Kalamohini
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Kalamohini (1942 - 1946) is a Tamil literary magazine. V.R.Rajagopalan (Salivahanan) started the magazine in order to fill the void created by the cessation of Manikkodi magazine. The magazine featured some of the best literature of the time.
Release
The literary magazine Manikkodi was stopped in 1935. The writers of the literary wave created by Manikkodi needed a medium to write. One of them, V.R.Rajagopalan (Salivahanan) started a bimonthly magazine to cater to their needs. The first magazine was released in July, 1942. The writer, in its first editorial, wrote “In this land of Tamils, as long as it can continue to exist, Kalamohini is born as a squirrel that wishes to provide its service for the Sethubandhanam (Rama’s bridge) task of rejuvenating the Tamil language”
Kalamohini was run out of Tiruchinappalli Mattakkaara Street belonging to the old Chennai presidency. Its first issue was released in the Chitrabhanu year, 15th day of the Aani month (1942 July 1). Its every issue held only the Tamil year, month and date in its head. The first 13 issues were demy sized (the old size of Ananda Vikatan) and from the next issue, the magazine was published in crown size. For three and a half years, Kalamohini was published out of Tiruchirappalli. The publisher contemplated transferring the office to Chennai due to the chaos created by the World War. He also wanted to raise funds to convert Kalamohini to a Limited company. His efforts did not bear any fruit. On April 18 1946, Kalamohini’s new edition was published out of Chennai. The same year, the magazine saw its last issue on September 20.
Content
Kalamohini is best known for its efforts to carry on the literary legacy created by Manikkodi. From the beginning, it proclaimed itself to be a literary magazine. The first issue carried a picture of N. Pichamoorthi on its cover. The second issue carried K.P.Rajagopalan and the third one had writer Chitti on its cover. Likewise every issue was published with an image of a writer on its cover and introduced the writer under the section ‘Here is our guest’. When Chitti was approached for his picture, he refused on the grounds of him being a government officer. The editor then secretly got permission from Chitti’s strict chief, proceeded to bring along a photographer to take his picture and featured him as the guest. This was narrated by Chitti in his foreword to the Kalamohini compilation.
Kalamohini released works of serious literature. Apart from publishing the works of famous poets like N. Pichamoorthi, K.P. Rajagopalan, Saalivaahanan, it also showcased lesser known names like E.Saravanamuthu, Appulingam, Nallai Ilangovan. N. Pichamoorthi has written a long poem called ‘Saagamarundhu’ (Elixir of life) in it. Short stories of Manikkodi writers like K.N.Subramaniam, Thi. Janakiraman, Swaninatha Athreyan, Chitti, K.P. Rajagopalan. M.V. Venkatram, Karichan Kunju have also been featured. K.P.Rajagopalan’s ‘Verottam’ novel had been serialised and published as four parts.
Kalamohini also had its share of controversies by featuring literary feuds. It condemned Valikkannan for stealing one’s story and publishing it in another’s name under the guise of ‘Mareesan literature’. It ran a story called ‘Fifth column fans’ (written by Salivahanan) that condemned T.K.Chidambaranatha Mudaliar’s rejection of certain Kambaramayanam songs citing that they were not actually Kamban’s.
Kalaignan publication house published a compilation of Kalamohini issues. The foreword was written by Chitti.
Role in Literature
Kalamohini gave the Manikkodi league of writers a place to progress. It featured them as literary pioneers. It paved the way for modern Tamil literature to cement its position by focusing only on the aesthetics of literature.
