Kerala, after K. M. Mathew

K. M. Mathew, Chief Editor of the iconic Malayalam  newspaper Malayala Manorama passed away yesterday. Malayala Manorama became a media conglomerate under his stewardship. His astuteness is widely recognized as also his humility and professionalism. He made his opinions loud, his friendships known and his dislikes expressed. Huge strata of middle class and high income family rallied behind him. They considered him and his publications as a natural companion and a family friend. Communists opposed and they stood alone!

From today, many things in Kerala would be marked as 'after K. M. Mathew'. Kerala politics, politics and fighting in Christian community, Elections, Economy, Education, Communal equations, values, language and culture - he had an influence on every Malayali. We will not realize his influence in our life till we closely analyze everything around us. In 56 years, his paper grew to become the largest read regional language newspaper in India and fourth largest read newspaper in India. 96 lakh people read Malayala Manorama every day. That means Malayala Manorama can influence opinions of one third of people in Kerala. Thats not all. Many readers became national ministers, supreme court and high court judges, state governors, university chancellors, police commissioners, district collectors, editors of leading newspapers, secretaries of state, ministries and country. Many more are occupying these posts now and more are waiting in line. They all make a lasting impact on the country, India. 

Kids in Kerala start their reading habit with Balarama (13.88 lakh readers), they slowly graduate to newspaper, Malayala Manorama (95.94 lakh) and the weekly magazine called Manorama (14.33 lakh readers), middle class women graduate to fortnightly magazine Vanitha (30.35 lakh readers), Manorama TV is their source for latest news and visuals and they travel listening to Radio Mango, the most popular radio in Kerala. The media conglomerate rolls on everyone of us.

(All figures are Average Issue Readership figures from Indian Readership Survey Q1, 2010 )

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