Kannottam

Kannottam was the Tamil version of Mirror, a weekly magazine published by the Ministry of Culture from 1965 to 1991. It featured articles covering government policies, local trends, and profiles of personalities. 

Initially named the Malaysian Mirror, the English current affairs magazine was first published by Singapore’s Ministry of Culture in March 1965, when Singapore was still part of Malaysia, and distributed free of charge to public organisations and civic bodies in Malaysia. Conceived by Singapore’s then Minister for Culture, S Rajaratnam, the magazine mainly featured reproduced articles on current affairs from Malaysian and foreign newspapers. 

In July 1965, during heightened tensions between Singapore and the Malaysian Federal Government, a contentious incident unfolded between Rajaratnam and Mohamed Khir Johari, the federal education minister. The dispute was sparked by Johari, who alleged that the Singapore government was using the Malaysian Mirror to spread subversive propaganda by distributing it to schools in Malaya. Singapore gained independence from Malaysia in August 1965, and the magazine was renamed The Mirror. At its peak circulation, the magazine had a print run of nearly 60,000 copies per week. This period also marked the inauguration of Kannottam, the Tamil edition of Mirror, alongside editions in Chinese and Malay languages. Kannottam, spread across eight pages, featured various sections, including the voice of workers, communal harmony news, Singapore’s foreign policy, letters, commentaries, among others.

In the late 1970s, the weekly frequency of The Mirror changed to fortnightly, incorporating more original articles on education, housing, health, and tourism, contributed by staff from the Ministry of Culture and statutory boards. In the mid-80s,The Mirror was renamed Mirror. Initially distributed free of charge, the magazine, with a circulation reduced to about 10,000 copies, shifted its model in 1988 by introducing paid subscriptions. Subscribers were charged $10 a year, covering 24 issues. Three years later, the magazine ceased publication, with the last edition of Mirror released on 15 September 1991. Explaining the closure, the ministry spokesman stated that there was no longer a need, as both the print and broadcast media in Singapore had begun offering extensive and in-depth coverage of government policies and programmes. It is not clear how Kannottam functioned during this period, or when it ceased publication.



For more information
“Publication of Mirror to Cease This Month After 26 Years,” The Straits Times, 14 September 1991, 8. (From Newspaper SG)
“Mirror Goes For a More Balanced Approach,” The Straits Times, 26 July 1986, 12. (From Newspaper SG)

தமிழில் வாசிக்க

Return to home page

About the Encyclopedia

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.