What is required? Prohibition of the Press or Prohibition of Corruption?

What is needed now in Travancore is not a law banning the freedom of press. We had stated in an earl...

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January 19, 1910

Manipulations by the officials

“Call a spade a spade” is an English idiom. Those who do not have the qualities of being truthful,...

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April 30, 1909

News in a Nutshell

Foreign News:The great countries of Great Britain, France, and Russia have agreed to freedom being g...

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September 26, 1908

Some Diabolical Plans of the Education Department (Three)

In the previous issues of the newspaper, we had described hardships being heaped on primary school t...

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June 21, 1909

A Demeaning Behaviour

The curiosity to learn about the personal details of the authors of newspaper articles critical of t...

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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.