Music directors (from left) Jassie Gift, Afzal Yusuf, Rahul Raj, Gopi Sundar, Bijibal, Anil Johnson, and Mejo Joseph at a press conference in Kozhikode on Wednesday. Photo: S. Ramesh Kurup / The Hindu
They are performing to raise funds for the Cochin Haneefa Foundation, which helps struggling artists in films. Music directors raising funds for Cochin Haneefa Foundation.
Eight music directors of Malayalam cinema are coming together for high-voltage live shows.
Bijibal, Gopi Sundar, Alphonse, Jassie Gift, Rahul Raj, Afzal Yusuf, Mejo Joseph, and Anil Johnson will kick off the tour at Swapna Nagari here on September 27.
They are performing to raise funds for the Cochin Haneefa Foundation, which helps struggling artists in films. The show, titled Jamgrab, is being organised by the Film Employees Federation of Kerala, the Music Directors Union, and the D Cutz Film Company.
“We are glad that we are beginning the series of shows in Kozhikode,” Mr. Gopi Sundar told presspersons here on Wednesday. “This incidentally is my first ever live show.”
Mr. Rahul Raj said it was great teaming up with fellow composers. “It has been an opportunity for us to know each other,” he said. “I do not think that eight music directors have come together for a show in the country before.”
Leading playback singers will be performing at the show, which will have a sound of 3,00,000 watts.
Film director Shajoon Karyal will direct the show, while Vinod Vijayan and Seven Arts Mohan are the producers.
After Kozhikode, the show will travel to the UAE for a performance in Sharjah on December 19. The ticket sales were inaugurated earlier in the day in Thrissur by actor Mammootty.
source: http://www.thehindu.com / The Hindu / Home> News> Cities> Kozhikode / by Special Correspondent / Kozhikode – August 21st, 2014
Sandeepani Vidya Niketan School, Thrissur, with 38 points emerged the overall champions in the ICSE section, leaving St. Thomas Residential School, Thiruvananthapuram, with 23 points at the second place. Photo: Special Arrangement / / The Hindu
The two-day State cultural fest of the ICSE and ISC schools came to a close at Mar Thoma Residential School in Thiruvalla on Wednesday.
Sandeepani Vidya Niketan School, Thrissur, with 38 points emerged the overall champions in the ICSE section, leaving St. Thomas Residential School, Thiruvananthapuram, with 23 points at the second place.
In the ISC section, Hari Sree Vidya Nidhi School, Thrissur, with 46 points bagged the overall championship.
St. Thomas Residential School, Thiruvananthapuram, with 34 points was the runner-up.
Zacharias Mar Theophilus Saffragan, Metropolitan of the Mar Thoma Church, delivered the valedictory message. Blessy, film-maker, delivered the keynote address. The Metropolitan and Mr. Blessy presented trophies to the winners. Fr. Silvie Antony, Kerala region president of the Association of Schools for Indian School Certificate; Fr. George Mathew Karoor, association general secretary; Prof. Bijoy Varghese, MTRS principal; and Anitha Susan John, vice-principal, spoke. The prize winners from the district in various competitions on Wednesday are:
ISC section
Light music – Male (Malayalam): Sanjai Santhjosh Cherian of St. Thomas Residential School, Thiruvananthapuram.
Light music – Male (Malayalam): Anjali Vijay, St. Thomas Residential School.
ICSE section
Group song (Western): St. Thomas Residential School, Thiruvananthapuram.
Volunteers of Helping Hands Organisation (H2O) along with the children whom the organisation is supporting. / The Hindu
Charity sets up physiotherapy unit for the poor
A physiotherapy unit that would support differently abled children and the elderly belonging to financially backward families was launched by Helping Hands Organisation (H2O) at Karyavattom here on Monday.
The unit will be set up at the H2O Rehabilitation and Facilitation Centre launched in 2013, primarily to screen children below the age of 10 for autism and to provide check-up and treatment facilities for them.
The unit will initially cater to 64 elderly persons and 54 children who have already registered with the organisation, besides physically challenged persons in and around Karyavattom.
Earlier this year, H2O had organised an event for them at the Museum grounds. The event, ‘Pratheeksha – Ray of Hope,’ saw the distribution of stationary and other study material to over 100 children.
The new unit will strive to rehabilitate the children. Toys, play area and other material have been provided at the unit to coax the best out of the autistic children.
This is in addition to medical care being provided by the centre.
The inauguration of the physiotherapy unit coincides with the launch of Safe Physio, a software developed by Technopark-based company Safesource Systems and Data Services (SDS). Described as a management tool for physiotherapists, this single digital platform will cover details about the patient, clinical treatment and financial management.
SDS is handing over the software free of cost to H2O, who will be able to keep track of the increasing number of patients affiliated to them more efficiently.
Health Minister V.S. Sivakumar inaugurated the unit.
source: http://www.thehindu.com / The Hindu / Home> News> Cities> Thiruvananthapuram / by Kaavya Pradeep Kumar / Thiruvananthapuram – August 12th, 2014
Less than a week ago, gynaecologist Laila Beegum supervised the birthing of a set of identical twins to a couple from Kodinhi village, now known globally for the high number of multiple births. The twin babies born on August 7 this year took the total number of such deliveries witnessed by her to 452.
Though the total number of twins in the village has now crossed 500, the mystery behind the phenomenon is yet to be unravelled.
Located close to Tirurangadi town in Malappuram district, Kodinhi village, with its high twinning rate, garnered global media attention around six years ago. At Kodinhi, twins account for 42 per 1,000 live births while the global average of twinning is reportedly around six per 1,000.
Brazil’s Candido Godoi and Nigeria’s Igbo-Ora have witnessed similar birth phenomenon. Attempts by several scientists and organisations to find the secret behind the high twinning rate have failed to bear fruit.
Recently, Dr N K Sribiju, public health consultant, Taluk Hospital, Tirurangadi, approached the state government seeking permission to conduct a genetic study on the local populace.
“Surely, there would be a scientific reason behind the birth of a huge number of twins in such a small area. But, the secret can be revealed only through a detailed genetic and environment study. We are awaiting permission from the ethical committee of the Rajiv Gandhi Centre for Biotechnology at Thiruvananthapuram for the same,” said Dr Sribiju.
Significantly, more than 90 per cent of the couples from Kodinhi who reported twin births conceived normally. “Hence, IVF treatment cannot be considered as a reason for the high rate of twinning in Kodinhi,” Dr Biju said.
Dr Laila, who runs Laila’s Hospital, Chemmad, said multiple births are not just being reported by persons born and brought up here.
“Many women who came to Kodinhi after marrying someone here have also experienced twin birth. So, it could be due to some mysterious element of nature.
“Earlier, we conducted a water test but the results were not conclusive,” Dr Laila added.
Twins and Kins Association (TAKA) of Kodinhi believes that their village has the most density of twins in the world and is planning to approach officials of the Guinness Book to claim a record.
Get-together
“There are families having three pairs of twins and triplets at home. A 90-year-old man here is the eldest among the twins who are alive,” said Bhaskaran Pullani, president, Twins and Kins Association, which is planning to organise a get-together of all Kodinhi twins.
source: http://www.newindianexpress.com / The New Indian Express / Home> States> Kerala / by Santosh Christy / August 17th, 2014
overnor Sheila Dikshit takes a look at the exhibits at the Charka museum after inaugurating it in Thiruvananthapuram on Wednesday. Photo: C. Ratheesh Kumar / The Hindu
Charka museum at Gandhi Smaraka Nidhi
When Kerala Gandhi Smaraka Nidhi planned to set up a charka museum, one of the challenges was to locate and collect enough exhibits. Though it had some of the earlier wooden charkas and the more recent spindle charkas, those were not enough to start a museum.
For the past few months, the Smaraka Nidhi volunteers have been travelling around the State and outside, visiting the homes of freedom fighters and other old-timers. In Kanyakumari, they met R.K. Sunder, a veteran Sarvodaya worker.
“He had a Kisaan charka, one of the earliest forms of the charka, made of wood. Despite its antique value, he did not take any money from us. He just wanted it to be useful to more people and he thinks here in this museum, future generations can learn about how it all started from this charka,” says K.G. Jagadeesan, secretary of the Kerala Gandhi Smaraka Nidhi.
The Kisaan charka now sits inside the Charka museum, a small building inside the Smaraka Nidhi compound at Thycaud, which was inaugurated by Kerala Governor Sheila Dikshit on Wednesday. Beside it sits a ‘Petty charka,’ which, as the name signifies, is a miniature charka inside an open ‘petty’ (box), which can be carried around easily.
“These charkas can be operated even when one is speaking or sitting in a meeting. Even now during the meetings of Gandhians and Sarvodaya workers, you can see old-timers spinning the wheels, to make maximum use of the time,” says a volunteer here.
Also at the exhibition are allied instruments such as ‘otni,’ used for removing the cotton seed and ‘Balni,’ used to thread the cotton.
The modern spindle charkas, which are still used in production centres of the Smaraka Nidhi, are exhibited too. Operating it is sheer drudgery and the pay is less too.
“Three of us are involved in the charka work at Smaraka Nidhi’s centre in Thozhukkal in Neyyattinkara. We make around 15 sets of thread per day and for each of those we get paid around Rs.4. I have been working on this for the past 18 years,” says Leela.
The Gandhi Smaraka Nidhi is now banking on the renewed interest in khadi clothes among the younger generation.
source: http://www.thehindu.com / The Hindu / Home> News> Cities / by S. R Praveen / Thursday – August 14th, 2014
The Dubai Summer Surprises lucky draw prize winner is a young Malayali girl who won a BMW car worth 130,000 dirhams (Rs 21.5 lakh approx). Tanishka,the 2 year old, is the daughter of Abhilash Ayyapan who resides in Dubai.
Abhilash was born in the UAE, and is currently in Dubai with his family, running his own business. He was at Oasis mall with his family, when he filled out the coupons for the lucky draw. Tanishka’s family has decided to acquire money equivalent to the cost of the car and save it for their daughter’s future. The event, conducted by Dubai Department of Tourism and Commercial Marketing, would be on a gift giving spree till September 5.
source: http://www.beta.english.manoramaonline.com / Manorama Online / Home> News> Kerala / by Manorama Online Correspondent / Thursday – August 14th, 2014
The silver jubilee batch of National Institute of Technology, Calicut (NIT-C), formerly known as Regional Engineering College, will conduct their silver jubilee reunion on August 15 and 16.
Sreekumar K. Iyer, one of the organisers, said that the two-day event, titled, RECollection’89, would be held on the NIT-C campus and in the city. Around 200 former students, who passed out in 1989, would take part in the event. A souvenir would be published at Hyson Heritage in the city to mark the occasion.
NIT-C Director M.N. Bandyopadhyay would inaugurate the programme at the college auditorium. A session, ‘Guruvandanam,’ to honour teachers who taught at the college during the 1985-89 period, would be held on Saturday.
A family gathering would be held at Malabar Palace on Saturday. The reunion celebrations would conclude with cultural activities and a musical night, Mr. Iyer said.
source: http://www.thehindu.com / The Hindu / Home> News> Cities> Kozhikode / Special Correspondent / Kozhikode – August 15th, 2014
On Sunday, brand new scooters will be delivered to 1,000 women under a ‘mass bank loan’ scheme of the Calicut City Service Cooperative Bank. The initiative, titled ‘Lady Freedom,’ is part of a ‘women empowerment’ programme conceived in connection with the Independence Day celebrations,
The loan scheme with a reduced interest rate (11 per cent) was introduced by the bank in collaboration with the authorised dealer of a major two-wheeler company in the city, said bank chairman C.N. Vijayakrishnan at a press meet here on Thursday. “A sum of up to Rs.50,000 is being given as credit by the bank which will be repaid by the borrowers in 30 monthly instalments,” said Mr. Vijayakrishnan.
The borrowers had made a down payment of Rs.2,225 and produced one person as guarantor. The vehicles will be distributed at a public function at the Zamorin School grounds at Chalappuram in the city at 10 a.m. on August 17. Mayor A.K. Premajam will inaugurate the programme.
District panchayat president K. Jameela will inaugurate the distribution of free helmets to all the women. Cooperative Society registrar S. Lalithambika will hand over the first key. Mr. Vijayakrishnan said around 15,000 women had registered for the loan scheme. “The scheme will be made available to the rest of the applicants as well in the coming weeks,” he said.
Following the “overwhelming” response to the scheme, the bank had decided to launch a car loan scheme for women in the coming days, said the bank chairman. “Up to Rs.5 lakh will be given in loan as per the scheme,” he said.
source: http://www.thehindu.com / The Hindu / Home> News> Cities> Kozhikode / Staff Reporter / Kozhikode – August 15th, 2014
Exhibits at the stall of Department of Kaumarabhrithya (Paediatrics) at the Ashtanga Ayurveda Expo 2014 organised as part of the 125th anniversary celebrations of the Government Ayurveda College in Thiruvananthapuram Photo: S. Mahinsha / The Hindu
Explore the world of Ayurveda at an exhibition on the premises of Government Ayurveda College
It is a journey through facets of wellness and good health that is practised and advocated by an ancient system of treatment. ‘Ashtanga Ayurveda Expo 2014’, a mega exhibition currently on at Government Ayurveda College to mark the 125th anniversary celebrations of the college, gives a wealth of information about this indigenous system of healing. From baby food and kits for the new born, the exhibition is a delightful discovery of methods and medicines that were once used by our ancestors to take care of their health and well-being.
“Each of the 14 departments of the college has set up separate stalls, explaining their area of study and work,” says Jayan Damodaran, associate professor and an office-bearer of the expo.
Through charts, models and posters, a stall put up by the Department of Prasoothitantra and Sthreeroga (Department of Obstetrics and Gynaecology) has explained various aspects related to pregnancy and child birth, breast-feeding techniques and so on.
Exhibits at the stall of Department of Agadatantra Vyavaharaayurveda and Vidhivaidyaka (Forensic Science, Toxicology and Dermatology) at Ashtanga Ayurveda Expo 2014 organised as part of the 125th anniversary celebrations of the Government Ayurveda College in Thiruvananthapuram. Photo: Athira M.
A highlight of the stall is a model of Soothikagaram or a separate house constructed for a pregnant woman for delivery and post-pregnancy care during the seventh century BC. “This house used to be constructed when the woman was in her ninth month of pregnancy. She would stay there till her delivery,” says Dr. Prajitha.
Department of Kaumarabhrithya (Paediatrics) has showcased different aspects related to child care, including baby food, home remedies, and toys for different stages of growth.
Exhibits at the stall of Department of Rasa Sastra and Baishajya Kalpana (Pharmacy and Pharmaceutics) at the Ashtanga Ayurveda Expo 2014 organised as part of the 125th anniversary celebrations of the Government Ayurveda College in Thiruvananthapuram. Photo: Athira M. / The Hindu
An Ayurveda baby care kit has skin powder, massage oil, kaajal, and medicinal drops, all of which have been manufactured in the department. At a separate counter, visitors get to know and taste nutritious food for infants. No more tinned stuff for your little one. Check out Sriratna Modaka (made of dates, banana, ghee, honey and cardamom), mango syrup, sandal syrup, tulsi halwa, date syrup, cucumber halwa, healthy cutlets and soups. Recipes are happily shared with curious parents who want their little one to have organic food.
If you thought Ayurveda was all about herbs and plants with medicinal values, think again. The college has an open snake park under its Department of Agadatantra Vyavaharaayurveda and Vidhivaidyaka (Forensic Science, Toxicology and Dermatology) on its campus at Poojappura. The department has showcased specimens of poisonous and non-poisonous reptiles, besides giving exhaustive information about the kind of toxic substances found in households and toxic minerals and plants which also has medicinal properties. There is even a stall on forensic science.
Department of Salyatantra (Surgery and Orthopaedic) has arranged video documentation of successful stories of marma treatment, and exhibited ancient surgical instruments, bandage techniques and suturing methods.
While Department of Shalakya Tantra (ENT and Ophthalmology) has focussed on dealing with refractive errors, Department of Panchakarma tells about various treatment modalities along with pre and post operatory regiments for various diseases.
Department of Sanskritha Sidhantha and Samhitha, besides explaining the basic tenets of Ayurveda, has also stocked its various publications, some of which are rare books and palm leaf manuscripts.
Department of Swasthavritha (Social and Preventive Medicine) stresses on the Ayurveda nutrition and dietetics, with reference to various seasonal changes. A naturopathy food counter has also been put up by the students, where visitors get information on carrot tea, beetroot sweet and various other naturopathic food items.
Department of Kayachikitsa (General medicine) has set up the model of a ‘Rasayana griham’, that is a house where the patient would stay for months taking treatment, cut out from the outside world.
Ancient utensils used to make medicines exhibited at the stall of Department of Rasa Sastra and Baishajya Kalpana (Pharmacy and Pharmaceutics) at the Ashtanga Ayurveda Expo 2014 organised as part of the 125th anniversary celebrations of the Government Ayurveda College in Thiruvananthapuram Photo: Athira M. / The Hindu
The stall of Department of Rasa Sastra and Baishajya Kalpana (Pharmacy and Pharmaceutics) stands out from the rest in that the department has traced the evolution of the medicine with matching interiors. Ancient utensils in which the medicines were prepared, which include a century-old huge vessel handed over by the royal family of erstwhile Travancore when the hospital was opened, different steps of preparing medicines, fermentation process and other activities of the department have been showcased.
The expo ends on August 12. Time: 9 a.m. to 9 p.m.
source: http://www.thehindu.com / The Hindu / Home> Features> MetroPlus / by Athira M. / Thiruvananthapuram – August 07th, 2014
Have you ever visited the hills twined with waterfalls during the monsoon? If you haven’t, this is just the right time to plan a trip to various scenic retreats at Athirappilly, Vazhachal and Malakkappara region, bordering Tamil Nadu in central Kerala, as the sight of the picturesque hills coupled with the cascading falls is soul-nourishing fare and can send you in raptures of glee.
The revival of the south-west monsoon has provided thousands of tourists a tryst with nature at Athirappilly, Vazhachal and Malakkapara as the hills and falls in the region offer some of the most beautiful and astonishing sights during rains.
While water courses through the ravines at the peak of the monsoon, the falls and hills come alive as the rains enrich the lives of the mountain folk along with the endless variety of flora and fauna it supports in the region.
Athirappilly, Vazhachal, Charpa and Thumburmuzhi falls are in their full splendour after KSEB authorities opened the shutters of the Peringalkuthu reservoir following heavy rains. The gigantic surge of water along the breadth of the Chalakudy River just before it takes a dramatic plunge of 82 ft from a cliff is a sight not-to-miss at Athirappilly.
The grandeur of the waterfalls provides breathtaking views to the tourists with the waves of spray appearing like white smoke seeping from the rocks.
The amount of water flowing is now around 14,000 litres per second during daytime and 36,000 litres per second after 9 pm with Peringalkuth reservoir releasing an average of 1.2 mcm of water per day from the reservoir. At the same time, the slippery boulders in the area are also equally infamous for the number of lives they have claimed in the last few years.
B D Devassy MLA said the government has arranged measures at the renowned spot to woo more tourists to the region. Around three dozen toilets are constructed in the tourist area. Besides arranging sanitation and drinking water facilities, the authorities have also been neatly maintaining the area with the association of Athirappilly Puzha-Vana Samrakshna Samithi members and local tribal people effectively carrying out a plastic-free project in the reserve forest area, he said. Sarah Dizon, a foreigner who visited the spot, told ‘Express’ that the forest region’s endless panorama of amazing wonders is nothing short of romance with pristine nature itself, since the natural beauty is at its best in the area during the monsoons.
The breathtaking views of mountains shrouded in clouds and the beauty of the unpredictable weather either pouring down heavily on the hills or the clear blue skies have its own magical charm and beauty, she said.
source: http://www.newindianexpress.com / The New Indian Express / home> States> Kerala / by Dhinesh Kallungal / August 09th, 2014
