Deepika newspaper was started in 1887 as Nasrani Deepika by a Syrian Catholic priest, Nidhirikkal Manikkathanar. Jatiaikya Sangham, an organisation formed with the objective of uniting the Pazhayakoor and Puthenkoor communities among the Christians of Kerala, came up with the idea of a newspaper for all the various Christian communities in Kerala.
Although this project did not work out, the Catholics in this group sought the permission of Mar Marcelinos, the bishop of Veropoly and started a newspaper. The first issue of the newspaper was published on April 15, 1887. Initially, the newspaper was printed on a wooden printing press at St. Joseph's Printing Press, Mannanam, near Kottayam. The first editor-in-chief was Nidhirikal Manikkathanar.
Shortly afterwards, the Nasrani Deepika newspaper split from the Jatiaikya Sangham and was taken over by the Mannanam Ashram, the religious house of the congregation started by St. Kuriakose Elias Chavara.
Initially published twice a month, Nasrani Deepika became a daily newspaper from January 1927, going through various stages of publication, three times a month and three times a week. In 1939, the headquarters was shifted from Mannanam to Kottayam. At this point, the newspaper removed the name Nasrani and became just Deepika.
In 1989, the Deepika daily was transferred to Rashtradeepika Limited, a public limited company with clergy, faithful, directors and shareholders. Later in 2005, the acquisition of a majority stake in the company by some individuals and the forced retirement of permanent employees, including journalists, led to much controversy.
Deepika has been accused of extorting money from the CIA by former chief minister V. S. Achuthanandan. The newspaper announced that the Chief Minister would be paid Rs 1 crore if the allegations are proved.
The Deepika Friends Club, which includes Deepika readers, was launched in 2015. Fr. Benny Mundanattu is the Managing Director and Dr. George Kudilil is the Chief Editor of Deepika Group.
Rashtra Deepika Ltd., Kottayam
Deepika was successful in initiating many new changes and innovations in Malayalam journalism. Deepika was and is the most popular newspaper among the Syrian Catholic community. Deepika has taken a strong stand for the farmers and the disadvantaged. Deepika is credited with being the first Malayalam newspaper to devote an entire page to sports and the first Malayalam daily to launch an internet edition. In April 1992 an evening edition, Rashtra Deepika, was added to the newspaper group.[4]
Currently, Deepika owns two news portals, www.deepika.com and www.rashtradeepika.com.
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