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.[

Rama Varma Maharaja

Oil painting of Sir Bala Rama Varma (1857-1924), Maharaja of Travancore

Hand Written Letter Of Swadeshabhimani Ramakrishna Pillai

K. Ramakrishna Pillai was the second editor of Svadesabhimani.

A School In Travancore From 1900S

This picture was taken by D'Cruz Zacharia in early 1900s.

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

August 05, 1908

Ill-fate that Befalls Government Schools

Received by postIt is needless to say that English education is the driving force behind the entire...

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August 08, 1906

The Death of a Great Man

One of the foremost nationalists of contemporary India passed away recently. The news of the passing...

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January 19, 1910

Manipulations by the officials

“Call a spade a spade” is an English idiom. Those who do not have the qualities of being truthful,...

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July 25, 1906

Editor’s trash bin

Our revered writer "Agasthyan" from Anchal, renowned for his proficiency in Sanskrit expression and...

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April 30, 1909

Two News Stories

[Text missing] that Mr. Achary has swiftly moved to shut down certain public dining halls consequent...

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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.