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CHAPTER I
IN'I'RODUCTION
An early series of writings which boasted periodicity and
(covered current hcrppenings was the 2cfa Diurna' or Daily Acts
which Julius Cemr, around 50 BC ordered to be publicaly posted
each day in the Fork~rn of Rome. This bulletin gave information, it
publishecl news, it reczogn~zed the value of publicity, The Acta
Diurna demonstrated the use of the newspaper to secure results
through propagmcJcr The news letters written on paper and given
out for circulation were the forerunners of modern newspapers,
The practice of circcilating newsletter system existed in the Roman
Empire, Germany, Fhance and England.
The newsptrper had its origin in China. The first newspaper
in tP~e world was (2 court gazette which began during the Tang
dynastv (61 8-906 4-51,) and was used as a means of
corr'lmun~cation betvveen officials . During the Ching Dynasty
(1 644-1 91 2) the bulletins were continued under the name Peking
Gazette2 It continues to be published upto the early years of the 20th
i F. Fraser Boi id. An Introduction to Journalism New York 1 96 1 . p.31;
2. Encyclofxxd~a, Britanlca, Vol 1 6-p.410
century2 Venice wc~s a ch~ef centre for the written newsletter of the
middle ages and weekly pr~nted new sheets appeared in Florence
as early as 1 6364 'hey were called Notize Scritte (written notice)
ancl were displayed In public places"
A new rncrc hine came into being which was called the
printing press, The creat~ve genius was John Gutenburg who
invenled it beheen 1440 and 1450 at Mainz, a city of Germanp.
In 1456 Gutenburg brought out his Luttin Bible. There was a global
change in the newsletter system with the invention of printing.
Germany was the pioneer in Newspapers. The first
newspaper was Avincx In German language which was printed on
1 5th Januury 1 6097 she first French newspaper was the Gazette
S S Natafujat' A History of the Press In India, New York 1962,
P 3
4 Encyclopcreci~u Brltanlccr ,Vol 16 19. 402.
5 Rangaswam~ Parthasanhy Journalism In India, Mhi, 1 99 1 ,p3.
15 Jaganath Pd3hunty- Nonders of communication, New
Delh~ 1995 11 15
' Malayalarn Wtanorama Archives Documents.
afterwards called the 'Gazefie de France'established in 1 63 1 under
the patronage of Cardinal Richolieu8. On 1 1 th March 1 702 the first
daily flewspaper appeared in London and it was called Daily
Courant9. In 1690 Benjamin Harris published the first American
Newspaper 'Publk: Cacc;urran~es"~~, 'The world's greatest newspaper.
the New York Times came out on 1 8 th September 1 851 ll.
The press in India.
India has known the concept of Mass communication
and news from verlv early times, Indian mythology refers to two
eminent characters, Narad Muni and sanjay, who depicted in their
legendary roles the v~sion people had about these concepts12.
Narada, a bachelor saint was not merely a news giver but also a
news caster, a jour~ialist, not carrying a pen or a paper but a veena
$
ancl sirlg~ng praises of Narayana. He had the fastest vehicle, the
mental vehicle, where by he could reach any spot in a triceI3.
8 Encyclopciedica Brltanica Vol 1 6. p. 398.
9. Rangaswomy hrthasarathy, op, cit. p, 6
1 0. MalayaXa Manorama, Archives Documents.
1 1 Rangaswamy kt-thasarathy ,op, cit. p. 1 6.
12 l?N.Maihcrri, C:ommunication Media., Delhi, 1985, p.15.
13 ibld p.15
I'\le~~lett@f~ ( ~ l s c ) existed in ancient India. The Mauryans were
the first to start circulating newsletters in india 1 4 . Runners, doots,
messengers and rider: carried news (2nd message in the Mauryan
period 'I. Muslim rulers In lndla set great store for the flow of
information and reSnf(~ircecY the system of reporters and informers for
that purpose1b.
Though, printing had rts origin in China, India's neighbouring
nation it took ten cetn'rurres for it to reach India. That too came not
directly from china but from Europe1 7, Like English education, railways,
telegraph, Indian courlc~ls and cricket, the press originated in India
during British ruIel0.
The first book, In Ind~a, 'Docfma Christina' written by St.
Francis Xuvier in portuguese language came out from Goa on 1 6 th
September 1556. The first book in an Indian language (Tamil) was
14. Puthilppcrll\ Raghavan, Kerala Pathrapravarthana
Charlthrarn 'rissur, 1 985 p 1 1
15 PN. Muthan, op cit, p ' 6
16 ibld, 3 22
1 1 Futhuppally liaghavan op.cit, p. 14
1 8 G N S Raghtrvcrn, The Press in Irid~a, New Delhi., 1994
printed In Kollam on 20th October 15781°. Portugal was the
first,E!uropean natiorr whrch brought a printing press to India. Printing
press were first hought to India in the 16th century by Christian
Missionaries for publishing evangelical literature 20 In 1684 the English
East lndia company set up a printing press in Bombay21. For the next
one hundred years there remained a lull in the history of the press.
No attempt was made? ~ r i India to start newspapers. The first attempt
in th4s field was macle by James Augustus Hickey who published the
frrst newspaper In hdicr In 1 8 7 0 , It was called the Bengal Gazette.
Hickey 1s regarded as the father of the Indian press22. The two
sheet English language weekly was little more than a malicious
scarldal rag, aimed crt the officials of the East lndia Company
and the Governor General, his wife and retinue. These attacks brought
19 D.C: Kizhekkc?rnuri, Kerala Kaumudi Daily, Kollam, 1 8 October
1994
2 1 B.C Grovet 13 R. R. Sethi. A New Look on Moderm
Indian Histo~y, Delhi, ? 97 7, p. 326
22 A. Sreedharcl Menon- Modern Indian History, Trivandrum, 1980
pp. 'I 44- 1 55'
upor H~ckey libel ;w~ts, government harassment, eventual
imprisonment, and at- end in poverty, although the editor persisted
with his puper througP most of his troubles23.
..James Augustus Hlckey wcrs the first Indian journalist who
underwent impf~sonrnent~~. The Bengal Gazette was the forerunner
of many rnore jownalr; and newspapers which appeared in Calcutta,
the birthplace of journc=llism in ~nd ia~~ . It was followed by the Calcutta
Gazette In 1 784, the Wladras courier if\ 1 788 and the Bombay Herald
in 1789. The first ne\/vspaper published in English by an Indian,
Ganyadhar Bhattarcht=lrya was the Bengal Gazette in 1 8 1 626.
The first publication other than in English was a product of
christian missionaries ~ssued from Serampore, called Dig Darshan
which was a Bengali n~onthly first seen in 181 827. The oldest existing
newspapers in lndia is the Bombay Samachar started in 1822 as a
weekly under the name Mumbai - ria- Samachar. This Gujarathi
23 Lent A. John '[he Astan Newspapers Reluctant Revolution,
(Ed.) Rolclr~ct E Wolseiey, 'India History and Development',
United States 197 1, p 269
2 4. Ri~adarmncrr~,PathrapravarIhanarn Prarambhaswaroopam,
Thrissur 1982 p 10
25. Rangaswarni Mrthasarathy opcit, p.21
newspaper was founded by Fourdonji Murzbai in B~rnbay*~. The
Udanfi-Martond the first all Hindi newspaper was issued in 1826 by
Jugal Kishore ShuWo of Cawnpore 29. In North lndia too, newspapers
began to appear trom the early decades of the 19th century.
The important newspapers published by Englishmen in
lndia in English in the latter half of the 19 th century were the Times of
India, The Statesman, Friena of India, Madras Mail etc. The Times
of lndicr is the oldest English daily in lndia and it is also an important
newspaper which has played great role in the development of
journalism in this ccuntry3O The Anirita Bazar Patrika is the oldest
Indian owned &ily It was born as a weekly in Bengali in 1 86831. The
Hindu began pubtication in 1878, It was the first Indian newspaper to
have its own plm? service for distribution of the paper to far flung
r'eader~~~ The period after the Revolt of 1857 saw the appearance
of rrlany newspapers of modern India. In 1 8 75 there were 3 75 Indian
language newspapers and i 47 English
28 Malayal~~nl Manorarna , Archives Documents, Kottayam.
29 A Sreedhara Menor op cit. p. 148
30 Rangaswarnr Wrthasarathy, op. cit. p. 234
31 ibid,p, '2:;'
32 ibia, p. 227
33. A SrWhaa Menor, op cit, p 11 51
The social and rel~g~ous movements of the 19th century,
the establishment of the Indian National congress in 1885 and the
partition of Bengal in 1905 provided a good incentive to the growth
of the Indian newpapers in the late 19th century and early 20th
c e n t u r y 3 V e newspapers published by Englishmen gradually
came round to the support of the Government while the newspapers
managed by the lrldlans whether published in English or Indian
languages supported (2nd nursed the rlational sentiment. They started
criticis~ng the social, economical and administrative policies of i
the British in India. Therefore, barring exceptions like William Bentinck
and Lord Ripon all the Governor Generals of India put serious checks
on the liberty of the lnclian press in different ways35.
The press in Kerala
The history ol journalism in Wlalayalam goes back to slightly
more than a century (2nd a quarter. Journals and periodicals in
Malayalam were first slarted by christian missionaries, in most cases
solely with the purpose of propagating religion and education36. The
34 LP S h m a , ellstory of modern Indra. New Delhi, 1 989, p, 278
35 I ~ I U p. 2.7';
36 Press in i<erala, )epartment of Public Relations
Thiruvancrr~tlupuram 980 p I
Christiar) missionary enterprises of Kerala were in need of a common
lingua franca to corlvey the Christian tenets in a more refined and
effective manner.
But in the early decades of the 19 th century, Malayalam
as a language w u s not fit to imbibe deep thoughts and western
ideologies. To overcome th~s difficulty, the Protestant missionaries
who operated Chr~stian m~ssions in Kerala, worked at various
capacit~es for the $bophistication of the Malayalam language37. As
a part of it, they n~lacle Malayalam a printable language in both
ways, orthographic:cilly and typographically. The net result was the
birth of prose brancpx to the Malayalum language and through which
it got the colour arid character of a transactional language. This
process of transforrwlation of Malayalam language was accelerated
through schools arsd journal / Newspaper culture38.
37, The Chrisfan Mrssronaries started Vernacular Schools,
translatt:d Bible into Malayalam, created a prose literature
and atove all started printing. See discussions in Samuel
Nellirnilgal. 'Bailey Malayala Bhasayute pitavu',passim.
38 Till the 19 Ih century the prose was not a popular branch of
literaturs 11-1 the Malayalarn language.
t
1 1 - *
Y
Thus their c:oritr~but~on to the development of Malayalam - - ',?'
- . -
prose and the prorrlotion of journalism, however has been
considerable and should be remembered with gratitude,
The Jesuit rr-issionarres were the pioneers in the field of
printing in Kerala, The f~rst printing press was established in 1563 AD at
Ambalakkadu seminarv Cochin3?.
The first Rlalayalam printed book was Cubendi
(Samshepo Vedurthtrri~] of 1 772 written by Father Clement of Jesus
and was printed at RoI?le by the Jesuit Missionaries40,
June 1841' w~tnessed the birth of Malayalam journalism
when e~ght cyclostylecl sheets In demi octavo size were put out from
a press at lllikunnu war Tellichery, The masterhead proudly
announced the new comer's name as "Rajya samacharam". The
-39. f?K.Parame:waran Nair. History o f Malayala Literature New
Delh~ ,197 i F 81
0 The Samshr:pcr Vedartham compiled by Father Clement
know in L a r i r i a:: "cornponodiosa 'was misspelt in Malayalam
as Cubencji
credit for this pioneerirrg venture goes to Dr. Hermen Gundert, the
renowned western scholar. Dr. Gundert was then the motivating spirit
beh~nd the Germn Busel Mission . Dr. Gundert was well versed in
eighteerl languages. Dr. Gundert gave a very healthy start to
Malayulam jounxrlisrn 4 ' , He started another journalistic venture in
October 1 947. This ,vclus 'Paschirn~dayam"~~, The publication carried
articles on Geogrupny, History, Natural science and even Astrology.
F. Muller a young missionary was its editor43,
In 1848 the first printed magazine in the Malayalam
language, the Jnancrnikshepam hit the newsstands. This eight page
magazine was printed at the CMS press operating from Kottayam
way bcrck to 1821. It was an evangelical journal with the laudable .
motto, ' Respect everyone, love them as your brother, fear God, be
31. (; Riycxx~rsanan, Malayala Patrapravarthanam Raramba
Swarool;x~m, Trissur, 1 982, p ,1 7
43. Murkot kunnappa Malayalam Journalism, Kottayam
Nagarcxc~bha Golden Jubilee Sovenir, 197 1, p. 235
13
loyal to the kingu. Benjamin Bailey, the architect of Malayalam print-
ing was the founder of 4nananik~heparn~~". The 'jnananikshepam"
continues to be published from Kottayam even today, but as a
magazine that still corltinues its publication from Kottayam in Ker~ la~~,
Yet another periodical, made its appearance around this
tirne. It was "Vidyascrr)(j~-ahan-)" brought out under the auspices of
the Kottuyam Cokge. 'This magazine started its publication in 1854
and went on till 1 867 . "Vidyasangraham" quarterly magazine was
the first publication o f (In educational instit~tion.~~.
In the mcrntirne there were attempts to start a newspaper,
In 1860 the "Western Slar" was published from Cochin in English. In
1864 a malayalam edition of the Western Star started publication
from (Sochin under the banner Paschirnatarak~~~. " Paschimataraka
is the first publicatic)r\ of tally people, Kalloor Ommen Philippose
(1 838-801 was its ediitc~r He was the first Malayalam editor of a
44 Murkot Kunlcrppu, op clt, p 235
43 G Priyadarsc~rian, op I it, p, 3 1
46 ibld, p 32.
(4; Press in Kera c ,op. cit p 2
45 Press In Kerali; op . cit p 2
magazine 508 In 1867 W.H. Moor started Santhishtavadi which was
printed at Me C.M.S. press. It challenged Me educational policy of
Diwan Madhavcrrc;lva and a result was prohibited5', The
"Santhishtavadi" c reated history in Malayalam journalism by
becorning the first martyr to the cause of the freedom of the press52.
It was a Gujarathi, Devji Bhirnji who started the first systematic
~newspuper in Malal{alam. Bhimji's newspaper, the Keralamifrum
was launched on tt~e New year. day of 188 1 5:3. It was a wonder that
(3 Gujarathi, Devji Bhirnjii star-led a Malayalam newspaper, and that
too at a period when there were only publications related to Christian
~eligion"~ The Kefc~rarnitrarn was issued thrice a month in the
beginning, later on it was published as a weekly. Running a newspaper
in a regional language was a difficult task at that time. Literacy had
not caught up with the common man. As a result circulation was at a
50. G Priyctclcrrsari ,op a t , p 33
51 rbid, p, 34
52 The press rri Kerala ,op at, p, 3.
53 ib~d, p, 3
54 A, D, hlcxr~s~iarma Keralathile Pathrapravarthanam
Prarambaghattorr Keralu Grandhasala Directory,
'lhiruvanandu~uram p 26
Malayalanl journal~sm in a sense had outgrown the stage
of infancy by the turn of the century. The closing years of the 19th
century gave Dirth h~ newspapers which later played a dominant
role in the history of Kerala.
DEEPlKA
The Nasrcrrni, Deepika was started as a fortnightly
on 1 5th April 1 88 7 Mannanam, a sleepy village near Kottayam
was the birthplace of the newspaper. Deepika owes its inception to
the renrassance that came in the wake of modern education in the
state, The founder editor of the Deepika was Father Emmanuel Nidhiry
of Kuravilangad who was a versatile genius, influential eleric and
charismatic p~onee~.:: The path,which the newspaper was to tread,
was clearly defined in its very first issue, (1 5th April1 887) to represent
the atrocities, injust~ces and cruelties meted out to the poor folk
before the c:ourt o f rules and ministers and to mitigate popular
grievances like a faithfull messenger5%
The name of its erstwhile editors will remove doubts about
its sec:ular characters. Kummanam Govinda Pillai, Chakanat Sankara
55, Wal-rlrrl- Deepika (Pamphlet) Kottayam,, p 2
56. ibid, p.;
Pillai and F?R. Nanu P~llai were editors during the last decade of the
19th century and the early 20th century. Swadeshabhimani
Ramakrishna Pillai wc~s the leading writer for a few years, The writers
a~nd correspondents too were from all sections of the population
from Kerala.
The history o f Deepka is resplendent with stories of relentless
and spirited fights aga~nsl soclal evils and injustices perpetuated upon
the lower echelon:; (9 the society in the native Kingdom of
Travancolre. These struggles were instrumental in changing the
social and political structure of the state.
[leepika championed the cause of the local people in the
Goverment service. Th~s movement known as ' Malayalee memorial'
halted the import of ofticers to rnan the state . Deepika from the very
beginning fought aga~nst untouchability. Irrespective of caste, creed
and c:olour, Deepkcw has stood for all. Through its columns Deepika
criticised the policy of the state in denying the vast majority (Backward
classes] its due share? ~n public services. It inspired the people to rise
ayairlst irljustice.
1 7
As early as the 1 890's Deepika spoke for democracy. In
one of the editoriak it is stated as follows,
"Tdonetheless, the best form of government is
the one in which the people's representatives
rule"57,
The happenlr~gs at the national level were also there in
the columns of the paper from the very beginning, Since 1920, news
of the Freedom struggle was printed under the slag 'indian News' in
Deepika. In 1927, D@ep~ka became a d~ily5~. In 1939, the newspaper
was shifted to Kottayarn for better a{essibility, The word 'Nasrani' was
deleted and the newspaper became "Deepika: Deepika continued
to give extensive news coverage and write regular editorials for the
natior~al cause,
The zeal ancl enthusiasm with which Deepika threw herself
in to the struggle triggered off repressive measures from the Diwan,
Sir. C.F?Ramaswami tyer He began with cajolery which soon turned
into threats and real persecution. Fr. Shabor, the editor of Deepika
57. ibid . p. 3
58. ibid , p. 10
18
was arrested, but Deepika was not to be conquered59. There was
censorship which has turned to kill all items of news about the
ubstens~on movemeiqf
The history of Deepika is not only of fights, It has always had
on a constructive path. The predominantty agricultural state of Kerala
c:ould boost of only one newspaper that stood for the farming
community, all though these years- The Deepika. The paper has
been with them In all their work fields either advising them how to
c;ultivate scientifically and profitably or fighting for their just and fair
demands.
The 102 year old Deepika run by the religious
congregation of Muvy Immaculate (C.M,I) was handed over to a
newly formed public limited company Rashtra Deepika limited in
1989 60. With Rastra Deepika limited taking over the management,
the adm~nistration ot the Deepika fell into the hands of lay
leaders. Deepika, Rustra Deepi ka Eveninger, Business Deepika, Career
Deepika, Rastra Ueepika, Azchapathippu, Karshakan and
Kuftikalude D e e m are the publications from this company.
59. ibid , p.5
60, ibid p .10
MALAYALA MANOKAMA
Malayala Manorama was started as a weekly in
Kc)ttayarr~ tn the princely state of Travancore 61. The Malayala
Manorarr~a company was reg~stered on 14th March 1888 6 2 . It was
founded by Kandathil 'Varghese Mappilai, who was a talented writer
with high ideals and a pioneer in various fields. The great majority of
the people of the state were ill~terate and there were hardly any
newspaper. Then 9.t became the mission of Malayala Manorama
tc) campaign for the luplift of the depressed classes, spread of
education, eradicatior~ of superstitious beliefs and preachers, and
political justice fa cilr .
Varghese Mappilla~'~ paramount interest was in social
reform in the broadests sense of the word. The plight of the
weaker sectors of socety aroused his sympathy. The very first issue of
the Manorama corlta~ned a trenchant article, on the need for
imparting educatbrs to the pulayas who used to be treated as
little better than czc~ttle 64 Perhap's Varghese Mappila's most
51 Rangaswa~n~ Paithasarathy, op. cit. p. 230
62. Murkd Kunhappa- Samskaratarangini, Koitayam, 1982, p. 533.
63. rang as warn^ Parthasarathy, op . cit. p. 230
64. K.PS. Merion introduction to Murkot Kunhappa's Samskara
Tharangi~r~~ k:ottayan-rl 1 982, p. 1
notable contribution was the sphere of literature. The first issue of
Manorama invited c:ontributions from budding writers in prose or
ill verse
His Highness Srimoolann~ Thirunal Maharaja allowed
Varghese Mappill~i to use the state emblem with minor alterations as
the emblem of the newspaper. It was because of this, ' charity is the
household deity ", the rrlotto of the Royal family became part of the
Flnalayala Manorma emblem65. The emblem is still used by the
newspaper with minor alterations and impr~vements~~.
K.C, Mammen Mappilai took over as editor after the death
of Varghese Mappilai In 1904. He wrote a new chapter in the history
of Malayalam jomalism with his courageous advocacy of the rights
of the people in W? face of autocratic rule 67. Mammen Mappilai
rnade Malayala Munorama a daily from 16th January 1928.
(Zonsldering the economic condition of the country, 1928 was not
a favourable time for starting a daily newspaper68. The world was in
65. Murkot Kilnhappa, Samskara Navodhanam, Kottayam, 1 988,
p. 377
66. Futhuppally Raghavan, op. at. p 95
67 Rangaswarni Parthasarathy op.cit p.230
68. Murkd Kuntiappa, Samskara 'Taranigni , p. 51 6
the grip of an ecomrr~ic: depression. The rural economy of Kerala
wus also at a low ebb during that time, Mammen Mapillai has been
described as a fearless patriot, a wise teacher, a crusadiing editor
and a zealous reformer0''. He agitated for great causes and these
included the Civil Rights movement, the agitation for responsible
Government and soc:iul reform, The paper antagonised the state
administrution when it crc:tively supported the abstention movement
for the redistribution'of legislative constituencies to ensure equitable
representation for all sections of the people. Under the leadership
of Mamrrlen Mawila~, Malayala Manorama gained successively
in reputation,circulation and influence. In many instances the
Malayala Manorama ctc:tually gave the lead to mass movements
of the period. The authorities were disturbed at the growing
influence of the Malayala Manorama. Its offence was aggravated
when it whole hearkdly backed the State Congress Movement for
responsibl e Government. The night of 1 0th September was a black
dcry for Manorama. l'haf night the District Magistrate, the D.S.P and
armed policemen recrc:hed Manorama. In a dramatic move, the
government of Sir. C X ? Ramaswamy lyer closed and confiscated
the Manorc~rna~~
69. Rangawarrli brthasarathy, op. c:it, p. 230 7 0 . Murkot Kurihtrppa, Sarnskara Navodhanarn, p. 170.
22
When Si. C:,P closed Manorama, the newspaper was
published from Kunnankulam, in Cochin state from 13th Septem-
ber 1938, It was proh~bited in Travancore, But it lasted only for nine
months.
The long night of darkness for the Malayala Manorama
came to an end ontyclfter independence. On 29th November 1947,
the daily was started orlce again from Kottayam. Mammen Mappilai
died and was suceeded by his son K.M. Cherian as editor in 1 954,
The Manorama stcrrted the 'Balarama" magazine for children in
1 972 and "Vanitha" "or women in 1 975. The English weekly 'The
Week' was started in 1 982,
The Mabyala Manorama has now eight editions ie.
Kottayarn, Kozhiko&,C:ochin, Thiruvananthapuram, Kollam, Palakkad,
Kannur and Trissur, 11 has a circulation of 11 lakh copies and
readersh~p of 92 lakhs. Malayala Manorama is today the largest
circulates malayabrn daily in Kerala7'. K.M. Mathew leads the
Malayala Manorama (1s the Chief Editor and has been doing so
since 1 973.
7 1 , ABC Report 999 January - June
MATH RUBHOOMI
The history o t Matrubhoomi is linked with the history of the
Indian National movement and the struggle for independence in
Kerala The national movement was fast gaining momentem in
Malabar tn the po$t first world war period. The non co-operative
movement was at its zenith. The Indian National Congress found it
difficult to go forward without a press and newspaper of its own72. It
was decided to stat a newspaper with the aim of strengthening the
work of the Congress in the state and to spread its message through
out the state. Its sponsors were K.Madhavan Nair, Kurur Neelakantan
Namboodiripad ancl K, PKesava Menon. Several ideas to name
the newspaper was thought of by K,P Kesava Menon. None was
satisfactory. Later on the name "Mathrubhoomi" was finalised as the
most su~table one73.
The Mattxubhoomi Printing and Publishing Company was
registered on 15th February 1922 with a paid up capital of one lakh
rupeesI4 In the first bard meeting of its Directors, K.Madhavan Nair
12. Mathrubhcx)rn~jmde Charithram, p 48
73. [bid,
74, ibid, p. 49
was elected as the Managing Director,but later on he resigned due
to technical reasons and K.F? Kesava Menon became its Managing
D~rector. The Mcdhruohoomi newspaper was started to help the
Indian National movernent, This was clearly stated in the
Declaration issued by the . Therefore people were reluctant h
to buy shares in such a company75,
The compcrny purchased Empress Victoria press' in Rolison
Road, Kozhikode with building and land at a cost of Rs, 21 ,500/-76.
The editorship was handed over to K.l? Kesava Menon, The company
decided to bring out the first issue on '1 8th March 1923. Since March
18th was a Sunday, the first issue was preponed by one day, The
Mathrubhoomi was started as a Triweekly publication on Tuesdays,
Thursdays und Sal~$days. On 1 7 th the first printed Mathrubhoomi
was folded by Forman Chathukutty and was handed over to Editor
K.F Kesavamenon. kus the Mathrubhoomi newspaper was born77.
The story of Mathrubhoomi was the life of service and
suffering. Freedom slruggle and journalism were the two sides of a
coin for the Mathrubhoomi company.The longline of editors of
7!j. ibid, p. 49
76. ibid , p. 53
7 7 ibid, p. 57
25
Mathrubhoomi were dedicated solidiers of freedom and like other
patriotic Indians went through the ordeal and made sacrifices
K.f? Kesava Menon rnade the paper a spokesman of the forces
fighting for freedom, "Mathruboomi" under the dynamic leadership
c3f K.F?Kesava Mnon played a memorable role in the freedom
struggle and did much to spread the ideals of Gandhi and the
c;ongress7* The paper stood for social causes such as temple entry
for low caste Hindus Mathrubhoomi played a pivoted role in the
Lfaikorn satyagraha. K, RKesava Menon, its editor who gave leadership
for satyagraha w a s arrested and had to spend six months in
Trivandrum Central ,J(=III'~, The Vaikorn Satyagraha helped to
influence public oplrxon in the state in favour of temple entry for
low caste Hindus.
On 6th Aprrl 1930 Mathrubhoomr became a Daily
newspaper. The Mthrubhoomi weekly started publication on 18th
January 1932. It has been able to keep up its high standard all these
years,
78. Rangawarrl~ R3lrthasarathy, op. c:it. p. 1 98
79. Futiluppallv if3ghavan op. cit. p. 244
Mahatrna Gandh~ visited the Mathrubhoomi office at Kozhikode on
13th January 1934 and gave advice to the workers of the dailpO.
The Mahrubhoomi was practically the only source of
information for the people of Malabar about the developments in
the national movement. During the freedom struggle the British
suppressed the Mathrubhoomi newspaper in Malabar. The
publication was turned in Travancore when it criticised the dictatorship
(2nd ruthless rule of Sir, C.F Ramaswami lyer,
Jawaharl<rt Nehru visited the Mathrubhoomi on 28th
December 1955. Nehru remarked that the daily was known through
out lndiu and it playecl an important role in the freedom movement
of the c:ountry. Cine cannot brand Mathrubhoomi as a
c:ongress newspaper any longer but only as a national newspapers1.
The Mathrubhoomi newspaper started subsequent editions from
Cochin, Trivandrum, Trissur Kannur and Kottayam, The company
ulso publishes Grlhulcrkshmi. (Weekly for Women ) Chithrabhoomi
(filim weekly) Thazhil vartha (employment magazine) and Sports
magazine.
80. MahaSmo Gandhi remarked that Mathrubhoomi was an inshtulkx\ that stood on its own legs and that it had a prominent place among the newspapers of India . Mathnrbhoorrii Inaugural supplement, Kottayam 1 4 May 1995
81 Puthuppt~lly Raghavan, op. cit. p. 246.
Today the Mathrubhoomi has six editions and 7 labs
circulation, It is r e d by 70 lakh people daily. Mathrubhoomi ranks
to'day as one of the foremost dail~es of Indian press82.
KERALA KAUMUDI
The Kerakr Kc~umudi, one among the leading newspapers
of Kerala was started in 191 1 Its founder C.V. Kunhiraman was a
rnultifaced personality, a poet, a brilliant prose writer, historian,
journalist, politician all comblned together 83. The Kerala Kaumudi
was printed in the lii~varnaprakasam press in Mayyanad near
Kollam, C V. Kunhiramt~rl was a government official at that time and
so the newspaper's editor was Sarasakavi Muloor. After an year
C.V. Kunhiraman resigned his job as government official and became
the editor of Kwla Kaumudj The Kerala Kaumudi was shifted to
Kollam und later c'n to Pettah, near Thriruvananthapuram C.V,
Kunhlrarnan was e life and soul of Kerala Kaumudi. By the
~~ntiring works of C. L' .Kunhiraman,, Kerala Kaumudi came to the
fore front of Maluyalam Newspapers, Among the readers of
82 Ress in Kerolu, op c:it.p. 1 9
83 ib~d, p. 1 ;
Kerala Kaumudi, a dast majority read the Edit~rial~~. This was
because of the style of C.V. Kunhiraman, founder editor which
rrlade the readers F E ? C I ~ it
The Kerm Kaumudl was converted into a full fledged daily
in 1940, K Sukurnar(=ln became the Chief Editor of Kerala Kaumadi.
The new Chief Efdrtcrr gave an effective leadership to the
newspaper. He knew from proof reading to editorial in
Sahodaran Ayyappcrn':; weekly notes were a bright weekly item in
the Kerala Kaumudi K. 6c=llakrishnan1s political reports and Kainikkara
R~dmanabha Pillai's political observcrtions were special features in
the daily 57. After independence the newspaper grew as a very
powerful force. U p tc) 1963 Kerala Kaumudi was published on all days
except Monday. Later the Monday magazine was started and the
54. N.Ramcrc:handran, "Kera la Kaumud iyude
Mukhapra:;ungagai Kerala Kaumadi Nonjournalist
Asso~iat ior~ Silver Jubilee Souvenir, Trivandrum, 1995,
p.24
85, ibid, p. 24
86, ibid. p. 24
57 Kerala Kcx~rnudhi Non Jaurnalrsl Association Sllver Jubilee
Souvenir, Trr\/nndrurrr, : 995, p. 1 5
newspaper came out on (111 days. Reporting of Legislature Assembly
proceedings was Kerula Kaumudi's important item. When the
legislature Assembly rnet the pages of the newspaper were full with
its deliberations. It w a s generally felt that reading Kerala Kaumudi,
wc~s enough to know what happened in the Legislature.
Today the stewardship of the newspaper is in the hands of
the sons of K. Sukurnarcan. The Keralu Kaumudi always raised its
voice for the backward c~lasses, The c:ontribution of Kerala Kaumudi
and ~ts founder editor C.V Kunhiraman to the literary/cultural
development of Kercrla IS ~nparallel~~, The Kerala Kaumudi which
holds the third place In the matter of circulation among the
vernacular newspapers is moving from strength to strengthB9.
MALAYALARAJYAM
The Malayalcxrajyam made a triumphant entry in to
Malayalam journalDsm In 11 920, featuring in its columns APTand Reuter
despatches and news pictures fed by foreign photo agenciesg0, It
was started from Kollarn as a weekly but within two years it became
88. Futhup(xlll\ Raghavan, op.cit, p. 180
89. ibid, p 190
'70. Press In Keralc p. 16
a daily newspaper. Malayalarajyam was the first malayalam
newspaper tohave u Rotary press and process studio of its own9' .
An organised n8Wc)rk for the distribution of the daily was built up. The
paper even opmted (2 bus service of its own to keep the distribution
channels well oiEecJ?
The Mabyalarajyam Daily was edited by K.G. Sankar, a
strong nationalist. He c=rlso stood for social reforms in the state and
was against untouchablility K.G. Sankar was a revolutionary who
showed courage to tcrke schedule caste women to his ancient
upper caste horn? irrld share meals with them 93. A number of
lead~ng writers of the day were persuaded to contribute regular
columns. In a shwt span of time the Malayalarajyam became well
known and read as Kerala's leading nationalist daily, The
Malayalarajyam weekly which came out with colour pictures in art
paper was a prewious publication of the times. Later K.G. Sankar,
The soul of Malayalarcrjyam fell ill. Sankar relinquished control of the
paper on ill health artd the daily experienced bad days. The new
91 Puthuppcrlly Raghavan, op. cit, p. 247
92. Press in l(ertrla, p. 16
Y3 See disGuss~ons in Or N. Raveendran's, Kollam
Kandavane ilium Vend a I Mal). p. 78.
-L . '
editor, K.G.Parameswaror Pilla~, the brother of K.G. Sanbr joined
the side of the Travanc:ore Government. The Nationalistic posture of
the paper was reversed and it became increasingly pro-
government. The newspaper opposed the responsible government
agitation of' Travancae crncl stood with the Diwan Sir, C.P Ramaswami
lyer and his repressive measures. At the time of independence it
stood for independent 'T'ravancore and degenerated in to a C.l?
Gazettev4. It resulted in the alienation of the paper from the people.
The publicat~on of Mlayalarajyum was stopped in 1960.
DESHABHIMANI
During the Ind~an National Movement, when the Quit India
Moment was at its hignest, the Indian communist party of Kerala
unit started the publication of Deshabhimani as its official
newspaper ? . Thus the Deshabhimani came out in 1942 from
Kozhikode, The p a w was started as a weekly and M.S. Devadas
was its editor. The Deshabhimani became a daily newspaper in
1946. The Government of Madras banned the paper in 1948. The
publicat~on of the newspaper was resumed in 1951 96.
94 Puthuppatly Rcrghavan, op.cit p. 248.
91:) ibld, p 253
96 Press in Kerala op.cit p 21
32
'&hen the cor-nmunist party of India was spilt in 1964 the
Deshabhimani came under the control of the communist party of
India .(Marxist) Deshak~himani 1s the only paper that does not utilise its
space for advertisements. It allots the entire space of the paper for
news, The Deshabhirr~an~ has now editions in Ernakulam, Kottayam
and Kannur From ihis group of publication another weekly called
'Chinta is ulso being piclbllshed.
The press ir-I Kerala may have come of age as
Independer-~ce dawned.lt was a far cry from the cyclostyled sheets
of 1847 to the full %aged dailies of 1947 increasingly harnessing
modern techniques o f edit~ng and production. The decade
preced~ng independence was a period of consolidation and growth
for the press in Kerala An element of competition started in the
journalistc f~eld. Survival demanded riot only adequate resources,
but a planned, entr.prennerial appro(!$. Journalism was becoming
increas~ngly politicdy oriented, a natural offshoot was committed
journalism
Different methods have been employed to collect the
required data pertaining to the study, For collecting primary and
secondary data the researcher visited a number of places and
33
libraries like Kerala University Library, Trivandrum, Public Library,
Trivandrurn Kerala Leg~slative Library, Trivandrum, British Library,
Trivandrurn, Press Club Library, Trivandrum, Centre for Development
Studies, Tr~vandrum, Kei'ala Un~versiiy Kariavattom Campus Library,
Trii~andrum, Mahatma Gandhi University Library, Kottayam, School
of Gandh~an Thought and Development Studies Department Library,
Kclttayclm Public Library, St, Thomas Apostolic Seminary Library,
Kcdtayarr~, Malayda Manorama Reference Library, Kottayam,
Rushtra [leepika Library, Kottayam, CMS College Collins Library,
Kcd-tayam, MahQtma Gandhi University Study Centre, Kottayam,
Kristu Jyoth~ College 1-rbrary, Banglore etc.
The researc: tier visited newspaper offices of Malayala
Manorama at Kottayarn, Deepika at Kottayam, Kerala Kaumudi at
Trivandrum, Mathrubhoom~ at Calicut and referred various
newspapers of the per~od 1957-59.
The data has been collected by both formal and non-
fclrmal technique of interviews and observations. The researcher
34
had interviewed ar~cl c:onsulted journalists, politicians and senior
citizens with rich living experiences in Kerala State,
About the c; hcrpterization, Chapter I Introduction examines
the origin of newspapers in the world, in India and in Kerala. The
origin and development of major Malayalam dailies is also
mentioned in Chapter I, I have made an attempt to'depict the
political scenario of the late 1 950's in Chapter 11. The circumstances
hat led to the Andt-~ra Rice Deal, its enquiry report and effects have
been discussed in this Chapter. The third chapter gives a. critical
analys~s of the Eclucation Bill of Joseph Mundasserry which was
brought by the Communist Government. In the next Chapter I
have made an attempt to critically examine the impact of the
press in the Liberation Movement which led to the dismissal of the
comrrlunist govlernrnent. In the concluding chapter an attempt is
made to substantiate the impact of the Press on the political scenario
of Kerala on the basis of the findings of the early chapters. The
centrcxl concerptic~nal tools are borrowed from the credibility
tradition of missionwryl enterprises and Gandhian journalistic
concepts
The method adopted in this study is that of explanatory
ncrrrative based on the socio political and religious cause and effect
reasoning. Content analysis of the reports as well as comments
which appeared in the teading Daily Newspapers of Kerala during
1957-59 has been used