Thamil Thadam:S.P. Adithan (1905 – 1981)

Si. Balasubramania Adithan, popularly known as Si. Pa. Adithanar, is a pioneer of the postcolonial South Asian journalism. He went to Middle Temple in London to study Law and he became a barrister in 1933. Inspired by the British tabloid, The Daily Mirror, he started a similar newspaper in Tamil, namely Daily Thanthi. With the introduction of colloquial Tamil and innovative ideas, he revolutionised the trajectory of Indian journalism in general and Tamil journalism in particular. As a Tamil Nationalist, Si.Pa. Adithanar advocated for Greater Tamil Nation, incorporating Tamil-speaking regions in India and Sri Lanka. Inspired by the Irish Political Party, Sinn Féin, he founded the We Tamils Party in Tamil Nadu in 1958. Demanding secession of Tamil Nadu from India, he organised massive protests where he burnt the maps of India (sans Tamil Nadu) in 1960.

Source: Si.Pa