⚡Business Transformation Strategist⚡ Brand Innovator⚡ Strategic Visionary ⚡Crisis Management Specialist⚡ Communication Expert ⚡Merging visionary, ethical, impactful, and sustainable excellence⚡
The history of advertising in India dates to the early 20th century when advertising was primarily done via print media. The earliest form of advertising in India can be traced back to January 29, 1780, when the first advertisement was published in India’s first newspaper called "The Bengal Gazette" (weekly). It was also known as the “Calcutta General Advertiser” or simply “Hicky’s Gazette” penned after James Augustus Hicky, the founder and publisher. The advertisement until the 18th century essentially meant sharing information on important events and the early newspaper were sharing information such as the arrivals of ships from England, the sale of household furniture, the deaths of important figures, etc. India was primarily done through print media. The first advertising agency, J. Walter Thompson, was established in Mumbai in 1929 and was responsible for creating advertisements for some of the biggest brands of the time, including Ponds and Lever Brothers. The agency started with print advertisements in newspapers and magazines, and its success prompted other agencies to follow suit. The first Indian Ad Agency, the Indian Advertising Agency, was launched in the same period riding the waves of two main events; The Swadeshi Movement (1907-1911), which gave rise to indigenous industries, and the second, was the installation of the first rotary linotype machine by the Statesman of Calcutta in 1907. The later period of the 1930s and 1940s saw the emergence of cinema advertising, where ads were played before the start of a movie. The emergence of radio stations and television in the advertising landscape marked a new era, with over 30% of the world's population using them by the 20th century's start. This led to more personalized advertising, with direct communication between brands and consumers.
