Chennai-based The Musalman, considered the only surviving calligraphic newspaper in the world, is being archived in the Netherlands

In a nondescript building on Triplicane High Road, the oldest neighbourhood of Chennai, there’s an unusual newsroom. There is no din of the printing press or the frenetic urgency of “breaking news”. Instead, as the ceiling fan rotates without a noise, a group of four men and women sits on wooden desks with large sheets of paper in front of them. Using calligraphy pens, they carefully script the news of the day in Urdu. This is the office of The Musalman, possibly the only handwritten paper in the world, whose story has been featured in a recent documentary The Musalman: Preservation of a Dream. Not only this, the newspaper has also found a place at Tribal Perspectives in Netherlands, an organisation that archives ancient and rare publications from around the world.

Conceptualised and directed by Delhi-based Ishani K Dutta, the 10-minute film traces the legacy of The Musalman, a name that has survived 85 years of political, social and communal turbulence in India. From Syed Azmathullah who founded it, to Syed Arifullah, his grandson who currently heads it — the newspaper cherishes calligraphy, which has kept the 1927-born establishment together.

“I’ve been thinking of making a film on The Musalman for very long but had no sponsors. Then I approached the Ministry of External Affairs, who gave their support and we set off to make the film in 2010,” says Dutta. The task, however, was made difficult by Arifullah, who is exceedingly reserved and refused to talk to the crew. “But once he opened up, he had a whole treasure to reveal,” she says.

As the documentary concisely breezes through first-hand accounts of people who are part of The Musalman, the legacy is made clear by one visual — that of the dingy 800 sq ft office, which seems frozen in time. “There may be a few changes here or there, but largely, things have remained the same. You’d think you have been transported to 1927,” says Dutta. The film nevertheless sticks to the core of the publication — calligraphy, something they call “the heart of The Musalman”, and the respect and loyalty it has earned them.

The documentary, within three weeks of being uploaded on YouTube, received widespread positive response. “It was all over the social networking websites and many people called us to get in touch with Arifullah. People wanted copies of The Musalman and offer donations,” says Dutta. Arifullah, however, remains nonchalant to all this.

With a meagre salary of Rs 80 per day given to the ‘katibs’ or calligraphers, The Musalman is carefully penned word-by-word by them, most of whom have been working her for over 20 years. Interestingly, the chief reporter belongs to the Hindu community, and has been working there for over 30 years.

The paper gives crisp and ample space to international, national, local as well as sports news. While a blank slot is kept aside everyday for last-minute changes, a segment is also devoted to verses from the Quran. Its masthead, despite the shift in India’s political and communal landscape over the years, did not have to be changed. Explains Dutta, “While talking to them, I got the impression that this is because of the reverence the effort of calligraphy has garnered from loyal readers. Secondly, their content is balanced.”

Earlier this year, Dutta was approached by Tribal Perspectives, to whom she had sent a copy of the publication. It was followed by the organisation recently adding the newspaper to its collection of rare and ancient documents from the world over. There is, however, a faint doubt that laces everyone’s mind. How long will it last? “There is monetary pressure and there are very few loyal patrons left who give advertisements and buy the paper. It’s just the passion and pride of these people that keeps the newspaper going. I don’t think they know it yet but in its own small way, The Musalman has made history,” says Dutta.

source: http://www.indianexpress.com / Home> IE> Story / by Pallavi Pundir / Saturday, December 01st, 2012