Qaumi Jang (Urdu: قومی جنگ, 'People's War') was an Urdu language weekly newspaper published by the Communist Party of India from Bombay during World War II.[1][2][3][4][5][6] It was founded in 1942 as the Urdu edition of People's War.[7] Qaumi Jang was the central party organ in Urdu.[8]
When Qaumi Jang was launched, a number of Muslim socialist writers moved to Bombay to work at the paper.[8] Sajjad Zaheer, who had recently been released from jail, shifted to Bombay to become the editor of Qaumi Jang.[8][9][10][11] Sibte Hassan was one of the Muslim intellectuals who came to Bombay to work as a Qaumi Jang staffer, serving as the assistant editor of the paper.[3][12] Ashraf Ali Khan was a member of the Qaumi Jang staff.[1][13] Saadat Hasan Manto was one of the writers for Qaumi Jang.[6] Some of Manto's most notable short stories were published in Qaumi Jang, such as Kaali Shalwar, Dhuan and Bu.[6]
Another Urdu poet, Kaifi Azmi arrived in Bombay in 1943 to begin writing for Qaumi Jang.[14]
On 26 May 1945, the Government of the United Provinces issued a ban the sale and distribution of People's War, Qaumi Jang and Lok Yudh under the Defence of India Rules, citing that the newspapers had published to many biased reports.[15][16]
After the end of World War II, Qaumi Jang was replaced by Naya Zamana ('New Age') as the new Urdu language central party organ.[2]