The Malabar News Highlights

(A reporter) Mr. Eapan, who has been posted as the Deputy Collector of Kozhikode, will arrive soon...

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July 17, 1907

To Svadeshabhimani

It is requested by journalists and workers at Svadesabhimani that the subscribers who haven’t paid t...

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October 06, 1909

Our unemployed youth - 2

In the current state of the Nair community, the number of unemployed youth is increasing. It has bee...

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December 12, 1908

The World News

Mr. Peter Blissingen, a great philanthropist of Chicago, has been sentenced to six years imprisonmen...

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August 03, 1910

Budget estimate

Some fellow journals have praised the government led by Mr. Rajagopalachari based on the receipts 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.