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“It’s kept alive only by our sheer passion for Urdu,a dying language in modern India,” says Asif Fehmi,the 50-year-old owner who doubles as publisher,editor,sub-editor and proof-reader. Dedicated to current affairs and Islamic history,the monthly magazine stopped making economic sense many years ago,he adds.

There are no advertisements and the number of readers had dropped from 60,000 in post-Independence India to 6,000 at present. This small readership number,however,gives Fehmi and his staff of 15 the greatest reason to keep fighting—the magazine caters to villages in the interiors of Bihar,Uttar Pradesh,Andhra Pradesh,Maharashtra and Jammu & Kashmir among others. “It goes where few other newspapers do—to readers from the lower economic bracket. We are read by harvesters,migrant labour,menial workers,small businessmen and housewives. Din Duniya provides them with their monthly dose of the most important news from across the world,” says Fehmi.

A post-26/11 issue had slain ATS chief Hemant Karkare on the cover and the section on Islamic history recalls the era of Shah Jahan. “We are not affiliated to any political party. The agenda is to make Muslims aware of their history and heritage,” says Fehmi. He took over the reins of the paper from his father Mufti Shaukat Ali Fehmi,who had started it as a weekly in 1921,dedicated to politics and films. After Partition,the magazine stopped publishing for five years.

“When we resumed in 1952,the magazine took on more historical and political characteristics,” says Fehmi. There are few illustrations in the pages,and Fehmi relies on freelancers and news agencies to fill the pages.

A lawyer,who gave up his practice to run Din Duniya,Fehmi adeptly juggles figures to bring out the next issue. Priced at Rs 10,the circulation meets only a tenth of the publication costs. A few months ago,he converted a part of our office near Jama Masjid into an eight-room hotel called Din Duniya. He also takes printing orders from independent publishers to make ends meet.

Rewards come in unexpected ways. In December,a guest arrived at the office of Din Duniya,demanding to meet the “respected editor”. “He was taken aback when he saw me in my western suit and tie,” laughs Fehmi. “He expected somebody with a long beard and a skull cap.” Such guests are reason enough for Fehmi to keep the magazine rolling.