The genesis of the Sakaal Group of Publications dates back to 1932 when it was founded as Sakaal, a local Marathi daily in Pune, where it is still headquartered. However, in the 75 years of its existence its growth has been both rapid and remarkable. From a single edition vernacular newspaper to the multi-faceted Sakaal Media Group, it has now become a multilingual Media House. The saga of the Sakaal Group is without parallel in the media industry.
Sakaal is published in nine editions and reaches the length and breadth of Maharashtra. It enjoys a loyal readership that cuts across the rural-urban divide. Furthermore, the House of Sakaal also brings out two Marathi weeklies. Saptahik Sakaal, for the whole family, which is the highest-circulated Marathi weekly in Maharashtra, and Tanishka, a glossy Marathi magazine, especially for the modern Indian woman.
The Sakaal Group also publishes two full-fledged English newspapers, viz. Sakaal Times from Pune and Gomantak Times from Goa.
Group publishes INDIA & GLOBAL AFFAIRS (IGA), a quarterly magazine in association with Asia Pacific Communication Associates (APCA). IGA reaches out to leaders of Government, business and the media in key nations throughout the world and offers them primarily Indian perspectives on issues of global interest and concern. These include foreign policy and strategic matters, economics and business, environment and energy, technology and culture, education and public health. The magazine will seek to highlight how developments in any one of these areas impact on developments in other areas.
Furthermore, the Sakaal Group brings out Agrowon, a 16-page tabloid newspaper on agriculture, published in six editions, which is the only one of its kind in Asia! The Group also hosts an online edition of its newspapers. The Web edition of Sakaal, www.esakal.com is immensely popular among Marathi speaking Netizens all over the world. Besides, Sakaal’s 54321 SMS-based services offer mobile users in Maharashtra and Goa fresh updates on a wide range of topics. Mobile venture is extened further and Group has started SAKAAL LIVE, a push SMS service. And now, the Sakaal Group is also associated with the new general entertainment chanel, SAAM MARATHI, launched on 15th August 2008.
What’s more, the Sakaal Group brings out a weekly yellow pages pullout, which is the first such initiative by any newspaper group in India. Other than that, its B&P Division publishes books on behalf of the Group, and has already produced 10 titles on diverse topics. The Sakaal Group has also set up an Education Cell at Pune, which publishes books and periodicals of academic value for school students.
The Events Division of the Sakaal Group organizes special events with mass appeal like exhibitions, conferences and seminars. And, to top it all, the Sakaal Group of Publications works for social causes through its instruments like the Sakaal Relief Fund, which is aimed at providing immediate aid to victims of natural disasters, and Madhurangan, which is an exclusive forum for women, to name just two.
The Sakaal Group is committed to the adoption of the latest technology like Smartflow and SAP, which has enabled it maintain its high levels of quality. Similarly, incorporation of the Six Sigma philosophy of management clearly indicates Sakaal’s desire to keep up with the times. Evolving into a world class multinational that combines eastern thought with western technology is the Sakaal Group’s goal, which inspires its core team comprising more than 2,000 self-motivated individuals… As the poet Robert Frost famously wrote, “The woods are lovely dark and deep; but I have promises to keep; and miles to go before I sleep…”