The Speech of the Resident

The views about girls’ education in Travancore expressed by the British Resident Mr R.C.C.Curr in hi...

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October 24, 1906

The Need for a Muslim Council in Travancore

The last census has brought to light that a sixteenth of the three million strong population of Trav...

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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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March 07, 1908

Student dilemma

If it is true that the leaders say that the school children of today are the government officials an...

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August 19, 1908

Yediraj Surendranath Arya Sentenced to Exile

The telegraphic news received today from Madras regarding the verdict in the case of sedition involv...

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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.