(NEWSPAPERS - INDIA). MARIADASSOU, Paramananda (Director). Four issues of the journal "Sri Soudjanarandjani."

Suffrage, Cessation, and Overalls

(NEWSPAPERS - INDIA). MARIADASSOU, Paramananda (Director). Four issues of the journal "Sri Soudjanarandjani." (Pondicherry: 1920) Each issue 4 pp. (449 x 290 mm.)  With several black and white ads.  Paper a somewhat brittle and toned, several creases, edges with small nicks and tears, the September issue with a couple short tears in the text (no loss) and a few ink stains. A bit fragile, but in very good condition.

Four issues of an important bilingual periodical critical of colonial power structures and defending workers' rights.

Founded in 1892 and published in French and Tamil, "Sri Soudjanarandjani" was a weekly journal known for its critical stance on French colonial politics and support of workers' rights. Chapman notes that "Prior to 1935, the main press criticism of the system flowed from the pages of the satirical monthly [sic] Sri Soudjanarandjani," citing an example in which "the paper vociferously denounced conditions in textile production after an illegal strike failed." According to Franz, articles were routinely censored by the government due to their critical nature, and the journal was briefly banned in 1918. Sri Soudjanarandjani was directed by Paramananda Mariadassou (b. 1894), the first Tamil doctor in the French colony of Pondicherry, and a frequent contributor to the paper.

The four issues offered here were published on August 5th, 12th, and 19th, and September 2nd of 1920. Articles include a report on the International Congress on Women's Suffrage held in Geneva, which includes the names of the Indian delegates who attended; an extended story concerning rumors of a possible cessation of French India to the British; a recent spate of thefts in the area; the announcement of a small strike at the Rodier textile factory; and the latest fashion for overalls.

The only library that appears to have any physical copies of this journal is the BnF, which holds incomplete runs from 1925-26 and 1928-32. We find no copies of any issue dating before 1925. (1045)

Chapman, "The Origins of a Public Voice for Marginalised Workers in French India, 1935-37," p. 6; Franz, "To Be or Not To Be … a Global Citizen: Three doctors, three empires, and one subcontinent" in "Modern Asian Studies," Vol. 55, Issue 4, pp. 1193-95.