 1884 issue ofMuslim Nesan | |
| Type | Weekly newspaper |
|---|---|
| Editor | M. C. Siddi Lebbe |
| Founded | 21 December 1882 (1882-12-21) |
| Language | Arwi/English |
| Ceased publication | 1889 |
| Headquarters | Colombo,British Ceylon |
Muslim Nesan (مسليم نشن,Tamil:முஸ்லிம் நேசன், "The Muslim Friend") was anArwi (Arabic Tamil) and English-language weekly newspaper, published fromColombo,British Ceylon between 1882 and 1889.[1][2][3][4][5]M. C. Siddi Lebbe was the publisher, owner and editor ofMuslim Nesan.[2][4][6] He foundedMuslim Nesan inKandy in December 1882. The name of the publication was possibly inspired by the journalIlankai Nesan ("Friend of the Ceylonese") ofArumuka Navalar.[5] In setting up the newspaper Cittilevvai was inspired by theAligarh Movement, Navalar and ColonelHenry Steel Olcott.[7] The first issue appeared on 21 December 1882.[1][2][3]
Muslim Nesan carried news from Muslim countries.[3] The newspaper purposefully sought to politicize the Muslim community.[8]Muslim Nesan had subscribers in Ceylon,South India,Penang andSingapore.[4]Muslim Nesan was, along withSarvajana Nesan, one of the two most prominent Muslim newspapers in the Tamil-speaking world at the time.[6]Muslim Nesan had a network of correspondents in different parts ofSouth-East Asia.[9] Material fromMuslim Nesan was reproduced in other publications, such asSingai Nesan.[4]
Between 1883 and 1885Muslim Nesan carried a series of articles on the history ofCeylonese Muslims, authored by Cittilevvai.[10] In the page ofMuslim Nesan Cittilevvai argued for educational reforms in the Muslim community and reproduced articles bySyed Ahmad Khan, a North Indian social reformer. The newspaper also carried an interview with the exiled Egyptian nationalist leaderAhmed Orabi, soon after his arrival in Ceylon.[4] Cittilevvai also argued inMuslim Nesan that Muslims should adoptArabic as their day-to-day language.[11]
