Munnetram

Munnetram, a progressive Tamil weekly, was inaugurated in January 1929 with the aim of contributing to the reformative efforts among Tamils in Malaya.

Initially edited by V S Narayanasamy with G Sarangapany serving as the subeditor, the magazine featured editorials, poetry, world events, news clippings and letters, among other content. Produced at the Munnetram office located at 152 Selegie Road, the 20-page publication was priced at five cents. 

The founding of the Tamils Reform Association (TRA) in the early 1930s was reported in the magazine. Editorials such as 'What has the Self-Respect movement achieved?' and 'Where is the Tamil conference?' advocated for changes in society, while articles such as 'Marriage, a union of reformed hearts' and 'Women's progress' emphasised reformist ideas. In February 1930, Munnetram published a souvenir to commemorate the Singapore visit of E V Ramasamy, widely known as Periyar, the leading Tamil community leader in India. Later that year, Sarangapany wrote an essay questioning whether the Second All-Malaya Tamils Conference was delayed due to the lack of progress in adopting reforms planned in the first conference held in December 1929 and declared open by Periyar.

In 1933, A C Suppiah authored a series of essays titled 'Research on Tamil scripts,' which was later published as a book in 1935 with the support of Periyar. V J Chandraraj and Ambai C R Sundaram are also believed to have served as editors of the magazine in the early 1930s, although the exact period is not known. It is unlikely he continued to serve in this magazine after 1935, as he owned and edited Tamil Murasu from that year onwards. The magazine changed its frequency from tri-weekly to monthly, and even then, it was irregular in publication dates. It also made changes to its size and design throughout its history. The Ninth Annual of Munnetram was published in 1937, suggesting that the magazine likely continued until at least that time. However, the actual date of Munnetram’s closure and the reasons behind it remain unknown.



For more information
Baskaran, Bala. Tamil Journalism in Singapore and Malaya (1875-1941) Filling Up the Gap. Unpublished Manuscript.

தமிழில் வாசிக்க 

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The information in this article is valid as of August 2025 and correct as far as we are able to ascertain from our sources. It is not intended to be an exhaustive or complete history of the subject. If you have any feedback on this article, please submit here.