Times of India – India's Oldest English Newspaper Founded in 1838
The Times of India is not just India's largest English newspaper — it is one of the oldest continuously published newspapers in the world. Founded in 1838, it has witnessed the entire modern history of India: the British Raj, the freedom movement, Partition, Independence, and the rise of India as a global economic power. This is its remarkable 188-year story.
Founding in Bombay – 1838
The Times of India was founded on November 3, 1838, in Bombay (now Mumbai) under the name The Bombay Times and Journal of Commerce. It was initially published three times a week and was aimed primarily at the British colonial community and merchants doing business in India. The paper covered commercial news, shipping information, and news from Britain — the concerns of its initial readership.
The newspaper was founded by Bennett, Coleman & Co. — the company that still publishes it today, making it one of the oldest continuous publisher-newspaper relationships in the world. The name was changed to The Times of India in 1861.
Role in the Freedom Movement
As India's freedom movement grew through the late 19th and early 20th centuries, the Times of India occupied a complex position. It was primarily a pro-British paper, reflecting the views of its colonial-era establishment readership. However, it also provided coverage of the Congress movement, Gandhi's campaigns, and the growing demand for independence.
By the 1940s, as independence became inevitable, the paper began the transition from a colonial voice to an independent Indian institution. After 1947, it reinvented itself as India's newspaper of record — a voice for the newly independent nation's establishment.
Post-Independence Growth
After 1947, the Times of India expanded rapidly across India. New editions were launched in Delhi, Bangalore, Ahmedabad, Hyderabad, Chennai, Kolkata, Pune, Lucknow, and other major cities. Each edition had localised content while maintaining the TOI's national editorial standards.
The 1970s, 80s, and 90s saw TOI solidify its position as India's most widely circulated English newspaper. Its circulation grew with India's expanding educated middle class and its increasing comfort with English as a language of aspiration and opportunity.
The Sameer Jain Era – Media Revolution
The most transformative period in TOI's modern history came when Sameer Jain of the Bennett Coleman family took charge. He radically changed how Indian newspapers thought about their business — pioneering the "advertiser pays, reader pays less" model. TOI was sold at subsidised prices to maximise circulation, while advertising revenue was maximised. This model, controversial in journalism circles, made TOI the mass-circulation giant it is today.
TOI Today – Largest English Newspaper in the World
The Times of India today has a verified daily circulation of over 30 lakh copies — making it the world's largest selling English-language broadsheet newspaper. It publishes from 14 major Indian cities including Delhi, Mumbai, Bangalore, Chennai, Kolkata, Hyderabad, Ahmedabad, Pune, Jaipur, Lucknow, Chandigarh, Kochi, Bhopal, and Goa.
Its digital platform, timesofindia.com, is one of the most visited news websites in India and the world. The TOI Group includes Economic Times, Navbharat Times, Maharashtra Times, Radio Mirchi, and many other media properties.
Reading Times of India E-Paper Free
You can read the complete Times of India e-paper for any city and any date for free on InduPaper. Click here to read today's TOI e-paper — Delhi, Mumbai, Bangalore, and 11 more city editions available.
Conclusion
The Times of India's 188-year journey is inseparable from India's own story — from colonialism to independence, from a small merchant community newspaper to the world's largest English newspaper. It is a living piece of history that you can read every morning. Few institutions can claim such a long, continuous, and consequential presence in a nation's life.