Our companion Mathrubhumi daily is entering its birth centenary. Prime Minister Narendra Modi will inaugurate one year-long centenary celebrations on Thursday. It is a joyous experience to see another Malayalam print media successfully reaching its 100th year in this age of visual and new media. After Deepika, Malayala Manorama and Kerala Kaumudi, we warmly welcome Mathrubhumi to the centenary club. The fact that the four newspapers in Kerala with strong social engagement have been following the readers for a century completely disproves the argument that reading is dying or the future of the print media is darkening. This underscores the fact that as technology advances and innovative ways are being developed, they can no longer survive the credibility of printed words. Well-known economist Amartya Sen's mother told channel reporters that she would only believe that he received Nobel Prize if she saw the next day's newspaper. Still, those words have not lost their relevance.
Mathrubhumi was started on March 18, 1923 with the idea of being a newspaper for the freedom struggle. The newspaper, which was published only on Tuesdays, Thursdays and Saturdays, became a daily in the 1930s. Mathrubhumi has a history that is inextricably linked with the freedom struggle. All those who led Mathrubhumi at that time were not only freedom fighters but also leading fighters.
While Kerala Kaumudi tried to propagate Sreenarayana guru's ideologies along with raising voice against injustices, Mathrubhumi was trying to spread the message of Mahatma Gandhi and the fighting spirit of the freedom struggle. Mahatma Gandhi's visit to Mathrubhumi office was a very exciting historical event. Gandhiji was in constant correspondence with Shri KP Keshav Menon, the founding editor of Mathrubhumi. Sarvashree K. Madhavan Nair, Kurur Neelakandan Namboodiripad, K. Kelappan and VM Nair were the early editors of Mathrubhumi. They played a crucial role in the Vaikom Satyagraha and the Guruvayur Satyagraha.
Mathrubhumi is a newspaper that has made an unforgettable contribution to the development of the Malayalam language and culture. A large number of eminent journalists who have contributed to the field of Malayalam journalism are from Mathrubhumi.
We shared friendship with Mathrubhumi since my grandfather K Sukumaran's period. Shri MP Virendrakumar, who was the MD of Mathrubhumi for forty years, has always been our benefactor and best friend. Managing Editor and Chairman Shri. P.V. Chandran and director Shri PV Gangadharan and their new generation have maintained that relationship. The current MD of Mathrubhumi, Shri. M.V. Shreyams kumar is my friend. That lasting relationship with Shreyams Kumar and the Joint Managing Editor Shri PV Nidheesh continues. It is gratifying to note that Mayura Shreyams Kumar and Devika Shreyams Kumar, who belong to youth wing of newspaper, are also representatives of the future generation of the newspaper. While it is true there is competition in this field, it does not affect the friendship between institutions. Kerala Kaumudi and Mathrubhumi have always maintained brotherly friendship despite advancing in different directions.He also shared good relation with K P Keshavamenon.
Our policy is to take an honest and just stand with a social commitment . Mathrubhumi approaches news in the similar way. They also pays special attention to maintaining the greenery of Kerala and protecting the remaining forests.
Although Covid crisis has affected the printing of newspapers, newspapers are an unavoidable part of Malayalee's life. It is this unwavering belief of the readers that drives any newspaper. On this historic occasion of the centenary, I would like to take this opportunity to wish Mathrubhumi and its employees a hundredth anniversary.
With best regards
Deepu Ravi
Chief Editor