What was 'Sandhya'?

A newspaper is a periodical print publication that reports news, opinion, and political commentary at regular intervals; a hymn is a devotional verse or song of worship; a political party is an organised body of people who share political goals and contest for power; a religious institution is a body such as a temple or monastery organised for worship or religious administration. During India's freedom movement, nationalist leaders frequently used vernacular-language newspapers to spread political ideas and mobilise public opinion against British rule.

'Sandhya' (also called Sandhya Patrika) was a Bengali-language evening daily newspaper launched in Calcutta in late 1904, edited by Brahmabandhab Upadhyay. It was one of the outspoken nationalist newspapers of the Swadeshi Movement era, known for its uncompromising tone against colonial rule. As a periodical publication carrying news reports and political commentary issued at regular intervals, it fits the newspaper category.

• Hymn — a devotional verse or song composed for worship; Sandhya carried news reports and political commentary, not devotional verse.

• Political Party — an organised, membership-based body that contests for political power; Sandhya was a print publication, not a membership-based political organisation.

• Religious Institution — a body such as a temple or monastery organised for worship or religious administration; Sandhya was a print publication, not an institution of worship.

Sandhya was therefore a newspaper — specifically a Bengali nationalist evening daily of the early twentieth century.