Sambandham

Sambandham was an informal mode of marriage followed by Nairs, Samantha Kshatriyas, Kshatriyas, and Ambalavasis among their own communities as well as with the Nambudiris, in what is the present day state of Kerala, India.[

A hand written note Of Kumaran Asan

This picture is from the Thonnakkal Museum

Swathi Thirunal

Half-length portrait of Rama Varma (1813-1846), Maharaja of the Kingdom of Travancore

Travancore Maharaja's State Carriage (1900)

Photograph taken about 1900 by the Government photographer, Zacharias D'Cruz of the Travancore Maharaja's State Carriage in Trivandrum.

A School In Travancore From 1900S

This picture was taken by D'Cruz Zacharia in early 1900s.

English Translations

July 25, 1908

Public opinion is important

We have stated in many instances before that leaving educational affairs and temple affairs in the h...

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August 10, 1910

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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August 08, 1906

A South African wonder

In Natal, South Africa, a remarkable building has been completed within the town limits of Newcastle...

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October 23, 1907

The Clash at Chirayinkizh

It may be recalled that we had recently drawn the attention of the government to attempts at rioting...

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September 29, 1909

Our unemployed youth - 1

On the occasion of the twelfth annual conference of Travancore Vidyabhivardini Mahasabha (Progressiv...

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Statistics

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.