ROTTEN & RICH. Review on Malayala Manorama

X loathes Y.

I have the same feelings towards Malayala Manorama (MM)… the most ‘popular’ newspaper of Malayalam.

Famous (Notorious) is the Manorama group’s hatred for Communism. It (One may use ‘she’ instead of ‘it’ as Manorama is often referred as the Grandmother among Malayalam newspapers.. But we should respect our grandmothers) shows this rivalry in all possible junctures. My critique is not based on this attitude. There will hardly be any newspaper without pronounced inclination towards a political ideology.. Abundance of Pseudo-Impartial Newspapers make me too impassive to react. Also, my political psyche is not enough strong that criticisms against Communism make me feel either hurt or happy.

But really reprehensible is the Manorama’s deeds in the struggle to survive itself and suppress the Left parties (Not only ends, but means also matter). The reports on Nadapuram issue – where MM ‘found’ that Communist activists raped a muslim lady and molested her 7 year old daughter – converted my impassiveness towards MM to aversion. When my Bangalorian friends showed the detailed description of the incident – in victims’ own words – in The Week (published by Manorama Group itself), I really became humiliated of being a Keralite. After realizing the entire incident as purely imaginary – the enquiry commission proved it beyond doubt – how could one write two lines in support of MM!

Imagination is the forte of MM and the paper proved it many times. The Spy Case of ISRO… Many scientists and Mali ladies had to suffer months’ torture due to this endless imagination power. MM discovered the story and colourfully described the secret meetings of ISRO scientists and Mali ladies. Entire Kerala detested these eminent scientists on those days. Later turned up as a brilliant piece of imagination. The paper even didn’t show the slightest tint of remorse afterwards.. Great!

More attractive was the Varghese case. [Varghese was one amongst the Nexalites of 1960s who got murdered in police ‘encounter’. The police constable who killed him revealed after decades in MM that there wasn’t in any encounters]. Once in its jawani, MM wrote pages and pages against Nexalites.. The paper didn’t suppressed her ecstasy, when Varghese was murdered. And in a cold morning – obviously when MM might not had enough spicy stories for the month – she published Varghese issue in new angle.. and cried for him telling how great and selfless he was.. Unfortunately, the paper could hardly suppress her primary concern for readership and profit.. when the opponents dug up old paper cuttings of MM, written against Varghese. And the paper took the most wise turn after finding this pit – Silence!

But many a time, MM gives enough for laughing by a careful reading. Recently, a Congress leader was arrested for making false documents of spying against another leader of her own party.. ( who told ladies are weaker?). But due to her innocence, she was suspended (?) from the party. It was a hot issue in almost all newspapers.. and I am reading in MM an article on her under the title ‘A different MLA’.. The article was about how well-dressed she is and asking about her beauty secrets.. and the article presents her as an idol for all ladies – how to select Saries and what is the importance of putting jasmine flowers in hair.. Amazing!

There may be many pros to be listed down. But all ends with the capital abundance of MM group. Printing quality is superior and coverage is greater. With different kinds of outputs – from Manorama weekly to The Week – the MM group can cover the different class of people. Anyone, who adores people by looking their wealth, can love this newspaper. But I feel bit less cosy with it. Better have a morning without a newspaper, than with MM..