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Kerala Sanchari

Kerala Sanchari was a Malayalam weekly published for the first time on October 7, 1886, by the Spectator Press in Kozhikode. It was founded by Poovadan Raman Vakil, the publisher of ‘Malabar Spectator.’ The primary objective of the publication was to educate the public about the new constitutional reforms and their rights and obligations. Vengayil Kunjiraman Nayanar was its first editor, followed by C. Krishnan and Murkoth Kumaran. The newspaper was highly critical of British rule and the caste system. Eventually, Kerala Sanchari merged with C. Krishnan’s Mithavadi in 1907.

Kerala Sanchari was similar to its forerunner, Kerala Pathrika. For the first six months following its initial publication, Vengayil Kunhiraman Nayanar served as the journal’s editor. He wrote under the pen name Kesari. When C. Krishnan’s sister’s husband, Karinkal Madathil Rarichan Mooppen, acquired ownership of the journal, he took over as editor. C. Krishnan had to leave the editorship when he went to Madras for B.L studies in 1897 March. Further, in February 1897, Moorkoth Kumaran who was only 23 years old became the editor on 27th February 1897. Thiyya interests were actively promoted, while Kerala Sanchari was under the control of Karinkal Madathil Rarichan Mooppen, who was C.Krishnan’s brother-in-law. While studying in Madras, Krishnan contributed articles to the journal. As a Thiyya, he faced prejudice while attending Madras Presidency College and developed a strong interest in local and communal issues.

Later, C.P. Govindan Nair purchased the ownership of the journal, and for a long time, served as the editor. In the 1920s, C. Krishnan purchased the rights to Kerala Sanchari, which he then combined with Mithavadi. He revived the Mithavadi magazine as a tool for advancing his Thiyya community. From August 1913 on, he began to publish it out of Calicut under the name “A Malayalam Magazine of the Thiyyas,” or “Thiyyarude Oru Malayala Maasika.” Krishnan wrote in its first issue, “This magazine is aimed at giving some relief to the members of the Thiyya community who experience much difficulty in not having a newspaper or magazine of their own in Malabar”.

Political standpoint

Kerala Sanchari was favorable toward the Congress in its early years. The paper encouraged the people to work for the Congress’s strengthening in an editorial on October 31, 1888, titled The Indian National Congress. The newspaper also praised British rule in an editorial comment, saying it was responsible for the Congress’s creation. According to the confidential report sent to the Government of Madras in 1889, Kerala Sanchari had a circulation of 1500 copies a year after it was initially published.

References

  • Stella Joseph. (2008). Print and Public Sphere in Malabar: A Study of Early Newspapers (1847–1930) [Doctoral Thesis, Department of History, University of Calicut].
  • K. N. Perunna Nair. (1987). Malayala Pathrathinte Katha. Binu Printers, Cochin.
  • M. V. Thomas. (2012). The Role of Malayalam Newspapers in the Freedom Movement in Kerala [Doctoral Thesis, University of Kerala, Karyavattom Campus, Department of Communication and Journalism].
  • Kerala Sanchari. (2023, April 19). Wikipedia. Accessed on 24.06.2023 from
    https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Kerala_Sanchari