India (Magazine)

India was a weekly magazine started during 1906. The Magazine, which was initially published in Chennai, was shifted to Pondicherry due to a ban by the English Government. At Pondicherry, India (Magazine) was published between 1908 to 1910.

Launched on May 9, 1906 in Chennai, Bharathiyar became the editor of the magazine during September 1906. Mandayam Thirumalachariyar was the owner of the magazine. When Bharathi was the Editor-in-Chief of India Magazine, M. Srinivasa Iyengar’s name was printed. India Magazine is known as the magazine that published Bharathi's writings.

Magazine Launch

India Magazine, which gained popularity as C. Subramaniya Bharathiyar was the Editor, was launched on May 9, 1906 in Chennai and was published on a weekly basis on Saturdays (The first issue was launched on Wednesday and later was published  on Saturdays on a weekly basis). Thirumalachariyar, who used to write for ‘Pirathivathi’ - a Vedanta Magazine run by Azhagiya Singer in Chennai, started the India Magazine. M.S. Subramaniya Iyer, who had worked alongside Bharathiyar as assistant editor in Swadesamitran and authored Biographies of many National leaders, mentioned in his book ‘Subramaniya Bharathiyar’ that Thirumalachariyar had started the magazine for the sake of Bharathiyar.

Thirumalachariyar, the owner of the magazine, also served as the editor. Mandayam Chakravarthy also known as Azhagiya Singa Perumal and M.P.T. Achariya, who was actively involved in the Indian Independence movement, assisted Thirumalacharya in the early days of the magazine. M. Srinivasa Iyengar (Murappakkam Srinivasan), a schoolmate of Thirumalachariyar, who was working in the Railway Auditor office took charge as the editor. In September 1906 Bharathiyar came to work for India magazine.

Many changes took place in the print when Bharathi took charge of the magazine. A distinct style was developed in writing its title page. This can be seen in the praises of later Indian magazines such as Amirthaguna Bodhini (November 1928), Vivekabanu, Rangoon Swadesha Paripalini, Hindu Sadanam and Swadesamithiran.

Shift to Pondicherry

Thoughts on Indian independence and anti-British propaganda were published in India magazine. The government issued a warrant for Mandayam Thirumalachari, the owner of India Magazine, and M. Srinivasa Iyengar, who was registered as the editor. Due to government action, India Magazine stopped publishing in Chennai from the last week of September 1908.

Bharathiyar and the magazine owner Thirumalachari fled to Pondicherry. As the printing press could be set up in Pondicherry only if a person born in French India granted bail, Villianur S. Lakshmi Narayana Iyer, a friend of Thirumalachariyar, volunteered and granted them bail. The printing press was located in Building No. 71, Ambalatharu Street. The first India Magazine (Pondicherry) was released on October 20, 1908.

The India Magazine launched in Pondicherry had the caption ‘Swathandiramum, Samasthuvamum, Sagotharathuvamum’ (Liberty, Equality, Fraternity) in the title page. The government banned the magazine published in Pondicherry from entering British India.

The India magazine(Pondicherry) ceased publication on March 12, 1910 due to various economic and political crises.

Case

Twenty articles published by India Magazine in Chennai from February 29, 1908 to June 27, 1908 were compiled as crimes against the government. Out of which, the magazine editors were prosecuted  for publishing three articles, ‘Mahabharatha Kadhaigal’(Mahabharata Stories), ‘Ethanaiyo Kollaigalil Idhuvum Oru Kollai’(A Robbery out of the many Robberies), ‘En Kaalathai Veenaaka Vendum’(Why to Waste Time). The office of the 'India' Magazine was raided on August 21, 1908 and the next day. Bharathiyar fled to Pondicherry. At the time of the conclusion of the case M. Srinivasa Iyengar, who was registered as the editor, was sentenced to five years in prison.

Content

Magazine Title Details

The Caption ‘Swathandiramum, Samasthuvamum, Sagotharathuvamum’(Liberty, Equality, Fraternity) was mentioned below the title of the magazine. This was the slogan of the French Revolution. The register number was mentioned in the left and right of the caption and ‘Sanikizhamai Dhorum Veliyagum’ (Will be released every Saturday) was mentioned at the bottom.

Image (Concept Art)

Cartoons

Apart from the news, articles and editorial, a  political cartoon was also published in the first page of the India Magazine. 'India' was the first magazine to use cartoons for political propaganda. A cartoon and an explanation of the cartoon was depicted below the title of the magazine. A.R. Venkatachalapathi compiled all the cartoons published in the India Magazine and released a book named ‘Bharathiyin Karuthupadangal’ (Bharathi’s Concept Art).

Cartoon Explanation

An explanation of the cartoon (the political background of the cartoon) was given in the first paragraph of the second page in the magazine.

News Snippets

The News Snippets were featured in the section between the cartoon explanation and the editorial. This section had small news snippets. (Example: Thoothukudi Sudesi Shipping Company; A donation to the Thoothukudi Swadeshi Steam Navigation Company)

Editorial

The Editorial starts on the third page of the India Magazine. The editorial will be featured below the title "India Soumya Purattasi 31U".

Poems

India Magazine features two types of poems:

• Greeting Poem (Set in Asiriyappa)
• Libel Poems (Set in Kummi Song Form)

Bharathi’s famous greeting poem ‘Vaazhiya Senthamizh’ was published in India Magazine. It was written under the title ‘Pudhu Varusham’ (New Year) to mark the second anniversary of India Magazine.

The poem written to mock the appointment of V. Krishnaswamy Iyer as the judge in the Chennai Highcourt, can be said as an example of the Libel poem.

Conversation

In India Magazine, few news articles were published by using the  conversation strategy. The British and France segment below is an example of such news segments.

Articles

Since India Magazine was a magazine that gave importance to news related to politics, political articles were published in many releases. (Eg: Articles such as Prison History, Excerpt of Sri Aurobindo Ghosh prison experience, Real Kings)

Letter (Epistle)

The letter segment had political articles in the format of a letter. (Eg: A series of letters were published entitled ‘Hindu’s Bravery - An Epistle’

References

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