Hyderabad Urdu weekly Gawah marks 27 years of publication

Hyderabad-based Urdu weekly Gawah has completed 27 years, continuing its print and digital presence despite industry challenges. Editor Syed Fazil Parvez was honoured at the Nai Duniya Media for Unity Awards for his long-standing contribution to Urdu journalism.

Hyderabad: Publishing a journal has always been a challenge, more so for an Urdu weekly navigating shrinking readership, rising costs, and the digital shift. Once, India had a flourishing Urdu press, with magazines spanning literature, religion, cinema, and current affairs. Over time, however, most have disappeared, unable to survive mounting financial pressures and changing reader habits.

Amid this decline, Gawah, a Hyderabad-based Urdu weekly, stands out as a rare example of resilience. Now in its 27th year, the publication continues to offer sharp analysis of national and international issues, reaching readers consistently in both print and digital formats. Its survival is a testament to determination in an era where independent voices are increasingly difficult to sustain.

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At the centre of this effort is its editor, Syed Fazil Husain Parvez, whose journalistic journey spans over four decades. For 46 years, he has remained committed to Urdu media, nurturing Gawah into a platform known for its clarity, courage, and uncompromising stance.

This dedication was recently recognised at the Nai Duniya Media for Unity Awards held in New Delhi on April 18. Parvez received an award named after Maulana Abdul Waheed Siddiqui, honouring his significant contribution to Urdu journalism.

The awards ceremony was chaired by former Chief Election Commissioner S Y Quraishi, with Supreme Court Justice Hrishikesh Roy as the chief guest. Among those present were Shashi Tharoor, Rajeev Shukla (MPs), Rajdeep Sardesai, Barkha Dutt, Neerja Chowdhury (senior journalists), and Akhtarul Wasey, reflecting the stature of the event.

Several others were also honoured, including Zia-us-Salam, Vivek Shukla, Sudhir Mishra, Saurabh Shukla, Purushottam Agrawal, Sandeep Chaudhary, Arvind Gaur, Manjul, Rani Khanam, and Waiel Awwad.

Shahid Siddiqui, chairman of the Nai Duniya Foundation, stressed that the strength of a nation rests on honest and independent journalism. Speakers echoed concerns over the growing influence of vested interests, warning that any compromise in journalistic integrity poses a threat to democratic values.