Lokmat, a Marathi daily, launched its Delhi edition on the occasion of the group’s Centenary year. At a special inauguration ceremony, held on 14 December 14 2017 at Delhi, Vijay Darda, chairman, Lokmat Media Group, said, “This is a moment of immense pride for all of us at Lokmat Media Group. We thank our readers as we step into our Centenary year. Lokmat has always meaningfully engaged with its readers and opinion makers. With 11 editions, 45 sub-editions, and a widespread reporter network, we are truly the ‘Voice of Maharashtra’. Our benchmarked journalism, rooted in nationalism and core values has helped us create newer approaches and stay relevant to our readers standing tall amidst the onslaught of new age media. We thank our readers who have made us the leading Marathi daily of the country and we hope to continue our legacy in New Delhi as well.”
Addressing the gathered media on the occasion, Venkaiah Naidu, the Vice President of India, said, “This is such a wonderful day and we are amidst some of the greatest minds. It is a great day to launch Lokmat in Delhi. Families must converse in their own regional language at home. Language and emotions move together better when conversed in the mother tongue. I was educated in the regional medium and I am very proud of it. I feel one should respect one’s mother, who has given you birth; the motherland, place where you are born; and your mother tongue, the country to which you belong to.”
“Information with confirmation is very important; views and news must not be mixed together. Sensationalism should end; nationalism must be given prime importance. News is public benefit and one must use power to influence wisely – use it get to the truth. Satyam – Truth, Shivam – for the greater good – Sundaram – in a beautiful manner,” Naidu added.
Lokmat has set up a strong and robust team over the last one year, with a view to launching its Delhi edition. The newspaper daily will commence the Delhi edition with 50,000 copies. The group has plans to promote the launch via print, radio, outdoor campaigns, and events. Darda strongly believes in the principle, Jithe Marathi, Tithe Lokmat (Where you find Marathi-speaking people, there you will find Lokmat). Meanwhile, in the last few years, the group has focused on Pune and Kolhapur campaigns in Maharashtra, where the newspaper enjoys an unparalleled readership.
Other dignitaries present at the launch party were Manmohan Singh, former Prime Minister of India; Arvind Kejriwal, Chief Minister of Delhi; Nitin Gadkari, Union Minister of Road, Transport & Highways, Shipping & Water Resources; Prakash Javedkar, Union HRD Minister; and Ravi Prasad, Union Minister of IT.
Marathi newspapers are experiencing unprecedented rise in their readership and popularity as the last two months have seen two new launches in Marathi language. Readership stats released recently by the Ministry of Information & Broadcasting state that 4,007 new publications were registered last year and Marathi language dailies stood third in terms of circulation (28,538,505), which that clearly indicates the momentum that regional language dailies are gaining.
