Question

Who founded the newspaper 'Swadeshabhimani'?
A) Ayyankali
B) Vaikunta Swamikal
C) Chattampi Swamikal
D) Vakkom Abdul Khader Maulavu

Answer 1

Hint:Swadeshabhimani newspaper was used as a potent weapon against the rule of the British government and the princely state of Travancore in Kerala. It also acts as a tool for social transformation. The editor of this newspaper was Ramakrishna Pillai.

Complete answer:
The Swadeshabhimani newspaper was founded by Vakkom Abdul Khader Maulavu.
Vakkom Abdul Khader Moulavi, also popularly known as Vakkom Moulavi was the owner of the Swadeshabhimani newspaper. The office was located in Vakkom in Chirayinkil and in July 1907 the office of the Swadeshabhimani was shifted to Thiruvananthapuram. The editor Ramakrishna had given every freedom by the Vakkom Moulavi to run the newspaper. The first center attack of this newspaper was the then Diwan of Travancore, P. Rajagopalachari. The paper attacked Diwan for corruption and Immorality. Swadeshabhimani also attacked the kingship of the Maharaja of Travancore. Swadeshabhimani newspaper was banned and confiscated on 26-September-1910 by the Government of Travancore because of its criticism against the Diwan of Travancore and The government and the editor Ramakrishna Pillai was arrested and finally banished from the Travancore to Tirunelveli.

Hence, the correct answer is option (D).

Note: Many Indian newspapers and nationalists were against the banning of the newspaper and they also reacted to the arrest and banishment of Ramakrishna Pillai. In the first half of the 20s, the newspaper was revived by the veteran Gandhian and freedom fighter K.Kumar as a tribute to the newspaper editor Ramakrishna Pillai. K.Kumar remains its chief-editor and manager and he was assisted by K.Narayana Kurukkal.