Renowned Urdu newspaper ‘Dawat’ launched in new weekly format; its news portal, mobile app also launched

Renowned Urdu newspaper ‘Dawat’ launched in new weekly format; its news portal, mobile app also launched

New Delhi, 28 Oct. 2019:  Renowned Urdu biweekly newspaper ‘Sehroza Dawat’  has been launched in a new weekly format at an impressive ceremony in the headquarters of Jamaat-e-Islami Hind. Speaking at the inauguration programme of the new weekly Dawat newspaper, President of Jamaat-e-Islami Hind, Syed Sadatullah Hussaini said: “the new Weekly Dawat newspaper shall try to meet the needs of the new age by maintaining the noble values that Dawat has always espoused and by following the high standards of journalistic ethics that it has practiced in its long journey. The role of journalism is similar to a torchbearer leading a group of people in the dark. It guides the group from the typical dangers it encounters on a journey. Today the importance of this torch has multiplied manifold. Journalism is facing numerous challenges worldwide. Post-truth and post human rights are gaining traction all over the globe. In these conditions, truth is beating a hasty retreat. There is an information explosion and a deluge of news stories. There is an acute need that we support the truth and offer strength to the voice of justice. Dawat (weekly) shall fulfill this need.”

The chief guest of the program, Dr. Zafrul Islam Khan said: “We can understand the level of our depravity by reading the articles and news stories appearing in newspapers. The news stories that should not be published are being published. We all need to get accurate information about what exactly is happening in the various states of our county, in foreign nations and politics.” Addressing the Jamaat leadership, Dr. Khan said: “other than the weekly Dawat, we also need a daily newspaper like Dawat, so that people get the real news.” He expressed the hope that the Dawat news portal shall be able to fulfill these requirements.”

Former President of Jamaat-e-Islami Hind, Maulana Syed Jalaluddin Umari said: “We are all aware of the importance of media. Media has now become a decisive power. Jamaat has always felt that it should have its media with whatever resources it commands. Those who want to know the point of view of Jamaat and the Muslim community have always considered Dawat to be the source of that information. Whatever stand is taken by Dawat is in a way the voice of the community. Dawat has always adopted a serious and sober tone. It has always presented its viewpoint with evidence and it remains its specialty.” Maulana expressed happiness that Dawat is now going to be published in a newly introduced weekly format. It should become the voice of the community and the nation. It must discharge its responsibility of fulfilling the confidence that the people have reposed in it.

Former chief editor of Dawat biweekly, Parwaz Rahmani shed light on the history of the newspaper. He said: “the first organ of Jamaat-e-Islami Hind was “al-Insaf”. The members of Jamaat were spread all over the country. So, Al-Insaf was started in 1948 to enable a common communique between them. A weekly newspaper by the name of Dawat was started in 1953. All India ijtema (congregation) of Jamaat-e-Islami Hind took place in New Delhi at the Parade Ground of Red Fort in 1960. Here a decision was taken that Dawat should be converted from a weekly to a daily. Dawat came out as a daily newspaper until 1982. Along with it, a Sehroza (biweekly) version was also published. Some events took place and Emergency was declared in the country. In those days, some media organs created a wrong impression and ran a propaganda campaign against the “Dawah-related” interaction of Jamaat with the RSS. A need was felt to start a weekly Dawat to counter this kind of insinuation and propaganda. In this way, daily, three day and weekly Dawat was published simultaneously for many years.” The former chief editor averred: “for running a newspaper, one needs power, money, and connections to political leadership. But Dawat has never sought any support from politicians and the government. Dawat newspaper has been running successfully with meager resources. One specialty of Dawat is that, despite being a newspaper run by Jamaat-e-Islami Hind, it has always given space to the opinion of all the organizations and parties of the Muslim community. Dawat has always risen above sectarian differences and posted constructive criticism.

At the inauguration of the Weekly Dawat, the news portal of Dawat called www.dawatnews.net  and an Android App was also launched. The office-bearers of Jamaat-e-Islami Hind, senior journalists and prominent dignitaries of Delhi were in attendance at the launch program.