The foundation of the Patrika Group: The Patrika Group was established by Karpoor Chandra Kulish in 1956. Karpoor Chandra Kulish was deeply conscious, not only about journalism but also about press freedom. The day he felt, while working as a journalist, that his pen was not free and his constitutional right to freedom of speech was being violated, he resigned from his job. That very day, he laid the foundation of 'Rajasthan Patrika.'

In his autobiography 'Dhara Prawah,' he wrote, "I could not tolerate this restriction. I sent my resignation letter in protest. It settled in my mind that if there is a newspaper, it should be one where no compromises are made."

This was a time when English newspapers dominated the daily newspaper space. In such a scenario, only a passionate individual could take the bold step of starting a Hindi-language newspaper. Revered Karpoor Chandra Kulish began Rajasthan Patrika, the first evening daily newspaper in Jaipur, with borrowed capital of just five hundred rupees. Thus, the day of March 7, 1956, was written in golden letters in the history of Indian journalism.

Karpoor Chandra Kulish was born on March 20, 1926, in Soda village, Tonk district, Rajasthan. Interestingly, this was the same year when Bhagat Singh's name echoed across India’s freedom movement. That year, Bhagat Singh founded the Naujawan Bharat Sabha, inspiring countless young Indians to join the revolution. Perhaps it was the energy of that rebellious year that inspired Karpoor Chandra Kulish to later introduce a revolutionary spirit to journalism in Rajasthan.

Journalism is often called the fourth pillar of democracy, and this principle was deeply ingrained in Rajasthan Patrika’s foundation. A glance at its earliest pages shows this value being upheld from the very first day. In a democracy, journalism stands as the voice of the people against power—or as a check to power. Rajasthan Patrika adhered to this ethos without compromising journalistic ethics.

For instance, the headline of the March 13, 1956 edition read: "Government does not have the right to increase taxes without law." This was based on a discussion in the second day of the Rajasthan Government’s budget session. However, this issue was not raised by the government.

Similarly, the Central Government's campaign for the abolition of the Jagirdari system was given significant coverage, with a two-column space on the front page. This demonstrated how Rajasthan Patrika aligned itself with democratic values, standing for equality during a period when such ideals were gaining momentum in the country.

Rajasthan Patrika stood firm during challenging times. In its early years, Jaipur witnessed three major public movements, all of which were actively covered by the newspaper.

One such instance, mentioned in the March 13, 1956 edition, was the news of increased school fees in the state budget, which sparked a student movement. Another significant event was the 1957 anti-tax increase movement, which resonated with the public. Lastly, in 1958, a movement against the abolition of the Rajasthan High Court bench in Jaipur arose.

Rajasthan Patrika played an active role in all three movements. While it supported the government’s decision to abolish the High Court bench, this stance led to opposition from the agitators. The press owner where Patrika was being printed refused to continue printing it. Despite this challenge, alternative arrangements were made, and publication continued uninterrupted. Through these struggles, the Patrika established its reputation for independent and fearless journalism, consistently presenting its unbiased perspective to readers.

The year 1960 marked a period of growth for Rajasthan Patrika. As its popularity surged, demand for the newspaper increased to the point where rented presses struggled to keep up. To address this, the Patrika secured a loan of fifteen thousand rupees from the state government and purchased an old cylinder and treadle machine. This was the start of a new chapter, with printing shifting to its own press.

By 1962, during India’s general elections, the newspaper expanded to four pages. In its February 26, 1962 edition, Rajasthan Patrika accurately predicted that the Congress Party would secure only a nominal majority in Rajasthan, which proved true.

On May 5, 1964, Rajasthan Patrika transitioned into a morning daily in its current format. Waiting for the Patrika became an integral part of the daily routine for Rajasthan’s people.

Even during the second India-Pakistan war (August–September 1965), the Patrika diligently fulfilled its journalistic responsibilities. Its war coverage stirred such a wave of patriotism in Jaipur that citizens began raising funds for the nation. That same year, the Patrika began printing with an automatic machine, introducing eight-column sheets. This marked yet another milestone in its journey.

In 1966, the Patrika reached new homes and readers, increasing its circulation to seven thousand copies. Advertisements also enhanced the Patrika's economic strength. However, a new challenge arose during the 1967 general elections. To maintain impartiality, Rajasthan Patrika endured neglect from the state government but never compromised its journalistic ethics.

The India–Pakistan War of 1971, also known as the Third India–Pakistan War, lasted from December 3, 1971, to the surrender of Pakistan in Dhaka on December 16, 1971. The December 15, 1971 issue of the Patrika is an excellent example of its foresight, as it had already hinted at India's victory in the war. The entire front page was filled with war-related news throughout the conflict.

The headline of the issue in question read: "Dhaka started collapsing." On the same page, Karpoor Chand Kulish wrote an editorial titled "Seventh Fleet Will Be Gark" (sunk), criticizing the superficial friendship between the United States and China. He predicted that this alliance, formed against India during the war, would not last. History has since validated his foresight, with the changing relations between the two nations. His visionary thinking propelled the Patrika to new dimensions and heights.

In 1972, another milestone was achieved when the Patrika installed Rajasthan's first high-speed newspaper printing machine, the Storio Rotary Machine. In the same year, the Patrika also became a member of the Audit Bureau of Circulations (ABC).

From 1973 onwards, Itwari Patrika generated interest among readers across all sections, marking another significant achievement.

A major turning point occurred in 1975, both for the country and journalism. On June 12, 1975, the Allahabad High Court declared the election of then-Prime Minister Mrs. Indira Gandhi to the Lok Sabha in 1971 illegal and disqualified her from contesting elections for six years.

In the June 13, 1975 issue of Rajasthan Patrika, Karpoor Chand Kulish wrote a front-page editorial titled "Najuk Daur" (Critical Phase). He described how this judgment overturned Indira Gandhi's heroic history in an instant, asserting that it would enhance respect for the judiciary and strengthen people's faith in democracy.

Such bold commentary about the Prime Minister was unprecedented in newspapers at the time. During this period, Kulish Ji wrote five signed editorials between June 12, 1975, and June 25, 1975, emphasizing the need for democratic accountability.

India declared a state of Emergency for 21 months, starting on June 25, 1975. During this time, Karpoor Chand Kulish traveled through the villages of Rajasthan, documenting rural life in his series "Main Dekhta Chala Gaya" (I Kept Observing). This series is considered an authentic document of Rajasthan's rural environment, capturing its social fabric and development.

Kulish Ji spent seven months traveling across Rajasthan, writing more than 150 articles under this column. These articles critically examined the government’s development schemes, despite the censorship imposed during the Emergency. Readers trusted his bold critiques, and even as newspapers became lifeless during this period, Rajasthan Patrika’s circulation nearly doubled. This growth was driven by the Patrika's strong connection with the public.