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