Muslim Nesan

Muslim Nesan

1884 issue of Muslim Nesan
Type	Weekly newspaper
Editor	M. C. Siddi Lebbe
Founded	21 December 1882 (1882-12-21)
Language	Arwi/English
Ceased publication	1889
Headquarters	Colombo, British Ceylon

Muslim Nesan (مسليم نشن, Tamil: முஸ்லிம் நேசன், "The Muslim Friend") was an Arwi (Arabic Tamil) and English-language weekly newspaper, published from Colombo, British Ceylon between 1882 and 1889.^{[1][2][3][4][5]} M. C. Siddi Lebbe was the publisher, owner and editor of Muslim Nesan.^[2][4][6] He founded Muslim Nesan in Kandy in December 1882. The name of the publication was possibly inspired by the journal Ilankai Nesan ("Friend of the Ceylonese") of Arumuka Navalar.^[5] In setting up the newspaper Cittilevvai was inspired by the Aligarh Movement, Navalar and Colonel Henry Steel Olcott.^[7] The first issue appeared on 21 December 1882.^[1][2][3]

Muslim Nesan carried news from Muslim countries.^[3] The newspaper purposefully sought to politicize the Muslim community.^[8] Muslim Nesan had subscribers in Ceylon, South India, Penang and Singapore.^[4] Muslim Nesan was, along with Sarvajana Nesan, one of the two most prominent Muslim newspapers in the Tamil-speaking world at the time.^[6] Muslim Nesan had a network of correspondents in different parts of South-East Asia.^[9] Material from Muslim Nesan was reproduced in other publications, such as Singai Nesan.^[4]

Between 1883 and 1885 Muslim Nesan carried a series of articles on the history of Ceylonese Muslims, authored by Cittilevvai.^[10] In the page of Muslim Nesan Cittilevvai argued for educational reforms in the Muslim community and reproduced articles by Syed Ahmad Khan, a North Indian social reformer. The newspaper also carried an interview with the exiled Egyptian nationalist leader Ahmed Orabi, soon after his arrival in Ceylon.^[4] Cittilevvai also argued in Muslim Nesan that Muslims should adopt Arabic as their day-to-day language.^[11]

References

1. ʻĀlim, Tayka Shuʻayb. Arabic, Arwi, and Persian in Sarandib and Tamil Nadu: A Study of the Contributions of Sri Lanka and Tamil Nadu to Arabic, Arwi, Persian, and Urdu Languages, Literature, and Education. Madras: Imāmul ʻArūs Trust for the Ministry of State for Muslim Religious and Cultural Affairs, Colombo, Sri Lanka, 1993. p. 103
2. Siddi Lebbe, M. C. Asrar-Ul Aalam = Mysteries of the Universe. Colombo: Moors Islamic Cultural Home, 1983. p. iii
3. Shukri, M. A. M. Muslims of Sri Lanka: Avenues to Antiquity. Beruwala, Sri Lanka: Jamiah Naleemia Inst, 1986. p. 355
4. Feener, R. Michael, and Terenjit Sevea. Islamic Connections: Muslim Societies in South and Southeast Asia. Singapore: Institute of Southeast Asian Studies, 2009. p. 60
5. Nuk̲amān̲, Em. Ē. Sri Lankan Muslims: Ethnic Identity Within Cultural Diversity. Colombo: International Centre for Ethnic Studies, 2007. p. 105
6. Heng, Derek Thiam Soon, and Syed Muhd. Khairudin Aljunied. Singapore in Global History. Amsterdam: Amsterdam University Press, 2011. p. 74
7. Jayawardena, Visakha Kumari. The Rise of the Labor Movement in Ceylon. Durham, N.C.: Duke University Press, 1972. p. 42
8. Samiuddin, Abida, and R. Khanam. Muslim Feminism and Feminist Movement. Delhi: Global Vision Pub. House, 2002. p. 298
9. Heng, Derek Thiam Soon, and Syed Muhd. Khairudin Aljunied. Singapore in Global History. Amsterdam: Amsterdam University Press, 2011. p. 82
10. Asian Studies, Vol. 19–24. Philippine Center for Advanced Studies, University of the Philippines System., 1981. p. 65
11. Agwan, A. R., and N. K. Singh. Encyclopaedia of the Holy Qurʼân Vol. 3 Vol. 3. Delhi: Global Vision Pub. House, 2000. p. 301