Swadeshabhimani Ramakrishna Pillai
Encyclopedia
Swadeshabhimani K. Ramakrishna Pillai (1878–1916) was a writer, journalist
, Newspaper editor, and political activist in the erstwhile princely state
of Travancore
(Kerala
, India). He was the editor of the newspaper Swadeshabhimani (The Patriot) and hence known by the name. The criticisms against the Diwan of Travancore, P. Rajagopalachari
, the Government and the Maharajah of Travancore that appeared in his newspaper irritated the authorities and eventually resulted in the confiscation of the newspaper and press and he was arrested and exiled from Travancore in 1910. He wrote Vrithantha Pathra Pravarthanam (1912), the first book on journalism in the Malayalam language. He also wrote the biography
of Karl Marx
(1912) in Malayalam, which was the first Marx biography in any Indian language.
:1053 Edavam 16) as the youngest son of Narasimhan Potti and Chakkiamma at Neyyattinkara
, Travancore state. Bharmashree Narasimhan Potti was a poojari in a temple
.
Ramakrishna Pillai was born in a Nair
family named Thekkekod veedu in Athanoor in Neyyattinkara
Taluk of the princely state
of Travancore. Mall karanavar, a patriarch
of this family saved Prince Marthanda Varma
, who later became Mahara
of Travancore, from the latter enemies. In gratitude, Marthanda Varma
gifted the family with 50 acres (202,343 m²) land, 12 room mansion and certain privileges in the Krishna temple in Neyyattinkara
. Ramakrishna was born in this family over a century later.
In the matrilineal Nair
society, Ramakrishna Pillai as a young boy lived with his maternal uncle, Advocate Keshava Pillai. Kattupana Naganathaiyer was his first teacher in the malayalam school.In 1887 January, he joined the Neyyattinkara
English medium school, where K. VeluPilla (Headmaster) and R. Keshavapilla (Asst. Headmaster) were his teachers. Since third form was the highest class in the Neyyattinkara
school, he joined Rajagiyamahapadashala (Royal school), Thiruvananthapuram
in 1892. Ramakrishna used his newly received freedom at Thiruvananthapuram
to read new books and newspapers, visit new places and gaining new friends.He was a shy and silent student at school. He passed his matriculation
exam at the age of 14.
, Pettayil Raman Pillai Asshan, Oduvil Kunji Krishna Menon, Kandathil Varghese Mappillai etc. Due to his passion and activities on newspapers, he couldn't concentrate on his studies during that period and earned the wrath of his uncle and family. He passed in the F.A. exam in 1898. He was supposed to join for B.Sc. degree from Madras initially, but on the directives of his uncle, he joined for B.A.
degree course at University College, Trivandrum.
During that time, Ramakrishna and other newspaper enthusiasts felt the need of a malayalam newspaper from Travancore. Two newspapers Kerala Darpanum and Vanjivibhujhika were started in 1900. His friends and well wishers persuaded him to take up the editorship of Kerala Darpanum newspaper. Due to immense resistance from his uncle Keshava Pillai, Ramakrishna had to leave his house to take up this job. Those days, he struggled to manage his B.A. degree studies, his survival and the editorship of the newspaper. He passed the B.A. (Malayalam ) degree with first rank and also receiving Keralvarmamudhra honorary award for the excellence.
He wrote strongly against the age-old malpractices and ill customs of those days. He believed more in action than the words. He challenged the society by marrying a lower caste woman from the Nair
community. He married Srimati Nanikutti Amma , Thoopuveetil, Palkulangara, Thiruvananthapuram in 1901. Shri Prameshvaran Pillai, also a relative of Nanikutti Amma was the owner of Kerala Darappanum newspaper.Later,the swindle of Prameshvaran Pillai led to court cases between them.
In 1901, Kerala Darappanum and Vanjivibhujhika merged to form Keralapanjhika under the ownership of Shri. Marthanada Thampi. Ramakrishna continued to be editor of that newspaper from 1901 to 1903. During this time, he travelled around the state of Travancore to know its people and their problems. In February 1903, he resigned his position from Keralapangika newspaper. He continued to write articles in Nasranideepika and Malayali newspapers. In 1904 he settled with his family at Kollam
to work as the editor of Malayali newspaper. During this time, he wrote editorials on the rights and duties of the people of Travancore. He spoke in conferences ,mainly in Cherthala
and Paravur
Taluks those days ,against the malpractices and wrong customs during this period, .
In 1904, his wife Nanikutti Amma died. Later he remarried B. Kalyani Amma. It was through many literary discussions and letters, Kalyani Amma and Ramakrishna Pillai become closer to each other and later they decided to enter into wedlock.
, was the owner of the journal newspaper named Swadeshabhimani. C P Govinda Pillai was the editor of Swadeshabhimani before RamaKrishna Pillai took over as the editor in January 1906. Ramakrishna Pillai and his family had to shift to Vakkom
in Chirayinkil
Taluk where the newspaper office and the priniting press were located. The newspaper office was moved to Thiruvanthapuram only in July 1907 and the family moved to Thiruvanthapuram . Though Vakkom Moulavi was still the proprietor, Ramakrishna had been given total freedom in the running of the newspaper by Moulavi. They never had any legal or financial contracts between them. Still, Moulavi provided all the financial aid to set up the press also in Thiruvananthapuram.
Ramakrisha also started a woman's magazine called Sharadha, a student's magazine Vidhyarthi and another magazine named Keralan.
P. Rajagopalachari, the Diwan of Travancore, was the centre of his attacks through the newspaper.The newspaper accused the Dewan of gross immorality and that the corruption had riddled the government of Travancore. But "the most serious thing against the Swadeshabhimani," wrote the Dewan, "has always been the remarkable persistency with which it preached the gospel of government by the people, and the exhortation which it held out to the people of Travancore to unite and demand self-government." He also attacked the kingship of Maharaja of Travancore as
Swadeshabhimani's pen moved against corruption of the state and injustice in the society. Soon he irritated the Maharajah Moolam Thirunal himself by criticizing the large expenses incurred by the Royal consort, the Panapillai Amma
, through the construction of private palaces and public celebration of the wedding of the Maharajahs daughter and so on.
On 26 September 1910, Swadeshabhimani newspaper and the printing press was sealed and confisicated by the British Police and Ramakrishna Pillai was arrested and banished from Travancore to Thirunelveli in Madras Province of British Raj
.The arrest was undertaken by Superintendent of Police, F S S George ( British), Inspector R Achuthen Pillai, Inspector B Govinda Pillai and Inspector Pichu Aiyangar. He was arrested even without furnishing an arrest warrant. The police escorted him till Thirunelveli. The Kingdom of Travancore itself was a princely state under the Madras Presidency. His family joined him later and he moved to a rented house in Madras. He was offered the editorship in several newspapers in Kochi, India|Kochi]] and Malabar but he chose to stay in Madras.
Many of the Indian newspapers, during that time, reacted strongly against the arrest and banishment of Ramakrishna Pillai and the confiscation of the newspaper.
After Independence of India, the Government of Kerala returned the press to Moulavi' s family in 1957.
Philisophy in 1911. During this period, he wrote his book Ende Naadukadathal (ISBN 81-264-1222-4 ) on his banishment from Travancore. After the exams, the family moved to Palghat on a three month vacation. They had to return to Madras, in August 1911, to continue his studies and also court cases against Indian Patriot. In 1911, Ramakrishna passed B.L. degree and Kalyaniamma in B.A. Philisophy. In April, they left Madras again. Their third child, a daughter, was born on August 7, 1912.
In 1912, he published Vrithantha Pathra Pravarthanam, the famous book on Journalism and his biography books on Karl Marx and Benjamin Franklin
. In 1913, he contributed to Aathmapokshini and other magazines. In May 1913, they returned to Palghat, after which he published his books named Mannante Kannathum and Narakathil ninnu. His phyisical health began to deterioate during this period. When his wife Kaliyaniamma joined as a teacher in a school in Kannur
, the family moved to this place.
On 28 March 1916, Ramakrishna Pillai died of ailing health.
dramas:prathima,kamandalu(ekanka natakam),thookumuriyil,thapthabashoam.
stories:aa deenarodhanam
B. Kalyani Amma was the second wife of Ramakrishna Pillai. She was born on 11 Kumbhom 1059 (ME
) (1883 AD). She was a notable litterateur also Her important works includes Vyazhavatta Smaranakal, Karmaphalam, Mahathikal and Atmakatha. Her biography Vyazhavatta Smaranakal ( Memories of 12 years) is about the 12 years of their married life. She also translated a novel written by Rabindranath Tagore
. She died on 9 October 1959 (28 Kanni 1135).
. The following are its recipients.
The Pravasi Swadeshabhimani Ramakrishna Pillai Award has been instituted in memory of Swadeshabhimani Sri. Ramakrishna Pillai, by The Pravasi Malayali Society.
and at Payyambalam Beach
, Kannur
.
Journalist
A journalist collects and distributes news and other information. A journalist's work is referred to as journalism.A reporter is a type of journalist who researchs, writes, and reports on information to be presented in mass media, including print media , electronic media , and digital media A...
, Newspaper editor, and political activist in the erstwhile princely state
Princely state
A Princely State was a nominally sovereign entitity of British rule in India that was not directly governed by the British, but rather by an Indian ruler under a form of indirect rule such as suzerainty or paramountcy.-British relationship with the Princely States:India under the British Raj ...
of Travancore
Travancore
Kingdom of Travancore was a former Hindu feudal kingdom and Indian Princely State with its capital at Padmanabhapuram or Trivandrum ruled by the Travancore Royal Family. The Kingdom of Travancore comprised most of modern day southern Kerala, Kanyakumari district, and the southernmost parts of...
(Kerala
Kerala
or Keralam is an Indian state located on the Malabar coast of south-west India. It was created on 1 November 1956 by the States Reorganisation Act by combining various Malayalam speaking regions....
, India). He was the editor of the newspaper Swadeshabhimani (The Patriot) and hence known by the name. The criticisms against the Diwan of Travancore, P. Rajagopalachari
Perungavur Rajagopalachari
Diwan Bahadur Sir Perungavur Rajagopalachari, KCSI, CIE , also spelt in contemporary records as Sir P. Rajagopala Achariyar, was an Indian administrator...
, the Government and the Maharajah of Travancore that appeared in his newspaper irritated the authorities and eventually resulted in the confiscation of the newspaper and press and he was arrested and exiled from Travancore in 1910. He wrote Vrithantha Pathra Pravarthanam (1912), the first book on journalism in the Malayalam language. He also wrote the biography
Biography
A biography is a detailed description or account of someone's life. More than a list of basic facts , biography also portrays the subject's experience of those events...
of Karl Marx
Karl Marx
Karl Heinrich Marx was a German philosopher, economist, sociologist, historian, journalist, and revolutionary socialist. His ideas played a significant role in the development of social science and the socialist political movement...
(1912) in Malayalam, which was the first Marx biography in any Indian language.
Early life
K.Ramakrishna Pillai was born on 25 May 1878 (MEMalayalam calendar
Malayalam calendar is a solar and sidereal Hindu calendar used in Kerala, India. The origin of the calendar has been dated as 825 CE....
:1053 Edavam 16) as the youngest son of Narasimhan Potti and Chakkiamma at Neyyattinkara
Neyyattinkara
Neyyattinkara is municipality in Thiruvananthapuram district in the Indian state of Kerala. The name Neyyattinkara in Malayalam literally means the shore of Neyyar River. Neyyar River flows from Agasthyarkoodam , the highest peak in southern end of the Western Ghats. The taluk has a total...
, Travancore state. Bharmashree Narasimhan Potti was a poojari in a temple
Temple
A temple is a structure reserved for religious or spiritual activities, such as prayer and sacrifice, or analogous rites. A templum constituted a sacred precinct as defined by a priest, or augur. It has the same root as the word "template," a plan in preparation of the building that was marked out...
.
Ramakrishna Pillai was born in a Nair
Nair
Nair , also known as Nayar , refers to "not a unitary group but a named category of castes", which historically embody several castes and many subdivisions, not all of whom bore the Nair title. These people historically live in the present-day Indian state of Kerala...
family named Thekkekod veedu in Athanoor in Neyyattinkara
Neyyattinkara
Neyyattinkara is municipality in Thiruvananthapuram district in the Indian state of Kerala. The name Neyyattinkara in Malayalam literally means the shore of Neyyar River. Neyyar River flows from Agasthyarkoodam , the highest peak in southern end of the Western Ghats. The taluk has a total...
Taluk of the princely state
Princely state
A Princely State was a nominally sovereign entitity of British rule in India that was not directly governed by the British, but rather by an Indian ruler under a form of indirect rule such as suzerainty or paramountcy.-British relationship with the Princely States:India under the British Raj ...
of Travancore. Mall karanavar, a patriarch
Patriarch
Originally a patriarch was a man who exercised autocratic authority as a pater familias over an extended family. The system of such rule of families by senior males is called patriarchy. This is a Greek word, a compound of πατριά , "lineage, descent", esp...
of this family saved Prince Marthanda Varma
Marthanda Varma
Marthanda Varma , was the founder of the Indian Hindu feudal kingdom of Travancore from Venad SwaroopamHe ruled from 1729 till his death in 1758, having succeeded his maternal uncle Dharma Raja.King Marthanda Varma is usually credited as the "founder of Kingdom of Travancore" from...
, who later became Mahara
Mahara
Mahara is an open source ePortfolio and social networking web application created by the government of New Zealand. It provides users with tools to create and maintain a digital portfolio of their learning, and social networking features to allow users to interact with each other...
of Travancore, from the latter enemies. In gratitude, Marthanda Varma
Marthanda Varma
Marthanda Varma , was the founder of the Indian Hindu feudal kingdom of Travancore from Venad SwaroopamHe ruled from 1729 till his death in 1758, having succeeded his maternal uncle Dharma Raja.King Marthanda Varma is usually credited as the "founder of Kingdom of Travancore" from...
gifted the family with 50 acres (202,343 m²) land, 12 room mansion and certain privileges in the Krishna temple in Neyyattinkara
Neyyattinkara
Neyyattinkara is municipality in Thiruvananthapuram district in the Indian state of Kerala. The name Neyyattinkara in Malayalam literally means the shore of Neyyar River. Neyyar River flows from Agasthyarkoodam , the highest peak in southern end of the Western Ghats. The taluk has a total...
. Ramakrishna was born in this family over a century later.
In the matrilineal Nair
Nair
Nair , also known as Nayar , refers to "not a unitary group but a named category of castes", which historically embody several castes and many subdivisions, not all of whom bore the Nair title. These people historically live in the present-day Indian state of Kerala...
society, Ramakrishna Pillai as a young boy lived with his maternal uncle, Advocate Keshava Pillai. Kattupana Naganathaiyer was his first teacher in the malayalam school.In 1887 January, he joined the Neyyattinkara
Neyyattinkara
Neyyattinkara is municipality in Thiruvananthapuram district in the Indian state of Kerala. The name Neyyattinkara in Malayalam literally means the shore of Neyyar River. Neyyar River flows from Agasthyarkoodam , the highest peak in southern end of the Western Ghats. The taluk has a total...
English medium school, where K. VeluPilla (Headmaster) and R. Keshavapilla (Asst. Headmaster) were his teachers. Since third form was the highest class in the Neyyattinkara
Neyyattinkara
Neyyattinkara is municipality in Thiruvananthapuram district in the Indian state of Kerala. The name Neyyattinkara in Malayalam literally means the shore of Neyyar River. Neyyar River flows from Agasthyarkoodam , the highest peak in southern end of the Western Ghats. The taluk has a total...
school, he joined Rajagiyamahapadashala (Royal school), Thiruvananthapuram
Thiruvananthapuram
Thiruvananthapuram , formerly known as Trivandrum, is the capital of the Indian state of Kerala and the headquarters of the Thiruvananthapuram District. It is located on the west coast of India near the extreme south of the mainland...
in 1892. Ramakrishna used his newly received freedom at Thiruvananthapuram
Thiruvananthapuram
Thiruvananthapuram , formerly known as Trivandrum, is the capital of the Indian state of Kerala and the headquarters of the Thiruvananthapuram District. It is located on the west coast of India near the extreme south of the mainland...
to read new books and newspapers, visit new places and gaining new friends.He was a shy and silent student at school. He passed his matriculation
Matriculation in India
In India, "matriculation" is a term commonly used to refer to the final year of high school, which ends at tenth standard and the qualification received on finishing the tenth standard of high school and passing the or the state board exams, commonly called "matriculation exams"...
exam at the age of 14.
Journalism
Ramakrishna was bitten by the newspaper obsession while studying for F.A. He used to read almost every newspaper published from Travancore, Malabar and Kochi states. He started writing articles in those days, during which he gained friendship and guidance of many literary legands and editors of that period like Kerala Varma Valiya Koil Thampuran, A R Rajaraja Varma, Ulloor S. Parameswara IyerUlloor S. Parameswara Iyer
Ulloor S. Parameswara Iyer , commonly known as Ulloor was a famous Malayalam poet and a noted historian. Ulloor was one of the famous triumvirate poets of Kerala, South India in the first half of the 20th century....
, Pettayil Raman Pillai Asshan, Oduvil Kunji Krishna Menon, Kandathil Varghese Mappillai etc. Due to his passion and activities on newspapers, he couldn't concentrate on his studies during that period and earned the wrath of his uncle and family. He passed in the F.A. exam in 1898. He was supposed to join for B.Sc. degree from Madras initially, but on the directives of his uncle, he joined for B.A.
Bachelor of Arts
A Bachelor of Arts , from the Latin artium baccalaureus, is a bachelor's degree awarded for an undergraduate course or program in either the liberal arts, the sciences, or both...
degree course at University College, Trivandrum.
During that time, Ramakrishna and other newspaper enthusiasts felt the need of a malayalam newspaper from Travancore. Two newspapers Kerala Darpanum and Vanjivibhujhika were started in 1900. His friends and well wishers persuaded him to take up the editorship of Kerala Darpanum newspaper. Due to immense resistance from his uncle Keshava Pillai, Ramakrishna had to leave his house to take up this job. Those days, he struggled to manage his B.A. degree studies, his survival and the editorship of the newspaper. He passed the B.A. (Malayalam ) degree with first rank and also receiving Keralvarmamudhra honorary award for the excellence.
He wrote strongly against the age-old malpractices and ill customs of those days. He believed more in action than the words. He challenged the society by marrying a lower caste woman from the Nair
Nair
Nair , also known as Nayar , refers to "not a unitary group but a named category of castes", which historically embody several castes and many subdivisions, not all of whom bore the Nair title. These people historically live in the present-day Indian state of Kerala...
community. He married Srimati Nanikutti Amma , Thoopuveetil, Palkulangara, Thiruvananthapuram in 1901. Shri Prameshvaran Pillai, also a relative of Nanikutti Amma was the owner of Kerala Darappanum newspaper.Later,the swindle of Prameshvaran Pillai led to court cases between them.
In 1901, Kerala Darappanum and Vanjivibhujhika merged to form Keralapanjhika under the ownership of Shri. Marthanada Thampi. Ramakrishna continued to be editor of that newspaper from 1901 to 1903. During this time, he travelled around the state of Travancore to know its people and their problems. In February 1903, he resigned his position from Keralapangika newspaper. He continued to write articles in Nasranideepika and Malayali newspapers. In 1904 he settled with his family at Kollam
Kollam
Kollam , often anglicized as ', is a city in the Indian state of Kerala. The city lies on the banks of Ashtamudi Lake on the Arabian sea coast and is situated about north of the state capital, Thiruvananthapuram...
to work as the editor of Malayali newspaper. During this time, he wrote editorials on the rights and duties of the people of Travancore. He spoke in conferences ,mainly in Cherthala
Cherthala
Cherthala is a town located in the district of Alappuzha, in the state of Kerala, India. It is located 30 km south of the city of Kochi and 22 km north of Alappuzha town, on the Kochi-Alappuzha streatch of both the National Highway 47 as well as the costal Rail-route.lt is 85 km from the...
and Paravur
Paravur
Paravur may refer to:* North Paravur, a municipality and town in Ernakulam district* Paravur Taluk, in Ernakulam district* South Paravur, a village near to Udayamperoor in Kanayannur taluk of Ernakulam district...
Taluks those days ,against the malpractices and wrong customs during this period, .
In 1904, his wife Nanikutti Amma died. Later he remarried B. Kalyani Amma. It was through many literary discussions and letters, Kalyani Amma and Ramakrishna Pillai become closer to each other and later they decided to enter into wedlock.
Swadeshabhimani
Abdul Khader Moulavi, popularly known as Vakkom MoulaviVakkom Moulavi
Vakkom Muhammed Abdul Khadir Moulavi, popularly known as Vakkom Moulavi was a social reformer, teacher, prolific writer, Muslim scholar, journalist, freedom fighter and newspaper proprietor in Travancore, a princely state of the present day Kerala, India...
, was the owner of the journal newspaper named Swadeshabhimani. C P Govinda Pillai was the editor of Swadeshabhimani before RamaKrishna Pillai took over as the editor in January 1906. Ramakrishna Pillai and his family had to shift to Vakkom
Vakkom
Vakkom, വക്കം , is a village in the Thiruvananthapuram district in the state of Kerala, India. It is located 35 kilometers north of Thiruvananthapuram, the state capital. Vakkom panchayat is surrounded by back waters . Neighbouring Panchayats are Anjengo, Kadakkavoor, Vettoor, Cherunniyoor and...
in Chirayinkil
Chirayinkil (Lok Sabha constituency)
Chirayinkil Lok Sabha constituency was a Lok Sabha constituency in Kerala, dissolved in 2008.-Assembly segments:Chirayinkil Lok Sabha constituency was composed of the following assembly segments:#Varkala#Attingal#Kilimanoor Assembly Constituency...
Taluk where the newspaper office and the priniting press were located. The newspaper office was moved to Thiruvanthapuram only in July 1907 and the family moved to Thiruvanthapuram . Though Vakkom Moulavi was still the proprietor, Ramakrishna had been given total freedom in the running of the newspaper by Moulavi. They never had any legal or financial contracts between them. Still, Moulavi provided all the financial aid to set up the press also in Thiruvananthapuram.
Ramakrisha also started a woman's magazine called Sharadha, a student's magazine Vidhyarthi and another magazine named Keralan.
P. Rajagopalachari, the Diwan of Travancore, was the centre of his attacks through the newspaper.The newspaper accused the Dewan of gross immorality and that the corruption had riddled the government of Travancore. But "the most serious thing against the Swadeshabhimani," wrote the Dewan, "has always been the remarkable persistency with which it preached the gospel of government by the people, and the exhortation which it held out to the people of Travancore to unite and demand self-government." He also attacked the kingship of Maharaja of Travancore as
" The monarchs believe and force others to believe that they are God's representatives or incarnations. This is absurd.Did God create a special kind of dog to be the king of dogs,or a special kind of elephant to rule over all elephants? "
Swadeshabhimani's pen moved against corruption of the state and injustice in the society. Soon he irritated the Maharajah Moolam Thirunal himself by criticizing the large expenses incurred by the Royal consort, the Panapillai Amma
Panapillai Amma
Panapillai Amma was the title held by the consort of the ruling Maharajah of Travancore. Its literal translation is 'the royal consort' since as per the formerly existent matriarchal system in Travancore, the Maharajah's sister, and not his wife, was the Maharani. Thus the wife took the title of...
, through the construction of private palaces and public celebration of the wedding of the Maharajahs daughter and so on.
On 26 September 1910, Swadeshabhimani newspaper and the printing press was sealed and confisicated by the British Police and Ramakrishna Pillai was arrested and banished from Travancore to Thirunelveli in Madras Province of British Raj
British Raj
British Raj was the British rule in the Indian subcontinent between 1858 and 1947; The term can also refer to the period of dominion...
.The arrest was undertaken by Superintendent of Police, F S S George ( British), Inspector R Achuthen Pillai, Inspector B Govinda Pillai and Inspector Pichu Aiyangar. He was arrested even without furnishing an arrest warrant. The police escorted him till Thirunelveli. The Kingdom of Travancore itself was a princely state under the Madras Presidency. His family joined him later and he moved to a rented house in Madras. He was offered the editorship in several newspapers in Kochi, India|Kochi]] and Malabar but he chose to stay in Madras.
Many of the Indian newspapers, during that time, reacted strongly against the arrest and banishment of Ramakrishna Pillai and the confiscation of the newspaper.
After Independence of India, the Government of Kerala returned the press to Moulavi' s family in 1957.
Last years
Ramakrishna Pillai joined for F.L. Degree and Kaliyaniamma joined B.A.Bachelor of Arts
A Bachelor of Arts , from the Latin artium baccalaureus, is a bachelor's degree awarded for an undergraduate course or program in either the liberal arts, the sciences, or both...
Philisophy in 1911. During this period, he wrote his book Ende Naadukadathal (ISBN 81-264-1222-4 ) on his banishment from Travancore. After the exams, the family moved to Palghat on a three month vacation. They had to return to Madras, in August 1911, to continue his studies and also court cases against Indian Patriot. In 1911, Ramakrishna passed B.L. degree and Kalyaniamma in B.A. Philisophy. In April, they left Madras again. Their third child, a daughter, was born on August 7, 1912.
In 1912, he published Vrithantha Pathra Pravarthanam, the famous book on Journalism and his biography books on Karl Marx and Benjamin Franklin
Benjamin Franklin
Dr. Benjamin Franklin was one of the Founding Fathers of the United States. A noted polymath, Franklin was a leading author, printer, political theorist, politician, postmaster, scientist, musician, inventor, satirist, civic activist, statesman, and diplomat...
. In 1913, he contributed to Aathmapokshini and other magazines. In May 1913, they returned to Palghat, after which he published his books named Mannante Kannathum and Narakathil ninnu. His phyisical health began to deterioate during this period. When his wife Kaliyaniamma joined as a teacher in a school in Kannur
Kannur
Kannur , also known as Cannanore, is a city in Kannur district in the Indian state of Kerala. It is the administrative headquarters of the District of Kannur and 518km north of state capital Trivandrum. During British rule in India, Kannur was known by its old name Cannanore, which is still in...
, the family moved to this place.
On 28 March 1916, Ramakrishna Pillai died of ailing health.
Literary works
Ramakrishna Pillai wrote over 20 books in his lifetime and many of them are very notable.- Vruththaanthapathrapravarthanam (Malayalam) (1912)
- Ende Naadukadathal(My Banishment) (ISBN 81-264-1222-4)
- Karl Marx (Malayalam ) : His biography of Karl Marx was the first in any Indian language.
- Mohandas Karamchand Gandhi, (Malayalam) - Biography
- Benjamin FranklinBenjamin FranklinDr. Benjamin Franklin was one of the Founding Fathers of the United States. A noted polymath, Franklin was a leading author, printer, political theorist, politician, postmaster, scientist, musician, inventor, satirist, civic activist, statesman, and diplomat...
(Malayalam) - Biography - SocratesSocratesSocrates was a classical Greek Athenian philosopher. Credited as one of the founders of Western philosophy, he is an enigmatic figure known chiefly through the accounts of later classical writers, especially the writings of his students Plato and Xenophon, and the plays of his contemporary ...
(Malayalam) - Biography - Pathradharmam (Essays)
- Mannante Kannathu
- Christopher Columbus ( Translation in Malayalam )
- Narakathil ninnu ( From the hell)
- Kerala Bhasholpathy ( The Origin of language in Kerala)
- Delhi Durbar
- The Deportation case of Travancore
dramas:prathima,kamandalu(ekanka natakam),thookumuriyil,thapthabashoam.
stories:aa deenarodhanam
B. Kalyani Amma
Malayalam calendar
Malayalam calendar is a solar and sidereal Hindu calendar used in Kerala, India. The origin of the calendar has been dated as 825 CE....
) (1883 AD). She was a notable litterateur also Her important works includes Vyazhavatta Smaranakal, Karmaphalam, Mahathikal and Atmakatha. Her biography Vyazhavatta Smaranakal ( Memories of 12 years) is about the 12 years of their married life. She also translated a novel written by Rabindranath Tagore
Rabindranath Tagore
Rabindranath Tagore , sobriquet Gurudev, was a Bengali polymath who reshaped his region's literature and music. Author of Gitanjali and its "profoundly sensitive, fresh and beautiful verse", he became the first non-European Nobel laureate by earning the 1913 Prize in Literature...
. She died on 9 October 1959 (28 Kanni 1135).
Swadeshabhimani Smaraka Samithi
Swadesha abhimani Smaraka Samidhi is the trust formed in the memory of Ramakrishna Pillai. The Samidhi observes anniversaries of the banishment of Swadeshabhimani Ramakrishna Pillai every year, which is attended by several eminent personalities.Swadeshabhimani Ramakrishna Pillai Award
Swadeshabhimani Ramakrishna Pillai Award is awarded for press journalism every year by the Government of KeralaGovernment of Kerala
The Government of Kerala is a democratically elected body that governs the State of Kerala, India for a period of 5 years. The state government is headed by the Governor of Kerala as the nominal head of state, with a democratically elected Chief Minister as real head of the executive. The state...
. The following are its recipients.
- 2002 : V.K. Madhvankutty (Awarded by the President of India )
- 2006 : G.Sekharan Nair (MathrubhumiMathrubhumiMathrubhumi is a Malayalam language newspaper that is published from Kerala, India. Mathrubhumi was founded by K. P. Kesava Menon, an active volunteer in the Indian freedom struggle against the British.-History:...
) and Reji Joseph (DeepikaDeepikaDeepika, a Malayalam language newspaper, is one of the oldest newspapers published in India. Started in 1887, it is the oldest Malayalam newspaper now in circulation. Deepika publishes editions from Kottayam, Kochi, Kannur, Thrissur, Thiruvananthapuram and Kozhikode. It was controlled by the Syro...
)
The Pravasi Swadeshabhimani Ramakrishna Pillai Award has been instituted in memory of Swadeshabhimani Sri. Ramakrishna Pillai, by The Pravasi Malayali Society.
Swadeshabhimani memorial
Memorials of Swadeshabhimani Ramakrishna Pillai are constructured at NeyyattinkaraNeyyattinkara
Neyyattinkara is municipality in Thiruvananthapuram district in the Indian state of Kerala. The name Neyyattinkara in Malayalam literally means the shore of Neyyar River. Neyyar River flows from Agasthyarkoodam , the highest peak in southern end of the Western Ghats. The taluk has a total...
and at Payyambalam Beach
Payyambalam Beach
Payyambalam Beach is a beach in Kannur district of Kerala in India that attracts tourists and local people. It often finds mention in tourism related publications as a beautiful beach. It has now a garden close to it. The beach is just 2 km from Kannur town....
, Kannur
Kannur
Kannur , also known as Cannanore, is a city in Kannur district in the Indian state of Kerala. It is the administrative headquarters of the District of Kannur and 518km north of state capital Trivandrum. During British rule in India, Kannur was known by its old name Cannanore, which is still in...
.
Further reading
- Vruththaanthapathrapravarthanam (Malayalam) (1912), K. Ramakrishna Pillai
- Dhanyayayi njan (Malayalam), K. Gomathy Amma
- Vyazhavatta Smaranakal (Malayalam), B. Kalyani Amma (ISBN 81-7130-015-4 )
- Swadeshabhimani: Rajyadrohiyaya Rajyasnehi (Malayalam) - A study on the journalistic and socio-cultural contributions of Swadeshabhimani Ramakrishna Pillai by the eminent journalist T.Venugopal
- Swadeshabhimani (Malayalam), K. Bhaskaran Pillai, National Book Stall, Kottayam
- The Political Ideas of Swadesabhimani K. Ramakrishna Pillai, R. Ramakrishnan Nair, Kerala Academy of Political Science, 1975
- Encyclopaedia of Indian Literature, Amaresh Datta, Mohan Lal, Published by Sahitya Akademi, 1991
- Kappazhom Raman PillaiKappazhom Raman PillaiKappazhom Raman Pillai, who served the Government of Travancore as Dewan Peshkar, was known for his integrity, conscientiousness, efficiency and unwavering loyalty to the Maharaja. He lived in the second half of the nineteenth century and the first half of the twentieth century.-Personal...