A few cafes have put up well-loaded bookshelves, but there aren’t many takers.

A leisurely hour or two spent over a cup of espresso and nibbling something while reading a book may recall images of a Parisian sidewalk café but that was what a few establishments in the city bravely attempted when they stocked up on books.

This was also to stand out from other hangouts where loud music and talk was the order of the day.

Something for all

City residents though are yet to warm up to the idea. Cherries and Berries at Cotton Hill has the usual Chetan Bhagat, James Patterson, John Grisham, and Jane Austens, but also J.D. Salinger and Gustave Flaubert for the serious-minded. Children can bury their noses in the adventures of Pinocchio. But only five or 10 people a day reach out for the books, says café employee Sheeja. Most people come in groups and for fun, she says.

Take them home

At Square One Homemade Treats, the shelf of books weighs light these days as customers can not only borrow books but also buy one if they so wish. Here too, only or two people a day sit and read at the outlet, says Prem G. Jacob, floor manager. “This is probably because we have only a few seats and are usually busy, which is not what those looking to sit and read here at leisure have in mind.” The shop plans to add to its collection soon.

Brewberry at Sasthamangalam has some 10-15 books, but few takers. “Most people just turn the pages, and then move on to the food,” says manager G.V.K. Nair. There are some who come in when the crowd is thin to spend long hours reading, he says. The magazines here are changed regularly, though the book titles remain the same, something that is not an issue at Cherries and Berries where people can take home books provided they leave one behind.

The comfort factor

At Café Sarwaa, which has some 60 plus books, the clientele mostly comprises groups or couples. Single people who are likely to linger over coffee and read something are few and far between. Some do come, but to work or make use of the Wi-Fi facility, say the owners. “Women, especially, need to feel comfortable in a café, with no one to disturb them.” Finishing a book in a café is not easy, they agree.

Takers or no takers, most cafés have no plans to dismantle the book shelf as yet.

source: http://www.thehindu.com / The Hindu / Home> News> Cities> Thiruvananthapuram / by R.K. Roshni / Thiruvananthapuram – September 15th, 2015

Varanattu Narayana Kurup, 71, straddles the ancient and the advanced with characteristic ease.

A doyen of Kerala’s ritualistic folk theatre Mudiyettu, he’s old-fashioned in relations and prefers hand-written letters to e-mail. As a flag-bearer of tradition, he’s a stickler for rules. But there’s a whiff of freshness in his outlook that belies fastidious traditions.

“While you have women temple attendants, why shouldn’t girls perform Mudiyettu?” he had asked in an interview to The Hindu a while ago.

Two girls are among the students learning percussion (chenda) from the maestro.

Nanu Kurup, as the master performer is known in the South Koratty neighbourhood where his Kizhakke Varanattu Mudiyettu Kalasangham is located, is now on a mission to popularise the shamanistic art among the youth. A well-designed website extols the contours of the art.

With the UNESCO inscribing the ecological theatre with ultramodern devices — comprising Kalamezhuthu (pictorial drawing of irate Kali using organic powders) followed by elaborate enactment of the battle between Goddess Bhadrakali and demon Darika with nature in the backdrop — on the list of intangible heritage of humanity, Kurup submitted a project, titled ‘Purappadu’, explaining ways to popularise Mudiyettu.

Using the grant extended by UNESCO through Kendra Sangeet Natak Akademi with donations raised from performances thrown in, he’s giving lecture-demonstrations across colleges in the State.

“We do Kalamezhuthu in traditional style as part of the presentation besides organising a show of costumes and gears used for Mudiyettu performance.

“Actual performance is also undertaken on demand. The goal is to take it to as many colleges and higher secondary schools as possible,” says Nanu Kurup.

The first of such full-scale performances was conducted at St Xavier’s College at Aluva.

Lecture-demos

Lecture-demonstrations have been given at several institutions including the University College and campus at Thiruvananthapuram; NSS College at Neeramankara; Namboodiri’s Institute of Higher Education at Irinjalakuda; Brahmaswom Madom at Thrissur.

“The reception has been encouraging. I feel privileged to be able to take the art to the youth,” he says.

source: http://www.thehindu.com / The Hindu / Home> National> Kerala / by S. Anandan / September 08th, 2015

Kottayam  :

Serving as a good gifting option for many, the ‘My Stamp’ facility of the Department of Posts (DoP) is now available in the district. Those who wish to personalise the postal stamp by adding their photograph, can avail of this facility now.

M Venkiteswaralu, postmaster general, Kochi Central Region, inaugurated the facility at a function held at the Head Post Office here on Friday. Assistant collector Divya Iyer was the chief guest.

According to postal authorities, My Stamp is the brand name for personalised sheets of Commemorative postage stamps of India Post. The personalisation can be achieved by printing a thumbnail photograph of the customer’s image, logos of institutions, images of art work, heritage buildings, famous tourist places, historical cities and wildlife.

A customer can get his image personalised through ‘My Stamp,’ for which an application indicating the choice of stamps should be submitted at the post office. The filled out order form along with the soft or hard copy of the photograph or selected image and ID proof will be accepted at the counter.

The cost is ` 300 for a sheet of 12 stamps. Applications from corporate customers will also be considered.

The facility is available at head post offices in Changanassery, Kanjirappally, Palai and other sub-offices in the district.

Customers can collect their sheetlets from the post office, where the order was placed. For those who desire delivery by post, the same will be dispatched by Speed Post at their own cost.

source: http://www.newindianexpress.com / The New Indian Express / Home> States> Kerala / by Express News Service / September 05th, 2015

S.S. Ram, photo editor of Kerala Kaumudi , passed away here on Thursday. He was 47. He was under treatment for the past one week following cerebral haemorrhage.

Mr. Ram joined as a photographer in Kerala Kaumudi in 1996. He has covered various national and international events, including the Commonwealth Games of 2010, party congresses and film festivals. He has won several awards, including the Raveendran Nair memorial award for Best News Photographer presented by the All Kerala Photographers’ Association in 2014.

The body was kept for public viewing at the Thiruvananthapuram Press Club and at theKerala Kaumudi office and was later taken to his house at Sreekanteswaram. The cremation will be held at the Brahmana samudaya crematorium at Karamana at 10 a.m.

source: http://www.thehindu.com / The Hindu / Home> News> Cities> Thiruvananthapuram / by Staff Reporter / Thiruvananthapuram – September 04th, 2015

Hundreds of people from various walks of life paid homage to eminent koothu artiste Kidangur Raman Chakyar.

Raman Chakyar died at his residence at Vallachira on Wednesday. He was 88.

Career spanning

52 years

Raman Chakyar, who started his career at 14, performed ‘Mantrankam’ koothu for 52 years at Annamanada Mahadeva Temple.

He had performed koothu in 40-odd temples. He was recipient of State government’s Nrutha Natya Puraskaram, Kerala Kalamandalam Award, Kendra Sangeetha Nataka Akademi Award and Tripunithura Kulasekhara Puraskaram. His body was cremated with State honours.

source: http://www.thehindu.com / The Hindu / Home> National> Kerala / by Staff Reporter / Thrissur – September 04th, 2015