Church mandates Deepika newspaper subscription to empower community

CHANGANASSERY, Kerala (Indian Catholic News) — The Syro Malabar Archdiocese of Changanacherry has issued a circular making subscription to the Church-run Deepika (little lamp) daily mandatory, urging members to “wholeheartedly embrace and support” the newspaper during an upcoming campaign.

Archbishop Thomas Tharayil of Changanacherry declared October and November as “Deepika Intensive Campaign Months” and the circular that he signed is to be read out in all churches on Sunday, September 20 during Mass immediately following the homily.

“The loss of a voice for a community is a tragedy far greater than an individual losing their voice,” wrote Archbishop Tharayil. “As Deepika serves as the voice of our community, it is the bounden duty of every one of us to fortify Deepika, thereby nurturing a new generation equipped with clear vision and principled thinking.”

Community mission and history

For 140 years, “Deepika—the first Malayalam daily newspaper in Kerala—has been fulfilling a distinct media mission across print, online, and social media platforms,” he said. As the Syro Malabar Church observes the “Year of Community Empowerment,” the primary action plan aims “to ensure that Deepika reaches every household”.

The Syro Malabar Church had declared 2026 the Year of Community Empowerment, urging Catholics to strengthen unity and social engagement as leaders reflect on economic, agricultural and social challenges facing the community.

The circular requests that leaders “lead by example by mandatorily subscribing to Deepika“. The publication “belongs entirely to the children of the Church,” Archbishop Tharayil said.

The circular highlighted that Deepika “has consistently stood at the forefront of every struggle faced by the Christian community and society at large,” spanning historical movements such as India’s anti-colonial Freedom Movement and the 1950s Vimochana Samaram (Liberation Struggle), a major political protest in Kerala. It also pointed to the paper’s role in promoting “universal education” and defending “minority rights”.

Beyond political history, the publication has routinely addressed “agricultural crises,” specifically defending farming communities in low-lying wetland areas like “Kuttanad and the high-range regions”.

In recent times, the circular noted that the paper has forcefully brought attention to critical regional and national policy issues. These include “human-wildlife conflict” in rural villages, disputes over “teacher appointments” in church-run institutions, income-based welfare quotas under “Economically Weaker Sections reservation,” and tight federal controls on non-profit foreign funding under India’s “FCRA legislative amendments”—regulations that Church leaders say severely restrict charitable ministries for poor and marginalized communities.

Action plan and execution

The document notes that “ceasing all unwarranted criticisms, we must wholeheartedly embrace and support this newspaper”.

Prior to the campaign, “in September, the election of office-bearers for the ‘Deepika Friends Club’ must be conducted in all parishes”. In October, “house-to-house campaigning must be undertaken under the leadership of the parish priests and the DFC,” the archbishop wrote.

The circular concludes: “Whilst extending our sincere appreciation to all subscribers, campaigners, and distributors of Deepika, we pray that the noble values upheld by Deepika become an integral part of our families”.

Founded on April 15, 1887, as Nasrani Deepika by Father Emmanuel Nidhiri, Deepika is the oldest Malayalam newspaper still in publication and stands among the oldest active daily newspapers in India. Nasrani refers to local Syrian Christians — followers of Jesus of Nazareth.

Originally managed by the Carmelites of Mary Immaculate, a Kerala-based Religious congregation, the publication transitioned in 1989 to a public limited company, Rashtra (national) Deepika Ltd. Today, the prominent daily—printed across major centres in Kerala—is governed by the Catholic Media Trust under the Kerala Catholic Bishops’ Council.

Full statement available: original Malayalam and AI‑generated English translation.