Job Solomon - Publisher of The Hyderabad Record
An Openly Nationalist Paper · "Terror to Corrupt Officials"
Job Solomon was the publisher and the influential figure behind The Hyderabad Record, an English-language newspaper published from the Residency Bazar in Hyderabad during the late 19th century. Under his leadership, the journal was a "power in the land" and was widely regarded as a "terror to corrupt officials" who winced under its scrutiny. Solomon was characterized by his independence and courage, notably fighting against significant odds to secure the right to publish again after the paper was initially stopped by British officials.
The Hyderabad Record was started around 1886 and became a significant voice for the nationalist movement and a fierce critic of both the British Residency and the Nizam's administration until it ceased publication around 1891 following the death of its publisher, Mr. Job Solomon, and the imposition of severe government restrictions.
- Publisher: Mr. Job Solomon.
- Key Staff: Mr. Mitra served as the correspondent and sub-editor.
- Format: A large-sized journal (19" x 13") consisting of six pages.
- Frequency: Published thrice a week on Mondays, Wednesdays, and Fridays.
- Cost: Subscription was Rs. 2.
- Location: Published from the Residency Bazar, Hyderabad.
The legacy of Job Solomon and The Hyderabad Record includes:
- Openly Nationalist Voice: One of the few English newspapers in Hyderabad that openly championed the cause of the Indian National Congress.
- Fearless Journalism: The paper consistently exposed corruption and malfeasance among British officials, earning a reputation as a "terror to corrupt officials."
- Criticism of the Viceroy: The paper's denunciation of Lord Dufferin's anti-Congress views on 19 December 1888 demonstrated its willingness to challenge the highest British authority.
- Legal Precedent: The Pamphlet Scandal Case demonstrated the tensions between legal acquittal and administrative power.
- Martyrdom to Suppression: The paper's demise in 1891, following severe government restrictions, exemplifies the fate of nationalist publications under autocratic regimes.
- Inspiration for Future Journalism: Solomon's fight against British authorities to secure the right to publish became an inspiration for later nationalist publications in the Hyderabad-Karnataka region.
The History of Freedom Movement in Karnataka describes The Hyderabad Record as "an openly nationalist paper." It notes that along with the Deccan Times, these English papers represented the nationalist voice in Hyderabad during the latter half of the 19th century.
"We can say that it is a fortunate circumstance for us, that the retiring Viceroy's shallow denunciation of the Congress has so soon given us an opportunity to be forewarned and thus to be forearmed."
Lord Dufferin, the Viceroy of India (1884-1888), had delivered a speech at the St. Andrew's Day dinner that was highly critical of the Indian National Congress, which had been founded in 1885. The Hyderabad Record's sharp response demonstrated its open alignment with the nationalist movement and its willingness to challenge the highest British authority in India.
The paper's editor, Job Solomon, could hardly run the paper for five years due to the intense pressure and restrictions imposed by the authorities.
The paper was a staunch champion of the Nationalist Movement and provided extensive coverage of early Congress activities:
- Allahabad Session (1888-89): Devoted many columns and editorials to publicizing the proceedings of this session.
- Lord Dufferin's Speech (19 December 1888): Denounced the Viceroy's anti-Congress views and called his denunciation "shallow."
- Gladstone and Bradlaugh: It published Charles Bradlaugh's letter regarding a Draft Constitution for India (October 11, 1889) and featured an interview with William Gladstone on the same subject (June 14, 1889).
- Specific Articles: Notable titles included "The Coming National Congress" (July 1888) and "A case for the Congress" (December 17, 1889).
The paper was famous for its scathing "critical appraisals" of British authorities:
- Mr. Cordery: Referred to him as "the worst Resident Hyderabad ever had," accusing him of causing "permanent mischief" and propping up debauched ministers.
- Mr. Howell: Reviewed his retirement by stating the people "cannot be too thankful for their deliverance" from his administration.
- "Dusky Denizens": It published a sharp response to a Residency official who had used this derogatory term to describe Hyderabadis.
- Residents' Conscience: One article bitingly remarked that Residents "leave their conscience behind" as soon as they cross the Red Sea to come to India.
- "Haman and Mordecai": A series of editorials that critiqued the influence and partiality of the Residency.
The Hyderabad Record was a vigorous supporter of the Mulki (native) cause against the "Non-Mulki" (Hindustanis from Northern India) who occupied high state positions. It warned the Minister, Sir Asman Jah, that the tactics used to exclude natives from power were a violation of his promises.
The newspaper covered a wide range of political and social issues affecting Hyderabad:
- Nationalist Advocacy: Staunch supporter of the Indian National Congress, providing extensive coverage of the Allahabad Session.
- Treasury Frauds: On November 24, 1890, the Record reproduced a controversial letter regarding frauds in the Nizam's Treasury, highlighting administrative corruption.
- The City Murder Case: In its issue of December 24, 1890, the paper struck a "note of alarm" regarding the trial of the "Mumtiaz" murder case, warning that the administration of justice had become a "toss-up."
- Criticism of Lord Dufferin: On December 19, 1888, the paper denounced the Viceroy's anti-Congress views as "shallow."
The paper's most famous legal conflict was the "Pamphlet Scandal Case" (1888–89). Mr. Mitra published a pamphlet containing "defamatory matter" regarding official corruption and bribery. "An Appeal to the Ladies of Hyderabad" was a scandalous eight-page pamphlet that circulated in India in 1892. It ruined the lives of a prominent Victorian power couple—Muslim nobleman Mehdi Hasan and his white wife, Ellen Gertrude Donnelly—by accusing them of a sham marriage, prostitution, and deceit.
Although Mitra was acquitted through the defense of barrister Mr. Norton, the Residency retaliated by suspending the publication of the paper for a period of time.
Early in its existence, the paper was stopped by British officials. Solomon fought against significant odds to secure the right to publish again. Following its "resurrection," the paper published a "pungent and sarcastic" editorial titled "Banned."
Mehdi Hasan was an aspiring Muslim lawyer from northern India. Ellen Gertrude Donnelly was his Indian-born British wife. The couple had risen rapidly among Hyderabad's elites. On a trip to London, they even met Queen Victoria.
Not long after their return, the scurrilous pamphlet addressed to "the ladies of Hyderabad" charged the couple with propagating a sham marriage for personal gain. Ellen, it was claimed, had been a prostitute, and Mehdi was accused of making his wife available to men who could advance his career.
To avenge his wife and clear his name, Mehdi filed suit against the pamphlet's printer, prompting a trial that would alter their lives. Based on private letters, courtroom transcripts, secret government reports, and scathing newspaper accounts, the story of the couple's trial and tribulations laid bare the passions that ran across racial lines and the intimate betrayals that doomed the Hasans.
Filled with accusations of midnight trysts and sexual taboos, the case remains a powerful reminder of the perils facing those who tried to rewrite society's rules. In the struggle of one couple, it exposed the fault lines that would soon tear a world apart.
In 1891, the Government of Hyderabad imposed severe restrictions on the press, including the prohibition of publication of any matter that would "threaten an injury to a Government servant or tend to prejudice the mind of the people against His Highness the Nizam's Government or any of its officers."
Thus the press was in a "none-too-happy position." The sources note that Job Solomon could hardly run the paper for five years under such oppressive conditions. These restrictions effectively gagged the nationalist voice that The Hyderabad Record had come to represent.
The paper faced significant hurdles from both British and local authorities:
- Suspension: The paper was suspended for its role in the "Pamphlet Scandal Case" (1888–89).
- Withholding of Patronage: Government offices stopped giving press work just before Job Solomon's death—specifically, the paper printed the 1299 F. budget but was denied the 1300 F. budget.
- Severe Restrictions (1891): The Nizam's government prohibited any publication that would prejudice the minds of the people against the government or its officers.
The History of Freedom Movement in Karnataka notes that Job Solomon could hardly run the paper for five years due to the intense government pressure. Following his death in early 1891, The Hyderabad Record reportedly "breathed its last" shortly thereafter, as it was believed that the paper's spirit of independence died with him.
After his passing, management of the press and paper was taken over by P. St. L. Connor, who had been the manager since its establishment. Connor took over as Agent, Manager, and Editor, but the paper's independence and courage were perceived to have declined.
The History of Freedom Movement in Karnataka provides context for The Hyderabad Record within the broader nationalist press landscape:
In the Hyderabad-Karnataka area: There was a considerable inflow of nationalist papers in Kannada from outside, which met the local need for a nationalistic Kannada press. For instance, Kannada Kesari of Hubli seems to have had substantial influence. Later, in the 1940s, papers with a clearly nationalistic bias emerged, such as Vartha Vahini of Raichur, edited by R. S. Joshi.
In the old Mysore area: The leading nationalist papers were Deshabhimani, Vrittanta Bodhini and Karnataka Prakashika in the latter part of the 19th century.
In the Bombay area: The leading nationalist papers were Karnataka Vritta, Karnataka Vaibhava, Karmaveera, Lokamata, Samyukta Karnataka, Taruna Karnataka, and Sarana Sandesha.
In the Madras area: The leading paper was Swadeshabhimani, the most sustained medium of nationalist sentiment.
The overall picture that emerges is that the nationalist press commanded wide popularity, inspired the people to a sense of nationalism, and inevitably encountered rough treatment at the hands of the authorities. It performed this great service in the face of government suppression which, at times, could be savage.
"Under a regime of bureaucratic autocracy, the press performed the function of an opposition party. It was a salutary thing that there was somebody to criticise the authorities. The achievement of the nationalist press as the vanguard of our freedom struggle is of a kind not easily susceptible of measurement. None, however, can deny the general character of that achievement."
The nationalist press not merely reported on the freedom movement but also took an active part in the movement itself. It published editorial comments and articles which contributed not a little to the growth of national feeling. It is no accident that most of the leading figures in the nationalist movement are also commanding figures in the saga of the nationalist press.
The Hyderabad Record under Job Solomon exemplified this tradition—openly nationalist, fearlessly critical, and ultimately suppressed by an autocratic government that could not tolerate independent voices.
Following Job Solomon's death, Mr. P. St. L. Connor took over as Agent, Manager, and Editor of the Record Press. Connor had been the manager since its establishment. The sources note that while the paper was independent under Solomon, its "independence and courage" were perceived to have declined after his passing.
The new management denied receiving any threat from the government regarding withholding of job-work, but the sources point out that Government offices had already stopped giving the press work just before Solomon's death. The paper printed the 1299 F. budget but was denied the 1300 F. budget.
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