Nidhiry Mani Kathanar

Who was Nidhiry Mani Kathanar?

Mar Emmanuel Nidhiri was a significant figure in the history of the Syrian Malabar Nasrani church in Kerala. He led the community against the European hegemony over the Nasrani Christians. He was the undisputed leader acceptable to the factions in Kerala church.He was the second Vicar General of Syro Malabar Catholic Church.

He founded Nazranee Deepika, which was the forerunner of today's Deepika newspaper, and was instrumental in the founding of another newspaper, the Malayala Manorama. He had a role in organising the Malayali Memorial — one of the first steps in the social transformation of Kerala — and a key figure in the opening up of his community to English education.

In 1969, as a tribute to his contribution to Malayalam literature, the Kerala Literary Academy unveiled his portrait in the Academy Hall at Trichur.