Who is the Father of Blogging? The Origins and Indian Trailblazers

Everyone wants to know: who can claim the title ‘father of blogging?’ It’s not as clear-cut as naming a single inventor of the telephone or the lightbulb. Blogging didn’t just pop up one fine day, but grew out of simple online diaries people started sharing back in the mid-1990s. The name most people throw around is Justin Hall, an American student who began an online journal called ‘Links.net’ in 1994. He didn’t call it a blog—since the term didn’t exist yet—but what he did lay the ground for everything that followed.

But here’s a twist—no one can say it was a solo job. Dozens of early writers began logging their thoughts online, each bringing their own style. The very word ‘blog’ was actually coined later, in 1999, by Peter Merholz, when he playfully broke the word ‘weblog’ into ‘we blog’ on his site. That’s the sort of fun, accident-meets-creativity moment that changed the internet.

• Tracing the Roots: Who Really Started Blogging?
• Blogging’s Early Days in India
• The Big Names: Indian Blogging Pioneers
• Tips for Aspiring Indian Bloggers

Tracing the Roots: Who Really Started Blogging?

Most people picture the father of blogging as some lone genius typing away in a dark room, but that's honestly not the story here. The earliest form of blogging looked more like messy online journals—think of someone jotting down their thoughts or sharing cool links just for fun.

If we’re naming names, Justin Hall usually tops the list. As early as 1994, he started “Links.net”, which let him share personal stories, random interests, and loads of offbeat links. He’s described himself as “one of the first bloggers”, and tech historians agree he’s a lead contender. But Hall wasn’t waving a flag or coining big terms—he was just doing his thing online.

The actual word blog didn’t show up until 1999, when programmer Peter Merholz jokingly split “weblog” into “we blog” on his own website. Suddenly, the idea of writing and sharing online became more than a journal—it turned into a whole new movement. Rebecca Blood, another early blogger, wrote in her influential 2000 essay:

“Blogs brought the voice of real people into the conversation, making the web a two-way street.”

It’s worth noting that most of these early blogs weren’t polished. No fancy graphics or viral content—just raw writing and honest opinions. Most were solo projects, but communities quickly formed by linking and shouting out to each other. By 1999, the first blogging tools like Blogger (the same one Google later bought) made making a blog way simpler. That’s when the numbers started to really take off. Here’s a quick look at how things exploded by the early 2000s:

If you’re looking for one definitive father of blogging, it’s tough. Justin Hall paved the way, Peter Merholz named it, but it was the early crowd—those first few hundred folks—who really started the fire.

Blogging’s Early Days in India

The Indian blogging scene didn’t kick off until the early 2000s, about a decade after the first wave hit in the West. Internet access was still patchy, slow, and expensive for most folks. But with cyber cafes popping up in cities and universities, curious minds in India started exploring how they could use the web for more than just email and news.

The real turning point? Services like Blogger and WordPress making it super easy—even for people who had zero tech background. Suddenly, anyone with a story or strong opinions could write, hit publish, and get discovered. Early influential Indian bloggers such as Amit Agarwal started tech blogs like ‘Labnol’ in 2004, quickly attracting a loyal following from across the country. Another early trailblazer, Rashmi Bansal, mixed entrepreneurship advice with personal stories, proving there was space for everything from gadgets to growth hacks to social commentary.

While English was the main language at first, soon regional-language blogs popped up in Hindi, Tamil, Bengali, and more. This helped connect millions of Indians to content that finally spoke their language—literally. By 2005, a handful of homegrown blogs had reader numbers that rivalled small magazines. Here’s some context:

The jump might look small now, but double-digit growth sparked a content revolution. Forums and blogrolls—basically networks of bloggers linking to each other—created tight-knit communities. People weren’t just reading blogs; they were debating, collaborating, even meeting offline.

If you wanted to get into blogging back then, you needed patience with dial-up, a bit of digital courage, and a lot of curiosity. But these early Indian adopters laid the path for today’s huge crop of successful local bloggers. They turned a hobby into a movement, showing the world what Indians have to say—loud and clear.

The Big Names: Indian Blogging Pioneers

When you talk about Indian bloggers who set the stage, a few names always come up. These folks didn’t just write—they built communities, started trends, and proved that Indian content could compete globally.

Amit Agarwal tops almost every list. He’s the founder of Labnol.org, one of the earliest tech blogs from India, launched back in 2004. While most people were still figuring out how to use email properly, Amit was breaking down tech news and tutorials for anyone who wanted to learn. His style made things ridiculously simple, so even non-geeks could keep up.

Another early starter is Harsh Agrawal, the man behind ShoutMeLoud. He began blogging in 2008 and quickly turned it into a full-time career, inspiring a wave of Indians to take up blogging as a real profession. His posts on making money from blogging and mastering SEO became a reference for beginners everywhere.

For travel lovers, Ankita Sinha (Anki on the Move) and Lakshmi Sharath (a well-known travel writer) proved long-form storytelling could keep people hooked. They made travel blogs more personal and still manage to attract massive audiences with vivid stories and practical tips.

Fashion isn’t left out. Masoom Minawala made it big by mixing fashion, personal stories, and smart social media strategy. She’s got an international audience now, showing how Indian bloggers can go truly global.

• Amit Agarwal: First big-name Indian tech blogger, practical tips for everyone.
• Harsh Agrawal: Pushed Indian blogging as a career goal, key SEO advice.
• Ankita Sinha & Lakshmi Sharath: Kept travel blogging real and relatable for Indians.
• Masoom Minawala: Proved fashion blogging here could have a global impact.

If you love numbers, here’s a peek at how inspiring these pioneers have been:

These Indian blogging pioneers started small, with no promise of fame or money. They stuck around, kept sharing, and now help guide India’s next generation of bloggers and creators.

Tips for Aspiring Indian Bloggers

If you’re just getting started, you probably want clear steps that work, not generic motivation. Indian bloggers have it different—the crowd is big, the topics are crowded, and there’s a local flavor to what catches attention. Here’s what works today if you want to join the list of top Indian bloggers and make your mark.

• Pick your niche and own it: The most-read blogs aren’t all about cricket or Bollywood. Explore topics people care about but that aren’t already packed—think local news, traditional recipes, affordable tech, travel hacks for Indian explorers, student life, or even Indian parenting tips.
• Use Hinglish (or your own blend): If you look at blogs like ShoutMeLoud or Labnol, you’ll see content in simple, relatable English with enough local flavor. Don’t be afraid to write the way you actually speak. This approach feels more real to readers across India.
• Master SEO basics: Targeting the right keywords—like ‘best budget mobiles India’—can push your posts way up on Google. Tools like Google Keyword Planner or UberSuggest help you spot what people are searching for here in India. Don't stuff keywords, but make them a natural part of your headline and first paragraph.
• Be consistent: Publish new content at least once a week. Successful Indian bloggers like Harsh Agrawal (ShoutMeLoud) or Amit Agarwal (Labnol) grew their audiences because they never disappeared for long stretches. Readers (and search engines) reward regular updates.
• Interact with your readers: Reply to comments, take up feedback, and even ask what topics your readers want next. Local engagement isn’t just a buzzword; it’s how you build genuine fans.
• Don’t copy—bring something new: Too many new bloggers just copy what’s already trending. Share your own experiences. For example, if you’re writing about smartphone reviews, talk about actual brands Indians use under ₹20,000, not just global models.

Wondering what makes a blog stand out in India right now? Here’s a quick view of what most readers love on Indian blogs, according to a 2024 survey by Blogchatter (one of the top Indian blogging communities):

The message is simple: if you want to be recognized among top Indian bloggers, carve your own path, stay consistent, and always keep your ear to the ground.