Dawat Sehroza (Biweekly) is all set to change its periodicity. At this juncture, Maulana Syed Jalaluddin Umari, Ameer Jamaat-e-Islami Hind and Chairman Dawat Trust, in an interview with the Trust, talks on what necessitated this change and how differently this popular Urdu newspaper, which has completed 50 years since its inception, will serve the Urdu reading public.
Q: Dawat has carved out a history in Urdu journalism. Dawat Trust is now set to turn Dawat Sehroza into Dawat Weekly. Under what circumstances the decision to effect this change has been taken?
Ans.: First of all we should keep in mind that Dawat had been publishing its daily and weekly editions. This means that the need for bringing out Dawat with weekly periodicity has been there.
Indeed Dawat Sehroza has won credibility not only within the Islamic Movement but also outside it as well as its popularity has been among those associated with journalism who have been benefitting therefrom. Dawat holds a distinguishing position from ideological as well as journalistic point of view.
With weekly periodicity, Dawat has decided to take it forward so that its utility and reach might maximise and it might face the journalistic and technological challenges in a professional manner.
Secondly, it aims at taking the voice of Dawat ahead of its dedicated readers. Thirdly, this change was necessary also to make Dawat self-sufficient.
One reason for effecting this change is that there is no proper arrangement to reach a newspaper or magazine in time out to the entire country; at most of the places subscribers do not get it on time; sometimes they get more than one issue together.
Q: Besides effecting change in periodicity, what are other decisions that might affect our principles and fundamentals?
Ans.: The Central Advisory Council (Markazi Majli-e-Shoora) of Jamaat formed a committee to study (the functioning of) the newspapers and magazines published under the fold of Jamaat. This committee held many meetings. Brooding over the various alternatives, it deemed that only a weekly published professionally maintaining quality standard can fulfil the requirements of Dawah and Movement. It was also decided to train the staff members of marketing, advertisement and circulation as well as editorial.
This weekly should be further comprehensive, multi-dimensional and inclusive in view of its outlook and feel as well as editorial policies. Therefore, it will be designed with catchy layout and colour pages to meet modern journalistic demands.
Q: Dawat has been considered the voice of Jamaat-e-Islami Hind. Now, what would be the identity of Dawat Weekly?
Ans.: Although it is Urdu monthly Zindagi-e-Nau which holds the status of the formal organ of Jamaat-e-Islami Hind, Dawat has been playing an important role in the vanguard of the Islamic Movement. In the future we would make Dawat representative of Urdu reading public and through the medium of Dawat mobilise the general public opinion. However, it is obvious that as per the practice, new Dawat will also be subservient to Shari’ah requirements and the policies of the Islamic Movement.
Q: Dawat has been popular among the academic circle. Now, will the weekly be the newspaper of the elite or should it be the representative of the Urdu public?
Ans.: About the addressee and the policy of Dawat Weekly, the Central Editorial Board has decided that it will address the entire Urdu public. The objective of Dawat would be to guide the entire Urdu public and mobilise the general public opinion towards the Jamaat’s stand and policy on the various issues confronting the country and the community and the world as well. Dawat will also address the educated section and those associated with the Movement. Simultaneously, the Weekly will carry reading material for every person of a family so that the entire Urdu public might deem it as its representative.
Q: As for the editorial policy and layout and feel are concerned, how far will the new Weekly be different from the present Dawat?
Ans.: Dawat’s editorial policy, articles and columns will be in general in accordance with the Jamaat’s stand on important issues. Also, some other viewpoints on certain issues will be presented. Raising new issues and setting agenda for them will have to be done. Where the weekly is to come in the entirely new format and layout, the language of Dawat should also be easy and flowing. Let it not be made complex with movemental and organisational terminologies, rather movemental concepts should be presented in easy language.
Q: Would you like to say something on the 50-year journalistic journey of Dawat and where do you like to see Dawat in the future?
Ans.: During its half-a-century journey, the services Dawat has rendered to the Islamic Movement and the way it has covered the issues confronting the country and the community with valour are important chapters of its history. Maintaining its mission and spirit, it will have to be moulded in a modern and commonly acceptable format.
In the future, with countrywide coverage and a strong network of likeminded magazines and journals Dawat can be made a representative journalistic establishment popular among the general public as well as the elite.
Dawat will have to provide a platform for new writers and also to continue benefitting from seasoned ones. These efforts should result in emergence of volunteer-journalists from among the Movement and the Ummah at every place. There is need for rejuvenating Dawat web portal and online platform, fulfilling modern journalistic and professional requirements. Thus, in the future, let Dawat be the source of hope and courage for the country and the community and let it do the obligation of bailing them out of the abyss of backwardness and hopelessness.
Lastly, I would like all the institutions, circles and sister organisations of the Movement, having been very active part of Dawat networking, to provide the weekly with the means to leave abiding impact on mainstream journalism.