IN the aftermath of 1857 revolution, many changes began to take place in the subcontinent`s society.

Launching newspapers and periodicals, and setting up modern educational institutes became quite a rage. Another trend that picked up soon after 1857 was establishing social and literary organisations.

Several associations or societies were set up that worked with aims of `reforming` the subcontinent`s society through bringing social, educational and literary changes. The British India government`s overt and covert support for such organisations may need some in-depth research, though it is safe to assume that the support could not have been without any political considerations.

Let us have a quick look at some of the literary organisations established during the British rein in the subcontinent: Majlis-i-Mubahisa, Banaras (1861)French scholar Garcin de Tassy has mentioned this organisation in his khutbaar. Though it was one of the first associations established for `social reforms`, Majlis-i-Mubahisa worked as a literary and academic society as well. Maharaja of Banaras was the moving spirit behind it and Muslims, Hindus and British officials were its members. Papers on social, literary and philosophic issues were read out and open discussions on them were held.

Anjuman, Calcutta (1862) Garcin de Tassy in his 1862 khutba, or lecture, wrote that soon after Banaras Majlis, such an organisation was set up at Calcutta. The aim was to hold academic and literary gatherings so that Europeans and natives could meet, resulting in Indians learning many new things from Europeans that they knew nothing about and enabling Europeans to understand the locals in a better way. This could also promote literary tastes in locals. Names of some high-ranking British officials were later on mentioned aspatrons. In 1865, the Anjuman announced prizes of Rs6,000 for those writing articles in Urdu on certain historical and cultural topics.

Anjuman-i-Islah, Shahjahanpur (1862) As the name suggests, the purpose to set up this body was to `reform` the society. It especially emphasised eradication of superstitious rituals among women. Qazi Sarfaraz Ali carried out the basic organisationalwork. It alsolaunched an Urdu monthly Rifah-i-Khalaaiq.

Anjuman-i-Haq, Agra (1862) The objective of this association was to `reform` the society. Pandit Bansi Dhar, Ghlaib`s classmate and friend, was the organiser. Pandit Sahib published a monthly named Aab-i-Hayat.

Serving as the organisation`s mouthpiece, the monthly carried articles in Urdu and Hindi. According to Imdad Sabri, the Hindi portion was named Bharat Khand Amrat.

Anjuman-i-Punjab, Lahore (1864) As Dr Safia Bano has mentionedin her doctoral dissertation, thefull name was Anjuman-i-Isha`at-iMataalib-i-Mufeeda Punjab and later on it was reduced to just Anjuman-i-Punjab. Dr Gottlieb Wilhelm Leitner (1840-1899), the first principal of Government College, Lahore, established it and Pandit Man Phool was made secretary. Prominent British officials were among the patrons and they often attended its meetings. The Anjuman launched its Urdu magazine named Risala Anjuman-i-Punjab in 1870. In 1874 the Anjuman paved the way for modern Urdu poetry by holding a mushaira where poems, not ghazals, were recited and Muhammad Husain Azad recited Urdu`s first modern poem. Altaf Husain Hali, too, contributed to such mushairas.

Delhi Literary Society, Delhi (1865) Dr Abdus Sattar Siddiqi in his article `Dehli Society Aur Mirza Ghalib` wrote that behind Delhi Literary Society`s inception was Colonel Hamilton, the commissioner of Delhi. Hamilton was deeply inter-ested in the local literature and in British Museum there used to be a Hamilton collection of manuscripts, too. In 1866, the society began publishing an Urdu magazine named Risala Dehli Society. Edited by Master Pyare Lal Ashob, it published the society`s activities and the papers read out in society`s gatherings. Ghalib was also a member of the society and once read out an essay, but later on excused himself for health issues.

Rohilkhand Literary Society, Bareilly (1865) As Dr Ayub Qadri wrote, John English, the collector of Bareilly, was the prime mover behind the society, albeit covertly. It was one of the most active organisations, with its own printing press and publications that included an Urdu magazine named Makhzanul Uloom.

Scientific Society, Aligarh (1864) Sir Syed Ahmed Khan established Scientific Society in Ghazipur in January 1864 and then took it to Aligarh in 1866. The society was infact the beginning of Sir Syed`s great movement that truly changed the subcontinent`s society. Sir Syed launched, in 1866, Aligarh Institute Gazette, an Urdu weekly that was also known as Akhbar Scientific Society.

Anjuman Arab Sarae (1866) Arab Sarae, or, literally, Arab Inn, is a Delhi neighbourhood where some Arab scholars had settled in Mughal era. Named after the area, the society published a monthly and several Urdu translations on literary and academic issues.

Anjuman-i-Tehzeeb, Lucknow (1869) Established by Minshi Shiv Narain Bahar, the organisationlaunched Muraqqa-i-Tehzeeb, an Urdu monthly, in 1873. The mag also carried book reviews.

A large number of such organisations that were established across the subcontinent and launched Urdu magazines cannot be mentioned here for want of space.

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