The Illustrated Weekly of India

The Illustrated Weekly of India was an English-language weekly newsmagazine that became one of the most recognizable periodicals in modern Indian publishing. Its publication history began in 1880, when it appeared as the Times of India Weekly Edition. The title was renamed The Illustrated Weekly of India in 1923, establishing the identity by which it was known for most of its existence. Readers also commonly referred to it simply as the “Weekly.” The magazine operated within the publishing portfolio associated with The Times of India group and served a broad English-reading audience in India. It combined news and current-affairs coverage with features, cultural writing, commentary, illustrations, cartoons, photography, and literary material. Its longevity gave it a distinctive position: it was not only a news publication but also a recurring source of general knowledge, cultural discussion, and English-language reading for households across the country. Reference material describes it as an important English-language publication in India for more than a century. The title’s editorial history included both foreign and Indian leadership. Sean Mandy was followed by A. S. Raman, identified as the magazine’s first Indian editor. After Raman’s formal departure, assistant editor Subrata Banerjee handled the publication for approximately 20 months before Khushwant Singh assumed the editorship. Later editors included M. V. Kamath and Pritish Nandy. The magazine also drew on a wide network of journalists, writers, illustrators, cartoonists, and photographers. R. K. Laxman and Mario Miranda supplied cartoons during the later period, while contributors included Raju Bharatan, Ivan Fera, Nikhil Lakshman, S. N. M. Abdi, Venu Menon, K. P. Sunil, Minnie Vaid, Brahma Chellaney, Khalid Mohamed, Bachi Karkaria, Mukesh Batra, and Mukul Sharma. Illustrators included Milon Mukherjee and Francis H. D'Sa, and photojournalist Palashranjan Bhaumick worked with the weekly from 1986 to 1990. The publication also had an educational and cultural role. Many young people studying English in vernacular-language environments used it as a regular reading source and as a guide to improving their English-language skills. This function complemented its journalistic purpose and helped the magazine maintain relevance beyond metropolitan professional audiences. By 1993, the Indian magazine market had become increasingly competitive, and several magazines published by The Times of India group were reportedly losing money. Samir Jain, described in the reference material as the owner of the Times of India group, chose to discontinue The Illustrated Weekly of India, Dharmyug, and similar magazine titles in order to concentrate on revitalizing the group’s newspaper operations. The decision attracted criticism, but the broader restructuring was associated with an effort to improve the fortunes of The Times of India. The Illustrated Weekly of India published its final issue on 13 November 1993 and is now defunct.

The publication began in 1880 as the Times of India Weekly Edition, linking its origins to the wider Times of India publishing operation. In 1923, it adopted the name The Illustrated Weekly of India. The renaming gave the periodical a durable identity and reflected its established role as an illustrated English-language weekly serving readers in India. Across more than a century, the magazine developed beyond a narrow news format. It carried news and current-affairs material alongside cultural features, literary writing, commentary, photography, illustrations, and cartoons. Its broad editorial mix made it a general-interest publication for English-speaking readers rather than a specialist journal. It was widely known to readers simply as the “Weekly.” The magazine’s significance was also educational. In parts of India where English was not the primary home language, students used it for regular reading and for developing English-language fluency. This created a readership function that extended beyond its role as a source of journalism and entertainment. Its editorial succession included Sean Mandy, A. S. Raman, Subrata Banerjee, Khushwant Singh, M. V. Kamath, and Pritish Nandy. A. S. Raman was the first Indian editor, succeeding Mandy. Following Raman’s formal departure, assistant editor Subrata Banerjee edited the magazine for about 20 months before Khushwant Singh took over. The publication also relied on numerous specialist contributors. R. K. Laxman and Mario Miranda were associated with its cartoons, while journalists and writers included Raju Bharatan, Ivan Fera, Nikhil Lakshman, S. N. M. Abdi, Venu Menon, K. P. Sunil, Minnie Vaid, Brahma Chellaney, Khalid Mohamed, Bachi Karkaria, Mukesh Batra, and Mukul Sharma. Milon Mukherjee and Francis H. D'Sa contributed illustrations. Palashranjan Bhaumick worked as a photojournalist with the weekly from 1986 to 1990. The magazine ended during a period of restructuring in Indian media. By 1993, competition in the publication industry had intensified, and magazines in The Times of India group were losing money. Samir Jain decided to close The Illustrated Weekly of India, along with Dharmyug and similar titles, so that the group could concentrate on revitalizing its newspapers. The move was criticized, but the restructuring was connected with an attempt to improve the performance of The Times of India. The Illustrated Weekly of India closed on 13 November 1993 and remains defunct.

1. 1993Final issue and closure

   The publication ends on 13 November 1993 as its owner restructures the magazine portfolio and focuses on newspaper operations.

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2. 1923Renamed The Illustrated Weekly of India

   The weekly adopts the title by which it is chiefly remembered.

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3. 1880Publication begins as Times of India Weekly Edition

   The periodical begins publication under the name Times of India Weekly Edition.

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A broad-interest English-language Indian weekly combining news, current affairs, cultural coverage, features, commentary, illustration, photography, and literary material.

• The Illustrated Weekly of IndiaWeekly newsmagazine1923

  The core and only documented product was an English-language weekly print magazine covering news, current affairs, culture, literature, commentary, photography, illustration, and cartoons. It served a broad Indian readership and was also used by many English learners as a regular reading resource. The title was published from 1880 until its final issue on 13 November 1993.

• 1993Closure of the magazineStrategy

  The Indian publication market had become highly competitive, and magazines within The Times of India group were reportedly losing money.

  What changed. Samir Jain decided to discontinue The Illustrated Weekly of India, Dharmyug, and similar magazines while concentrating group resources on revitalizing newspaper operations.

  Aftermath. The Illustrated Weekly of India ended publication with its issue dated 13 November 1993. The decision was criticized, although the wider restructuring was associated with an effort to improve The Times of India's performance.

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• 1993The Illustrated Weekly of India ceased publication

  The magazine published its final issue on 13 November 1993 after The Times of India group decided to discontinue it amid intense competition and reported losses among its magazine titles.

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1. The Illustrated Weekly of India