Deepika (newspaper) - History

History

Deepika has an illustrious history of over a century. It was first published by a Syrian Catholic priest, Nidhirikkal Manikkathanar, or Father Emmanuel Nidhiri, or Nidhiry Mani Kathanar, under the masthead Nasrani Deepika. (Nasrani in Malayalam means a Syrian Christian). The first issue came out on 1887 April 15, which coincided with Vishu (the spring equinox festival according to Kerala tradition). The word "Deepika" in Malayalam means "lamp." Printing was on a crude handmade wooden press.

As its first name denotes, Deepika began as a paper of Syro Malabar Nasranis or Catholics of Kerala's Syran tradition. From its very inception it was run by Carmelites of Mary Immaculate (CMI), a religious order within the Syro-Malabar Catholic Church. In 1989 its control was transferred to a Public Limited Company, "Rashtra Deepika Ltd".

Deepika has a long tradition of going for bold innovations. It introduced many changes in Malayalam journalism. The following is but a sample of its impressive achievements:-

  • First newspaper in Malayalam to be published on a daily basis.
  • First among Malayalam newspapers to go online. It is still the largest Indian vernacular online newspaper.
  • First Malayalam newspaper to devote a full page for sports and agriculture news.
  • Rashtra Deepika, its sister-eveninger, is the largest circulated of its kind in India according to ABC.
  • Online edition-Deepika.com, Deepika global, Deepika global Radio are also popular among Malayalees the world over.
  • Altogether, Rashtra Deepika group has more than 15 million readers all over the world.

Kuttikalude Deepika, Business Deepika, Children's Digest, Rashtra Deepika Cinema, Streedhanam, Karshakan, are the other publication of the Rashtra Deepika Ltd.

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