Swarajya (magazine)
{{short description|Indian right-wing magazine}}
{{pp-semi-indef|small=yes}}
{{Use dmy dates|date=August 2020}}
{{Use Indian English|date=May 2018}}
{{Infobox magazine
| title = Swarajya
| logo = Swarajya logo.png
| logo_size =
| image_file = Swarajya Magazine cover, May 2018.jpg
| image_size =
| image_alt =
| image_caption = May 2018 issue
| editor = {{plainlist|
- R. Jagannathan
- Sandipan Deb
}}
| editor_title = Editorial Directors
| editor2 = {{plainlist|
- Jerry Rao
- Surjit Bhalla
- Swapan Dasgupta
- Manish Sabharwal{{cite web|url=https://swarajyamag.com/about-us|title=About Us|website=Swarajya|access-date=23 May 2020|archive-date=23 May 2020|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20200523032737/https://swarajyamag.com/about-us|url-status=live}}}}
| editor_title2 = Editorial Advisory Board
| category = News magazine
| frequency = Monthly (2015–present)
Weekly (1956–1980)
| format =
| circulation =
| publisher = V. Murali
Amarnath Govindarajan
| paid_circulation =
| unpaid_circulation =
| circulation_year =
| total_circulation =
| founder = Khasa Subba Rao
| founded = 1956
| firstdate = {{Start date|df=yes|1956|7|14}}
| finaldate =
| finalnumber =
| company = Bharathan Publications Private Limited (1956–2014)
Kovai Media Private Limited (2014–present)
| country = India
| based = Coimbatore/Bengaluru (2014–present)
Chennai (1956–1980)
| language = English
| website = {{URL|https://swarajyamag.com/about-us}}
| issn =
| oclc = 3999897
}}
Swarajya is an Indian right-wing{{refn|{{cite book|first1=Kalyani|last1=Chadha|first2=Prashanth|last2=Bhat|editor-first=Shakuntala|editor-last=Rao|title=Indian Journalism in a New Era: Changes, Challenges, and Perspectives|chapter=The media are biased: Exploring online right wing responses to mainstream news media in India|chapter-url=https://www.researchgate.net/publication/322277601|date=14 February 2019|isbn=9780199490820|pages=115–140|publisher=Oxford University Press|via=ResearchGate|access-date=23 May 2020}}{{cite web|access-date=23 May 2020|title=Arab fury erupts on BJP MP for tweet on women|url=https://www.telegraphindia.com/india/arab-fury-erupts-on-bjp-mp-for-tweet-on-women/cid/1766686|website=The Telegraph|language=en|first1=K.M.|last1=Rakesh|date=21 April 2020|archive-date=22 April 2020|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20200422222322/https://www.telegraphindia.com/india/arab-fury-erupts-on-bjp-mp-for-tweet-on-women/cid/1766686|url-status=live}}{{cite news|url=https://www.newslaundry.com/2020/01/03/fake-news-lies-muslim-bashing-and-ravish-kumar-inside-opindias-harrowing-world|title=Fake news, lies, Muslim bashing, and Ravish Kumar: Inside OpIndia's harrowing world|last1=Kumar|first1=Basant|date=3 January 2020|work=Newslaundry|access-date=23 May 2020|language=en-UK|archive-date=31 January 2021|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20210131220528/https://www.newslaundry.com/2020/01/03/fake-news-lies-muslim-bashing-and-ravish-kumar-inside-opindias-harrowing-world|url-status=live}}{{cite web|access-date=23 May 2020|title=Did Mani Ratnam Sign Letter Written to Modi Over Mob Lynching? Yes|url=https://www.thequint.com/news/webqoof/did-mani-ratnam-sign-the-letter-written-to-modi-over-mob-lynching-fact-check|date=30 July 2019|website=The Quint|archive-date=8 June 2020|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20200608062457/https://www.thequint.com/news/webqoof/did-mani-ratnam-sign-the-letter-written-to-modi-over-mob-lynching-fact-check|url-status=live}}{{Cite news|last1=Bhushan|first1=Sandeep|url=https://www.business-standard.com/article/current-affairs/arnab-s-republic-hints-at-mainstreaming-right-wing-opinion-as-a-business-117012600235_1.html|title=Arnab's Republic hints at mainstreaming right-wing opinion as a business|date=26 January 2017|work=Business Standard|access-date=23 May 2020|archive-date=2 June 2020|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20200602075557/https://www.business-standard.com/article/current-affairs/arnab-s-republic-hints-at-mainstreaming-right-wing-opinion-as-a-business-117012600235_1.html|url-status=live}}{{Cite web|url=https://theprint.in/politics/bjp-supporters-have-a-secret-weapon-in-their-online-poll-campaign-satire/232321/|title=BJP supporters have a secret weapon in their online poll campaign — satire|last1=Mihindukulasuriya|first1=Regina|date=8 May 2019|website=ThePrint|language=en-US|access-date=23 May 2020|archive-date=10 November 2019|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20191110073902/https://theprint.in/politics/bjp-supporters-have-a-secret-weapon-in-their-online-poll-campaign-satire/232321/|url-status=live}}{{cite web|first1=Ipsita|last1=Chakravarty|access-date=23 May 2020|title='Tukde, tukde gang': How the BJP has used misinformation in the JNU sedition case to stifle dissent|url=https://scroll.in/article/927972/tukde-tukde-gang-how-the-bjp-has-used-the-jnu-sedition-case-to-stifle-dissent|website=Scroll.in|date=25 June 2019|archive-date=9 April 2020|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20200409085532/https://scroll.in/article/927972/tukde-tukde-gang-how-the-bjp-has-used-the-jnu-sedition-case-to-stifle-dissent|url-status=live}}{{Cite web|url=https://www.freepressjournal.in/india/i-see-a-confident-trans-person-siddharth-slams-shefali-vaidya|title='I see a confident trans person': Siddharth slams Shefali Vaidya|website=Free Press Journal|language=en|access-date=23 January 2020|date=10 January 2020|archive-date=13 January 2020|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20200113011850/https://www.freepressjournal.in/india/i-see-a-confident-trans-person-siddharth-slams-shefali-vaidya|url-status=live}}{{Cite web|url=https://thewire.in/media/rightsideup-a-tale-of-two-universities-hindu-guilt|title=#RightSideUp: A Tale of Two Universities, 'Hindu Guilt'|website=The Wire|date=20 November 2019|access-date=23 January 2020|first1=Aleesha|last1=Matharu|archive-date=12 January 2020|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20200112152952/https://thewire.in/media/rightsideup-a-tale-of-two-universities-hindu-guilt|url-status=live}}}} monthly print magazine and news portal. The publication reports favourably on the Bharatiya Janata Party and has published misinformation on many occasions.{{Cite web|url=https://punemirror.indiatimes.com/news/india/stage-set-for-narendra-modi-xi-jinpings-mamallapuram-summit-amid-row-over-kashmir/articleshow/71522808.cms|title=Stage set for Narendra Modi-Xi Jinping's Mamallapuram summit amid row over Kashmir|last1=Emmanuel|first1=Gladwin|website=Pune Mirror|language=en|access-date=23 January 2020|date=10 October 2019|archive-date=29 February 2020|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20200229034912/https://punemirror.indiatimes.com/news/india/stage-set-for-narendra-modi-xi-jinpings-mamallapuram-summit-amid-row-over-kashmir/articleshow/71522808.cms|url-status=dead}}{{cite web|access-date=23 May 2020|title=Grandma of an opening|url=https://www.telegraphindia.com/india/grandma-of-an-opening/cid/1347116|website=The Telegraph|language=en|first1=Arnab|last1=Ganguly|date=6 March 2018|archive-date=8 June 2020|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20200608062458/https://www.telegraphindia.com/india/grandma-of-an-opening/cid/1347116|url-status=live}}{{Cite web|title=Opinion: Lutyen's Media's Attempt To Paint The Anti-CAA Agitation As 'Secular' Was Hypocritic {{!}} Outlook India Magazine|url=https://www.outlookindia.com/magazine/story/india-news-opinion-lutyens-medias-attempt-to-paint-the-anti-caa-agitation-as-secular-was-hypocritic/302847|access-date=6 August 2020|website=Outlook India|archive-date=12 August 2020|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20200812130247/https://www.outlookindia.com/magazine/story/india-news-opinion-lutyens-medias-attempt-to-paint-the-anti-caa-agitation-as-secular-was-hypocritic/302847|url-status=live}}{{refn|name=misreporting}}
R. Jagannathan is the current editorial director. Originally established in 1956 as a weekly under the patronage of C. Rajagopalachari, it shut down in 1980 but was relaunched in September 2014, as a daily news website; a monthly print magazine was launched in January 2015.{{cite news|url=http://www.thehindu.com/opinion/op-ed/interview-with-author-sandipan-deb-on-the-relaunch-of-swarajya-magazine-a-voice-for-indias-new-right/article6830231.ece|title=Re-launching Swarajya, a voice for India's new Right|newspaper=The Hindu|date=29 January 2015|last1=Venkatesh|first1=M. R.|archive-date=13 August 2017|access-date=15 February 2016|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20170813112854/http://www.thehindu.com/opinion/op-ed/interview-with-author-sandipan-deb-on-the-relaunch-of-swarajya-magazine-a-voice-for-indias-new-right/article6830231.ece|url-status=live}}
History
Swarajya was launched as a weekly magazine in 1956 by journalist Khasa Subba Rao, under the patronage of C. Rajagopalachari, a prominent independence activist and one of the founders of the Swatantra Party.{{cite news |title=Remembering Rajagopalachari the writer, with Kalki|url=http://www.newindianexpress.com/cities/chennai/Remembering-Rajaji-the-writer-with-Kalki/2013/12/09/article1935468.ece|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20140715065015/http://www.newindianexpress.com/cities/chennai/Remembering-Rajaji-the-writer-with-Kalki/2013/12/09/article1935468.ece|url-status=dead|archive-date=15 July 2014|access-date=16 June 2014|work=The New Indian Express|date=9 December 2013}}{{cite news|title=Contributions of Rajaji and Kalki hailed|url=http://www.newindianexpress.com/cities/chennai/article230580.ece |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20140715065146/http://www.newindianexpress.com/cities/chennai/article230580.ece |url-status=dead |archive-date=15 July 2014 |access-date=16 June 2014|work=The New Indian Express|date=16 May 2014}}
The magazine strongly advocated individual freedom and freedom of enterprise as against Nehru's socialist policies.{{cite news |title=Comrades, friends, rivals |url=http://www.hindu.com/thehindu/mag/2003/05/25/stories/2003052500010100.htm |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20030609000710/http://www.hindu.com/thehindu/mag/2003/05/25/stories/2003052500010100.htm |url-status=dead |archive-date=9 June 2003 |access-date=16 June 2014 |work=The Hindu |date=25 May 2003}} Minoo Masani, Ramaswamy Venkataraman, and R. K. Laxman have contributed to the magazine.{{cite web |title=EDITORIALS BY SHRI R. VENKATARAMAN FOR 'SWARAJYA' |url=http://www.presidentvenkataraman.in/swarajya.html|work=President Venkataraman|access-date=16 June 2014}}{{cite news |title=For over five decades RK Laxman immortalised passive, hapless common man |url=http://www.dnaindia.com/india/report-for-over-five-decades-rk-laxman-immortalised-passive-hapless-common-man-2055864 |date=26 January 2015 |work=Daily News & Analysis |location=Pune |access-date=15 April 2015 |archive-date=29 January 2015 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20150129055704/http://www.dnaindia.com/india/report-for-over-five-decades-rk-laxman-immortalised-passive-hapless-common-man-2055864 |url-status=live }} After Rajagopalachari's death in 1972, the magazine slowly began to decline and eventually closed in 1980.
= Relaunch in 2014 =
The magazine was relaunched as an online daily in September 2014, with Sandipan Deb as the Editorial Director; the first edition of the print magazine was launched in January 2015.{{cite news |title=Rajagopalachari's 'Swarajya' to be relaunched soon |url=http://www.livemint.com/Consumer/DwmLpRVJAHcanTLOrwtN2J/Rajagopalacharis-Swarajya-to-be-relaunched-soon.html |first1=Shuchi |last1=Bansal |date=17 September 2014 |work=Livemint |access-date=15 April 2015 |archive-date=13 April 2015 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20150413143530/http://www.livemint.com/Consumer/DwmLpRVJAHcanTLOrwtN2J/Rajagopalacharis-Swarajya-to-be-relaunched-soon.html |url-status=live }} Coimbatore-based Kovai Media Private Limited purchased the rights to the magazine from Chennai-based Bharathan Publishers, along with 40,000 pages from the earlier editions of the magazine. The magazine describes itself as "a big tent for liberal right of centre discourse".
In October 2016, it acquired OpIndia; in 2018, it became an independent entity.{{cite web|access-date=19 March 2020|title=Tables Turn on Twitter's Hindutva Warriors, and It's the BJP Doing the Strong-Arming|first1=Aleesha|last1=Matharu|url=https://thewire.in/media/twitter-handles-bjp-free-speech-right-wing-media|website=The Wire|archive-date=16 May 2020|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20200516165733/https://thewire.in/media/twitter-handles-bjp-free-speech-right-wing-media|url-status=live}} In 2018, Swarajya launched its Hindi edition.{{cite web|url=https://twitter.com/SwarajyaMag/status/1029285119880654849|title=Swarajya on Twitter|website=Twitter|publisher=Swarajya|access-date=24 March 2019|archive-date=8 April 2019|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20190408190849/https://twitter.com/SwarajyaMag/status/1029285119880654849|url-status=live}}
Reception
The website has misreported news on multiple occasions, according to fact-checkers including Alt News and Boom.{{refn|name=misreporting|{{Cite web|url=https://www.altnews.in/swarajya-magazine-jaideep-mazumdar-spread-falsehood-suhrawardy-avenue-calcutta/|title=Swarajya magazine and Jaideep Mazumdar spread falsehood about Suhrawardy Avenue in Kolkata|last1=Sinha|first1=Pratik|date=20 August 2017|website=Alt News|language=en-GB|access-date=10 January 2020|archive-date=11 January 2020|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20200111054407/https://www.altnews.in/swarajya-magazine-jaideep-mazumdar-spread-falsehood-suhrawardy-avenue-calcutta/|url-status=live}}{{Cite web|url=https://www.boomlive.in/fake-news/swarajya-peddles-misinformation-about-deepika-padukones-chhapaak-6515|title=Swarajya Peddles Misinformation About Deepika Padukone's Chhapaak|last1=Chowdhury|first1=Archis|date=8 January 2020|website=Boom|language=en|access-date=11 January 2020|archive-date=11 January 2020|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20200111113323/https://www.boomlive.in/fake-news/swarajya-peddles-misinformation-about-deepika-padukones-chhapaak-6515|url-status=live}}{{Cite web|url=https://www.altnews.in/misleading-reporting-by-swarajya-and-postcard-news-about-hardik-patels-weight-gain-during-fast/|title=Misleading reporting by Swarajya and Postcard News about Hardik Patel's weight gain during fast|last1=Patel|first1=Jignesh|date=8 September 2018|website=Alt News|language=en-GB|access-date=10 January 2020|archive-date=11 January 2020|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20200111054405/https://www.altnews.in/misleading-reporting-by-swarajya-and-postcard-news-about-hardik-patels-weight-gain-during-fast/|url-status=live}}{{Cite web|url=https://www.altnews.in/does-chhapaak-portray-acid-attack-convict-as-a-hindu-named-rajesh-no-false-claim/|title=Does 'Chhapaak' portray acid attack convict as a Hindu named 'Rajesh'? No, false claim|last1=Chaudhuri|first1=Pooja|date=8 January 2020|website=Alt News|language=en-GB|access-date=10 January 2020|archive-date=10 January 2020|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20200110143242/https://www.altnews.in/does-chhapaak-portray-acid-attack-convict-as-a-hindu-named-rajesh-no-false-claim/|url-status=live}}{{Cite web|url=https://www.boomlive.in/fake-news/dainik-bhaskar-amar-ujala-and-swarajya-misquotes-scindia-about-support-to-citizen-amendment-bill-6267|title=Dainik Bhaskar, Amar Ujala And Swarajya Misquote Scindia About Support To Citizen Amendment Bill|last1=Alphonso|first1=Anmol|date=11 December 2019|website=Boom|language=en|access-date=11 January 2020|archive-date=11 January 2020|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20200111054704/https://www.boomlive.in/fake-news/dainik-bhaskar-amar-ujala-and-swarajya-misquotes-scindia-about-support-to-citizen-amendment-bill-6267|url-status=live}}}} Columnists working for Swarajya have allegedly engaged in a variety of trolling over Twitter.{{refn|{{Cite web|url=https://thewire.in/media/twitter-handles-bjp-free-speech-right-wing-media|title=Tables Turn on Twitter's Hindutva Warriors, and It's the BJP Doing the Strong-Arming|website=The Wire|access-date=10 January 2020|archive-date=16 May 2020|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20200516165733/https://thewire.in/media/twitter-handles-bjp-free-speech-right-wing-media|url-status=live}}{{Cite web|url=https://www.thequint.com/neon/social-buzz/shefali-vaidya-transphobic-tweet-image-photo-twitter-slammed-reactions|title='Ban Her': Twitterati Slam Shefali Vaidya for 'Transphobic' Post|date=10 January 2020|website=The Quint|language=en|access-date=23 January 2020|archive-date=2 February 2020|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20200202060114/https://www.thequint.com/neon/social-buzz/shefali-vaidya-transphobic-tweet-image-photo-twitter-slammed-reactions|url-status=live}}{{Cite web|url=https://scroll.in/article/931915/modi-goes-secular-bjps-minimum-outreach-to-muslims-is-causing-heartburn-among-partys-supporters|title=Modi goes secular? BJP's minimum outreach to Muslims is causing heartburn among party's supporters|last1=Daniyal|first1=Shoaib|website=Scroll.in|date=28 July 2019 |language=en-US|access-date=23 January 2020|archive-date=1 October 2020|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20201001091404/https://scroll.in/article/931915/modi-goes-secular-bjps-minimum-outreach-to-muslims-is-causing-heartburn-among-partys-supporters|url-status=live}}{{Cite web|url=https://www.newindianexpress.com/opinions/2019/aug/01/yes-i-am-a-woman-and-i-am-angry-2012196.html|title=Yes, I am a woman and I am angry|website=The New Indian Express|date=August 2019 |access-date=23 January 2020}}}} Journalists working for Swarajya have propagated communally charged fake news via their personal accounts.{{Cite web|url=https://www.altnews.in/video-of-abvp-member-assaulting-aisa-student-shared-by-journalists-as-left-parties-attacking-abvp/|title=Video of ABVP member assaulting AISA student shared by journalists as Left parties attacking ABVP|date=6 January 2020|website=Alt News|language=en-GB|access-date=11 January 2020|archive-date=11 January 2020|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20200111054648/https://www.altnews.in/video-of-abvp-member-assaulting-aisa-student-shared-by-journalists-as-left-parties-attacking-abvp/|url-status=live}}{{Cite web|url=https://www.altnews.in/opindia-mynation-postcard-news-declare-umar-khalid-not-attacked-based-on-a-false-testimony/|title=Opindia, MyNation, Postcard News declare Umar Khalid "not attacked" based on a false testimony|last1=Chaudhuri|first1=Pooja|date=13 August 2018|website=Alt News|language=en-GB|access-date=11 January 2020|archive-date=11 March 2020|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20200311000034/https://www.altnews.in/opindia-mynation-postcard-news-declare-umar-khalid-not-attacked-based-on-a-false-testimony/|url-status=live}}{{Cite web|url=https://www.thequint.com/news/webqoof/fake-news-suggesting-attack-on-durga-puja-procession-in-balrampur-was-pre-planned|title=Balrampur Puja Procession Violence Pre-Planned? Cops Deny Claims|date=9 October 2019|website=The Quint|language=en|access-date=11 January 2020|archive-date=11 January 2020|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20200111113321/https://www.thequint.com/news/webqoof/fake-news-suggesting-attack-on-durga-puja-procession-in-balrampur-was-pre-planned|url-status=live}}{{Cite web|url=https://www.freepressjournal.in/entertainment/bollywood/learn-vfx-anurag-kashyap-responds-to-shefali-vaidyas-tweet-claiming-aishe-ghosh-faked-her-injuries|title='Learn VFX': Anurag Kashyap responds to Shefali Vaidya's tweet claiming Aishe Ghosh faked her injuries|website=Free Press Journal|language=en|access-date=23 January 2020}} Swarajya was blacklisted from Wikipedia in 2020 alongside OpIndia and Hindu nationalist website TFIpost.{{cite web|first1=Ayush|last1=Tiwari|access-date=29 June 2020|title=OpIndia: Hate speech, vanishing advertisers, and an undisclosed BJP connection|url=https://www.newslaundry.com/2020/06/23/opindia-hate-speech-vanishing-advertisers-and-an-undisclosed-bjp-connection|website=Newslaundry|date=23 June 2020|archive-date=17 December 2021|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20211217205447/https://www.newslaundry.com/2020/06/23/opindia-hate-speech-vanishing-advertisers-and-an-undisclosed-bjp-connection|url-status=live}}
References
{{Reflist|refs=
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External links
- {{Official website|https://swarajyamag.com/about-us}}
{{commons category}}
Category:1956 establishments in Madras State
Category:Right-wing politics in India
Category:English-language magazines published in India
Category:Monthly magazines published in India
Category:News magazines published in India
Category:Magazines established in 1956
Category:Mass media in Bengaluru
Category:Mass media in Chennai