Travancore: Then and Now

There is no doubt that to the foreigners of today, who are distressed over the Brahmin aristocracy o...

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July 21, 1909

News Round Up: General

A great assembly of Indians met at Caxton Hall, London, last Tuesday with Sir Charles Dilke presidin...

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October 23, 1907

The Clash at Chirayinkizh

It may be recalled that we had recently drawn the attention of the government to attempts at rioting...

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March 28, 1908

Severe Famine

It is seen that a mammoth public meeting under the chairmanship of the Viceroy of India was recently...

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October 23, 1907

Kerala Nair Society

Kerala Nair Samajam Second Annual Meeting As per the previously established schedule, the meeting...

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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.