By Murali Ranganathan of Printweek Magazine, 23 Feb 2021. Link to the article.
Fusion tales: Indian history through western eyes
The Times of India covered a panel featuring Diana and Michael Preston (pen name Alex Rutherford) at the Times of India Litfest in Calcutta. Link to the article here.
Nov/Dec 2019 Book Tour in India
I’ll be in India for the Times of India Literature Festival in both Delhi and Cal.
Dates:
Nov 27 – Dec 6: Delhi
Dec 7 – 11: Calcutta
The First Printed Works of Bengal
I published a guest blog with the School of African and Oriental Studies (SOAS).
Why This Book About India’s First English Newspaper Is Relevant Now
Fathima Abdul Kader of Homegrown, a popular youth magazine, interviewed me. Read it below or click the link to read it in its original form.
Review of Hicky’s Bengal Gazette in Loksatta
Nikhil Bellarykar of Loksatta (a leading Marathi newspaper) reviewed my book, saying that it is very detailed, has a solid foundation in archival research and it depicts the intricacies in the late 18th century British society in Calcutta very well. Bellarykar wrote that it depicts the conflict of freedom of expression so vividly as to be extremely relatable in present age. Bellarykar says it is a must read for anybody interested in Indian journalism.
Review of Hicky’s Bengal Gazette in Sangbad Pratidin
Sangbad Pratidin (a leading Bangla magazine) reviewed my book saying very positive things about it and my work.
Merrill College Ph.D. Student Andrew Otis Wins Hiebert Award
My book won the prestigious Hiebert Award for best work of journalism history.
Social media has killed the newspaper: Author Andrew Otis talks about India’s first newspaper and more
Jhinuk Sen of PC Mag interviewed me. Read it below or click the link to read it in its original form.
January 2019 Book Tour in India
I’m excited to announce that I’ll be returning to India next week. If you want to interact with the author (that’s me!), get a signed copy, or have me speak at your event, send me a message.
January dates:
- 20: Talk at Diamond Harbour Women’s University. Hosted by Dr Oindrila Ghosh
- 21: Talk at Vivekananda College.
- 24: Talk at Jamia Millia Islamia, Delhi. Hosted by Dr Biswajit Das
- 26: Presenting at Hyderabad Literary Festival
- 29: Talk at Pondicherry University, DDE.
- 30: Talk at University of Madras.
The Saga of India’s First Newspaper
Akshay Chavan of Live History India reviewed my book and interviewed me (apologies for the low quality copy-original in the link).
Viewpoint: What India’s first newspaper says about democracy
An op-ed I wrote for the BBC (apologies for the low quality copy-original in the link).
Review: Hicky’s Bengal Gazette; The Untold Story of India’s First Newspaper by Andrew Otis
Paramita Ghosh of the Hindustan Times reviewed my book in their September 1 paper (page 8).
Review of Hicky’s Bengal Gazette: The Untold Story of India’s First Newspaper in Ei Somoy
Ei Somoy reviewed my book in their August 25 paper (page 8).
An Unlikely Champion of Press Freedom
I wrote an op-ed for Reader’s Digest which was featured in their August edition.
Review of Hicky’s Bengal Gazette: Truth to Power
Open Magazine reviewed my book.
Review of Hicky’s Bengal Gazette: The Untold Story of India’s First Newspaper by Andrew Otis
The Asian Review of Books reviewed my book.
Review: Pioneer who printed from prison
R. Prasannan of The Week reviewed my book.
Interview in Ei Somoy
Ei Somoy interviewed me at the American Center, Kolkata.
American Researcher Explores the life and times of ‘the father of the Indian newspaper’
UNI, the Indian equivalent of the Associated Press, interviewed me at the American Center, Kolkata.
‘Wild’ Irishman’s paper that shook the mighty
The Telegraph featured my talk last Friday at the American Center, Kolkata, in their Metro section (page 9).
Review: South China Morning Post Gives Hicky’s Bengal Gazette 4/5 Stars
The South China Morning Post, Hong Kong’s leading English newspaper and paper of record, reviewed my book.
- ‘[Otis] makes this key piece of colonial history and Indian journalism both vibrant and droll, which is no small task.’
- ‘Reads like fiction … Hicky’s Bengal Gazette remains a compelling read all the way through to its elegiac conclusion.’
The fine print: The inspiring story of the first newspaper of India
The Financial Express reviewed my book: ‘Otis’ book comes at a time when the integrity of media is under the scanner the world over. The opposition that Hicky faced from the establishment in the 1700s still finds relevance today, and that’s one of the main reasons this book makes for enlightening reading.’
Review: Hicky’s Bengal Gazette: The Untold Story of India’s First Newspaper: Winds of freedom
The The Hindu has reviewed my book. ‘Did freedom of the press triumph? For that you must turn to Otis’s book, as he sketches a riveting tale of the struggle of India’s first newspaper editor.’ – The Hindu
Review: India’s First Free Press Battles
A wonderful review of my book in the Business Standard, by Devangshu Datta.
The Caravan Magazine ‘Bookshelf’
My book has been recommended by The Caravan Magazine in their July 2018 edition, on page 95.
Review: An old twisted tale of press freedom
Business Standard newspaper published a glowing review of my book Hicky’s Bengal Gazette: The Untold Story of India’s First Newspaper.
Review of Hicky’s Bengal Gazette
G. Krishnan of India Today published a review of my book Hicky’s Bengal Gazette: The Untold Story of India’s First Newspaper.
India’s First Newspaper and its Anti-imperialist Exposés
The Sunday Guardian published an excerpt from the prologue of my book Hicky’s Bengal Gazette: The Untold Story of India’s First Newspaper.
Asia’s first journalist Hicky’s tradition still alive: Author
The Times of India interviewed me about my book Hicky’s Bengal Gazette: The Untold Story of India’s First Newspaper.