‘REPORT ON THE ADMINISTRATION OF THE BOMBAY PRESIDENCY, FOR THE YEAR 1919-20’ [‎320r] (187/192)

1919 - 1920 .] LITEEATURE AND THE PRESS—ARTS AND SCIENCES. 155 Chapter VII.
INSTRUCTION.
Hindi, 26 in Kanarese, 320 in Marathi, 101 in Sindhi, 61 in Urdu, 75 in
classical languages, and 18 in various dialects such as Gurumukhi, Cutchhi
and Deshwali, while 208 were bi-lingual or tri-lingual publications. The net
decrease of HI publcations was chiefly under the heads miscellaneous ( 75 ),
fiction (31) and history (26). On the other hand, the chief increases were
under the heads language (24) and poetry (14).
2.—Newspapers.
1 . At the close of the year there were in circulation 139 newspapers and General *
4 periodicals treating of current political topics as compared with 135 and
5 respectively, in 1918. Of the total number of 143 newspapers and periodicals,
37 were published in the City of Bombay, 20 in the Northern Division, 40 in
the Central Division, 17 in the Southern Division, 19 in Sind and 10 in Native
States. Brahmins edited 56 of these journals, other Hindus 51, Jains 3,
Parsis 13, Mahomedans 13 and Christians 7. Of the newspapers, 13 were
published in English, 47 in Marathi, 18 in Gujarati, 3 in Hindi, 5 in Kanarese,
2 i n Urdu, 6 in Sindhi and 45 as bi-lingual or tri-lingual newspapers. Of the
periodicals, 1 was published in Marathi, 1 in Hindi and 2 in Gujarati.
2. The most popular Anglo-vernacular newspaper was the Gujarati with Circulation,
a circulation of 18,500. Next in order stood the Kaisar-i-Hind with a circulation
of 6,800, the Jam-e-Jamshed and the Praja Mitra and Farsi daily with 6,500
copies each and Sanj Vartman with 6,000 copies. The purely Marathi papers
were again headed by the Kesari with 30,000 readers and the Ghitramaya Jagat
with 12,000. Next in order comes the Sandesh with 8,000. Among the Gujarati
papers Navjivan has taken the first place with a circulation of 9,000, displacing
the Shri Sayaji Vijaya which stood second with 4,500 copies. Among the
Hindi papers Shri Venkateshwar Samachar (weekly) maintains its first place,
its circulation increasing from 7,000 to 10,000 copies. The chief increases of
circulation were provided by the Shri Venkateshwar Samachar (3,000)>
Bajakaran (2,600), Hindusthan daily (2,500), Dnyan Prakash weekly (2,000),
Chitramaya Jagat, Marathi (2,000), Kaisar-i-Hind (1,400), Hindusthan weekly
(1,400), Vibhakar (1,100), Deshi Mitra (1,100), Dnyan Prakash daily (1,000)
and Gujarati (900). The Sanj Vartman shows a substantial decrease (1,000).
For —
Literary Societies,
Bee —
General Administration Report for 1911-12, part II, pages 211-212*
The Royal Asiatic Society (Bombay Branch).
During the year 73 new members joined the society. The total number
of members at the close of the year rose from 408 to 427. The number of
new books added to the library was 1,553, of which 242 were presented. The
second part of the catalogue, which was in press during 1917, has not yet
been issued. The number of coins added to the coin cabinet was 121. The
society’s journal contained eleven articles of special interest.
3—Arts and Sciences.
1. The museum was open to the public on 308 days. The number of Museun ^
visitors rose from 954,483 to 1,140,800. Various additions were. made to the Bombay,
museum collection either as gifts or by purchase, e.g. an ancient Egyptian
glass, a medal struck for recruiting work done in India during the time ol t e
late war, an article of underwear supposed to have been made of paper and
used by the Germans and a large number of photographs of different persons
and objects.
2. The number of visitors rose from 107,909 to 122,174, of whom 48,836
were women and children.
3. The report received from the society relates to the operations an History Society,
me progress of the body for the period of eighteen months from t e signing
of the Armistice in NnvPTnh^ 1918 to the 1st August 1920. The work of