Kerala Journalism

Earlier Newspapers

Rajyasamacharam

The first newspaper in Malayalam was Rajyasamacharam, started in June 1847 by German-born Hermann Gundert. Publication began from Illikunnu near Thalassery. The eight-page newspaper was published once a month. Publication was done using pamphlets. The newspaper was distributed completely free of charge. The editor-in-chief was Georg Friedrich Muller. The newspaper ceased publication in December 1850. A total of 42 issues were published. The aim of the newspaper was to spread Christian ideas.

Paschimodayam

Paschimodayam is a newspaper started by Hermann Gundert himself in October 1847, shortly after the start of the Rajya Samacharam. Paschimodayam is the first scientific magazine in Malayalam. Paschimodayam is considered the second newspaper in Malayalam. Friedrich Muller himself was the editor. Paschimodayam is the newspaper that printed Hermann Gundert's works 'Kerala Pazhama: Antiquity of Kerala' and 'Keralolpathi'.

Jnananikshepam

Jnananikshepam is a magazine started by Benjamin Bailey in 1848. The other two leaders were Rev. George Mathan and Archdeacon Koshy. Jnananikshepam is also the first newspaper in Travancore. Englishman Benjamin Bailey is known as the father of Malayalam printing. Jnananikshepam was printed at the CMS Press in Kottayam. Jnananikshepam was also the first Malayalam publication printed at the press. Jnananikshepam was the first newspaper to publish English-Malayalam calendars and the first Malayalam newspaper to include pictures along with news. The novel 'Pulleli Kunju' was published in Jnananikshepam.

Western Star

The first English newspaper in Kerala was the Western Star. It was started in 1860 by C.J. Kurien and H.P. Poker from Cochin. The first editor was Charles Lawson (who later became the editor of the Madras Mail). The Western Star was the first newspaper to criticize the evils of the Travancore monarchy. Barrister G.P. Pillai wrote in the Western Star criticizing the Travancore rule. Paschima Tharaka is the Malayalam edition of the Western Star. 

Vidya Sangraham

Vidya Sangraham was the first educational publication in Malayalam. It was started in 1864 from CMS College, Kottayam. Vidya Sangraham was the first college magazine in India.

Varthamana newspapers

Paschima Tharaka

Paschima Tharaka was the first daily newspaper published in Kerala. The newspaper was launched from Kochi in 1864. The first editor was T.J. Paily. Kalloor Oommen Philippose, the editor of Paschima Tharaka, is known as the first Malayali editor of Malayalam newspapers. Later, Paschima Tharaka and Kerala Pathaka merged and continued to be published under the name 'Paschima Tharaka - Kerala Pathaka'.

Sandishtavadi

Sandishtavadi was a newspaper started by W.H. Moore in 1867. It was the first newspaper to be banned in Kerala. The newspaper was banned after it criticized T Madhav Rao, the Diwan of Travancore.

Kerala Patrika

Kerala Patrika is a newspaper founded in 1884 by Chengalathu Kunhirama Menon, who is called the 'father of Malayalam journalism'. The newspaper was started with the help of M. Appu Nedungadi , K.T.Varghese and Kannambra Valiya Unni Nair. The aim was to establish a newspaper on the model of Ananda Bazaar Patrika in Kolkata. Kunhirama Menon claims in a statement that 'Ente Kerala Patrika is the first newspaper in the Malayalam language in the Malayalam district'. This statement was written for Swadeshabhimani Ramakrishna Pillai's work, Vrithantha Patra Pravarthanam'. Kunhirama Menon is the initiator of the method of adding comments, criticisms and demands along with the news.

Malayalee

'Malayalee' is a newspaper that started publication in Thiruvananthapuram in 1886 under the leadership of the 'Malayali Sabha', a Nair community organization in Travancore. The first editor was Pettayil Raman Pillai Asan. C. Krishna Pillai was in charge of the newspaper. Later, C.V. Raman Pillai took over as the editor. Ramachandra Vilasam, the first epic poem in Malayalam, was printed in 'Malayalee'. The Ramakrishna Pillai wrote articles in the 'Malayalee' newspaper under the pen name 'Keralan'.

Newspapers in Travancore

Deepika

Deepika is the first daily newspaper in Malayalam. Deepika started publication in 1887. The newspaper was started by a Catholic priest named Nidhiry Mani Kathanar under the name Nasrani Deepika. Later it became a daily newspaper in 1927. Deepika is the oldest Malayalam newspaper that is still in publication. Deepika is also the first Malayalam newspaper to start an internet edition.

Malayala Manorama

Malayala Manorama was started in 1888 from Kottayam. At that time, it was a weekly newspaper. It became a daily newspaper in 1928. The founder of the newspaper was Kandathil Varghese Mappillai. Kandathil Varghese Mappillai was the editor for 14 years. The name Malayala Manorama was suggested by Kerala Varma Valiya Koyithampuran. 'Bhashaposhini' is a literary magazine published by Malayala Manorama in 1898. The work of the newspaper helped in the progress of the Malayalam nation, language and literature. Manorama's role in all the agitations such as the Malayali Memorial, the Ezhava Memorial, Paura Samathwa Prakshobham and the Responsible Governance Movement is invaluable. Manorama gave due importance to the news of the freedom struggle. Manorama loudly declared that the democratic form of governance is the best form of governance in the world. Based on this, more importance was given to the news of the freedom struggle. This policy of the newspaper angered the then Diwan of Travancore, C.P. Ramaswamy Iyer. The editor of the newspaper skillfully rejected all the temptations and threats of C.P. Following this, the newspaper was discontinued in 1938 by the order of the Diwan, Sir C.P. Ramaswamy Iyer, and later resumed publication in 1947. This was the first Malayalam newspaper to appear on a postage stamp.

Other publications of Malayala Manorama

Malayala Manorama has over forty publications including Bhashaposhini, Malayala Manorama Weekly, Manorama Health, Vanitha, Thozhilveethi, Karshakasree, Veedu, Sampadyam, Fast Track, Balarama, Kalikudukka, Balarama Digest, Balarama Amarchitra Katha, Manorama Varshika Pathippu, Manorama Yearbook , The Week (English) and Magic Pot (English).

Renaissance Newspapers

Swadeshabhimani

In January 1905, Vakkom Abdul Khader Moulavi founded the Swadeshabhimani newspaper. The newspaper's tagline was 'Bhaya-koutillya lobhangal valarkkilloru nadine'. The first editor was C.P. Govinda Pillai. Later, in 1906, Ramakrishna Pillai took over the editorship. Ramakrishna Pillai, who had been revolutionarily criticizing the administration through Swadeshabhimani, was exiled from Travancore on September 26 , 1910. Swadeshabhimani was the first newspaper in India to establish a relationship with the British news agency Reuters for foreign news.

Mithavadi

The Mithavadi newspaper was started in Thalassery in 1907. The founder of the newspaper was T. Sivashankaran. The first editor was Moorkoth Kumaran. It was printed at Vidyavilasam Press. In 1913, C. Krishnan bought the ownership of the newspaper and started publishing from Kozhikode. He then came to be known as Mithavadi Krishnan. The Mithavadi newspaper was known as the 'Bible of the socially oppressed' . Kumaranasan's 'Veenapoovu' was published in the Mithavadi newspaper. The Malayalam newspaper that supported the Russian Revolution of 1917 is also Mithavadi.

Kerala Kaumudi

Kerala Kaumudi was founded by C.V. Kunhiraman in 1911. It was first published from Mayyanad in Kollam district. Kerala Kaumudi was a newspaper started to propagate the ideas of Sree Narayana Guru.

Kesari

Kesari is a Malayalam newspaper started in 1930 under the editorship and ownership of A. Balakrishna Pillai. This newspaper was started when the license of the independent weekly Prabodhakan, edited by Balakrishna Pillai, was cancelled. Thus, he came to be known as Kesari Balakrishna Pillai. Kesari is the newspaper that printed the speech delivered by Sree Chithira Thirunal Maharaja upon assuming power in 1931. The newspaper was closed down in 1935 due to losses.

Sujananandini

Sujananandini is a newspaper started in 1891 from Paravoor in Kollam district. The founder was Paravoor Kesavanasan.

Vivekodayam

Vivekodayam was started in 1904 as the mouthpiece of Sree Narayana Dharmaparipalana Yogam. The founder of the newspaper was Kumaranasan. The initial editor was M.Govindan. Later Kumaranasan also became the editor. The newspaper was known as 'Ezhava Gazette' . The current mouthpiece of SNDP is 'Yoganadam'.

Sahodran

Sahodran is a newspaper started by K. Ayyappan in 1917. He was then known as Sahodran Ayyappan.

Samadarshi

Samadarshi is a newspaper started in Thiruvananthapuram in 1918. The founder was Kulakkunnath Raman Menon. The first editor was Kunnath Janardhana Menon. Kesari Balakrishna Pillai became the editor in 1922. Later, the Diwan of Travancore, M.E. Watts, banned the newspaper.

Newspapers that were part of the freedom struggle movement

Mathrubhumi

The first issue of Mathrubhumi was published on March 18, 1923, one year after Gandhiji's six-year imprisonment sentence for the Non-Cooperation Movement. Mahatma Gandhi's 'Young India' was the guide for Mathrubhumi. 'My friends have told me that Mathrubhumi is an institution that lives on its own two feet. This is a rare situation. Only a few newspapers in India can do this. That is why Mathrubhumi has a unique place among the newspapers in India.' Gandhiji said while unveiling a portrait of K. Madhavan Nair at the Mathrubhumi office in Kozhikode on January 13, 1934. Mathrubhumi was the only Malayalam newspaper that Gandhiji visited. Kesava Menon, who was a leading figure in the freedom struggle in Kerala, was the founding editor of Mathrubhumi. The poem 'Ente Gurunathan' by the great poet Vallathol and the poem 'Pora Pora Naalil Naalil', which inspired freedom fighters, were published by Mathrubhumi.

On February 12, 1942, five people in the Kayyur case were sentenced to death. Mathrubhumi launched a campaign against this. With this, the sentence was reduced to life imprisonment. Mathrubhumi was banned on March 25, 1942 , after the news was published. But there was a strong protest in the society against this. The government had to lift the ban within a week. During the Quit India Movement, the editor K.A. Damodara Menon was also arrested and taken away from the Mathrubhumi office. When Gandhiji chopped salt at Dandi, the editor K. Kelappan chopped salt at Payyannur. The newspaper also played a crucial role in the social reform movements such as the Vaikom Satyagraha and the Guruvayur Satyagraha. Mathrubhumi, which raised its voice for widow remarriage, united Kerala and the growth of the language, responded to the water exploitation in Plachimada and the endosulfan issue in Kasaragod after independence.

Swarad

Swarad is a newspaper started in Kollam in 1921. It was founded by Ayyappan Krishna Pillai, also known as A.K. Pillai. Swarad was the first newspaper to strengthen the national independence movement in Travancore.

Al-Ameen

'Al-Ameen' was a newspaper published from Kozhikode under the leadership of Muhammad Abdul Rahman Sahib in 1924 during the freedom struggle. 'Al-Ameen' was a tri-daily newspaper until 1931 and a daily newspaper until 1936.

Deenabandhu

Deenabandhu is a Malayalam newspaper that started publication in Thrissur in 1941. It was printed once a week. The aim of the newspaper was to strongly support the freedom struggle and propagate Congress ideas. V.R. Krishnan Ezhuthachan was the editor.

Yukthivadi

Yukthivadi was a newspaper started in 1929 under the leadership of Sahodharan Ayyappan. It was the first rationalist newspaper in Malayalam. In 1931, M.C. Joseph took over the editorship.

Political Party Newspapers

Prabhatham

'Prabhatham', which was started from Shoranur in 1934, is known as the first socialist newspaper in Kerala. The founder and first editor of the newspaper was E.M.S.

Chandrika

Chandrika, the official newspaper of the Muslim League, has its headquarters in Kozhikode. 'Chandrika' started as an independent weekly from Thalassery in 1934. It became a daily in 1938. The first editor was Muhammad Shafi and C. P. Mammu Keyi. The newspaper played an important role in the upliftment and social reforms of the Muslim community in North Kerala. In 1946, the headquarters of the newspaper was shifted to Kozhikode. Since 1950, Chandrika has also been publishing a weekly.

Deshabhimani

Deshabhimani is the Malayalam mouthpiece of the CPI(M). The establishment of the newspaper was led by A.K.G. and E.M.S. It began publication in 1942. The history of this newspaper, spanning more than 60 years, is intertwined with the freedom struggle and many workers' and peasants' struggles.

Janayugam

It is the mouthpiece of the Kerala unit of the Communist Party of India. It started as a weekly in Kollam in 1947. N. Gopinathan Nair was the first editor. It started publishing as a daily newspaper from 16 November 1953. Although publication stopped in 1993, publication resumed from 31 May 2007. The first box cartoon in Malayalam was Kittummavan from Janayugam.

Janmabhoomi

Janmabhoomi is a newspaper that began publication in Malayalam with an affinity for Hindu ideas. It was first published from Kozhikode in 1975. The first editor was P.V.K. Nedungadi.

Mangalam

Mangalam Daily is a daily newspaper owned by the Mangalam Group, founded by M.C. Varghese in 1969. The newspaper is based in Kottayam.

Veekshanam

Veekshanam is the official mouthpiece of the Congress Party in Kerala. The newspaper was launched by Indira Gandhi in 1976. However, after the first decade, Veekshanam failed to keep up with the modernization in the printing industry and compete. After an interval, Veekshanam resumed publication in 2005.

Madhyamam

The publisher of the Madhyamam Newspaper is Ideal Publication Trust, a subsidiary of Jamaat-e-Islami Kerala. The publication was started on June 1, 1987, from Kozhikode with P.K. Balakrishnan as the editor.