View source for The Hindu

{{short description|English-language daily newspaper in India}}
{{About|the English newspaper|the Tamil newspaper|The Hindu (Tamil)|other uses|The Hindu (disambiguation)}}
{{Use dmy dates|date=October 2019}}
{{Use Indian English|date=June 2016}}
{{primary sources|date=June 2022}}
{{Infobox newspaper
| name               = The Hindu
| logo               = [[File:The Hindu wordmark with illustrations.svg|frameless|250px|class=skin-invert]]
| image              = [[File:NewsPaperTheHindu.png|225px]]
| caption            = Front page of ''The Hindu'' for 16 March 2005
| type               = Daily newspaper
| format             = [[Broadsheet]]
| owners             = {{ubl|[[The Hindu Group]]|Kasturi and Sons Limited}}
| founder            = [[G. Subramania Iyer]]<br />[[Nyapathi Subba Rao Pantulu]]<br />[[M. Veeraraghavachariar]]
| publisher          = [[N. Ravi]]
| editor             = Suresh Nambath<ref name="Editorial transition"/>
| founded            = {{start date and age|1878|09|20|df=yes}}
| political_position = {{hlist|[[Centre-left]]|[[Secularism|Secular]]|[[Social liberalism|Social liberal]]}}
| language           = {{nowrap|[[English language|English]]|[[Tamil language|Tamil]]}}
| headquarters       = [[Chennai]], [[Tamil Nadu]], India
| publishing_country = India
| circulation        = 1,400,000 daily<ref>{{Cite web |last=admin |date=2025-01-07 |title=The Hindu: Usage, Reader Demographics, and Key Statistics in 2025 |url=https://brandhexa.com/the-hindu-usage-reader-demographics-and-key-statistics/ |access-date=2025-09-08 |language=en-US}}</ref>
| circulation_date   = August 2025
| ISSN               = 0971-751X
| oclc               = 13119119
| website            = {{URL|http://www.thehindu.com|thehindu.com}}
| price              = {{bulleted list|{{INRConvert|12}} {{small|(weekdays)}}|{{INRConvert|15}} {{small|(weekends)}}}}
}}

'''''The Hindu''''' is an Indian [[English-language]] [[daily newspaper]] owned by [[The Hindu Group]], headquartered in [[Chennai]], [[Tamil Nadu]]. It was founded as a weekly publication in 1878 by the [[Triplicane Six]], becoming a daily in 1889.<ref>{{cite web |url=http://www.thehindu.com/aboutus/ |title=About Us |work=The Hindu |access-date=15 May 2018 |archive-date=12 May 2018 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20180512193855/http://www.thehindu.com/aboutus/ |url-status=live }}</ref> It is one of the Indian [[Newspaper of record|newspapers of record.]]<ref>{{Cite book |url=https://books.google.com/books?id=BkhHC6AgRrgC&q=%22newspaper+of+record%22+%22the+hindu%22+-thehindu.com&pg=PA163 |title=The Political Economy of Hunger: Volume 1: Entitlement and Well-being |last1=Drèze |first1=Jean |last2=Sen |first2=Amartya |date=21 February 1991 |publisher=Clarendon Press |isbn=9780191544460 |access-date=22 November 2020 |archive-date=29 June 2023 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20230629113303/https://books.google.com/books?id=BkhHC6AgRrgC&q=%22newspaper+of+record%22+%22the+hindu%22+-thehindu.com&pg=PA163 |url-status=live }}</ref><ref>{{cite web | url=https://www.britannica.com/place/Chennai | title=The Hindu }}</ref><ref>{{Cite book |url=https://books.google.com/books?id=OSW8fg7zr8gC&q=%22newspaper+of+record%22+%22the+hindu%22&pg=PA185 |title=The Sun Never Sets: South Asian Migrants in an Age of U.S. Power |last1=Bald |first1=Vivek |last2=Chatterji |first2=Miabi |last3=Reddy |first3=Sujani |last4=Vimalassery |first4=Manu |date=22 July 2013 |publisher=NYU Press |isbn=978-0814786437 |access-date=22 November 2020 |archive-date=29 June 2023 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20230629113303/https://books.google.com/books?id=OSW8fg7zr8gC&q=%22newspaper+of+record%22+%22the+hindu%22&pg=PA185 |url-status=live }}</ref> {{As of|March 2018}}, ''The Hindu'' is published from 21 locations across 11 [[States and union territories of India|states of India]].<ref>{{Cite news |title=Expanding footprint |newspaper=The Hindu |date=27 February 2018 |url=http://www.thehindu.com/todays-paper/tp-national/tp-otherstates/expanding-footprint/article22872967.ece |access-date=23 March 2018 |archive-date=14 July 2022 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20220714013525/https://www.thehindu.com/todays-paper/tp-national/tp-otherstates/expanding-footprint/article22872967.ece |url-status=live }}</ref>

''The Hindu'' has been a family-owned newspaper since 1905, when it was purchased by [[S. Kasturi Ranga Iyengar]] from the original founders. It is now jointly owned by Iyengar's descendants, referred to as the "Kasturi family", who serve as the directors of the holding company.

Except for a period of around two years, when [[Siddharth Varadarajan|S. Varadarajan]] held editorship of the newspaper, senior editorial positions of the paper have always been held by members of the original Iyengar family or by those appointed by them under their direction.<ref>{{cite news |last1=Konikkara |first1=Aathira |last2=Nileena |first2=M. S. |title=Paper Priests: The battle for the soul of The Hindu |newspaper=The Caravan |date=30 November 2021 |quote=The Hindu was wholly the possession of the Kasturi family by this time. After Kasturi Ranga Iyengar's death in 1923, the editorship was passed on to family members.... In mid 2011, Varadarajan became the first person from outside the family to hold the role in the newspaper's history... Besides being chairperson, Parthasarathy is also the director of editorial strategy for The Hindu. |url=https://caravanmagazine.in/media/the-hindu-soul-modi-malini-ram-hindutva-rss-left |url-access=subscription |access-date=18 June 2022 |archive-date=6 July 2022 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20220706194113/https://caravanmagazine.in/media/the-hindu-soul-modi-malini-ram-hindutva-rss-left |url-status=live }}</ref> In June 2023, former chairperson of the group, [[Malini Parthasarathy]] (a great-granddaughter of Iyengar)<ref>{{citation |author=Arun Ram |title=N.Ram's appointment as first editor-in-chief of The Hindu trigger rumors about family rift |newspaper=India Today |date=14 July 2003 |url=https://www.indiatoday.in/magazine/society-the-arts/media/story/20030714-n-ram-appointed-editor-of-the-hindu-newspaper-by-kasturi-and-sons-board-792437-2003-07-14 |quote=The Hindu Group of Publications is family owned (Kasturi & Sons) and the shares are held equally (25 per cent) by broadly four groups of the progenies of K. Gopalan and K. Sreenivasan (sons of S. Kasturi Ranga Iyengar). |access-date=18 June 2022 |archive-date=18 June 2022 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20220618222536/https://www.indiatoday.in/magazine/society-the-arts/media/story/20030714-n-ram-appointed-editor-of-the-hindu-newspaper-by-kasturi-and-sons-board-792437-2003-07-14 |url-status=live}}</ref><ref name=":0">{{Cite news |date=2023-06-05 |title=Nirmala Lakshman appointed Chairperson of The Hindu Group Publishing Private Limited |language=en-IN |work=The Hindu |url=https://www.thehindu.com/news/national/nirmala-lakshman-appointed-chairperson-of-the-hindu-group-publishing-private-limited/article66934453.ece |access-date=2023-06-05 |issn=0971-751X |archive-date=5 June 2023 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20230605194743/https://www.thehindu.com/news/national/nirmala-lakshman-appointed-chairperson-of-the-hindu-group-publishing-private-limited/article66934453.ece |url-status=live}}</ref> announced the end of her term as chairperson of the group, citing "ideological differences" and the "scope for her efforts in freeing the newspaper from editorial biases have narrowed".<ref>[https://twitter.com/MaliniP/status/1665665725099565056 Malini Parthasarthy on Twitter] {{Webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20230720065127/https://twitter.com/MaliniP/status/1665665725099565056 |date=20 July 2023 }}. 05 June 2023. ''twitter.com''. Retrieved 20 July 2023.</ref>

==History==
=== Early years ===
''The Hindu'' was founded in [[Madras]] on 20 September 1878 as a weekly newspaper, by what was known then as the '''Triplicane Six''', which consisted of four law students and two teachers: T.T. Rangacharya, P. V. Rangacharya, D. Kesava Rao Pantulu and [[N. Subba Rao Pantulu]], led by [[G. Subramania Iyer]] (a schoolteacher from [[Tanjore District (Madras Presidency)|Tanjore district]]) and M. Veeraraghavacharyar (a [[lecturer]] at [[Pachaiyappa's College]]).<ref>{{cite news |first1=M.S. |last1=Ramnath |first2=Mitu |last2=Jayshankar |title=The Hindu board room becomes a battlefield |url=http://forbesindia.com/article/boardroom/the-hindu-board-room-becomes-battlefield/12462/0 |newspaper=Forbes India |date=22 April 2010 |access-date=4 March 2014 |archive-date=22 June 2019 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20190622154613/http://www.forbesindia.com/article/boardroom/the-hindu-board-room-becomes-battlefield/12462/0 |url-status=live }}</ref>

=== Kasturi family ===
The partnership between Veeraraghavachariar and Subramania Iyer was dissolved in October 1898. Iyer quit the paper, leaving Veeraraghavachariar as sole owner; he appointed [[C. Karunakara Menon]] as editor. However, ''The Hindu''{{'}}s adventurousness began to decline in the 1900s and so did its circulation, which was down to 800 copies when the sole proprietor decided to sell out. The purchaser was ''The Hindu''{{'}}s Legal Adviser from 1895, [[S. Kasturi Ranga Iyengar]].<ref>{{cite web |url=http://www.frontline.in/navigation/?type=static&page=flonnet&rdurl=fl2020/stories/20031010005512800.htm |title=Navigation News - Frontline |access-date=18 May 2013 |archive-date=2 May 2014 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20140502014026/http://www.frontline.in/navigation/?type=static&page=flonnet&rdurl=fl2020/stories/20031010005512800.htm |url-status=live }}</ref>

Joint managing director N. Murali said in July 2003, "It is true that our readers have been complaining that some of our reports are partial and lack objectivity. But it also depends on reader beliefs." N. Ram was appointed on 27 June 2003 as its [[editor-in-chief]] with a mandate to "improve the structures and other mechanisms to uphold and strengthen quality and objectivity in news reports and opinion pieces", authorised to "restructure the editorial framework and functions in line with the competitive environment".<ref>{{cite web |url=http://www.prdomain.com/feature/feature_details.asp?id=119&area=J&typ=A |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20060317091805/http://www.prdomain.com/feature/feature_details.asp?id=119&area=J&typ=A |url-status=usurped |archive-date=17 March 2006 |title=The job of a reporter is to write news, not to comment |date=11 November 2005 |access-date=20 April 2006 }} An interview with N. Ram, editor-in-chief of ''The Hindu''</ref> On 3 and 23 September 2003, the reader's letters column carried responses from readers saying the editorial was biased.<ref>{{cite news |url=http://www.hinduonnet.com/2003/09/03/stories/2003090302701002.htm |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20041104060404/http://www.hinduonnet.com/2003/09/03/stories/2003090302701002.htm |url-status=dead |archive-date=4 November 2004 |department=Opinion&nbsp;– Letters to the Editor |title=Biased editorial |date=3 September 2003}}</ref><ref>{{cite web |url=http://www.hinduonnet.com/2003/09/23/stories/2003092300861002.htm |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20070310174944/http://www.hinduonnet.com/2003/09/23/stories/2003092300861002.htm |url-status=dead |archive-date=10 March 2007 |department=Opinion&nbsp;– Letters to the Editor |title=Biased |date=23 September 2003}}</ref> An editorial in August 2003 observed that the newspaper was affected by the "[[editorialising]] as news [[Journalism|reporting]]" virus, and expressed a determination to buck the trend, restore the professionally sound lines of demarcation, and strengthen [[Objectivity (journalism)|objectivity]] and [[factuality]] in its coverage.<ref>{{cite news |department=Opinion&nbsp;– Editorials |url=http://www.hinduonnet.com/2003/08/27/stories/2003082700621000.htm |title=The Hindu |date=27 August 2003 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20070310174913/http://www.hinduonnet.com/2003/08/27/stories/2003082700621000.htm |archive-date=10 March 2007 |url-status=dead}}</ref>

In 1987–88, ''The Hindu'''s coverage of the [[Bofors arms deal scandal]], a series of document-backed exclusives, set the terms of the national political discourse on this subject.<ref>{{cite web |url=http://centennial.journalism.columbia.edu/1989-scandal-in-india/index.html |title=1989: Scandal in India |website=centennial.journalism.columbia.edu |access-date=24 January 2018 |archive-date=22 January 2018 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20180122192815/http://centennial.journalism.columbia.edu/1989-scandal-in-india/index.html |url-status=dead }}</ref> The Bofors scandal broke in April 1987 with [[Sveriges Radio|Swedish Radio]] alleging that bribes had been paid to top Indian political leaders, officials and [[Indian Army]] officers in return for the Swedish arms manufacturing company winning a hefty contract with the Government of India for the purchase of 155&nbsp;mm howitzers. During a six-month period, the newspaper published scores of copies of original papers that documented the secret payments, amounting to $50 million, into Swiss bank accounts, the agreements behind the payments, communications relating to the payments and the crisis response, and other material. The investigation was led by a part-time correspondent of ''The Hindu'', [[Chitra Subramaniam]], reporting from [[Geneva]], and was supported by Ram in Chennai. The scandal was a major embarrassment to the party in power at the centre, the [[Indian National Congress]], and its leader [[Prime Minister of India|Prime Minister]] [[Rajiv Gandhi]]. The paper's editorial accused the Prime Minister of being party to massive fraud and cover-up.<ref name="DevelopPaperNewReader">{{cite news |url=http://www.hinduonnet.com/th125/stories/2003091300830500.htm |title=Developing a paper for a new reader |work=The Hindu |date=13 September 2003 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20041124154440/http://www.hinduonnet.com/th125/stories/2003091300830500.htm |archive-date=24 November 2004 |url-status=dead}}</ref><!--what became of the legal proceedings, how it fizzled out.. that deserves mention, right?-->

In 1991, Deputy Editor N. Ravi, Ram's younger brother, replaced G. Kasturi as editor. Nirmala Lakshman, Kasturi Srinivasan's granddaughter and the first woman in the company to hold an editorial or managerial role, became Joint Editor of ''The Hindu'' and her sister, [[Malini Parthasarathy]], Executive Editor.<ref name="Outlook 2010">{{Cite news |title=The Hindu: Very Divided Family |work=Outlook (blog) |date=25 March 2010 |url=https://www.outlookindia.com/blog/story/ithe-hindui-very-divided-family/2225 |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20160507130224/https://www.outlookindia.com/blog/story/ithe-hindui-very-divided-family/2225 |archive-date=7 May 2016}}</ref>

In 2003, the [[Jayalalithaa]] government of the state of Tamil Nadu, of which Chennai is the capital, filed cases against ''The Hindu'' for breach of privilege of the [[Tamil Nadu Legislative Assembly|state legislative body]]. The move was perceived as a government's assault on [[freedom of the press]], and the paper garnered support from the journalistic community.<ref>{{cite web |author=Onkar Singh |url=http://inhome.rediff.com/news/2003/nov/08hindu.htm |title=Journalists protest TN assembly's arrest of scribes |date=8 November 2003 |access-date=14 March 2006 |archive-date=23 November 2005 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20051123222246/http://inhome.rediff.com/news/2003/nov/08hindu.htm |url-status=live }}</ref>

In 2010, ''[[The Indian Express]]'' reported a dispute within the publisher of ''The Hindu'' regarding the retirement age of the person working as the editor-in-chief, a post which was then being served by N. Ram. Following this report, Ram decided to sue ''The Indian Express'' for defamation, a charge which the ''Indian Express'' denied. [[N. Ravi]] and Parthasarathy voiced concern about Ram's decision, saying that doing so goes against ''The Hindu'''s values and that journalists should not fear "scrutiny", respectively.<ref>{{Cite web |author2=Shuchi Bansal |author1=Vidhya Sivaramakrishnan |date=2010-03-25 |title=Ram to initiate legal action against Express for story on internal tussle |url=https://www.livemint.com/Consumer/JLCZIVNqLgskfDNFDGB4LI/Ram-to-initiate-legal-action-against-Express-for-story-on-in.html |work=Mint |access-date=4 October 2020 |archive-date=23 January 2022 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20220123054754/https://www.livemint.com/Consumer/JLCZIVNqLgskfDNFDGB4LI/Ram-to-initiate-legal-action-against-Express-for-story-on-in.html |url-status=live }}</ref> During subsequent events, Parthasarathy tweeted that "issues relating to management of newspaper have come to the surface, including editorial direction" in her response to a question. Later, Parthasarathy called N. Ram and other ''The Hindu'' employees "[[Stalinism|Stalinists]]", alleging that they were trying to oust her from the newspaper.<ref name="Independent"/><ref name="Outlook 2010"/>

In 2011, during the resignation of [[N. Ram]], the newspaper became the subject of a succession battle between the members of the Kasturi family. Ram had appointed [[Siddharth Varadarajan]] as his successor as the editor-in-chief of the newspaper who justified the appointment on the ostensible basis of separation of ownership and management, which was opposed by [[N. Ravi]] as it deviated from the publication's tradition of family members retaining editorial control over it.<ref>{{Cite web |date=2011-04-22 |title=Succession battle for The Hindu turns ugly |url=https://www.hindustantimes.com/india/succession-battle-for-the-hindu-turns-ugly/story-GUUNCN95Sffn0YlDiMv1PM.html |work=Hindustan Times |access-date=4 October 2020 |archive-date=8 October 2020 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20201008085933/https://www.hindustantimes.com/india/succession-battle-for-the-hindu-turns-ugly/story-GUUNCN95Sffn0YlDiMv1PM.html |url-status=live }}</ref> Varadarajan was subsequently accused by dissident family members of being [[Left-wing politics|left]] leaning and the matter of Varadarajan's appointment was brought in front of the board of directors of the parent company, Kasturi & Sons. During the dispute, [[Narasimhan Murali]] alleged that [[N. Ram]] ran ''The Hindu'' "like a [[banana republic]], with [[cronyism]] and vested interests ruling the roost". In the end, the board voted 6–6 over a review of the appointment, the tie was broken by a deciding vote from Ram in his capacity as chairman of the company and in favor of his decision.<ref name="Independent">{{Cite web |author=Andrew Buncombe |title=The family feud which is gripping India's media: Editor of 'The Hindu' newspaper resigns |work=The Independent |date=7 November 2013 |url=https://www.independent.co.uk/news/media/press/family-feud-which-gripping-india-s-media-editor-hindu-newspaper-resigns-8925384.html |archive-url=https://ghostarchive.org/archive/20220618/https://www.independent.co.uk/news/media/press/family-feud-which-gripping-india-s-media-editor-hindu-newspaper-resigns-8925384.html |archive-date=18 June 2022 |url-access=subscription |url-status=live |id={{ProQuest|1448886974}}}}</ref>

On 2 April 2013 ''The Hindu'' started "The Hindu in School" with S. Shivakumar as editor. A new edition for young readers, it is distributed through schools as part of ''The Hindu'''s "Newspaper in Education" programme. It covers the day's important news developments, features, sports, and regional news.<ref name="thehindu.com">{{cite news |url=http://www.thehindu.com/news/cities/chennai/the-hindu-goes-to-school/article3269801.ece |location=Chennai, India |work=The Hindu |first=Liffy |last=Thomas |title=''The Hindu'' goes to school |date=2 April 2012 |access-date=16 September 2013 |archive-date=23 October 2013 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20131023064115/http://www.thehindu.com/news/cities/chennai/the-hindu-goes-to-school/article3269801.ece |url-status=live }}</ref> On 16 September 2013, The Hindu Group launched its [[Tamil language|Tamil-language]] edition with K. Ashokan as editor.<ref name="livemint.com">{{cite web |url=http://www.livemint.com/Consumer/dLro0NLJ7ujfKJbTswsGgL/The-Hindu-to-launch-Tamil-newspaper-on-16-September.html |title='The Hindu' to launch Tamil newspaper on 16 September |author=S. Bridget Leena |work=Livemint |date=4 September 2013 |access-date=2 October 2013 |archive-date=10 October 2013 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20131010033348/http://www.livemint.com/Consumer/dLro0NLJ7ujfKJbTswsGgL/The-Hindu-to-launch-Tamil-newspaper-on-16-September.html |url-status=live }}</ref>

On 21 October 2013, changes were made in Editorial as well as business of ''The Hindu''.<ref name="ReferenceA" />

For the first time since its founding in 1878, ''The Hindu'' did not publish a print edition in the Chennai market on 2 December, as workers could not reach the press building due to the [[2015 South Indian floods]].<ref>{{cite news |title=Chennai floods: The Hindu not published for first time since 1878 |url=https://www.bbc.com/news/world-asia-india-34981328 |work=BBC News |date=2 December 2015 |access-date=21 June 2018 |archive-date=6 January 2019 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20190106214809/https://www.bbc.com/news/world-asia-india-34981328 |url-status=live }}</ref>

==Management==
Over the course of its history, the family of Kasturi Ranga Iyengar has usually run ''The Hindu'' through the presence of members in editorial and business operations, as well as on the Board. It was headed by G. Kasturi from 1965 to 1991, N. Ravi from 1991 to 2003, and by his brother, N. Ram, from 27 June 2003 to 18 January 2011.<ref name="Outlook 2010"/>

As of 2010, there are 12 directors in the board of Kasturi & Sons.<ref>{{cite web |url=http://www.indianexpress.com/news/battleforcontrolbreaksoutinthehinduverydividedfamily/595373/0 |title=Battle for control breaks out in The Hindu very divided family |author=Archna Shukla |date=25 March 2010 |work=The Indian Express |access-date=25 March 2010 |archive-date=30 March 2010 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20100330073159/http://www.indianexpress.com/news/battleforcontrolbreaksoutinthehinduverydividedfamily/595373/0 |url-status=live }}</ref>

==Managing directors==
{{Unreferenced section|date=September 2021}}
[[File:The Hindu front.jpg|thumb|A close-up view of the entrance to Kasturi Buildings, the head office of ''The Hindu'']]

*[[M. Veeraraghavachariar]] (1878–1904)
*[[S. Kasturi Ranga Iyengar]] (1904–1923)
*[[K. Srinivasan]] (1923–1959)
*[[G. Narasimhan]] (1959–1977)
*[[N. Ram]] (1977–2011)
*[[K. Balaji (publisher)|K. Balaji]] (2011–2012)
*Rajiv C. Lochan (2013–2019)
* L. V. Navaneeth (2019–present)

==Editors==

*[[G. Subramania Iyer]] (1878–1898)
*[[C. Karunakara Menon]] (1898–1905)
*[[S. Kasturi Ranga Iyengar]] (1905–1923)
*[[S. Rangaswami Iyengar]] (1923–1926)
*K. Srinivasan (1926–1928)
*[[A. Rangaswami Iyengar]] (1928–1934)
*K. Srinivasan (1934–1959)
*[[S. Parthasarathy]] (1959–1965)
*[[G. Kasturi]] (1965–1991)
*[[N. Ravi]] (1991–2003)
*[[N. Ram]] (2003–2011)
*[[Siddharth Varadarajan]] (2011–2013)<ref>{{Cite web |date=July 20, 2011 |title=Siddharth Varadarajan appointed Hindu editor |url=http://www.hindustantimes.com/India-news/Chennai/Siddharth-Varadarajan-appointed-Hindu-editor/Article1-723450.aspx |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20130919085611/http://www.hindustantimes.com/India-news/Chennai/Siddharth-Varadarajan-appointed-Hindu-editor/Article1-723450.aspx |archive-date=September 19, 2013 |access-date=May 21, 2023 |website=[[Hindustan Times]]}}</ref><ref>{{Cite web |last=Choudhary |first=Vidhi |date=2013-10-21 |title=Siddharth Varadarajan quits The Hindu; family rift resurfaces |url=https://www.livemint.com/Consumer/7Igh9ncxU6SfsvAg9sukZL/Siddharth-Varadarajan-resigns-from-The-Hindu.html |access-date=2023-05-21 |website=mint |language=en |archive-date=9 April 2023 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20230409012051/https://www.livemint.com/Consumer/7Igh9ncxU6SfsvAg9sukZL/Siddharth-Varadarajan-resigns-from-The-Hindu.html |url-status=live }}</ref>
*[[N. Ravi]] (2013–2015)<ref name="ReferenceA">{{cite news |url=http://www.thehindu.com/news/national/changes-at-the-helm-editorial-and-business/article5257829.ece?homepage=true |location=Chennai, India |work=The Hindu |title=Changes at the Helm: Editorial and Business |date=21 October 2013 |access-date=22 October 2013 |archive-date=25 December 2018 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20181225122227/https://www.thehindu.com/news/national/changes-at-the-helm-editorial-and-business/article5257829.ece?homepage=true |url-status=live }}</ref>
*[[Malini Parthasarathy]] (2015–2016)<ref name="ReferenceC" /><ref>{{cite news |url=http://www.thehindu.com/news/national/change-at-the-helm-at-the-hindu/article6805809.ece |title=Malini Parthasarathy is the Editor of The Hindu |newspaper=The Hindu |date=20 January 2015 |access-date=3 March 2015 |archive-date=8 November 2020 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20201108095005/https://www.thehindu.com/news/national/change-at-the-helm-at-the-hindu/article6805809.ece |url-status=live }}</ref>
*Mukund Padmanabhan (2016–2019)<ref name="ReferenceB">{{cite news |url=http://www.thehindu.com/news/mukund-padmanabhan-is-editor-of-the-hindu-raghavan-srinivasan-becomes-business-line-editor/article8390017.ece?homepage=true |title=Mukund Padmanabhan is Editor of The Hindu; Raghavan Srinivasan becomes Business Line Editor |newspaper=The Hindu |date=23 March 2016 |access-date=23 March 2016 |archive-date=25 December 2018 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20181225122230/https://www.thehindu.com/news/mukund-padmanabhan-is-editor-of-the-hindu-raghavan-srinivasan-becomes-business-line-editor/article8390017.ece?homepage=true |url-status=live }}</ref>
*Suresh Nambath (2019–present)<ref name="Editorial transition">{{cite news |title=Editorial transition |newspaper=The Hindu |date=March 2019 |url=https://www.thehindu.com/news/national/editorial-transition/article26401002.ece |access-date=1 March 2019 |archive-date=16 January 2020 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20200116054135/https://www.thehindu.com/news/national/editorial-transition/article26401002.ece |url-status=live }}</ref>

==Online presence==
''The Hindu,'' the first newspaper in India to have a website, launched its website at thehindu.com in 1995.<ref>{{Cite news |url=https://www.thehindu.com/news/national/in-its-20-year-the-hindu-website-wins-major-award/article6937451.ece |title=In its 20th year, The Hindu website wins major award |date=26 February 2015 |work=The Hindu |access-date=8 May 2019 |archive-date=9 August 2020 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20200809053659/https://www.thehindu.com/news/national/in-its-20-year-the-hindu-website-wins-major-award/article6937451.ece |url-status=live }}</ref>

On 15 August 2009, the 130-year-old newspaper launched the beta version of its redesigned website at beta.thehindu.com. This was the first redesign of its website since its launch. On 24 June 2010 the beta version of the website went live.<ref>{{cite news |url=http://www.hindu.com/2010/06/23/stories/2010062362190100.htm |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20100626110341/http://www.hindu.com/2010/06/23/stories/2010062362190100.htm |url-status=dead |archive-date=26 June 2010 |title=Our new website goes fully live on 29 June |date=23 June 2010 |work=The Hindu}}</ref>

On 15 August 2022, for the first time in its 144-year-old history, ''The Hindu'' started publishing Hindi-translated editorials on its website.<ref>{{Cite web |last=प्रितम |first=अनमोल |title=144 सालों में पहली बार हिंदी में हाथ आजमा रहा है 'द हिंदू' |url=https://hindi.newslaundry.com/2022/08/18/the-hindu-news-paper-editorial-in-hindi |access-date=2022-09-06 |website=Newslaundry |date=18 August 2022 |archive-date=18 August 2022 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20220818142048/https://hindi.newslaundry.com/2022/08/18/the-hindu-news-paper-editorial-in-hindi |url-status=live }}</ref>

==Criticism and scandals==
[[Narasimhan Murali]] alleged that [[N. Ram]] ran ''The Hindu'' "like a banana republic, with cronyism and vested interests ruling the roost".<ref>{{cite web | title=Who owns your media: The Hindu 'divided' family is losing revenue and readership | date=18 July 2021 | url=https://www.newslaundry.com/2021/07/17/who-owns-your-media-the-hindu-divided-family-is-losing-revenue-and-readership }}</ref><ref>{{cite web | title=The Hindu responds to allegations- Sainath and Praveen Swami did not fit into their roles | date=8 July 2015 | url=https://www.thenewsminute.com/news/hindu-responds-allegations-sainath-and-praveen-swami-did-not-fit-their-roles-21597 }}</ref>
<ref>{{cite web | title=N Murali: Double standards on display at Hindu | work=The Times of India | date=September 2011 | url=https://timesofindia.indiatimes.com/india/n-murali-double-standards-on-display-at-hindu/articleshow/9819251.cms }}</ref> He further added in his letter to the employees, lamenting that the Hindu's rich tradition of credibility, objectivity, balance and editorial primacy had of late been compromised.<ref>http://timesofindia.indiatimes.com/articleshow/9819251.cms</ref>

On 5 January 2016, ''The Hindu'' reported the story on the ''[[Sengol]]'' (a sceptre from the nation’s [[Indian independence movement|independence]] in 1947), was just fiction based on manufactured lies,<ref>{{cite web | title=1947 'sengol' story just fiction based on manufactured lies: N. Ram | date=31 May 2023 | url=https://frontline.thehindu.com/news/1947-sengol-story-just-fiction-based-on-manufactured-lies-n-ram/article66915936.ece }}</ref> leading to the ''Sengol'' controversy resulting in Parthasarathy’s immediate resignation with. It was reported by the media that she resigned her post, and Malini found herself involved in several disputes with the editorial team. In a recent incident, she engaged in discussion with [[Rashtriya Swayamsevak Sangh]] ideologue S. Gurumurthy regarding ''The Hindu'' and its [[fact-checking]] of the ''[[Sengol]]'' controversy. The newspaper had contradicted the Union government's claim that the ''Sengol'' was presented to then-Prime Minister [[Jawaharlal Nehru]] by [[Lord Mountbatten]], the last [[Governor-General of India|Viceroy of India]]. Gurumurthy contested the findings of the fact-checking article,<ref name="Actual reason of Resignation">{{Cite web |url=https://www.freepressjournal.in/india/malini-parthasarathy-resigns-from-the-hindu-group-publishing-cites-narrowed-scope-for-editorial-views |title=Malini Parthasarathy Resigns from the Hindu Group Publishing, Cites 'Narrowed Scope' for Editorial Views |access-date=28 July 2023 |archive-date=28 July 2023 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20230728113947/https://www.freepressjournal.in/india/malini-parthasarathy-resigns-from-the-hindu-group-publishing-cites-narrowed-scope-for-editorial-views |url-status=live }}</ref><ref>{{Cite web |url=https://www.thenewsminute.com/article/malini-parthasarathy-resigns-hindu-s-board-178095 |title=Malini Parthasarathy resigns from the Hindu's board |date=5 June 2023 |access-date=5 June 2023 |archive-date=5 June 2023 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20230605200249/https://www.thenewsminute.com/article/malini-parthasarathy-resigns-hindu-s-board-178095 |url-status=live }}</ref> and continued as a Director of Kasturi & Sons Ltd.<ref name="ReferenceC">{{cite news |url=http://www.thehindu.com/news/resignation-of-editor-interim-arrangements-in-place/article8069501.ece?homepage=true |title=Resignation of Editor & interim arrangements in place |newspaper=The Hindu |date=5 January 2016 |access-date=5 January 2016 |archive-date=29 June 2023 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20230629113257/https://www.thehindu.com/news/Resignation-of-Editor-amp-interim-arrangements-in-place/article13988442.ece |url-status=live }}</ref> In July 2020, she became the chairperson of the Group. On 5 June 2023, she stepped down upon completing her non-extendable three-year term as chairperson,  and Nirmala Lakshman was unanimously appointed as chairperson.<ref name=":0" /><ref>{{Cite web |date=2023-06-05 |title=Malini Parthasarathy resigns from The Hindu's board |url=https://www.thenewsminute.com/article/malini-parthasarathy-resigns-hindu-s-board-178095 |access-date=2023-06-05 |website=The News Minute |language=en |archive-date=5 June 2023 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20230605200249/https://www.thenewsminute.com/article/malini-parthasarathy-resigns-hindu-s-board-178095 |url-status=live }}</ref>

On 25 January 2012, Mr. [[K. C. Palanisamy |K.C. Palaniswamy]] a former [[AIADMK]] Member of Parliament registered a complaint against [[N. Ram]], the owner of The Hindu and 8 other directors of KSL(Kasturi and Sons Ltd)<ref>https://www.hindustantimes.com/india/n-ram-denies-charge-of-landgrabbing/story-yiAzlXRzZLleq6dgh1MssL.html</ref>, the parent company of The Hindu with the Chennai police, accusing them of a 400-acre land grab scam, worth nearly {{INR}}3&nbsp;billion.<ref>{{cite news |title=ரூ.300 கோடி மதிப்பு 400 ஏக்கர் நிலம் இந்து ராம், ரமேஷ் அபகரிக்க முயற்சி |url=http://www.dinakaran.com/News_Detail.asp?Nid=652 |newspaper=[[Dinakaran]] |date=26 January 2012 |archive-date=13 August 2014 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20140813115307/http://www.dinakaran.com/News_Detail.asp?Nid=652 |url-status=dead}}</ref> Ram filed and received an anticipatory bail in the case.<ref>{{cite news |title=Ex-ADMK leader files FIR over TN land grab |url=http://dailypioneer.com/nation/98005-ex-admk-leader-files-fir-over-tn-land-grab.html |newspaper=[[The Pioneer (newspaper) |The Pioneer]] |date=29 September 2012 |archive-date=2 November 2012 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20121102153905/http://dailypioneer.com/nation/98005-ex-admk-leader-files-fir-over-tn-land-grab.html |url-status=dead}}</ref><ref>{{cite web |title=நில ஆவணப் பறிப்பு வழக்கு... இந்து ராம், ரமேஷ் ரங்கராஜன் கோர்ட்டில் சரண் |url=http://tamil.oneindia.in/news/2012/12/25/tamilnadu-hindu-ram-ramesh-rangarajan-surrender-166841.html |work=[[Oneindia.in]] |date=25 December 2012 |archive-date=1 January 2013 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20130101001014/http://tamil.oneindia.in/news/2012/12/25/tamilnadu-hindu-ram-ramesh-rangarajan-surrender-166841.html |url-status=dead}}</ref>

==Editorial policy and reputation==
{{update|section|date=April 2021}}
[[File:The Hindu Chennai.jpg|thumb|Headquarters of ''The Hindu'' in [[Anna Salai]], [[Chennai]]]]
Its editorial stances have earned it the nickname, the "[[Maha Vishnu]] of Mount Road".<ref>{{cite web |title=Vizhippunarvu - Kuthusigurusami - Kuruvikarambaivelu - Periyar - Kudiarasu |url=http://keetru.com/vizhippunarvu/oct08/kuthusigurusami.php |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20160304023114/http://keetru.com/vizhippunarvu/oct08/kuthusigurusami.php |archive-date=4 March 2016 |access-date=14 May 2016}}</ref> "From the new address, 100 Mount Road, which was to remain ''The Hindu''<nowiki>'s</nowiki> home till 1939, there issued a [[quarto]]-size paper with a front-page full of advertisements—a practice that came to an end only in 1958 when it followed the lead of its idol, the pre-[[Roy Thomson, 1st Baron Thomson of Fleet|Thomson]] ''[[The Times|Times]]'' [<nowiki/>[[London]]]—and three back pages also at the service of the advertiser. In between, there were more views than news."<ref name="WillingToStrike">{{cite web |author=S. Muthiah |date=13 September 2003 |title=Willing to strike and not reluctant to wound |url=http://www.hinduonnet.com/thehindu/thscrip/print.pl?file=2003091300770200.htm&date=2003/09/13/&prd=th125& |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20050929154239/http://www.hinduonnet.com/thehindu/thscrip/print.pl?file=2003091300770200.htm&date=2003%2F09%2F13%2F&prd=th125& |archive-date=29 September 2005 |work=The Hindu}}</ref>

In 1965, ''[[The Times]]'' listed ''The Hindu'' as one of the world's ten best newspapers. Discussing each of its choices in separate articles, ''The Times'' wrote: "''The Hindu'' takes the general seriousness to lengths of severity... published in Madras, it is the only newspaper which in spite of being published only in a provincial capital is regularly and attentively read in [[Delhi]]. It is read not only as a distant and authoritative voice on national affairs but as an expression of the most liberal—and least provincial—southern attitudes... Its Delhi Bureau gives it outstanding political and economic dispatches and it carries regular and frequent reports from all state capitals, so giving more news from states, other than its own, than most newspapers in India...However, most news is from the southern states. It might fairly be described as a southern newspaper. ''The Hindu'' can claim to be the most respected paper in India."<ref name="DevelopPaperNewReader" /><ref>{{cite news |work=The Times |date=3 March 1965 |title=Newspapers of the World: VI - The Hindu |page=11 |issue=56260}}</ref>

In 1968, the [[American Newspaper Publishers Association]] awarded ''The Hindu'' its World Press Achievement Award. An extract from the citation reads:
"Throughout nearly a century of its publication The Hindu has exerted wide influence not only in Madras but throughout India. Conservative in both tone and appearance, it has wide appeal to the English-speaking segment of the population and wide readership among government officials and business leaders... ''The Hindu'' has provided its readers a broad and balanced news coverage, enterprising reporting and a sober and thoughtful comment... It has provided its country a model of journalistic excellence... It has fought for a greater measure of humanity for India and its people... and has not confined itself to a narrow chauvinism. Its Correspondents stationed in the major capitals of the world furnish ''The Hindu'' with world-wide news coverage... For its championing of reason over emotion, for its dedication to principle even in the face of criticism and popular disapproval, for its confidence in the future, it has earned the respect of its community, its country, and the world."<ref name="DevelopPaperNewReader" />{{Primary source inline|date=December 2022}}

A 2014 article in the ''[[Indian Journal of Pharmacology]]'' praised ''The Hindu'''s ongoing journalism and critique of [[clinical trials in India]].<ref>{{cite journal |first1=Y. K. |last1=Gupta |last2=Kumar |first2=B. Dinesh |title=Clinical trials and evolving regulatory science in India |journal=Indian Journal of Pharmacology |date=2014 |volume=46 |issue=6 |pages=575–578 |doi=10.4103/0253-7613.144887 |pmid=25538325 |pmc=4264069 |doi-access=free }}</ref>

== See also ==
{{Portal|India|Journalism}}

*[[Business Line|''The Hindu Business Line'']]
*[[Frontline (magazine)|''Frontline'' magazine]]
*[[The Hindu Group]]
*[[List of newspapers in India]]
*[[List of newspapers in India by readership]]
*[[The Hindu Literary Prize|''The Hindu'' Literary Prize]]
*[[Lit for Life]]
*[[Sportstar]]

==References==
{{reflist}}

==Further reading==
* {{cite book |last1=Merrill |first1=John C. |first2=Harold A. |last2=Fisher |title=The world's great dailies: profiles of fifty newspapers |year=1980 |pages=162–169}}
* {{cite web |author=T. S. Subramanian |title=The Hindu at 125 |work=The Hindu |date=10 October 2003 |url=http://www.hinduonnet.com/thehindu/thscrip/print.pl?file=20031010005512800.htm&date=fl2020%2F&prd=fline |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20110430123920/http://www.hinduonnet.com/thehindu/thscrip/print.pl?file=20031010005512800.htm&date=fl2020%2F&prd=fline |archive-date=30 April 2011 |url-status=dead}}
* {{cite web |author=N. Ram |title=Yesterday, Today, Tomorrow |work=The Hindu |date=13 September 2003 |url=http://www.hinduonnet.com/thehindu/thscrip/print.pl?file=2003091300500100.htm&date=2003/09/13/&prd=th125&  |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20070219213310/http://www.hinduonnet.com/thehindu/thscrip/print.pl?file=2003091300500100.htm&date=2003%2F09%2F13%2F&prd=th125& |archive-date=19 February 2007 |url-status=dead}}
* Looking Back: The history of ''The Hindu'' as told by historian S. Muthiah.
** {{cite web |title=Willing to strike and not reluctant to wound |work=The Hindu |date=13 September 2003 |url=http://www.hinduonnet.com/thehindu/thscrip/print.pl?file=2003091300770200.htm&date=2003/09/13/&prd=th125&  |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20050929154239/http://www.hinduonnet.com/thehindu/thscrip/print.pl?file=2003091300770200.htm&date=2003%2F09%2F13%2F&prd=th125& |archive-date=29 September 2005 |url-status=dead}}
** {{cite web |title=Making news the family business |work=The Hindu |date=13 September 2003 |url=http://www.hinduonnet.com/thehindu/thscrip/print.pl?file=2003091300800200.htm&date=2003/09/13/&prd=th125&  |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20070310193335/http://www.hinduonnet.com/thehindu/thscrip/print.pl?file=2003091300800200.htm&date=2003%2F09%2F13%2F&prd=th125& |archive-date=10 March 2007 |url-status=dead}}
** {{cite web |title=A clarion call against the Raj |work=The Hindu |date=13 September 2003 |url=http://www.hinduonnet.com/thehindu/thscrip/print.pl?file=2003091300810200.htm&date=2003/09/13/&prd=th125& |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20090112002540/http://www.hinduonnet.com/thehindu/thscrip/print.pl?file=2003091300810200.htm&date=2003%2F09%2F13%2F&prd=th125& |archive-date=12 January 2009 |url-status=dead}}
** {{cite web |title=Treading softly&nbsp;– but modernizing apace |work=The Hindu |date=13 September 2003 |url=http://www.hinduonnet.com/thehindu/thscrip/print.pl?file=2003091300820400.htm&date=2003/09/13/&prd=th125&  |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20071015064319/http://hinduonnet.com/thehindu/thscrip/print.pl?file=2003091300820400.htm&date=2003%2F09%2F13%2F&prd=th125& |archive-date=15 October 2007 |url-status=dead}}
** {{cite web |title=Developing a paper for a new reader |work=The Hindu |date=13 September 2003 |url=http://www.hinduonnet.com/thehindu/thscrip/print.pl?file=2003091300830500.htm&date=2003/09/13/&prd=th125&  |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20070310193354/http://www.hinduonnet.com/thehindu/thscrip/print.pl?file=2003091300830500.htm&date=2003%2F09%2F13%2F&prd=th125& |archive-date=10 March 2007 |url-status=dead}}
* {{cite web |author=N. Murali |title=Core values and high quality standards |work=The Hindu |date=13 September 2003 |url=http://www.hinduonnet.com/thehindu/thscrip/print.pl?file=2003091301020800.htm&date=2003/09/13/&prd=th125&  |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20071127134111/http://www.hinduonnet.com/thehindu/thscrip/print.pl?file=2003091301020800.htm&date=2003%2F09%2F13%2F&prd=th125& |archive-date=27 November 2007 |url-status=dead}}

==External links==
{{commons category|The Hindu|''The Hindu''}}
* {{official website}}   
<!-- per [[WP:ELMINOFFICIAL]], choose one official website only -->

{{KasturiSons}}
{{Newspapers in India}}
{{Authority control}}

{{DEFAULTSORT:Hindu, The}}
[[Category:1878 establishments in India]]
[[Category:Asian news websites]]
[[Category:English-language newspapers published in India]]
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[[Category:Daily newspapers published in India]]
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[[Category:Newspapers established in 1878]]
[[Category:The Hindu Group|Hindu]]
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