Vartha Bharati
Kannada-language islamic newspaper in India
From Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia
Vartha Bharati. also spelled as Vartha Bharathi, is a Kannada daily newspaper published simultaneously from Bangalore, Mangalore and Shimoga.[1] It was launched in August 2003. It is one of nine state level Kannada daily newspapers of Karnataka, as recognised by the Information and Public Relations Department, Government of Karnataka.[2]
| |
 | |
| Type | Daily newspaper |
|---|---|
| Format | Broadsheet |
| Owner | The Community Media Trust |
| Founder | Abdussalam Puthige |
| Publisher | Abdussalam Puthige |
| Editor | Abdussalam Puthige |
| News editor | B.M. Bashir |
| Founded | 29 August 2003 |
| Language | Kannada |
| Headquarters | Mangalore, Karnataka, India. |
| Website | www |
| Free online archives | epaper |
Its main focus was to provide voice and due representation to the deprived and marginalised sections. Jnanpith and Padma Bhushan awardee U. R. Anantha Murthy was a great admirer and a regular contributor to this newspaper. In a public meeting, he called Vartha Bharati "The Guardian of Karnataka", saying that "The Guardian has created a revolution in the whole of its nation. In the same way, Vartha Bharathi is Karnataka's Guardian." Abdussalam Puthige,[3] the editor-in-chief of Varthabharati was inspired by veteran journalist Vaddarse Raghuram Shetty, who had launched Mungaru Kannada daily back in 1984.[4] Mungaru was well known for its generous policy of providing fair representation to all castes, communities and sections of the society. It left a significant mark in the history of Kannada journalism by identifying and nurturing several talents from Muslim, Christian and backward Communities.[5]
Numerous well-known Kannada leftists, social activists and Dalit ideologues, including U. R. Ananthamurthy, U. B. Banakar, Dr. Niranjan Aradhya, write regularly for the paper.[6] In 2017, a Vartha Bharati journalist was detained and served a showcause notice by the Dakshina Kannada police. The notice was later stayed by the Karnataka High Court.[7] In 2017, Vartha Bharati's social media page was blocked by Facebook. Though it was later restored, there was no clear explanation as to why it happened.[8]
Special issues
- Karnataka Chief Minister Siddaramaiah released the 14th annual issue of Vartha Bharati at his office on 13 October 2016
- Karnataka Chief Minister Siddaramaiah released the 13th annual issue of Vartha Bharati at his office on 5 October 2015
- Karnataka Chief Minister Siddaramaiah released the 12th annual issue of Vartha Bharati at his office on 12 October 2014
- 10th anniversary special issue was released by Jnanpith laureate U. R. Ananthamurthy and the filmmaker Mahesh Bhatt in Mangalore during the Vartha Bharati reader's convention.[9][10][11]
- 11th anniversary special issue was released by the Chief Minister of Karnataka Siddaramaiah, U. R. Ananthamurthy and the former Editor-in-Chief of The Hindu, N. Ram in Bangalore.[12]
Awards and accolades
- N. Ram, the former editor-in-chief of The Hindu, congratulated the daily for being a voice of the weaker section of the society for over a decade.[13]
- Siddaramaiah commended Vartha Bharati for espousing the cause of all sections of society despite being a newspaper with a Muslim management.[12]
- Mahesh Bhatt lauded Vartha Bharati by saying "Secularism is still alive in India, and we need to raise our voices against anti-secularists, just as Vartha Bharathi is doing. Vartha Bharathi has been doing what each Indian needs to do."[10][14][15]
- Vartha Bharathi has been awarded by Karnataka chapter of the Transparency International India for its quality journalism.[16]
- The book published by collecting the weekly column Bhoomi geete by the ecologist Dr. T.S. Vivekananda's won him the Karnataka Literature Academy Award for the year 2005.