Thuglak

History

Cho Ramaswamy founded the magazine and commenced its first publication on the first day of the Tamil harvesting month "Thai" (Tamil: தை) based on the Tamil calendar system; which was January 14, 1970 in the Gregorian calendar. He has been the editor of the magazine ever since and has penned several columns. The name of the magazine and its mascot draws from Muhammad bin Thuglak, Sultan of Delhi; on whom in 1968, the founder staged a play and later a movie in 1971. The plot is a socio-political satire, which narrates the scheme and success of a small band of idealists who take over the Government of India as the resurrected Muhammad bin Thuglak. The founder directed and plays the lead - Muhammad bin Thuglak - in the movie and the play as well; which was conducted under the banner of Viveka Fine Arts Club.

After Cho Ramaswamy 's death Swaminathan Gurumurthy took over the Editorial post.

Highlights

The magazine features on its front cover a satirical cartoon, pertinent to an issue of current social and public interest.

The editor stopped publishing for two weeks, when a state of emergency was declared in India. When the publication resumed after the first two weeks of emergency, the issue was published with a black front cover. Thuglak was the only magazine in India, whose advertisements were also censored during this time.

There was only other instance, later in its history, when the magazine was published with a black front was after the Babri Masjid was brought down in 1992. Thuglak Team: Cho (Editor), Swamynathan (publisher), Udhaya (Manager), Madhalai (senior sub editor), Sathya (Sub editor), Brakath Ali(sub editor), Vasanthan Perumal (special correspondent), Ramachandran @ Durvaasar (sub editor), S.Ramesh (Chief reporter), S.J.Idhaya (south reporter), S.P.Sanmugam(west reporter), P.J.Ramamoorthy(darmapuri reporter).

Pricing and Subscription

The magazine is available through electronic access to readers outside of India via its website for a pricing of INR 900 or approximately US$20.