| Type | Daily newspaper |
|---|---|
| Format | Broadsheet |
| Owner(s) | Muslim Printing and Publishing Company |
| Founders |
|
| Publisher | P. K. K. Bava |
| Editor | Kamal Varadur |
| Founded | 1932 (1932), Tellicherry (Malabar District) |
| Political alignment | Centre-right |
| Language | Malayalam |
| Headquarters |
|
| Country | India |
| Website | chandrikadaily |
| Free online archives | epaper |
Chandrika (lit.'The Crescent') is an Indian daily newspaper in Malayalam language published from Kozhikode, Kerala.[3][1] The newspaper currently serves as the mouthpiece of Indian Union Muslim League party in Kerala.[3][4]
The Chandrika started publishing from Tellicherry (1932) as a monthly platform for north Kerala Muslim community uplift and with a 'reformist' orientation.[3][1] Its establishment was led by leading local Muslims such as A. K. Kunjumayin Haji, Sattar Sait and K. M. Seethi Sahib.[1] K. K. Muhammad Shafi and C. P. Mammu Keyi were first editor and managing editor of the publication respectively.[3] It became a daily newspaper in 1939.[1] The daily played a significant role in the development of the Muslim community of north Kerala.[5] It moved its headquarters to Calicut in 1946.[1]
C. H. Muhammed Koya, the future Education Minister of Kerala and the 8th Chief Minister of Kerala (October to December 1979), served as a sub-editor and the editor of Chandrika in the 1940s.[3] Former Union Minister E. Ahamed was once the reporter of the daily and later served on its board of directors.[6] The daily currently represents 'traditionalist' orientation among the Kerala Muslims.[3]
The daily currently has printing centres in Kozhikode, Kannur, Malappuram, Kochi, Thiruvananthapuram, and Kottayam, and in United Arab Emirates (Dubai), Saudi Arabia (Riyadh, Jeddah, and Dammam), Bahrain, and Qatar (Doha).