A motley collection of brilliant and rare maps from the 16th to the 19th century is on display at Heritage Arts in Mattancherry as part of ‘Cosmology to Cartography’, an exhibition—the first of its kind in India—jointly organised by the Hyderabad-based Kalakriti Archives and the Kochi-Muziris Biennale.
It showcases as many as 47 maps straddling four centuries and under ‘Jain Cosmic’, ‘Pilgrimage’ and ‘Cartographic’ categories. On display are the early cartograms produced with vegetable dye on cotton and the ones in woodcuts, copper engravings with colour or watercolour and ink on paper.
A pilgrimage map to Nathdwara temple are among the exhibits at the Kochi-Muziris Biennale.
Kalakriti founder Prashant Lahoti collected the unusual treasure of India maps. The brightly-coloured maps present the world in many fashions: some in sync with Jain philosophy where the earth is divided into regions of the Gods, mortals and the cursed; the pilgrimage maps, on the other hand, chart out panoramic routes to Badrinath in the Himalayas or Shatrunjaya in Gujarat.
“The exhibition displays move from the symbolic to the political, and there is a dichotomy in the first, the middle and the last few,” said executive curator Vivek Nanda, who is a town planner and whose current projects include the Mumbai-Delhi corridor. “The early part of the exhibition represents a world of meaning, while the political ones are a world of order. They depict coastal towns and sea ports, which were important trading indicators.” Also on show are the first Dutch map of the subcontinent and the Middle East, and the first map of India as a single entity, made in 1822, for the directors of the English East India Company.
The first Dutch map of the subcontinent and the Middle East done in 1596.
Arts and Medicine
The famed biennale programme, in its 43rd episode on the General Hospital premises on Wednesday, saw Kochiite Charles Antony crooning songs in at least 10 languages, including Italian, English, African, Sinhala and Japanese, as he played the guitar and the mouth organ. Mr. Antony had sung a Spanish song alongside Diego Maradona during his visit to Kerala in 2012. His 80-minute performance began with Jim Reeves’ ‘Welcome to my World’. Mehboob Memorial Orchestra provided accompaniment.
source: http://www.thehindu.com / The Hindu / Home> News> Cities> Kochi / by Special Correspondent / Kochi – December 18th, 2014
Chennai’s Carnatic music scene will sorely miss its bejewelled patron, Parimala Srinivasan.Sriram V.
It was rather appropriate that Parimala Srinivasan bowed out of this world just when Chennai is bursting at the seams with Carnatic music performances. It is almost as though the world is putting on its musical best to send her off. Yes, for her, music was life.
Parimala came from a family that was known for its music patronage. Father Aleppey Parthasarathy (Papaswami) Iyengar was a well-known lawyer who maintained open house for all musicians. Ariyakkudi was a close friend and music teacher. Parimala’s brother Aleppey Venkatesan also learnt from him. Another brother, P.S. Raghavan, learnt mridangam from Palghat Mani Iyer and later from Palghat Raghu.
G.N. Balasubramaniam was yet another favourite and to Parimala, in particular, he was a mentor and guide. She remembered fondly his singing the pallavi ‘Parimala Rangapathe’ at her wedding. Being an ordained ‘Sri Vidya Upasaka’, he performed special pujas for her well-being at crucial moments in her life. She kept his memory alive by observing GNB Day each year.
The ace violinist T.N. Krishnan was practically a family member and in his Sangita Kalanidhi acceptance speech in 1981, was to thank Papasami Iyengar and his clan for all their support and encouragement.
Marriage to V. Srinivasan, a lawyer, meant that Parimala shifted to Madras and became completely involved in the music scene here. Her first December Season was in 1956 when she attended the Music Academy sessions, on her father’s ticket. 1958 was of course special, for GNB was the Kalanidhi.
From then on, being an avid participant in the Season was a matter of routine. This did not mean restricting herself to just the star concerts and lecture demonstrations. It involved listening to several youngsters and encouraging them with her bright smile. And as for the volunteers, who manned the doors and coordinated traffic, there were acts of unspoken kindness – food in tiffin carriers would be brought in her car and handed out to them.
It was in 1970 that she co-founded Raga Tarangini, a sabha run entirely by women. She was to remain its secretary till her passing. Membership may have dwindled over the years, but nothing dimmed her enthusiasm. Monthly concerts were organised till the end, as was GNB Day. Over the 44 years that she ran it, almost every one of the performing artists of today was given concert opportunities by her. Most of them remembered her various gestures of kindness with affection.
No regular music concert-goer could remain immune to her charm and friendliness. Beginning with 1993 when I first came to this city, I too was drawn into this circle. As she talked of her life, I realised that she too, like everyone else, had had her shares of trials and tribulations. But she never had any bitterness and always laughed everything off. Besides, there was always music.
To her, life was an extraordinary celebration. She would always be brightly dressed and wear a number of jewels – some of them of an earlier age and time – brooches and the like. And this was not only for concerts. On one occasion, I ran into her at an open-air folk arts festival at Nageswara Rao Park. It was quite dark and there she was all bejewelled. I asked her if it was not a risk that she was taking. To this she replied that she was not going to change her way of life for the sake of some thief who may never come anyway! Happily for her, he never did. And if he had, he would have become her friend for life and never dreamt of hurting her.
On yet another occasion, I called at her residence. I asked her about a metal rail with a chair attached that ran all the way up the stairs to her first floor home. She replied that it was her son’s arrangement so that she did not strain her knees. And then, very cheerfully, she sat on the chair, pressed a switch and demonstrated to me as to how she went up and down the contraption. All this, with not a trace of bitterness about old age and its complaints.
Standing on the terrace of her house on that occasion, after I had been fed with special Bengal style samosas (“I knew you would like it, you are after all a Calcuttan”), she declared that not an evening passed without her attending a concert. Then spreading her arms expansively, she declared that there were at least six sabhas within a kilometre radius of where she lived. Others would have thought of supermarkets or hospitals.
The world of Carnatic music is that much poorer by way of losing a patron.
Adieu, sweet lady! May flights of angels ‘sing’ thee to thine rest!
source: http://www.thehindu.com / The Hindu / Home> Features> Friday Review> Music / by Sriram .V / December 25th, 2014
The statue of Chemban Kolumban, the Adivasi leader instrumental in the construction of Idukki dam, at Cheruthoni. Photo: Giji K Raman
Memorial of Kolumban, who identified the ideal spot for a dam at Idukki, renovated.
Chemban Kolumban, the Adivasi leader who discovered the site of the Idukki dam, is finally being remembered by the authorities with the renovation of the Kolumban Park, close to the Cheruthoni dam of the Idukki Hydroelectric project here.
Kolumban had identified the ideal spot for a dam when he found the Periyar river flowing between the Kuravan and the Kurathi hills.
In 1922, Kolumban had joined a team of the Malankara Estate superintendent and his friend on a hunting trip in Idukki. They found it difficult to move as they reached Kuyilimala. It was while moving between the two hills that they found the spot. They thought of diverting the water to the low range of Malankara-Moolamattom for power generation. In 1932, the then superintendent of the Malankara Estate, W.J. John, submitted a project to the Travancore government regarding the possibility of constricting a dam connecting the two hills.
The Travancore government in 1947 entrusted Electrical engineer P. Joseph John with the task of conducting a feasibility study and a report was submitted to the Central Waterpower Commission which gave the nod for the construction of a dam in 1961. The construction was entrusted to a Canadian company in 1963 and it was commissioned by Prime Minister Indira Gandhi on February 12, 1976.
A sculptor Kunnuvila Murali made a statue of Kolumban near the Cheruthoni dam then as a tribute to him. For long, it was a forgotten chapter in the history of the dam with weeds growing over the statue.
The park was renovated as part of a major project taken up by the Department of Culture to renovate the Kolumban memorial on the roadside near here, where his body was cremated.
His grandchildren are living at the Kolumban colony and are the carriers of a rich legacy. According to Roshy Augustine, MLA, visitors to the dam would be interested in the history of the dam, of which Kolumban is an integral part.
source: http://www.thehindu.com / The Hindu / Home> News> National> Kerala / by Giji K. Raman / Cheruthoni (Idukki) – December 24th, 2014
Efforts to set up South India’s maiden crematorium for dogs and similar animals are gaining steam.
According to reports from High Range Kennel Club, which is behind the project, there has been no crematorium in South India for such animals while North Indian states like Gujarat and Delhi already have.
Dr Babu K Nalakathu, secretary of the club, told ‘Express’ they are looking for a suitable site in Kochi to set up the first plant. Efforts will then be made to start one each at Kozhikode and Thiruvananthapuram.
The plant is estimated to cost `15 lakh, and raising the fund wouldn’t be a problem, said Babu, adding that such a project would make a new beginning in treating animals with honour once they are dead. Developed countries have very strict regulations in disposing of dogs after their death.
In Kochi and its suburbs, an estimated 50 dogs die each day, and almost all of them are disposed of in an unceremonious manner, he said. In most cases, they are being given a watery adieu, flinging them to rivers and other water bodies, which are used by people for drinking purposes. The responsibility of removing the carcass of dogs, cats and the like falls on local bodies, who change hands to certain agents. These agents dispose them of in rivers in the dead of the night, he said. It is a grave problem which the government has not taken any interest so far.
For every pet dog there are eight stray dogs in the state as per the figures by the SPC. While the pet dogs get a decent departure, the stray dogs are treated roughly, which is a trend to be stopped. The public should join hands to begin a new culture of giving respect to the animals. A number of associations already are willing to cooperate to make the dream come true.
source: http://www.newindianexpress.com / The New Indian Express / Home> States> Kerala / by P.B. Jayasankar / December 25th, 2014
Manju Shahul-Hameed, a native of Thiruvananthapuram, is the Mayor of Croydon in London.
When she left for Britain to join her husband Raffi in 1996, little did Manju Shahul-Hameed, a native of Thiruvananthapuram, dream of becoming anything more than a homemaker over there. Today, she is the Mayor of London Borough Croydon in South London.
She had left Kerala after completing her degree studies at the Sree Narayana College, Chempazhanthy. Having studied in local Malayalam medium schools, she could not even speak in English. “It was through my involvement in the community and voluntary organisations and my desire to make a difference in people’s lives that I entered politics. So I came into politics not as a political leader but as a community leader,” she said.
Her mother did not want her to be a mere homemaker after marriage. So Ms. Shahul-Hameed enrolled for Masters in Scientific and Engineering Software Technology at the University of Greenwich and joined the Labour Party in 1998. In 2000, she started working as a software engineer but continued her involvement in community building and volunteering. Her appeal in the community led to her election as a councillor in 2006 and her recent election as a Mayor from among 70 councillors of the council.
As a Mayor, she seeks to “celebrate the diversity and culture of Croydon and make it a great place to raise a family.” She also supports two charities — Age UK and Macmillan Cancer Support as part of her Mayoral duties.
Talking about her plans to open a charity to encourage home makers to volunteer, she said the spirit of volunteering in business and community organisations, needed to pick up in Kerala which was a great way of gaining experience. On how she overcame the language barrier, she said all that one needed to make a positive change was to have faith in one self.”
source: http://www.thehindu.com / The Hindu / Home> News> National> Kerala / by A Correspondent / Thiruvananthapuram – December 25th, 2014
Dr Joshy John, known for his work in the field of HIV and AIDS, died at the age of 71. He was a consultant physician at the Chelsea and Westminster Hospital in London.
Dr John left for London in 1967 after graduating from the Thiruvananthapuram Medical College with a gold medal. Though he wanted to specialise in cardiology, Dr Mckee, the dean at the University of Edinburgh, convinced him to opt for one of the emerging areas. Dr John selected venereology.
He started practice at the St Bartholomew’s Hospital, the oldest hospital in Europe. By the time he obtained his M.D., HIV and AIDS had emerged as one of the biggest health threats of the century.
Dr John became an HIV specialist. He became a consultant physician within eight years. He travelled around the world and attended numerous conferences on AIDS.
A hectic period followed as a member of the Royal Society of Medicine in London, the director of the AIDS and STD clinic at St Albans City Hospital and honorary professor at Sheffield University and other institutions.
The UK government entrusted him with the duty of preparing a report on the AIDS clinics in the United States in 1984. He was instrumental in designing the four hi-tech AIDS/STD clinics in the UK.
Dr John was equally deft in carrying on with the legacy of language inherited from his father. He started a research centre named after Prof. Ulahannan Mappila in St. Berchmans College, Changanassery. He also started a research library in the college in memory of his daughter Mary Anne John Stuttgen, who died in an accident in 2009.
The library is unique in Kerala. Dr John scouted the universities and libraries of London for rare classics and first editions. He bought the original edition of John Milton’s Paradise Lost for Rs 1.5 lakh. He brought to the library a rare collection of dictionaries, including a copy of Dr Samuel Johnson’s first dictionary. The library cost Rs 1 crore. Of these books worth Rs 35 lakh came from London.
Dr John is survived by wife Tresa (Thangamani) and sons Jaison and James. The late Prof. Aniyamma Abraham, Dr Lisy Nair and Jordy John are his siblings.
source: http://www.english.manoramaonline.com / OnManorama / Home> News> Kerala / by Manorama Correspondent / Friday – December 19th, 2014
As ISRO successfully test-fired GSLV Mark III, two firms in the city are on cloud nine. Medium scale engineering firms based in Thiruvananthapuram — Kortas Industries and Intimate Machines Private Ltd — have been closely involved in the development and production of many of the key components of GSLV-Mark III. Thursday’s launch was an experimental suborbital flight of 630-tonne GSLC Mark III to validate its ability to carry heavier communication satellites and crew modules for future manned missions.
Kortas Industries at Kochuveli has supplied around 12 components for the mission. Intimate Machines Private Ltd, a small and medium enterprise in Manvila, has supplied a model of GSLV Mark III to ISRO in March last. The miniature model was precisely made for conducting wind tunnel test, a crucial prelaunch operation.
“One of the major components supplied by Kortas is flex seal assembly of the gigantic 200 tonne booster motor for its flex nozzle. This is the most critical item for controlling the mission trajectory,” said M Shahabudeen, MD of Kortas.
Kortas also supplied multi-layer thermal boots for two S200 boosters and L-110 engine, nozzle closure assembly with thermal protection cover for L-110 liquid engine, separation system hardware for S200 boosters, nose cone and AFT shroud assemblies of flexi nozzle control tanks, etc. “In case if the GSLV deviate from its trajectory, it has to be destructed before falling at inhabited locations. We have supplied destruction charge sheaths for S200 boosters which will destroy the vehicle on air,” he said. It has also supplied various other auxiliary and pyro systems of the vehicle.
Kortas Industries has been engaged in technology development and manufacturing of aerospace systems, mechanical systems and precision components for the last 14 years. It has earlier supplied critical systems and components for all satellite launch vehicles of ISRO such as Polar Satellite Launch Vehicles (PSLV), Chandrayaan and Mangalyaan missions.
Intimate Machines’ MD K C Sanjeev said that the successful launch of GSLV Mark III was a proud moment for them. The company has been associating with ISRO since 2006. After the Mars Orbiter Mission, ISRO had congratulated Intimate Machines for their role in the mission.
source: http://www.timesofindia.indiatimes.com / The Times of India / Home> City> Thiruvananthapuram / by Jisha Surya, TNN / December 19th, 2014
A documentary film on music composer M K Arjunan titled ‘Sangeethan: M K Arjunan’ and produced by Trivandrum Music Fraternity will be premiered at Kalabhavan Theatre here from 8.30 am on Monday.
The documentary directed by Sajeev Pazhoor portrays the life and work of Arjunan who has composed music for over 160 movies and will remind the viewers that the maestro is yet to be recognised with a state or national award, the makers of the film said. G Ashok Kumar is the executive producer of the documentary which has been completed in 10 schedules.
The Trivandrum Music Fraternity is a Thiruvananthapuram-based community for musicians that functions state wide. “The film will act as a medium to transfer the works and achievements of Arjunan master to the younger generation,” said Trivandrum Music Fraternity secretary O V Rapel.
source: http://www.newindianexpress.com / The New Indian Express / Home> Cities> Thiruvananthapuram / by Express News Service / December 22nd, 2014
Come March, and the country’s first technology business incubator in the private-public-partnership mode will launch its ‘mentoring calendar’ initiative. In the programme, IT stalwarts from the Silicon Valley and India’s leading Internet entrepreneurs will offer lesson plans to those incubated at the Startup Village here.
“This will be one of the major programmes to be launched in 2015. The aim is to provide the young founders of start-ups an opportunity to interact with mentors and learn from their rich experience,” said Pranav Kumar Suresh, Chief Executive Officer of Startup Village.
Explaining that the mentoring programme would be extended over a period of 10 weekends, Mr. Suresh pointed out that there were several issues that the young entrepreneurs needed to learn. “They may not know the intricacies of how to negotiate with an investor. Sometimes issues may crop up between a founder and co-founder or they may fall into a confused state after realising that the initial goals have not been met. Only a successful entrepreneur would be able to clear their doubts through the proposed face-to-face sessions,” he said.
Expanding space
Racing ahead of their expected target of incubating 1,000 start-ups in 10 years, the Startup Village will host 250 to 300 more ventures by next September.
Currently, over 50 start-ups are housed in the village located at the Technology Innovation Zone in the Kinfra Park. Work to add about 1.5 lakh sq.ft to the existing space is expected to be over in eight to nine months.
Chief Minister Oommen Chandy had recently opened an additional 10,000 sq.ft to the existing 15,000 sq.ft in the expanding incubator in view of the growing number of youngsters launching unique and innovative start-ups.
source: http://www.thehindu.com / The Hindu / Home> News> Cities> Kochi / by G. KrishnaKumar / Kochi – December 11th, 2014
The Malabar Botanical Garden in Kozhikode has taken up a project to set up a lichen conservatory to preserve and showcase the diversity of the plant that is widely used for many purposes, yet poorly understood by researchers.
A composite organism that emerges from a biological association of algae and fungus, lichens grow on rocks, trees and soil. As many as 2,450 species of lichen have been recorded in India, out of which about 1,000 are in the Western Ghats. Edible species are used by traditional communities for food and flavouring while many others are known to possess antibiotic, anti viral and anti cancer properties. A large number of lichens are found in high altitude forests.
R. Prakashkumar, Director, MBG, said the live lichen garden was envisaged as a facility to create better awareness about the species among students and researchers. The garden will seek to simulate the microclimatic conditions and natural habitat in which lichens survive in the wild. “It is a laborious and time- consuming process. For example, a lichen that grows on rock will have to be transplanted in the garden along with the same substrate”, he says.
Lichens are the least studied group among plants, says Stephen Sequeira, Assistant Professor in Botany, Government College, Chittoor. He points out that deforestation, habitat loss and unsustainable extraction as well as pollution and climate change were threatening wild populations of lichen.
In Attapady, tribals use lichen as food as well as to treat skin diseases and promote hair growth. Research laboratories across the world are studying the potential of lichen as a pharmaceutical and cosmetic agent. Pollutants like sulphur dioxide are known to damage lichens and inhibit their growth, making them natural indicators of pollution.
“In hill stations and tourist locations like Munnar, Wayanad, Ootty and Kodaikanal, unsustainable extraction from the wild has whittled down the number of lichens, threatening to wipe them out”, observes Mr.Sequeira. “The species is characterised by slow growth, sometimes only upto 2 mm per year, and hence regeneration fails to match the extraction rate”. Reintroduction of lichen prepared from tissue culture has not been successful.
Dr.Prakashkumar said the live garden would also focus on conservation of rare and endangered lichen species and bioprospecting to identify lichens with commercial value. Eminent agricultural scientist M.S. Swaminathan handed over the first lichen material for the garden at a function held in Kozhikode on December 10.
EOM/TNK—-
source: http://www.thehindu.com / The Hindu / Home> News> Cities> Thiruvananthapuram / by T. NandaKumar / Thiruvananthapuram – December 14th, 2014
