Nidhiry Mani Kathanar

Mar Emmanuel Nidhiri (27 May 1842 – 20 June 1904), also known as Nidhiry Mani Kathanar, was a significant figure in the history of the Syrian Malabar Nasrani church in Kerala. He led his community against the European hegemony over the Saint Thomas Christians and was accepted by the factions in the Kerala church. Nidhiri was the second Vicar General of the Syro-Malabar Catholic Church.

Nidhiri founded the Nazranee Deepika, which was the forerunner of today's Deepika newspaper, and was instrumental in the founding the Malayala Manorama. Furthermore, Nidhiri had a role in organizing the Malayali Memorial— one of the first steps in the social transformation of Kerala —and was a key figure in opening up 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 in Trichur, Kerala.