A HUNDRRD YEARS took the lead, but the people themselves. It was not the example of the missionaries which ani- mated the Bengalis to start a newspaper. The influence of the English Press was already existing in Bengal, of Hicky's Gazette, The India Gazette, The Bengal Harkaru, The Caleuttą Gazette and other such publications The Bengal Gazette (1816), The first Bengali paper published? thθ Gazette, was edited by Gangadhar Bhattacharjj of Caleutta. It saw the light in 1816. Unfortu- nately it suryived only for a short year. It is rather surprising to note that although a pioneer it appeared every month with illustrations. It contained among other things the stories of Vidyasundar and Vetal Panchavinsati from the pen of the able editor. The Digdarsan (1818). Two years later, in March 1818, the mis- sionaries of Serampore brought out the Digdar- san. It was also a monthly. Happily, the zeal of the messengers of .Christ kept it up for a longer period than its immediate predecessor,
