Fardunjee Marzban

Fardunjee Marzban, also known as Fardoonjee Marazban and Fardunji Marzban, was a merchant, printer and a newspaper editor. He established the first vernacular printing press in Bombay, and India’s oldest running periodical called the Bombay Samachar, which was printed primarily in Gujarati. This made him the pioneer of vernacular journalism in India, as also the production of Gujarati types.

Fardunjee Marzbn was born at Surat into a family of Parsi-Zoroastrian priests in Gujarat, and was himself initially trained for the priesthood. In 1805 Marzban ent to Bombay and learnt Persian and Arabic languages. Three years later he opened a book-bindery, until in 1812 he set up a printing press. He published mainly Zoroastrian religious texts in a Gujarati translation. On 1 July 1822 he published the first number of Bombay Samachar as a weekly paper. He was in charge of Bombay Samachar until 1832, when he lost his ship trading to China and his newspaper. After that he left Bombay and moved to Damaun, where he continued to be involved in publishing and has also practiced medicine. He died on 23 March 1847.