Sambandham

Sambandham was an informal mode of marriage followed by Nairs, Samantha Kshatriyas, Kshatriyas, and Ambalavasis among their own communities as well as with the Nambudiris, in what is the present day state of Kerala, India.[

Travancore Maharaja's State Carriage (1900)

Photograph taken about 1900 by the Government photographer, Zacharias D'Cruz of the Travancore Maharaja's State Carriage in Trivandrum.

A School In Travancore From 1900S

This picture was taken by D'Cruz Zacharia in early 1900s.

The Trivandrum Museum In 1900

Picture taken by Zacharias D'Cruz

Travancore Christ Church

Picture taken by Zacharias D'Cruz. Source : British Library, Trivandrum

English Translations

December 10, 1909

Elementary education

                            &n...

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August 22, 1908

What is required? Prohibition of the Press or Prohibition of Corruption?

What is needed now in Travancore is not a law banning the freedom of press. We had stated in an earl...

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July 25, 1906

News Round Up: National

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

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August 08, 1906

The Death of a Great Man

One of the foremost nationalists of contemporary India passed away recently. The news of the passing...

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July 23, 1909

Reforming the Temple dining hall -3

There is no doubt that if the disadvantages highlighted in the last issue of the newspaper were to b...

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Statistics

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.