In 1865 at Madras an illustrated magazine called Amrita vacaṉi was started for Hindu Women.

Till 1864, Hindus did not start any magazine. Tattuva pōtaṉi was the magazine started by them to propagate Hinduism by the “Ved Samaj”. At first only articles pertaining to Hindu religion were accepted; later other articles on art, literature etc.; were included.

Another Hindu periodical called Vivēka Viḷakkam was started in 1865. The philosophy of the Brahma Samaj was propagated and Orthodoxy was denounced in its articles. Between 1880 and 1890 many Christian magazines were published from Nagerkoil.

In 1855, Rev. P. Percival commenced a weekly Tamil Newspaper. This was called Tiṉavarttamāṉi. It had eight large quarto pages.⁶⁴ “Since its establishment it has maintained almost undisputed possession of the field, literary and scientific articles are included as well as news, with occasional translations in English of Tamil classical authors. Native correspondents are allowed freely to ventilate their opinions through its columns. On the whole it is doing a considerable amount of good.”⁶⁵

own. Since its inception in 1864 it was an admirable institution and peculiar to South India.⁶⁶ This Gazette was in English and the vernacular Tamil. It contained all government orders, weekly calendar, weather reports, price lists and other information.

The press once it arrived in India, began slowly to grow and by the 19th century was established to a considerable extent. With it, came printed books in large numbers and magazines. They were all new to the Tamil country and the changes that followed were willingly accepted.

64. Ibid. P. 237

65. Ibid. P. 238

66. Ibid.