Urgent reforms in Marriage

Many people are content with the fact that the elaborate celebration of “thalikettukalyanam*,” which...

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March 14, 1908

Complaints about an Irascible Officer

We have been receiving many written complaints in recent months about Kollam Division Diwan Peshka...

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August 31, 1910

The Lightning-tongued Clown!

Those who have watched the dance-drama called Ramanattam will not forget a peculiar clownish charact...

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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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July 28, 1909

Spike in Violence

The spike in frightening violence that has gripped the city of Thiruvananthapuram for the past few d...

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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.