Lokmat

Lokmat
Type Daily newspaper
Format Broadsheet
Founder(s) Jawaharlal Darda, presently managed by Vijay J. Darda and Rajendra Darda
Publisher Lokmat Media Limited
Editor-in-chief Vijay J. Darda
Founded December 15, 1971 (1971-12-15)
Language Marathi
Headquarters Lokmat Media Ltd, 1301/2, Lodha Supremus, Dr. E. Moses Rd, Worli Circle, Mumbai - 400 018
Country India
Circulation (as of Jul - Dec 2015)
Readership 18 million readers (Total readership, IRS 2017) [1]
Website www.lokmat.com

Lokmat (literally 'People's Opinion') is a Marathi language newspaper published from Mumbai, and several other cities in Maharashtra state. Founded in 1971 by Jawaharlal Darda, it is the largest read regional language newspaper in India with more than 18 million readers (Total Readership, IRS 2017) and the No. 1 Marathi newspaper in Maharashtra & Goa states.[2][3][4]

Entry into the broadcast sector

Lokmat extended its media business to television through a 50-50 joint venture with IBN18 Broadcast Limited (“ibn18”). The joint venture company, IBN-Lokmat Private Limited (“IBNL”), operates IBN-Lokmat, a 24 x 7 Marathi news and current affairs television channel which went on air on April 6, 2008.[5]

Controversies

2015 ISIS cartoon controversy

In 2015, a cartoon published alongside the article "ISIS cha Paisa" (ISIS' money), regarding the funding pattern of terrorist group ISIS, led to violent protests from Muslim groups and attacks on the newspaper's offices in Jalgaon, Dhule, Nandurbar, Malegaon and other locations across Maharashtra. Protestors deemed the cartoon to be "blasphemous". Several complaints were filed with the police regarding the cartoon, and subsequently, an FIR was lodged against the owners, the cartoonist and the editor. The newspaper later published an apology.[6][7][8] One of the protests was led by Congress MLA from Malegaon Shaikh Asif Shaikh Rashid.[9][10] Police stated that they had increased security at all Lokmat offices across Maharashtra following the attacks.[8]


  1. ↑ "Submission of circulation figures for the audit period Jan - Jun 16" (PDF). Audit Bureau of Circulations. Retrieved 5 January 2016.
  2. ↑ "IRS 2017: Daily Thanthi, Lokmat, Malayala Manorama command highest regional readership". Exchange4Media News Service. 2018-01-19. Archived from the original on 2018-02-23. Retrieved 2018-09-26.
  3. ↑ "IRS 2017: Newspapers add 11.2 crore readers in 4 years; no English dailies in top 10". The New Indian Express. Retrieved 2018-09-26.
  4. ↑ "IRS 2017: Newspapers add 11.2 cr readers in 4 yrs; no English". https://www.outlookindia.com/. Retrieved 2018-09-26. External link in |work= (help)
  5. ↑ "Marathi news channel to be JV with Lokmat: GBN". Moneycontrol.com. Jun 14, 2007. Retrieved 2015-12-01.
  6. ↑ Saurabh Gupta (December 1, 2015). "Offices of Lokmat Newspaper Attacked Over Piggy Bank Cartoon". NDTV. Retrieved 2015-12-01.
  7. ↑ "FIR against Marathi daily". The Hindu. Retrieved 2015-12-01.
  8. 1 2 "Marathi daily attacked for publishing 'derogatory' cartoon". Daily News & Analysis. 30 November 2015. Retrieved 2015-12-01.
  9. ↑ Saikia, Arunabh (November 30, 2015). "Lokmat having to apologise for a cartoon on ISIS shows the sorry state of press freedom in India". newslaundry.com. Newslaundry. Retrieved March 11, 2018.
  10. ↑ "Maharashtra: Muslim groups led by Congress MLA attack Lokmat offices over Isis 'pig' cartoon". ibtimes.co.in. International Business Times (Indian edition). December 1, 2015. Retrieved March 11, 2018.
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