? 

Indian Newspaper Day is celebrated on 29 January every year, commemorating the day the first Indian newspaper was published in 1780 called the ‘Hicky’s Bengal Gazette’ or the ‘Calcutta General Advertiser’. Published in Kolkata at that time, the newspaper became the first newspaper to be printed in Asia, earning it cultural, historical, and social significance. 

Newspapers have been a cheap, widespread,d and easy-to-access medium for getting information at the earliest in the past. 

Today with the advent of the internet and social media, newspapers are often called an archaic way to get informed but India has had a long history of reading newspapers, so much so that the ritual of a morning cup of tea and a newspaper in hand is a nostalgic image, still lived by many. 

Ritual of chai and newspaper in Indian households

We all have come across at least one elderly person we know who needs the morning paper and chai even before they see the light of day. Their morning begins with the two necessities, and only then do they set into their routine.

Fately enough, both tea and the printing press are two foreign inventions that today hold immense significance in the country. 

Tea originated from China and came to India with the British Raj, and Indians embraced it with open arms. It provided a time dedicated to self, and newspapers in the 18th century became its best pal. 

Nobody knows the origin story of the ritual but it does provide people with many opportunities, 

Reading the newspaper with morning tea, allowed them to start the day with an informed mindset. 

Reading as a habit gives a soothing, and slow start to the people doing it ritually. 

Reading and information have also played as two important status symbols, hence reading the newspaper with the morning tea was also a mark of literacy and elitism. It hinted at someone’s knowledge, awareness, and social discourse setting them away from the crowd.

Today, the habit of morning tea and newspapers has slowly declined with the smartphone in hand 24/7 but newspapers continue to be a major market in India. 

As per Statista, India is the second largest newspaper market globally, with over  146,000 registered newspapers and periodicals as of 2023.

The journey of newspapers in India is far from ending and the readership is still thriving.

Read More: