Svadesabhimani Lucky Draw Prize

In every issue of the periodical published routinely, one of the copies will contain a gift voucher....

Read

July 25, 1906

News Round Up: National

Famine has increased in the Arakan mountain regions. *** Many supportive measures are being taken...

Read

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...

Read

September 23, 1908

Some Diabolical Plans of the Education Department - 2

There is no doubt that the circular orders issued by the Range Inspector and the Assistant Inspector...

Read

November 13, 1907

Weekly news round-up

Trivandrum 27 Thulam 1083 (November 1907) Many rumours have been circulating since the arrival of...

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.