Rajyasamacharam

Rajyasamacharam

Editor	Rev. Dr. Hermann Gundert
First issue	June 1847
Final issue	December 1850
Company	Basal Evangelical Mission society (BMS)
Country	India
Based in	Illikkunnu

Rajyasamacharam or Rajya Samacharam was the first Malayalam journal published in Kerala.^[1] Its first issue came out in June 1847.^[2] Hermann Gundert, the editor of the journal, was a religious propagator from the Basel Evangelical Mission society. Rajyasamacharam started publication from Illikkunnu, Thalassery, in the Kannur district of Kerala. It was published as eight cyclostyled sheets in demy octavo size produced from a litho press. The pages were without columns or cross heads and was in simple language.^[3] It was distributed free of cost.^[2]

It helped in formulating the Malayalee reader's viewpoints against caste distinction and related injustices.^[1]

It ceased publication in December 1850^[2] and a total of 42 issues were published.

In October 1847, Gundert started another publication called Paschimodayam. It was also cyclostyled. It carried articles on history, natural science, geography and astrology. The other works of Gundert were Malayalabhaasha Vyakaranam, a Malayalam grammar book, and the first Malayalam English dictionary. He also translated the Bible into Malayalam.^[4]

References

1. "Rajyasamacharam". Retrieved 19 July 2016.
2. "History of Mass Media" (PDF). University of Calicut. Retrieved 16 October 2016.
3. "gundert's rajyasamacharam". Retrieved 19 July 2016.
4. "In the land of manorama and mathrubhumi". Retrieved 19 July 2016.