Malayalam

Newspapers In Social
Reformation
Movements In Kerala BRINTU ANN BIJU
21PMCJ2886
Introduction

• The newspapers and periodicals of Kerala had played an equally important role in
serving the cause of social transformation.
• The leaders of the popular movement in the early days belonged the devoted press;
they could not have easily swayed the masses or imparted political education to
them.
• Malayalam Journalism had reached a high standard in Travancore in the 19th
century.
• The press which has played a major role in the modernization of Kerala, was a
strong device of information, instruction and propaganda.
• It mobilizes public opinion on problems of varied nature.

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• In the early stages the press was concerned with propaganda of Christianity among
the illiterate and downtrodden people of the country.
• The first newspaper in Malayalam, ‘Rajyasamaharam ’was published in 1847
from Thellicherry by the Basel Mission under Dr.Herman Gundert. It gave
emphasise to religion.
• In October 1847 Gundert started another publication called Paschimodayam. Like
its predecessor The Paschimodayam, too was cyclostyled but it carried articles on
geography, history, natural science and astrology and it had a formal editor, Rev
Fr.Muller.
• The first printed magazine in the Malayalam language – the Jnananikshepam
was printed at the C.M.S. Press from Kottayam in 1821. Arch Deacon Koshy and
the Rev George Mathen were behind this new publication which served alike the
cause of propagation of religion and the dissemination of knowledge.
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 Beginning of Newspapers

• The first newspaper to be published from Kerala was in the English language
entitled the Western Star.
• Four years later in 1864 a Malayalam edition of the Western Star started
publication from Cochin under the banner Paschimataraka.
• The Keralapataka, made its appearance from Cochin in 1870.
• In 1867 two papers were started from Kottayam. One was in Malayalam titled
Santishtavadi; the other the Travancore Herald, was in English.
• The Santishtavadi was against the Travancore Government which ordered its
closure. Thus, quite unwittingly, the Santishtavadi created history in Malayalam
journalism by becoming the first martyr to the cause of freedom of the press
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Keralamithram

• The Keralamitram can be hailed as the first “newspaper” in the Malayalam

language.
• The Keralamitram was fortunate in that it had as its first editor none other than
Kandathil Varghese Mappilai who later founded the Malayala manorama.
• With Kandathil Varghese Mappila’s flair for journalism and Devji Bhimji’s
acumen as an entrepreneur it is no wonder that the new publication made a lasting
impact on Malayalam journalism.
• As an aside, Devji Bhimji also tried his hand at running a Marathi magazine
entitled Keralakokil from Cochin.

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Growth in Malabar

• An English weekly entitled the West Coast Spectator started publication in 1879 from
Kozhikode. The weekly was printed by Vakil Poovadan Raman from the Spectator Press
• In later years the weekly was rechristened the Malabar Spectator and was quite popular
locally.
• A significant development was the publication in 1884 of the Keralapatrika weekly from
Kozhikode. The idea of a weekly was conceived by Chengulathu Kunhirama Menon,
possibly after attending a conference of the Indian National Association held at Calcutta in
1884.
• Kunhirama Menon himself claimed that the Keralapatrika was the first “newspaper” in
Malayalam in the Malabar district. It was printed from the Vidyavilasom Press and had the
active backing of a number of prominent personalities of the day.

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• The press was a vehicle for educating, uplifting and cleansing the public and the
administration.It is recorded that the Maharaja of Travancore was so impressed by
the crusading spirit of the Keralapatrika that he subscribed for 200 copies for
distribution among the officials of his administration.
• The Spectator Press of Kozhikode came out in 1886 with a Malayalam periodical
entitled the Kerala Sanchari.
• It was edited by Vengayil Kunhiraman Nayanar, otherwise well-known by his pen-
name “Kesari“. The sharp humour and witticism characteristic of the new
periodical mark a turning point in our journalism.
• Moorkoth Kumaran was associated with the periodical for some time in 1897 as
its editor. The Kerala Sanchari later on merged with his Mitavadi published from
Thalasserry.

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Mithavadi

• The appearance of the Mitavadi from Tellicherry in 1907 marks the next important
milestone in the history of the press in Kerala.
• Moorkoth Kumran, who had already tried his hand successfully at other
journalistic ventures,was its editor .
• Mahakavi Kumaran Asan’s famous poem, Veena Poovu was first published in the
Mitavadi.
• The Mitavadi was in the fore-front of the movement for social reforms and the
uplift of the weaker sections of society.

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In Travancore
Malayalee & Deepika
• The year 1886 stands out in the history of Malayalam journalism it saw the birth
of the Malayali from Thiruvananthapuram. In Pettayil Raman Pillai Asan the new
magazine found an able editor.
• The Malayali was forced to hibernate till independence was attained, when it re-
started publication from Thiruvananthapuram as a daily.
• The Malayali ceased publication about a decade ago.
• The second oldest newspaper in Malayalm-the Deepika-was launched from
Kottayam in 1887 under the banner Nasrani Deepika.
• Its periodicity underwent a number of changes over the years to emerge finally in
1938 as a full-fledged daily. This change in periodicity also coincided with an
abbreviation of its name to the present Deepika

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Malayala Manorama
• The Malayala manorama started publication from Kottayam in
1890, initially as a weekly.
• Its first editor was Kandathil Varghese Mappilai who brought with
him the rich experience of his previous association with
the Keralamitram of Cochin.
• In the beginning, the weekly was predominantly literary. Its rise to a
formidable institution with weighty contributions to the social,
economic, political and cultural life of Kerala was meteoric.
• The paper was converted into a daily in 1928. In many instances
the Malayala manorama actually gave the lead to mass movements
of the period.
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• In the wake of the political movement swept Travancore with the fury of a
hurricane, the authorities were perturbed at the growing influence of the Malayala
manorama. In a dramatic move the Government confiscated the paper in
September 1938.
• One of the literary magazines, the Sujananandini started in 1892 from Kollam.
Kandathil Varghese Mappilai and others joined hands to launch
the Bhashaposhini in 1897 as the official organ of the Bhashaposhini Sabha. The
same year the publication of Saraswathi from Tellicherry under the able editorship
of Moorkoth Kumaran.

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Swadeshabhimani

• Swadeshabhimani Ramakrishna Pillai drew his powerful pen to expose the true
nature of the palace politics and the corruption and favoritism rampant in the
corridors of power.
• Dewan P. Rajagopalachari, issued a royal proclamation on September 26, 1910,
deporting Ramakrishna Pillai from Travancore and confiscating his press .
• The educated and politically conscious section of the people were against at this
high-handed and undemocratic measure. Ramakrishna Pillai was thenceforth
known and revered by the alias “Swadeshabhimani”
• Swadeshabhimani Ramakrishna Pillai died in exile at Kannur in 1928.

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Kerala Kaumudi

• C.V.Kunhuraman founded Kerala Kaumudi in 1911. He was a multi-faceted

personality-a poet, a brilliant prose writer, historian, journalist, and politician, all
combined together. The paper initially started publication from Mayyanad.
• Later, it was shifted to Kollam and then to Thiruvananthapuram. It was converted
into a full-fledged daily in 1940.
• T.K.Madhavan who rose to prominence as general secretary of the S.N.D.P.
yogam started publication of the Desabhimani in 1915.
• The Deshabhimani pacified the grievances, of the Ezhava community. Through the
columns of the Desabhimani he waged a relentless war against injustice,
inequality and untouchability and for the cause of independence.
• The Desabhimani’s contributions to the agitation for temple entry and to the non-
co operation movement were considerable
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Sahodaran & Yuktivadi

• K.Ayyappan was yet another social reformer who wielded a powerful pen and
commanded a powerful vehicle of expression.
• He published Sahodaran from Cherayi in 1917. In the movement for responsible
government, for temple entry and for inter-caste marriage the Sahodaran was
always in the fore-front.
• This periodical, which made substantial contribution to the renaissance of Kerala,
ceased publication in 1956.
• He was also associated with two other publications-the Yuktivadi and the Stree.
• As a regular columnist of the Mitavadi and the Kerala Kaumudi his writings
helped to create and mould enlightened public opinion.
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Samadarshi

• The Samadarshi which commenced publication from Thiruvananthapuram in 1918

by Kunnath Janardhanamenon was a powerful and popular vehicle of public
opinion.
• A.Balakrishna Pillai joined the paper in 1923 as editor.
• He paved his attention on the corrupt and high-handed bureaucracy of Travancore.
• The authorities were displeased and the owner of the paper was faced with
difficulties. The management of the paper was not prepared to invite official
displeasure and Balakrishna Pillai had to resign in 1926.

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Kesari
• A.Balakrishana Pillai, who had earlier been eased out of editorial responsibility of
the Samadarshi, had in the meanwhile launched a new periodical entitled
Prabhodakan.
• Within six month of its appearance, this periodical was banned by the government
of Travancore. Balakrishna Pillai now started the Kesari(1926), later to become
famous in the annuals of Malayalam journalism.
• The Kesari was shortlived.
• To Balakrishna Pillai the press was not only a vehicle to project news; it was also
a forum for educating the public by disseminating knowledge and encouraging
free thought and open discussion.
• With the “Kesari” banned, Balakrishna Pillai bid good-bye to his chosen
profession
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Al- ameen and Prabhatham

• Al-ameen started publication in 1924 and began issuing as a daily in 1930.

• The paper was started by Mohammed Abdul Rahiman Sahib, the Congress leader.
The pro-nationalist stand of the paper infuriated the authorities.
• On more than one occasions the Al-ameen was discontinued as a result of action
by the authorities.
• The Prabhatham started publication from Shoranur with E.M.S. Namboodiripad
as its editor, was the organ of the newly-formed Congress Socialist Party.
• Its license was suspended following, refusal to furnish security to government
consequent, on the publication of a poem on Bhagat Singh’s martyrdom. The
license was restored later.

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Mathrubhumi

• The Mathrubhumi started in 1923, with K.P.Kesava Menon as its editor. At the
peak of the civil disobedience movement, in April 1930, the Mathrubhumi started
issuing as a daily.
• An article written by Sanjayan, the well-known humourist, criticized the high-
handedness of British army provoked the Madras government and banned the
daily altogether. A state-wide agitation ensued, demanding withdrawal of the ban
order.
• The government had no choice but to withdraw the order. Nine years later in 1947
the Mathrubhumi had made a triumphant re-entry.

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 THANK YOU

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