On the eve of 15 August 1947, the Republic of India gained independence from Britain, and every year, Indians commemorate the end of the 200-year long British rule with Independence Day celebrations.
In this week’s blog we’re perhaps unsurprisingly, taking a look at the role of paper in India and the celebrations around Indian Independence Day!
The 15 August is a national holiday in India, with the unfurling of the tricolored national flag by the Prime Minister of India, marking the start of the celebrations. Prime Minister Modi will host the ceremony at Red Fort in New Delhi with nationwide celebrations following on across the country. Many workplaces, groups, societies and housing complexes also observe the flag hoisting ceremony, doing so with great joy and pride.
Let’s go fly a kite!
Kite flying, to mark Independence Day is a tradition that lives on across the country. The most popular design for the kites is the tricolor; however Bollywood stars and cartoon-themed kites are also popular amongst buyers. On the 15th, the sky is full of countless kites of various styles, types, and shades as people takes to parks and rooftops to celebrate.
Kites can of course be made using any kind of paper. However, if you want it to fly well, you’ll need to look at other types of paper. Weight and strength are key properties and many kites are made using A4 paper, letter sheets of coloured paper, as well regular copier paper. Coloured tissue paper, paired with bamboo is considered to be an exceptionally good combination that create kites that will fly well over a range of wind strengths.
Given their weight (very light) and their porosity, other paper types that can be successfully turned into kites include:
- Newspaper
- Gift wrapping paper
- Rice paper
- Origami paper
- Writing paper
Not everyone has the time or inclination to make their own flag, and many choose to purchase online. With advancements in technology, manufacturers and dealers have become very adept at packaging often fragile materials for delivery, with little chance of the kite being damaged.
Reporting the News – the important role of the newsprint paper in India
Hicky’s Bengal Gazette, a two-sheet weekly newspaper first published on 29 January 1780, was the first Indian print newspaper, established by James Augustus Hicky.
As the country celebrates its 71st Independence Day, PG Paper takes a look at the headlines from newspapers dating back to 1947. These headlines provide a glimpse into the sentiments prevailing in India at the time of independence, and the activities leading up to the country’s freedom.
The future of the printed newspaper in India
TV and online media news outlets provide 24/7 content to their users, resulting in the printed newspapers relevance declining for many people. This has led many newspapers in India, and across the world, to focus on providing analysis of news to bring dynamicity and to attract, and retain readers. Daily newspapers like The Hindu, Hindustan Times, The Statesman, Economic Times, etc. have become the most followed newspapers in the country.
Digitisation has, as elsewhere in the world, impacted newsprint paper suppliers in India, and the paper industry over the last two decades. It is likely to continue to grow rapidly and to impact demand for newsprint paper.
The story is of course, not all doom and gloom. Whilst circulation figures appear to have stagnated, advertising revenue looks set to grow. This can be attributed in part to India’s steady economic growth. Here’s the circulation and advertising revenues’ performance for the print media from 2013-15:
As the industries change and adapt, e-commerce is being seen as a “major growth driver” for advertising. Rural consumers are also being viewed as the next upcoming opportunity for India’s online businesses.
Indian Independence Day celebrations are vibrant and eclectic, with individuals, families and businesses observing the annual holiday in both traditional and modern ways. Paper, interestingly, is an integral part in the celebrations – whether you make a flag, purchase it online, or simply read about it in your newspaper!
The team at PG Paper would like to take this opportunity to wish all of our customers and suppliers across India, a most enjoyable 71st Independence Day!
PG Paper is an award-winning paper company, based in the UK and led by Poonam Gupta, OBE.
We are here to help! Contact us or send your queries or requirements to [email protected] and a member of our team will be in touch with a bespoke, cost-effective solution.