hand lettered newspaper

July 10th, 2007

Wired.com runs a short article/photo essay about what is probably one of the world’s last hand-lettered newspapers: The Musalman, a daily Muslim newpaper published in Chennai. Each day four local calligraphers hand-letter the Urdu stories which are then printed in 20.000 copies on a 60-year-old offset printer.

The Musalman is possibly the last handwritten newspaper in the world. Four professional calligraphers spend three hours on each page every single day to put out this daily paper.

While it’s a Muslim newspaper, it’s also a beacon of liberalism in South Asia, employing both women and non-Muslims. Two of the four katibs (calligraphers) are women and the chief reporter is Hindu. Indian royalty and poets often visit the paper to offer content and accolades.

[more pictures at wired.com]

paul keller

Entry Filed under: platform blog