New Diwan

Even before these lines catch the attention of our readers, Diwan Bahadur P. Rajagopalachari will ha...

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December 26, 1906

Exam Frenzy

The Travancore Department of Education has been in the grip of a mad rush for examinations of late....

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August 19, 1908

Yediraj Surendranath Arya Sentenced to Exile

The telegraphic news received today from Madras regarding the verdict in the case of sedition involv...

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December 10, 1909

News Round-Up from around the world

It appears that there will be a baby show in Rangoon at the end of December.Having paid 20,000 pound...

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September 15, 1909

Unprecedented court claims

Generally, people do not consider important factors related to the flow of aircraft as they are capt...

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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.