Pune
Marathi monthly Niropya enters 100th year
PUNE: Niropya, a Marathi monthly launched by a German Jesuit priest in an obscure village in Ahmednagar district in 1903, has today earned a distinct position among Marathi periodicals.
The monthly, presently being published from 'Snehsadan' in the city, is among the handful of Marathi periodicals which have reached the century mark. Niropya (Marathi word for messenger) was launched at the Walan-Kendal village in April 1903 by Fr Henry Doering, who later rose to become the vicar apostolic of Hiroshima in Japan and the archbishop of Pune.
The monthly, owned by the Society of Jesus (Jesuits), has grown from its initial four-page bulletin form to its present 32-page format. The magazine now boasts of a circulation of 20,000 copies.
Most of its subscribers are its third, fourth or even fifth generation readers — a feat rivalled by few other Marathi periodicals. The history of Marathi journalism begins with the publication of Darpan, a periodical launched by Balshastri Jambhekar in 1832.
Monthly Dnyanodaya, published from Ahmednagar since 1842, is the oldest surviving Marathi periodical, followed by daily Kesari, published from Pune since 1881.
Doering shifted Niropya's publication to Pune when he was appointed the second bishop of Pune diocese in 1907. During the First World War, the British government declared bishop Doering, a German national, as persona non grata. His monthly was also banned.
The Holy See then shifted Doering as vicar apostolic of Hiroshima in 1921. After the end of hostilities, Doering returned to Pune in 1927. Soon after his return, the archbishop resurrected his baby in 1927 and since then, Niropya is being published without a break.
Doering, who died in 1951, was interred at St Patrick's Cathedral in the city. The inscriptions on his grave, which highlight his contributions to various fields are, however, silent on the archbishop's role as the founder editor of Niropya, or his contribution to the history of the Marathi press.
During the last 100 years, the monthly has been published from Sangamner, Shrirampur, Panchgani, Karad, Aajra and Nasik, based on postings of its Jesuit priest-editors.
"Niropya has played an important role in creating social awareness among Catholics", says Fr Joe Pithekar, the monthly's executive editor.
The monthly, presently being published from 'Snehsadan' in the city, is among the handful of Marathi periodicals which have reached the century mark. Niropya (Marathi word for messenger) was launched at the Walan-Kendal village in April 1903 by Fr Henry Doering, who later rose to become the vicar apostolic of Hiroshima in Japan and the archbishop of Pune.
The monthly, owned by the Society of Jesus (Jesuits), has grown from its initial four-page bulletin form to its present 32-page format. The magazine now boasts of a circulation of 20,000 copies.
Most of its subscribers are its third, fourth or even fifth generation readers — a feat rivalled by few other Marathi periodicals. The history of Marathi journalism begins with the publication of Darpan, a periodical launched by Balshastri Jambhekar in 1832.
Monthly Dnyanodaya, published from Ahmednagar since 1842, is the oldest surviving Marathi periodical, followed by daily Kesari, published from Pune since 1881.
Doering shifted Niropya's publication to Pune when he was appointed the second bishop of Pune diocese in 1907. During the First World War, the British government declared bishop Doering, a German national, as persona non grata. His monthly was also banned.
The Holy See then shifted Doering as vicar apostolic of Hiroshima in 1921. After the end of hostilities, Doering returned to Pune in 1927. Soon after his return, the archbishop resurrected his baby in 1927 and since then, Niropya is being published without a break.
Doering, who died in 1951, was interred at St Patrick's Cathedral in the city. The inscriptions on his grave, which highlight his contributions to various fields are, however, silent on the archbishop's role as the founder editor of Niropya, or his contribution to the history of the Marathi press.
During the last 100 years, the monthly has been published from Sangamner, Shrirampur, Panchgani, Karad, Aajra and Nasik, based on postings of its Jesuit priest-editors.
"Niropya has played an important role in creating social awareness among Catholics", says Fr Joe Pithekar, the monthly's executive editor.
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