The Hindu Group, formally Kasturi & Sons Limited (KSL), is an Indian publishing company headquartered in Chennai, Tamil Nadu. It is the publisher of The Hindu, one of India's oldest and most widely circulated English-language daily newspapers, along with a portfolio of newspapers, magazines, and digital media properties.
| Type | Privately held company |
|---|---|
| Industry | Print and digital publishing |
| Parent / Holding company | Kasturi & Sons Limited |
| Headquarters | Chennai, Tamil Nadu, India |
| Flagship publication | The Hindu |
| Languages | English, Tamil |
| Country | India |
The group traces its origins to The Hindu, founded in Madras (now Chennai) in 1878 by a group of young nationalists and law students, often referred to as the "Triplicane Six", which included G. Subramania Iyer, M. Veeraraghavachariar, T. T. Rangachariar, P. V. Rangachariar, D. Kesava Rao Pant, and N. Subba Rao Pantulu. The newspaper was initially published as a weekly and later became a daily.
Ownership of the publication subsequently passed to S. Kasturi Ranga Iyengar in 1905, and the company has remained under the proprietorship of the Kasturi family across successive generations. Kasturi & Sons Limited was incorporated to manage the publishing business, and over the decades it expanded beyond the flagship newspaper into other periodicals and media ventures.
The Hindu Group publishes a range of newspapers and magazines, including:
The group also operates digital platforms, including the websites and mobile applications of its newspapers and magazines, and has expanded into podcasts, newsletters, and video content.
The editorship of The Hindu has historically been held by members of the Kasturi family, including Kasturi Srinivasan, G. Narasimhan, G. Kasturi, N. Ravi, and N. Ram, among others. The group has also appointed editors from outside the founding family, reflecting periodic shifts in editorial direction and management practice.
The Hindu Group is regarded as one of the most influential media houses in southern India. The Hindu has a particularly strong readership in Tamil Nadu, Karnataka, Kerala, Andhra Pradesh, and Telangana, and is known historically for its coverage of national affairs, foreign policy, science, and the arts. The group's publications are frequently cited in academic, policy, and journalistic contexts within India.
The group has also been associated with cultural and civic initiatives, including The Hindu Lit for Life literary festival and the annual The Hindu Prize for fiction and non-fiction.