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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March 14, 1906

The Travancore Dewan

The rumour that the Dewan, Mr. V. P. Madhava Rao, who ran the administration for the past two years...

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May 27, 1908

News Round-Up

We believe that Land Revenue Order No. 22 will bring relief to the tenants of Travancore. The number...

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May 23, 1908

Compassion on behalf of India

There is no doubt that the people of India will be equally pleased to hear the pledge made before th...

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January 09, 1907

Sri Moolam Popular Assembly

Somehow, the 3rd Annual Meeting of Travancore Sri Moolam Popular Assembly, under the chairmanship of...

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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.