Kesari (Marathi newspaper)

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Kesari is an Indian Marathi language newspaper which was founded on 4 January 1881 by Bal Gangadhar Tilak, a self-rule activist in the Indian independence movement. It is owned and managed by the Kesari Mahratta Trust, which also oversees Mahratta, an English-language newspaper.

Kesari was established on 4 January 1881^[2] by Bal Gangadhar Tilak, a self-rule activist in the Indian independence movement. One of two weekly newspapers established by Tilak, Kesari was published in the Marathi language, while its counterpart, Mahratta, was published in English.^[3] Tilak wrote several articles in Kesari, on issues such as land tenure and revenue, war expenditure, high salaries paid to British officials, and the colonial exploitation of Indian resources.^[3] A Hindu nationalist who nevertheless supported Hindu-Muslim unity, Tilak sought to create a Hindu public sphere. Many Kesari editorials described how this sphere was formed and mobilised through religious events, in an attempt to create a shared and cohesive national culture.^[4]

In 1897, Tilak was tried and imprisoned for sedition on the basis of views he had expressed in Kesari. The prosecution was triggered by his violent rhetoric in relation to the assassination of two plague officials, W. C. Rand and Charles Ayerst; the assassinations had occurred following the Bombay plague epidemic, after which Tilak had counselled the "murder of Europeans".^[5][6] In 1908, Tilak was again tried and imprisoned for sedition, when his articles in Kesari defended the Muzaffarpur bombings which had led to the Alipore bomb case.^[6][7] On both occasions of his imprisonment, Narasimha Chintaman Kelkar assumed the role of editor.^[7]

At one time such oppression gave rise to small insurrections in England; and it was only when the people of that country rose in rebellion, and, after dethroning the King, introduced constitutional rule that no occasion was left for them to resort to violent means for effecting administrative reform.

— Bal Gangadhar Tilak, Kesari, 12 May 1908^[6]

From 1924 to 1939, Kesari regularly published articles and editorials in support of Italian fascism, Benito Mussolini, and fascist Italy.^[8] Across a series of editorials, the newspaper depicted Italy's transition from a liberal government to a fascist dictatorship as a move from anarchy to order. Mussolini's political reforms, particularly the shift from elected members of parliament to nominated ones and the substitution of parliament itself with the Grand Council of Fascism, were also praised considerably.^[9]

D. V. Tahmankar, the London correspondent of Kesari, was a known admirer of Mussolini. In 1927, he published a biography entitled 'Muslini ani Fashismo' (lit. 'Mussolini and Fascism').^[9] The book detailed the organisation of the fascist state, the fascist social system, the fascist ideology, and Italy's recent history. The entirety of the final chapter was dedicated to fascist society and its institutions, notably the youth organisations.^[9]

A lengthy Kesari article, entitled 'Italy and the Young Generations' and published on 13 August 1929, claimed that Italy's youth had taken over the leadership of the country from the older generations, resulting in what it described as a "fast ascent of Italy in every field".^[9] The article went on to provide a detailed description of the organisation of Italian society along fascist ideals. The discipline attributed to the Italian youth was explained as the product of strong and widespread religious sentiments, close attachment to the family, and respect for traditional values; these values were defined through the rejection of divorce and those who remained unmarried, and the denial of women’s right to vote, with women depicted as having no role beyond the home.^[9] The article then focused on the Italian fascist youth organisations, those being the Opera Nazionale Balilla and the Avanguardia Giovanile Fascista.^[9]

An online Marathi periodical called The Daily Kesari continues to be published, edited by Bal Gangadhar Tilak's great grandson, Deepak Tilak.^[10]

• List of newspapers in India