Shown here is a photograph of the offices of Swadeshamitran, a popular Tamil periodical started by Sri G Subramania Iyer. It had an illustrious run from 1882 to 1985, beginning as a weekly but converted into a daily in 1899! It was only the second vernacular newspaper in the country, and played a prominent role in informing the Tamil people not only in India but also in countries which had a Tamil diaspora such as Sri Lanka and Mauritius, of the developments surrounding the Indian independence movement. Mahākavi Subraḥmaṇya Bhārati was one of the editors for a period of time. 

But what is the Carnatic connection? 

Notations for Carnatic compositions used to appear regularly in the pages of Swadeshamitran. The contributors were musicians such as Śrī Ariyakkudi Ramanuja Iyengar, Śrī Semmangudi Srinivasa Iyer, etc.  

Shown on the bottom left is a page from a 1937 issue of Swadeshamitran, consisting of the words, meaning and notation of Śrī Tyāgarāja’s Kṛṣṇā Mākēmidōva (Rāga: Punnāgavarālī, Tāla: Tisra Tripuṭa). This notation was contributed by Saṅgītavidvān Kāñci Śrī பி. பி. Srinivasaiyengar.  The song is part of Naukā Caritram, one of the operas of Śrī Tyāgarāja. Naukā Caritram describes deep philosophical concepts such as the pride and ego that human beings suffer, and surrender to the Supreme, through a boat excursion which Śrī Kṛṣṇa takes along with the Gōpi-s. 

Listen to a soulful rendition of Kṛṣṇā Mākēmidōva by Saṅgīta Kalānidhi Dr. M. Balamuralikrishna. Kural wishes all of you a very happy Kṛṣṇa Janmāṣṭami, and a meaningful year in the 79-year-old independent India!

Sources: 

1. https://sriramv.com/2014/08/20/lost-landmarks-of-chennai-victory-house/

2. http://musicresearchlibrary.net