23-year-old Dhanya has penned 32 keerthanas and dreams of being an RJ
Dhanya has a disarming smile that even cerebral palsy could not rob her of.
The smile belying her age, however, is also deceptive of her steel will to reduce her physical state to a minor irritant. Her resilience found another manifestation when renowned playback singer K.S. Chitra released an audio CD of 32 keerthanas penned by her at Sharjah last month.
There is a doggedness about the way the 23-year-old pursues her passions — be it listening to music and mythological stories or penning stories and poems for children. But she’s largely dependant on her parents Ramanan and Sunitha for moving around.
Mr. Ramanan, originally from Thrissur and employed with Dubai municipality for the last 30 years, had initially toyed with the idea of sending his only daughter to special schools in Dubai. “But those schools mostly had mentally-challenged children while my daughter only suffered from restricted muscle movements. So we opted for home schooling and she is now doing Class 8,” he said.
Ms. Dhanya is mostly cheerful and active on social media with three Facebook pages to her credit. While she has published all her 32 keerthanas in PDF format in one page, another page dedicated to stories for children features eight small stories written by her. According to her father, she has so far written nearly 72 stories.
The youngster is now experimenting with poetry for children. Her latest Facebook page dedicated to poems features one of her three works.
For someone who loves to laugh, Ms. Dhanya dreams of becoming a radio jockey or a television anchor someday.
source: http://www.thehindu.com / The Hindu / Home> News> Cities> Kochi / by M.P. Praveen / Kochi – March 08th, 2019
The Thames River Festival is held annually from September 1-30. Numerous events, including exhibitions and cultural events attended by people from various countries, take place every year.
A snakeboat being rowed in the backwaters of Kochi. (File | EPS)
Kochi :
Soon we may get to see Kerala’s snakeboat cruising through the Thames in London, if things work out as per procedures. Sounds interesting? The British Council has expressed interest in offering Kerala a stage to showcase its art and culture as part of the acclaimed Thames River Festival held annually in Britain. A delegation comprising Finance Minister Thomas Isaac, Tourism Minister Kadakampally Surendran, Tourism Director P Bala Kiran and Tourism Secretary Rani George held a meeting with Unesco representatives in New Delhi last week as part of the Spice Route project.
The meeting was also attended by British Council director, South India, Janaka Pushpanathan. “The British Council has placed before us a proposal to provide Kerala with a representation in the Thames River Festival. We are considering it, as last year the highest foreign tourist arrival to the state was from the UK. Kerala getting representation in the festival will promote its tourism abroad,” Tourism Director P Bala Kiran said.
British Council keen on organising events in Kerala
The Thames River Festival is held annually from September 1-30. Numerous events, including exhibitions and cultural events attended by people from various countries, take place every year. In 2018, the West Bengal government had signed an MoU with the British Council, as part of which the famous Durga Puja was showcased at the festival. “A decision about collaborating with the British Council will be taken as part of the Spice Route international conference to be attended by representatives, from August 29 this year. Currently, only a proposal has been received.
The British Council is also interested in organising similar events in Kerala. They have also put forward a proposal for us to curate events at some of the famous museums in Britain,” he said. A top official with the Spice Route project said the government is seriously considering organising similar river festivals in Kerala.
“As part of the Thames festival, we are planning to exhibit snakeboats in the UK. As far as the river festival in Kerala is considered, we are planning to organise it in Alappuzha or at Kodungallur, which is close to the Periyar. Similar to the Thames River Festival exhibitions, conferences and cultural events will be organised here,” he said. The British Council had last year signed an MoU with the Kerala government for collaboration in the educational sector.
A similar agreement in the tourism sector with the British Council is being considered by the Kerala government now. Apart from Britain, the Netherlands also has agreed to collaborate with the Spice Route Project. P M Nowshad, managing director, Muziris Heritage Project (MHP), said technical assistance of the Netherlands has been sought for setting up a maritime museum in Alappuzha. MHP oversees the development of various heritage projects, including the Alappuzha heritage project.
“Netherlands has some of the famous maritime museums in the world. During the Spice Route meeting with the representatives of various countries in New Delhi, the Netherlands had agreed to provide technical assistance to set up maritime museums. Similarly, they also will assist us in digitising the archives,” he said.
source: http://www.newindianexpress.com / The New Indian Express / Home> States> Kerala / by Toby A N Tony / Express News Service / March 03rd, 2019
Barrier-free access for hearing and visually challenged to country’s first planned ecotourism destination
Visually challenged people reaching Thenmala, the country’s first planned ecotourism destination, will be provided with a visitor’s guide in Braille, the tactile writing system, from March.
For the aurally challenged, a video brochure with sign language has been incorporated as a separate corner in www.thenmalaecotourism. com, the official website of the Thenmala Ecotourism Promotion Society (TEPS) that manages the destination.
Mobile app
A mobile application, a guiding app that will briefly narrate the attractions of the destination, is also on the anvil. The 16-page Braille brochure has all information needed for a traveller.
The initiative is part of the efforts to encourage people with visual and hearing impairement to visit Thenmala.
It is also part of the barrier-free tourism project launched last year to make tourist destinations accessible to all visitors.
“This is the first time a Braille tourism brochure is being made available at a tourist destination in the State. The brochures will be provided to the visually challenged from the TEPS office,” Ecotourism Director and CEO of TEPS P.P. Pramod told The Hindu.
Students of Government School for the Blind, Vazhuthacaud, is behind the Braille brochure.
It is the outcome of a day trip organised for students as part of a CSR initiative. “We realised the constraints faced and requested them for solutions. The Braille brochure was the outcome,” he said. Students of Government VHSS for Deaf, Jagathy, came up with the video brochure with sign language after their visit.
For using the mobile application being launched on trial basis, the QR code will come in handy if the visitor does not have data connection. After getting the feedback, a complete version of the app will be rolled out by TEPS in IOS platform.
Along with this, Buddha Mayoori, which has been declared as the State butterfly, has got a special corner in the butterfly park.
source: http://www.thehindu.com / The Hindu / Home> News> States> Kerala / by S. Anil Radhakrishnan / Thiruvananthapuram – February 27th, 2019
The State government on Wednesday set the ball rolling for five major IT projects, including the ambitious Space Technology Application Development Ecosystem (STADE) and the 2.5 million sq ft World Trade Centre (WTC) project of the Brigade Group.
STADE, a project of the KeralaStartup Mission (KSUM) supported by ISRO’s Vikram Sarabhai Space Centre, was launched with three companies on board.
Occupancy certificates
At a function chaired by Chief Minister Pinarayi Vijayan, IT secretary M. Sivasankar handed over occupancy certificates to Indian companies SatSure, Bellatrix Aerospace and Agnikul.
STADE is aimed at promoting companies and start-ups that are into space data analytics and development of space-tech components.
According to the government, Airbus has agreed on an ‘ecosystem partnership’ with it for the STADE project. Talks are on with French space agency CNES and the European Space Agency (ESA) for establishing similar partnerships, the government said.
Technopark has signed an MoU with the Brigade Group for establishing the WTC, the second one in Kerala, in Technocity. Technopark CEO Hrishikesh Nair and M.R. Jaishankar, CMD, Brigade Group, signed the MoU.
The first WTC in Kerala was established at Infopark. Technopark has allotted 12 acres to build the 2.5 million sq ft WTC. The project is expected to generate employment for 15,000 people.
The government has inked an MoU with US-based Lumium for establishing a Design Innovation Centre here. KSUM CEO Saji Gopinath exchanged the MoU with Sreeni Sreenivasan, chairman and CEO of the design product firm.
Chief Minister Pinarayi Vijayan inaugurated the industry-backed, technology-enabled Skills Delivery Platform Kerala (SDPK). SDPK aims to bridge employability gaps and produce skilled workforce for the industry. Connecting 150 hi-tech classrooms in engineering colleges, SDPK will provide skills training to 40,000 students every year.
Swatantra launched
The Chief Minister also launched ‘Swatantra,’ billed as the world’s largest integrated free and open source facility in a government sector at the research and innovation centre of the International Centre for Free and Open Source Software (ICFOSS).
Tourism Minister Kadakampally Surendran presided over the function. IT secretary and Jayasankar Prasad, director, ICFOSS, also were present.
source: http://www.thehindu.com / The Hindu / Home> News> States> Kerala / by Special Correspondent / Thiruvananthapuram / February 27th, 2019
The National University of Advanced Legal Studies, Kalamassery, will set up a finishing school and launch a foreign faculty programme at a cost of ₹10 lakh and ₹16 lakh respectively in the academic year 2019-20.
An executive council meet of the university held here on Tuesday decided to earmark the fund for these two initiatives in its budget for this fiscal.
The placement cell on the campus will get ₹5 lakh. K. C. Sunny, Vice Chancellor, said that ₹10 lakh would be allocated as part of encouraging students to present their papers at various international and national forums.
The finishing school will train law students in accordance with their skills in taking up varied professions such as law teachers, corporate lawyers, and judicial officers.
The placement cell will identify various job-providing sectors and fine-tune the skills of the students in keeping with the new trends in law education.
source: http://www.thehindu.com / The Hindu / Home> News> Cities> Kochi / by Special Correspondent / Kochi – February 26th, 2019
Canonisation : Kollam Bishop Paul Antony Mullassery declaring Bishop Jerome as Servant of God during the holy mass at Thangassery on Sunday. | Photo Credit: C Suresh Kumar R
Bishop Jerome, the first native bishop of Kollam diocese of the Catholic Church, has been declared Servant of God, initiating the process of his beatification and canonisation.
Kollam Bishop Paul Antony Mullassery made the declaration during the holy mass held at Infant Jesus Cathedral, Thangassery, here on Sunday. He also unveiled a portrait of the late bishop, who would be now called the Servant of God.
Archbishop M. Soosapakiam was the chief celebrant who led the pontifical mass while the co-celebrants included Changanassery Arch Bishop Joseph Perunthottam, former Kollam Boshop Stanley Roman, Neyyattinkara Bishop Vincent Samuel, Punalur Bishop Selvister Ponnumuthan, Alappuzha Bishop Stephan Athipozhiyil, Mavelikkara Bishop Joshua Mar Ignathios and Pathanamthitta Bishop Samuel Irenios.
First step
Declaring the late bishop Servant of God is the first step towards recognising him as a saint.
Former Kollam Bishop Stanley Roman had started the proceedings for the same and a delegation from Kollam had visited Vatican last year to hand over the report on the completion of the initialisation. Bishop Jerome, who was ordained as the first native Bishop of Kollam in 1937 and led the diocese till 1978, will be bestowed the title of ‘venerable’ in the next stage followed by beatification and canonisation.
Kollam diocese had organised programmes to mark the occasion including workshops on the life of the late bishop and processions.
source: http://www.thehindu.com / The Hindu / Home> News> State> Kerala / by Staff Reporter / Kollam – February 25th, 2019
The Sakthan Palace, situated in the heart of the Thrissur city, will soon get a facelift.
The palace was reconstructed in Kerala-Dutch style by Ramavarma Thampuran in 1795. Once the centre of power of the Sakthan Thampuran, it has been preserved by the Department of Archaeology. It was converted into a museum in 2005.
The palace was renovated with ₹1.75 crore recently. In addition to this, a joint Centre-State fund of ₹5 crore has also been allocated for the palace development now.
CCTV cameras
The amount will be utilised to make it one of the best museums in the State. The palace will be given a new coat of paint.
The garden will also get a facelift. Seats, toilet complex, and a walk-way will be constructed.
As part of the recent development project, 27 CCTV cameras were installed on the palace premises. A fire alarm has also been installed.
source: http://www.thehindu.com / The Hindu / Home> News> States> Kerala / by Special Correspondent / Thrissur – February 24th, 2019
The stench of cow dung, unkempt surroundings and obscene graffiti on its shutters drive away curious visitors to the Kadavumbhagom synagogue. Photo: VIPIN CHANDRAN
Prayers at synagogue stopped after most of its members left for Israel
The Paradesi synagogue at Mattancherry receives several thousand visitors every year from all over the world. People flock to Jew Street to catch a glimpse of the well-preserved 16 century synagogue and the descendants of the Paradesi Jews who still follow the old customs. Not many know, however, that a second synagogue older than the Paradesi synagogue still stands just a few metres from it. At the other end of Jew Street stands the Kadavumbhagom synagogue, a 463-year-old prayer hall of the Cochini Jews.
When the Moors attacked the Jewish settlements near Kodungalloor, known as Cranganore or Shingly in Jewish texts, the people fled to the port town of Mattancherry to seek refuge. There were at least four synagogues in Mattancherry in the old days, says historian P.M. Jussay in his book ‘The Jews of Kerala.’ These are the Kochangadi, Kadavumbhagom, Paradesi and Thekkumbhagom synagogues. (There are two other synagogues — the Kadavumbhagom and Thekkumbhagom synangogues on Market Road in Ernakulam — that are less known but are just as important.)
The Kochangadi synagogue in Mattancherry, says Mr. Jussay, was enlarged by a community leader named Baruk Levi in 1539. But the synagogue was abandoned in 1795 a few years after it was destroyed by Tippu Sultan’s soldiers. The Thekkumbhagom synagogue, on the other hand, was demolished in the 1950s after most of its congregants left for Israel. All that stands are the Paradesi and Kadavumbhagom synagogues. While the Paradesi synagogue remains popular as a tourist attraction, the Kadavumbhagom synagogue has almost faded from memory. A portion of the synagogue, which earlier stood right at the coastline, was removed to construct the road in front of it. The building passed into private hands after the Jewish residents sold it while they left for Israel.
The first owner used the place of worship to store prawns, a food item forbidden to Jews. The building was later used to store coir products. Today, this centuries-old archaeological monument is used as a cattle shed by its current owner. The stench of cow dung, unkempt surroundings, and obscene graffiti on its shutters drive away curious visitors. Only a small board at the entrance set up by ‘The Friends of Kerala Synagogues’ gives any indication of the historical significance of the building.
“Private persons have carted away whatever was inside the building. It’s an important monument. Shouldn’t the government protect this synagogue?” a local resident asks.
source: http://www.thehindu.com / The Hindu / Home> News> Cities> Kochi / by Nidhi Surendranath / Kochi – September 14th, 2013
A dozen projects competed for the best public health project award in the meet, which was attended by leaders of various local self-governing bodies.
Thiruvananthapuram :
‘Spandanam’, an AYUSH-based public health project implemented by the Kozhikode district panchayat, was presented with the Best AYUSH Health Project award by Chief Minister Pinarayi Vijayan on Tuesday.The project aims at treating autism and growth disabilities in kids.
The second prize was shared by Kattippara grama panchayat in Kozhikode for its ‘Harikiranam’ project for securing the health of tribals and Jyothirgamaya Balya, a project for kids’ health and safety by Nedumangad block panchayat.Also, the cancer awareness project named Vision 2019 by the Harippad block panchayat of Alappuzha district along with Santhwana Souhridham, a project implemented for the wellbeing of the tribal community in Meenangadi grama panchayat in Wayanad district, shared the consolation prizes.
A dozen projects competed for the best public health project award in the meet, which was attended by leaders of various local self-governing bodies.These projects were screened and selected from two zones each consisting of seven districts. Eight projects from Ayurveda and four projects from Homoeopathy were presented in the meet.
Sneha Sparsham, a palliative care project of Thrissur corporation, Navaneetham, a project meant for the school-going kids of Thiruvananthapuram district panchayat, Udayakiranam by the Idukki block panchayat and Snehadhara project were the eight projects that competed in the Ayurveda section.
Punarjani, a project seeking the possibilities of Homoeopathy in ailing cancer patients, women-friendly project Seethalayam by the Kannur district panchayat, Swasthyam project by the Kollam district panchayat were the different projects that competed in the Homeopathy section.
source: http://www.newindianexpress.com / The New Indian Express / Home> Cities> Thiruvananthapuram / by Express News Service / February 20th, 2019
Launch of ₹5-crore project at Mangattuparamba tomorrow
The Malabar Startup Incubation Centre (MSIC), the first such venture being started in Malabar, will be inaugurated at the Kerala Clays and Ceramic Products Ltd.’s (KCCPL) unit at Mangattuparamba here on February 22.
Announcing this at a press conference here on Wednesday, local MLA T.V. Rajesh and KCCPL chairman T.K. Govindan said the MSIC was being started as part of the launch of the diversification programme by the public sector company under the Industries Department.
The incubation centre would be inaugurated by Chief Minister Pinarayi Vijayan at Mangattuparamba here at 6 p.m. Industries Minister E.P. Jayarajan and MPs P. Karunakaran and P.K. Sreemathy would participate in the function.
Mr. Rajesh said the State government had granted ₹5 crore for the MSIC project being started in collaboration with the Kerala Startup Mission.
There is no start-up incubation centre in parts of the State north of Ernakulam district. The State government has granted preliminary sanction for the ₹9.5-crore proposal submitted by the KCCPL for starting a dairy farm and coconut processing unit as part of the company’s diversification programme. Mr. Govindan said the diversification of the company into other areas was being considered in view of the shortage of raw material as two clay mining units of the company had been closed due to environmental issues.
The KCCPL and the Kerala Startup Mission envisage exploration of business opportunities and development by introducing achievements in the IT sector to start-up entrepreneurs.
In the first phase, 305 seats were arranged in 23,000 sq ft area for starting 50 start-up companies, he added.
source: http://www.thehindu.com / The Hindu / Home> News> States> Kerala / by Special Correspondent / Kannur – February 20th, 2019
