The Musalman - Preservation of a Dream

The 'Musalman' is probably the last handwritten newspaper in the world. It has been published and read every day in South India's Chennai since 1927 in almost the same form. In the shadow of the Wallajah Mosque in Chennai, a team of six die hard workers still put out this hand-penned paper. Four of them are katibs -- writers dedicated to the ancient art of Urdu calligraphy. It's tough for the die-hard artists of Urdu calligraphy. But the story we tell here is not just of their desperation and despair. The fact is, at the office of 'The Musalman', the oldest Urdu daily in India, no one has ever quit. They work till they pass on. This is the story we tell.

• Category

  • Documentary

• Directed by:

  • Ishani K. Dutta

• Produced by:

  • Public Diplomacy Division
  • Ministry of External Affairs

[eriyza]

Good job guys on your effort!

[Indiandiplomacy]

thank you

[Pranshul Chandhok]

I don't believe in religion what i liked is the Passion, Dedication and Creativity of these people. Thanks for bringing this into light.

[irfand4]

Standing ovation to thoses associated with this docu and the newspaper. Great job. Keep it up.

[Carlos Andrés Solís]

That statement is slightly luddite. With the proper tools and investigation, there will eventually be a way to duplicate the pen-and-paper style with the current technology.

[eyeofaliphotography]

I hope you get the music out of from the video... esp. when you are showing the Quran and at one point you have someone calling out "Allah-o-Akbar!" ... music and Islam don't go along.

Thank You!

[eyeofaliphotography]

A stylus can never replace or even duplicate the writing with pen & paper. It cannot be done.

[Shirine Hossaini]

Really wonderful piece! Well done!



[ultrazord19]

Amazing! May Arifullah find the guardian angel he is seeking 'coz he well deserves it! 'The Musalman is a work of art that is created daily. May it live forever!

[julie khemka]

very very commendable……it must be such an effort but i am sure the teams love for the venture makes everything possible…..

[tarnicles]

Yes, an interesting thought! They could develop special tablets attuned for Kitabat. The stylus would have to be modified too( in order to reproduce those inimitable strokes).

[tarnicles]

as a person who practices and loves Urdu calligraphy, I think The Musalman must be preserved even if only out of a concern for the 'novelty value'.

[N.A. Shah Ansari]

salute the source.......

[Sudhir Desai]

This is not just a business - this is a national cultural institution - Somebody needs to give them the support so they can continue to do this wonderful work for a long time to come.... Jai Ho!