The great thinker and reformist S.P.Narasimhalu Naidu (SPN) was a multi faceted personality. He was interested in music, politics, entrepreneurship, social work, reform and journalism as well. The reformer was keenly associated with the Brahmo Samaj and was known as the Raja Ram Mohan Roy of South India. He was a true patriot who loved the languages of India. SPN travelled widely and was the only Coimbatorean who attended the first session on the Indian National Congress at Mumbai during the year 1885. In fact while attending a session of the Congress in Kolkatta, he hosted a dinner for the 25 year young Tagore!
SPN was a great writer cum journalist and he began writing from the age of 14. His first shot was with Chennai Dinavardhamaani in the year 1868 and later on he began writing for Thirichirapuram,Amirthavaani,Bangalore Gajana Manoranjani on worldy matters and religion as well. SPN wrote for Brahma Deepikai in the year 1871 and it was brought out by Kasi Viswanatha Mudaliar in Chennai.
Narasimhalu Naidu was a whistle blower too. He wrote about the corrupt practises of the officers working with the Government in Salem Sudesabhimaani, a magazine founded by him in the year 1877. He wrote about the corrupt practises prevalent under a Zamindar in Salem at the time of the great famine which shook the country. SPN was bold enough to point out the conversion activities that were being undertaken by the Christian Missionaries in Salem. He pointed out that they fixed Christian religious tattoos on young ignorant children who came from the financially depressed classes. In fact he was threatened by the concerned parties and he had to do much to carry on further. Subsequently he left Salem and moved to Coimbatore.
On reaching Coimbatore, SPN came up with Coimbatore Abhimaani and even while he had to spend time in Sri Rangam for some time he continued to write for this publication. In his absence Venkatarangier stood in for him but due to managerial inadequacy the magazine could not continue thereafter. The marvellous journalist wrote about subjects like law, religion, logic, education, science and agriculture. SPN moved over to Sri Rangam in search of peace and it was in the temple town that he launched another publication - Sri Ranga Sthalabhushani. This came up due to encouragement he received from friends like Venkatachariar and Krishnamachiar. He wrote about the Sri Rangam Temple and its hoary past in the magazine. SPN used a number of works by eminent scholars as his reference point, however all his essays could be easily understood by the common man. Later on he published the Sri Ranga Kshetra Mahatuvam which was was nothing but a collation of his essays found in Sri Ranga Sthala Bhushani. Interestingly he wrote about the Vaishnavaites who indulged in useless conversations and indulgences while visiting or spending time in temples. This was a time when he successfully managed more than one publication.
Reformist SPN founded the Coimbatore Kalanidhi (Coimbatore Crescent) through his Kalanidhi press on Big Bazaar. A number of people subscribed for this magazine for it contained information in both Tamil and English. Once again, Narasimhalu Naidu donned the whistleblower mantle and exposed the indiscretions of a number of corrupt officials. A number of officials were suspended after an investigation. He never shied away from exposing religious conversions. It must be noted that SPN was critical of some practises in the Hindu religion and he supported widow remarriage in a big way. Coimbatore Kalanidhi was quick to point out the administrative lapses at Coimbatore Janopakaranidhi, The Government Hospital and the Government Teachers Training School. The people of this region benefitted much due to the exposes and activism of S.P.Narasimhalu Naidu. The success of Coimbatore Kalanidhi encouraged a number of people to jump into the fray and the region witnessed the mushrooming of a number of publications. However the good work and reputation of SPN saw the light of the day. In the year 1898, SPN gave away the responsibility of publishing the English part of his magazine to one Asirvadham David. The new administrator collected subscriptions but did not run the magazine properly and therefore SPN had to bear the financial brunt.
Once SPN had to face the wrath of some of the Directors of C.S & W Mills for they felt that he had made fun of them in his play Kaliraja Nadagam which had been serilaised in Coimbatore Kalanidhi. Immediately SPN clarified to Stanes by stating that if this play was outrageous then every play laced with humour and wit belonging to all eras will have to be labelled so. The issue was dropped thereafter. Kalanidhi came out in 14 pages and the annual subscription used to be Rs.2 then. The magazine focused on subjects like travel and also popularised the principles of Brahmo Samaj. It was kind a propaganda arm of the Samaj those days and the essays which out in this publication were made into the book - Hindu Bible at a later date. S.P.Narasimhalu Naidu lost a princely sum of Rs.10000 by publishing Kalanidhi. It was unfortunate that the do-gooder and his magazine had to suffer financially. However the people gained enormously and the value of the good work of S.P.Narasimhalu Naidu as a journalist can never be assessed.
S.P.Narasimhalu was indeed the pioneer who put Coimbatore on the magazine map of the country.