From the Reporter's Notebook

A piece in the series of articles about the turmoil in Turkey being published in the Maratha Gazette...

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April 29, 1910

The need for ritual program

The Smritis* are legal texts governing the people, which are revered as the epitome of scriptures. I...

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September 23, 1908

Mr. Tilak's sentence is commuted

The Madras newspapers, which we have just received, state that Mr. Tilak's sentence of six years of...

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June 19, 1907

News round up – Kerala - Trivandrum

Trivandrum (Staff reporter) 4th of Midhunam (mid-June) Puisne Judge Mr. Govinda Pilla has been gr...

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May 15, 1907

News Round UP: International

Plague is rampant in the state of Kapoorthala. *** Dr. **** says that not only plague but also lep...

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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.