English Translations

June 12, 1907

We have seen that people in many places in India are alarmed over the exile of Mr. Lala Lajpat Rai....

Read

June 30, 1909

Warped thoughts of "Malayala Manorama"

A respectable writer in 'Svadesabhimani' wrote a while ago that it is absurd for the newspaper to st...

Read

August 26, 1908

The Savings Bank System

The Government calendar and records show that a Savings Bank system has been set up by the Governmen...

Read

December 22, 1909

House tax

Starting from the upcoming month of Kumbham (February-March 1910), the government has decided to lev...

Read

February 26, 1908

Reforms in Marumakkathayam

We have quoted from yesterday's gazette and stated in another column, some of the important question...

Read

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.