Kesari Weekly

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Kesari Weekly is a Malayalam tabloid weekly bearing articles that delight and inspire the young and the old alike.

In the aftermath of Gandhiji's assassination, Rashtriya Swayamsevak Sangh (RSS), a Hindu organisation, was hounded and vilified. There was no medium that could be used to clear the doubts and rumours. It was to vindicate the RSS that 'Panchajanya' in Hindi and 'Vivek' in Marathi were started.

Inspired by Sankar Sashtri, RSS Pracharak from Nagpur, Maharashtra, the need was felt for a similar voice in Malayalam. Thus this newspaper was formed.

Its physical conception was on Thursday, November 27th, 1951 when the redoubtable P. Parameshwaran(now Director, Bharatheeya Vichara Kendram, Trivandrum and President, Vivekananda Kendra, Kanyakumari), back form prayers at the Thali temple, Kozhikode, sat down and wrote the first editorial at a desk in the RSS office.

That was Kesari's first statement to the world, published in a four page leaflet, on the strength of a capital of a mere Rs.13 collected painstakingly over a period of months. K.P. Gopalakrishnan Nair was the Founder Editor. He and Sankar Sashtri along with several others took charge of the publicity and distribution. Preparing Kesari for publication and distribution was viewed upon as a sacred duty by the 'Swayamsevaks'(RSS WORKERS). Many of them are not in this world today, to see It grow, as they once dreamt.

People like R.Venugopal, Sadhusheelan Parameshwaran Pillai (Swami Parameshwaraananda), M.A Krishnan and T. R. Somashekaran have served as Chief Editors, in the various stages of growth. P.K Sukumaran, who recently retired, had also contributed yeoman's service to its growth. Their contributions to make Kesari the sixteen page weekly that It is today, from the four paged leaflet that It was on birth, are priceless.

Weekly's service during the Angadippuram Talikshetra Samaram, Malappuram Zilla Viruddha Samaram, and during the "Emergency" are marked in history. Again during Nilakkal issue, Ayodhya issue..

M.A Krishnan improved content & outlook by introducing new features and columns which Keralites welcomed wholeheartedly. It showcased T. Sukumaran's 'Rasikkatha Sathyangal' based on the torture & suffering which the Hindus underwent during "The Partition". Kesari's pages were blessed with the works of some of the Kings of Malayalam Literature like C. N. Srikandan Nair, Aymanam Achuthan Pillai, Puthezhathu Rama Menon and Kutty Krishna Marar. The 1971 yearly edition of Kesari, which includes the "Nilayude Ithihaasam" remains a handbook of Kerala Culture, for all time. Thought-provoking and inspiring writings like that of the unparalleled. P.V.K Nedungadi gave a new vigour to readers.

The police taped Kesari's mouth for three months during "The Emergency" imposed by Indira Gandhi, but the intervention of veteran freedom fighters K.P. Kesava Menon and V.M. Korath finally paidoff and the ban was lifted, and continued to expose the bare truths, evading the arms of the censors. It turned twenty five during these eventful days. I was presented with a new home, "Swasthi Disha" which can call it's own, on December 1st 2001, to commemorate my fiftieth birthday.

Kesari remembers with gratitude M. Raghavan, who served a long period as its manager and worked selflessly for its well-being, and who is now no more. R. Sanjayan is the present Chief Editor. There are some fifteen people working in the editorial and management sections today. As a publication, its rise and growth stand testimonial to Malayalam, the language in which it is published.

Kesari claims to have a circulation touching one lakh per week.