Kantipur Publications - History

History

In February 1993, exactly two years after Nepal’s constitution was amended to permit a free press, Kantipur and The Kathmandu Post were launched. Its founder is Shyam Goenka who at barely 29 years of age had a vision of a free press and institutionalisation of journalism in Nepal. He had a setback from the fact that despite the two newspapers registering leadership in circulation against the backdrop of the fact that there is hardly any example of a newspaper becoming country's largest in such a short span of time anywhere in the world; it did not receive government advertisements, and was forced to transfer his shares to Namaste Group (then jointly owned by Binod Gyawali and Kailash Sirohiya) due to financial crunch. "Kantipur" and "The Kathmandu Post" became the first private newspapers in Nepal's history. The two publications quickly found a large audience with the public - as well as contentious relationship with the ruling regime. The two publications have in fact been amongst the strongest pillars in institutionalising and strengthening democracy in Nepal, and have brought about a host of initiatives in the media sector, till February 93 not thronged by any broadsheet endeavor till Shyam Goenka, the visionary, gave Nepal a literal 'food for thought' in the form of the aforesaid newspapers for academicians, intellectuals, thinkers, policy makers, political leaders and the rest to delve on issues of development and take the nascent democracy forward towards a reinforced one. Indeed, a deja vu from the year 1990 when democracy was re-established in Nepal would show as to how these two newspapers have shaped and moulded Nepal's democratic dstiny. With the initiatives of Shyam Goenka, journalism in Nepal today happens to be one of the most cherished professions for the young literate milieu to opt for and a much respected domain. After Kantipur, at least half a dozen broadsheet dailies sprang up in Nepal over the course of time and the sector has moved towards an organised one since then. The success of Kantipur from the very onset will always stand as a strong case study for the media domain across the world. It was promoted at the same time as the two dailies promoted by Ambanis and Thapars in India with large investments, but with limited success, going on to prove that newspaper readership is dtiven by a very strong bond of loyalty - and making inroads therein, remains an exemplary act. The leadership of Hindustan Times in Delhi, Times of India in Mumbai, Deccan Chronicle in Hyderabad, The Hindu in Chennai, The Indian Express in Kerala, Deccan Herald in Bangalore have been there for several decades and in none of these places may you find the most read newspaper having relegated to the second slot, despite very strong marketing endeavors, e.g., by Times of India in Delhi and Bangalore and in more southern centres of late, by Hindustan Times in Mumbai or by Deccan Chronicle in Chennai, The Hindu in Kerala and so on. The list s endless but the suggestion is that of a poise of an absolute inelasticity in one's newspaper loyalty - much different from how it is in case of other products, where you find an ever changing leadership pattern. This suggests the unparalleled success of "Kantipur" and "The Kathmandu Post".

The massacre of the royal family in June 2001 prompted the first crisis between Kantipur Publications and the government. Three directors of Kantipur were arrested and charged with "sedition" after publishing comments by a Maoist leader about the death of King Birendra.

The proclamation of a state of emergency on November 26, 2001, by King Gynanendra under the direction of then Prime Minister Sher Bahadur Deuba suspended the press freedom guaranteed by the country’s Constitution a decade earlier. Police began a wave of repression: more than fifty journalists were arrested, many publications were banned outright.

Following a February 1, 2005 royal coup by Gyanendra, Kantipur Publications operated under tighter restrictions. Journalists throughout Nepal were subject to imprisonment and beatings by the Royal Nepal Army. Nevertheless, Kantipur Publications continued to criticize the regime despite the royal proclamation and the ongoing civil war.

In March 2005, Narayan Wagle, editor in chief of Kantipur, was held for questioning by police on suspicion of criticizing the king in print.

During the 2006 uprising, Kantipur Publications continued operations despite increased crackdowns by the monarchy on private media.

Press freedom has been restored since the restoration of democracy in Nepal in May 2006, allowing Kantipur Publications to operate without fear of reprisal by the state.