Type Daily Newspaper Owner(s) Rashtra Deepika Ltd. Headquarters Kottayam | Format Broadsheet Founded 15 April 1887 | |
 | ||
Editor Fr. Boby Alex Mannamplackal | ||
Deepika, a Malayalam language newspaper, is one of the oldest newspapers published in India. Started in 1887, it is the oldest Malayalam newspaper now in circulation. Deepika publishes editions from Kottayam, Kochi, Kannur, Thrissur, Thiruvananthapuram and Kozhikode. It was controlled by the Syro Malabar Church of Kerala from its inception till 1989. In August 1989, the Deepika and its sister publications came under the ownership of Rashtra Deepika Ltd., a public limited company. The readership of the newspaper is drawn mainly from the Syro Malabar Catholic laity. Msgr.Mathew M.Chalil is the Chairman & Managing Director (CMD) and Fr. Boby Alex Mannamplackal is the Chief Editor of the newspaper.
Contents
History
Deepika has an illustrious history of over 125 years. It was first published by a Syrian Catholic priest, Nidhirikkal Manikkathanar, or Father Emmanuel Nidhiri, or Nidhiry Mani Kathanar, under the title 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 Syrian 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:-
Kuttikalude Deepika, Business Deepika, Children's Digest, Rashtra Deepika Cinema, Streedhanam and Karshakan are other publications of the Rashtra Deepika Ltd.
125th Anniversary Celebrations
In 2012, Deepika celebrated its 125th anniversary, marking this significant milestone with various celebratory events. A highlight of these celebrations was a special cartoon exhibition by Raju Nair, which took place in Thiruvananthapuram in February. The exhibition was inaugurated by the esteemed artist Kanhayi Kunhiraman and attracted visitors from diverse backgrounds. Among the attendees was the Bishop of Neyyattinkara, Rt. Rev. Dr. Vincent Samuel, along with many others who visited the exhibition.
Rashtra Deepika Publications
Rashtra Deepika Ltd publishes the following:
- The Deepika - daily newspaper (morning)
- The Rashtra Deepika - daily newspaper (evening)
- Business Deepika - Complete Business Fortnightly
- Karshakan - Agricultural monthly
- Sthree Dhanam - Women's monthly
- Rashtra Deepika Cinema - Film Magazine
- Kuttikalude Deepika - Children's Fortnightly
- Children's Digest - Children's Monthly (English)
- Chocolate - Educational Supplement
Web-Editions
- www.deepika.com - Deepika morning daily web edition
- www.rashtradeepika.com - Rashtra Deepika evening daily web edition
- www.deepikaglobal.com - Deepika morning daily web edition in English
- www.visitorkerala.com - a complete health and tourism portal
- www.deepikamatrimonial.com - matrimonial portal
- www.deepikaclassifieds.com - Classifieds portal
- www.careerdeepika.com - Career online portal
Major shareholders
The current major shareholders include Deepthi Media Trust (Kakkanadu), Chavara Media Trust (Kakkanad), Deepika Printers Society, Srothas India Trust (Syro-Malankara Major Archeparchy of Trivandrum), St. Joseph's Trust (Thalassery), Syro-Malabar Archepharchial Trust (Changanachery), Mr. Joseph Kunju (Syrian Catholic NRI), Dr. Francis Cleetus (Syrian Catholic NRI), George Jacob Mannamplackal (Syrian Catholic NRI), C P Paul Chungath (Syrian Catholic Jeweller), Johny Kuruvila Padickamyalil (Syrian Catholic NRI) and several other Syro-Malabar dioceses and archdioceses.