Gag on Newspapers or Ban on Corruption? Which is Desirable?

It has come to our notice that the Indian language press is almost unanimous in condemning the new P...

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January 09, 1907

Forests

At the end of the year, the total area of forest that was cleared was 2,266 square miles and 276 acr...

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April 30, 1909

News in a Nutshell

Foreign News:The great countries of Great Britain, France, and Russia have agreed to freedom being g...

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September 26, 1908

Namboothiri Yogakshema Sabha (Namboothiri Welfare Society)

While the waves of state and community affairs reforms triggered by the spread of Western education...

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August 10, 1910

Round Up: News from the Capital

Honourable Justice Krishnan Nair has assumed office as the Chief Justice two days ago. ** Dewan Pe...

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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.