Sambandham

Sambandham was an informal mode of marriage followed by Nairs, Samantha Kshatriyas, Kshatriyas, and Ambalavasis among their own communities as well as with the Nambudiris, in what is the present day state of Kerala, India.[

A hand written note Of Kumaran Asan

This picture is from the Thonnakkal Museum

Travancore Maharaja's State Carriage (1900)

Photograph taken about 1900 by the Government photographer, Zacharias D'Cruz of the Travancore Maharaja's State Carriage in Trivandrum.

The Trivandrum Museum In 1900

Picture taken by Zacharias D'Cruz

University College, Trivandrum

Believed to be a photo taken by the official photographer of the King of Thiruvithankur, Zachariah Dicruz. Source British Library, Thiruvananthapuram

English Translations

May 13, 1908

Svadeshabhimani’s New Look

We are delighted to see that many subscribers have written to us supporting our views, published in...

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August 03, 1910

Round Up: News from the Capital

In the gazette brought out yesterday, the government has published renewed rules and guidelines for...

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October 24, 1906

For the Kind Information of His Highness the Great King of Travancore - 2

O Beloved King! We are aware that past 3 o’clock in the afternoon tomorrow you and your subjects wil...

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May 02, 1906

News Round-Up – Kerala

For the attention of the reporters: Due to limitations in available space, several reports have bee...

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June 03, 1908

Report from Calcutta – Bomb scare and the aftermath

(Staff reporter) May 20th (Continuation) Readers may be curious to know who was the "beautiful yo...

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Statistics

About the Collection

The Svadesabhimani was a weekly Malayalam language newspaper founded by the noted writer and journalist Vakkom Abdul Khader Moulavi (1873-1932), who was the owner and publisher and its managing editor. This digital collection contains the original Malayalam and their English translations.

Throughout its existence, it was funded through the personal funds of Vakkom Moulavi, who imported a modern press from Britain. The newspaper began publication in Anjengo, a small village in the princely state of Travancore, on 19 January 1905. Chirayinkeezhu C.P Govinda Pillai was the first editor for one year, after which Sri. K. Ramakrishna Pillai became the editor. The newspaper ceased publication on 26 September 1910, when it was banned by a Royal Proclamation, the editor Ramakrishna Pillai was exiled and the press was confiscated.

The Svadesabhimani served to inform the public in Travancore, as well as in the Malayalam speaking regions, about local, national and international issues. It stood apart from other Malayalam newspapers of the time in exposing corruption in the government, analysing and critiquing government policies, discussing important issues of social and religious reform and bringing news of the national anti-colonial movement and international developments. It is considered a trailblazer in Malayalam journalism, contributing to the development of a new political consciousness in the state.