Magazine published from Pune turns 110
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- ST Correspondent
Monday, 22 April 2013 - 10:39 AM IST
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PUNE: ‘Niropya’, a Marathi monthly started by the German Jesuit priest Fr Henry Doering in 1903, has completed 110 years this month. The monthly published from ‘Snehsadan’ in the city, is incidentally among the handful of Marathi periodicals which have crossed the century mark.
‘Niropya’ (messenger) was launched by Fr Doering in Walan-Kendal village in Ahmednagar district in April 1903. The founder editor of the magazine was appointed as the second bishop of Pune Catholic Diocese in 1907.
During the first World War, the British government had banned the return of Bishop Doering, a German national, from Rome to India and subsequently, the Vatican had posted him as the Vicar Apostolic of Hiroshima in Japan.
During the turbulent war period, when German missionaries working in India were either incarcerated or deported, the publication of ‘Niropya’ came to a halt. After the cessation of the hostilities, Doering returned to Pune as an archbishop in 1926 and restarted publication of the ‘Niropya’, a year later.
Archbishop Doering who died at the age of 92 in 1951 was interred near the altar of St Patrick’s Cathedral in the city.
The place of the publication of the monthly has often changed, depending on the location of its editor. Since past ten years, it is being published from Pune. Most of the subscribers of this monthly are its third, fourth and sometimes, fifth generation readers. The monthly is published by a trust run by the Jesuits. Significantly, the 110-year-old Marathi monthly was edited by European Jesuits for over six decades, till 1971.
Fr Joe Gaikwad, the present editor of ‘Niropya’, said the monthly has been catering to its readers in keeping with the changing times and it carries articles and news on various social issues. It has nearly 4000 subscribers in various parts of the state.
The history of Marathi journalism began with the publication of ‘Darpan’, a periodical launched by Balshastri Jambhekar in 1832. ‘Dnyanodaya,’ a monthly published by another Christian trust from Pune, is incidentally the oldest surviving Marathi periodical. It was established in 1842.
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Comment
David Sampat Kadam - Tuesday, 23 April 2013 - 12:48 PM IST
Congratulations!!!!! to the Editor and the people who are contributing articles for Niropya....The oldest magazine in India...We can also take the Social Issues and contribute the lot of aricles on WATER Conservation and the work done by Social centers in Ahemadnagar District ....and activate thier activities in this area......along with religious articles......Wishing You All The Best!!!!!
Fr.Joe Gaikwad,s.j. - Monday, 22 April 2013 - 05:39 PM IST
Thanks Camil for rembering 110 years of Niropya and publishing it in Sakal times.
Dr. Ajit LOKHANDE - Monday, 22 April 2013 - 04:02 PM IST
As far as I know, Monsignor Reginald Gonsalves, AN INDIAN, took over as the editor of Niropya in 1951. In 1926 Henry Doering returned to Pune (not as Archbishop but) with the title of "Archbishop" and continued as Bishop of the Pune diocese. Hence the appellation "Archbishop-Bishop Henry Doering".
