Indian president lauds Catholic newspaper on 125th anniversary

(May 18, 2012) Indian President Pratibha Patil on Tuesday praised the Catholic daily newspaper ‘Deepika’ for its contributions to the country’s national life. Patil was speaking at a function In New Delhi celebrating 125 years of Deepika, the Malayalam language daily based in southern India’s Kerala state. "In fact, some of our newspapers themselves were part of our freedom struggle,” Patil said, noting that Deepika's contribution to the national life has been noteworthy. The president noted Deepika as one of the country’s major vernacular dailies and lauded it for “conscientiously” encouraging modern agricultural practices and technology. Deepika, known for being a crusader for social reform and for the removal of untouchability in Kerala, played an important role in the renaissance and reformation that took place in Kerala in late 19th century, and for its efforts during the country’s struggle for independence, Patil noted. She congratulated the management of Deepika and said its founder editor Father Emmanuel Nidhiry is remembered as a multi-faceted personality who was a versatile writer and social activist of the 19th century. Owned by the Carmelites of Mary Immaculate congregation, Deepika was first issued on April 15, 1887, at Mannanam near Kottayam. Cardinal George Alencherry, the head of the Syro-Malabar Catholic Church who is the chairman of the apex body of Deepika said "although there are various means of communications today, the importance of the print media will never be surpassed."