India Post released commemorative postage stamp today in Ahmedabad on Doot, a magazine completing a centenary of uninterrupted publication.
Doot is a magazine published from Gujarat since January 1911 by the Catholic Church. Doot has the unique distinction of being the second Gujarati magazine completing a centenary of uninterrupted publication besides Gujarat Vidyasabha’s 155 year old magazine “Buddhiprakash”.
The significant contribution of the magazine is that it has brought out many words spoken in Central Gujarat to the main stream and founding its way to Gujarati dictionary. The Editors of the magazine have also in the forefront in enriching the Gujarati language by introducing new words.
The magazine was started by a German Jesuit mission superior, Fr.Herman Zurhansen, S.J. in Gujarati with only 12 pages in the name “ Ati Pavitra Antakaranno Doot” which was later shortened to the present name ‘Doot’ in the year 2000. The first issue of the magazine published in January 1911 was printed at the Examiner Press, Mumbai.
During the last 100 years Doot has had many distinguished personalities as its editor. Fr. Basil Lala Parmar, S.J. was the first son of the soil editor from February 1956 to June 1969. Fr. Michael Rodriques, S.J. and Fr. Charles Gomes, S.J. have been the editors of Doot before they were appointed Bishops.
It is noteworthy that an Indian Gujarati magazine Doot had editors hailing from different countries like Switzerland, Spain and Germany. Doot had also some editors who were Indians but non-Gujaratis.