Monthly Archives: July 2015

Heritage, tucked away

Arts,Culture & Entertainment, Historical Links, Pre-Independence, Records, All
Model of a kitchen at a Kerala home exhibited at the Museum of History and Heritage inThiruvananthapuram. — Photo: S. Gopakumar
Model of a kitchen at a Kerala home exhibited at the Museum of History and Heritage inThiruvananthapuram. — Photo: S. Gopakumar

Cooking vessels line the hearth; firewood adds to its authenticity. Nearby sits an uppu marava (salt container), and at right, in a corner, is an ennakudam (oil pot). There are also a few spice boxes, in varying shapes, a couple of mulanazhi and a marakkal used to measure cereals, and a rectangular wooden vessel for collecting strained rice gruel water. This is how a 150-year-old Kerala kitchen is recreated at the Keralam – Museum of History and Heritage at Park View, near the Corporation office, in the city.

The museum does not see a significant footfall, unlike the Napier Museum or the Natural History Museum. On some days, it receives fewer than 30 visitors, mostly domestic tourists and those from abroad who are drawn by its mention on the must-see list in the Lonely Planet travel guide book. Doordarshan has also telecast a documentary on the museum.

Not many are aware of the museum. It is in a prime location, but is easily missed owing to inadequate signage. The display boards are not prominent enough, it is pointed out.

Space constraint

“The museum faces space constraints. It does not have seating arrangements for families to relax during or after a tour,” says museum Executive Director S. Raimon.

Prem P. Mahesh, guide-lecturer at the museum, blames paucity of parking space. Vehicles have to be parked at the museum and zoo parking space opposite, or along the road to Nanthancode or Kanakakkunnu. A common ticket for both the zoo and the heritage museum will attract more visitors, it is pointed out.

“Museums usually have the concept of a cafe. This museum does not have one,” Mr. Raimon says. There is a Tourism Department canteen, but it is not exclusively for the museum’s visitors.

Night museum

Many suggested keeping the museum open till 8 p.m. “One finds such night museums in the West,” Mr. Raimon says.

The museum at present receives groups of schoolchildren towards the fag end of the year, courtesy visits by its authorities to schools.

Target groups

However, it is also looking at improved visibility among groups such as the Technopark staff.

It plans to reach out to them through online campaigns and exhibiting its photos and brochures. “We are planning to hold such an exhibition during Onam,” Mr. Raimon says.

The museum is keen on attracting more visitors. “This will address the issue of fund shortage, and the future of the museum as a self-sustaining unit will be secure,” Mr. Mahesh says.

source: http://www.thehindu.com / The Hindu / Home> News> Cities> Thiruvananthapuram / by R.K. Roshni / Thiruvananthapuram – July 10th, 2015

A visionary who was misunderstood in his native land

Business & Economy, Leaders, Science & Technology, World Opinion

Kannur :

K P P Nambiar, renowned technocrat and founding chairman of Kerala State Electronics Development Corporation Limited (Keltron), will be cremated in his native village Kalliassery on Thursday. He died of age-related illnesses on Tuesday evening in his Bangalore residence, where he had settled after leaving Kerala.

Later, after a brief stint abroad, he returned to India on the invitation of the then Prime Minister Jawahar Lal Nehru. Later he came to Kerala on the state government’s request and played a pivotal role in the setting up of Keltron in 1973. While establishing Keltron, Nambiar chose his native place for establishing a major unit.

“Keltron was actually a dream project for Nambiar and he put in lot of energy to realize his dream,” reminisced writer and activist Karivellur Murali, who was a store manager in the Keltron unit in the district. “Though the unit in Kannur, which he set up along with the headquarters in Thiruvananthapuram, is the biggest capacitor manufacturer in Asia and known for its quality, Keltron is unable to market it properly due to the policies of the central government,” he said, adding that it would have been a different story for the ailing enterprise had he been there at the helm of Keltron.

Nambiar’s dreams were not limited to electronics. “When Keltron’s component making unit was established in Kannur, he was concerned about the power problems here and wanted to set up a power project,” said industrialist and exporter C Jayachandran.

“He had even identified 190 acres at Irinavu for the project. However, there was stiff opposition from residents and politicians and meanwhile the business partner for the project, Enron, also got entangled in controversies and it ultimately killed the project. The land was later identified for the Indian Coast Guard Academy.

He had big dreams for Kannur but it did not take off because the community and political leadership failed to understand his vision,” he said.

In a sense, his decision to leave Kerala was a political statement on the state of affairs here, feel those who knew him. Though Kannur University conferred him with DLitt in August 2013, Nambiar could not make it and the honour was received by his wife Umadevi.

source: http://www.timesofindia.indiatimes.com / The Times of India / Home> City> Kozhikode / TNN / July 02nd, 2015

Museum set to return Dalawa’s sword

Arts,Culture & Entertainment, Historical Links, Pre-Independence, Records, All

Thiruvananthapuram :

The legendary sword of Velu Thambi Dalawa, the ruler of erstwhile Travancore, which has drawn visitors in great numbers to Napier Museum will be returned to the National Museum, New Delhi. The museum officials have received a formal order to hand over the sword.

The archaeology department under ministry of culture had earlier received a communication from the Centre demanding that the sword be returned to National Museum.

G Premkumar, director of archaeology department, said that the order has already been issued. “The sword was brought to the state as loan from National Museum. We received a communication as per the direction from the President of India stating that the sword should be returned,” said Premkumar.

A team has been assigned by the National Museum to transport the sword from the state to New Delhi. B Joseph ,director of museum and zoos, said that the museum administration was entrusted with the task to conserve and display the sword and it will now be returned.

The sword had been in possession of Kilimanoor royal family till 1957 when it was handed over to the then President Rajendra Prasad and then taken to National Museum.

The state government had been renewing yearly insurance for the sword and the period expires on Thursday. As per the records, Dalawa who had been in hiding during the late 1800s, reached Kilimanoor Palace where he had supper at the oottupura. In return for the hospitality and refuge, Dalawa offered his sword with a condition that it shall never reach the hands of English East India Company. The palace members kept the word and hid the sword among the immense weaponry maintained at the palace. A few days after Dalawa took refuge in Kilimanoor palace he stabbed himself to death at the Bhagavathi temple at Mannadi near Adoor.

According to Shankunni Menon, the author of Aithihyamala, the Dalawa asked his brother to stab him, which his brother refused to, following which the Dalawa stabbed himself. Since the self-inflicted wound did not prove mortal, he cried out to his brother ‘cut my neck,’ and the brother in one stroke severed the neck from the body.

source:  http://www.timesofindia.indiatimes.com / The Times of India / Home> Cities> Thiruvananthapuram / by Aswin J.Kumar, TNN / July 08th, 2015

HIDDEN HISTORIES – House of memories

Arts,Culture & Entertainment, Historical Links, Pre-Independence, Inspiration/ Positive News and Features, Records, All, Travel

Pokku Moosa Maraykkar was a prosperous merchant of Poovar who had close links with the royals of erstwhile Travancore. 

Pokku Moosa Maraykkar, a Muslim merchant who was instrumental in introducing young Kesava Pillai to Karthika Tirunal Rama Varma, is a name that is seldom remembered in popular history. Kesava Pillai began as an accountant in Pokku Moosa Maraykkar’s warehouse. Later, he became a trusted officer to the royals and rose to the position of Dewan. It is said that Raja Kesavadas, as he was later known, had a special place in his heart for his early mentor’s family.

Although Pokku Moosa Maraykkar’s name is often associated with Raja Kesavadas, it seems that Maraykkar was an important person who had sided with Marthanda Varma during one of the most turbulent phase in the history of erstwhile Travancore.

According to local lore, Pokku Moosa was a member of Valiya Kallaraikkal Veedu, a prominent family of traders who operated from Thengapattanam and Poovar. In 1918 A.D., Amshi K. Raman Pillai wrote about Raja Kesavadas and his association with Kallaraikkal Veedu.

Pillai is of the opinion that Maraykkar was the one who supplied goods to Valiya Kottaram in Thiruvananthapuram, and through this connection the merchant entered into the good books of the royals.

he existing wing of the old Kallaraikkal Veedu in Poovar./ Photo: Sharat Sunder Rajeev / The Hindu
he existing wing of the old Kallaraikkal Veedu in Poovar./ Photo: Sharat Sunder Rajeev / The Hindu

Kallaraikkal Veedu, the ancient house of Pokku Moosa, was a landmark structure in Poovar. This structure has now been replaced by a concrete structure. However, local residents still associate the house with Marthanda Varma. It is said that when Marthanda Varma was hounded by the Ettuvettil Pillamar, he had once sought refuge at the Kallaraikkal Veedu in Poovar. Later, after he vanquished his enemies, Marthanda Varma bestowed the family with honours. The patriarchs of the family were granted the title of ‘Maraykkar’, and thereafter they were considered as nobles in their community.

Kallaraikkal family had a branch in Thengapattanam, where an old well, supposedly dug following the order of Raja Kesavadas, was spotted by Amshi K. Raman Pillai.

The ancient buildings associated with the family, unfortunately, fell prey to modernisation.

In Poovar, a stone’s throw away from the site of the Valiya Kallaraikkal Veedu is located a house of a family member who is struggling to keep up with the changing times.

“This house is more than 150 years old,” says Hassan Kannu who occupies the house. According to Hassan Kannu, in olden days the Kallaraikkal family owned many edifices in the locality and his house is perhaps one of the last to survive.

“This house had seen better days when my ancestors had enjoyed royal patronage,” says Hassan, “I still remember my elder brother’s nikâh, when a horse adorned with silver ornaments was sent from the royal stable to take the groom for the procession,” he adds. This tradition has been recorded by Raman Pillai in an article.

Pillared verandah opening to the inner yard of the existing wing of the old Kallaraikkal Veedu in Poovar /. Photo: Sharat Sunder Rajeev / The Hindu
Pillared verandah opening to the inner yard of the existing wing of the old Kallaraikkal Veedu in Poovar /. Photo: Sharat Sunder Rajeev / The Hindu

The old house, Hassan explains, still retains some traces of its glorious past. The main entrance, a thick wooden door, opens to a spacious yard, with wide verandahs on either side. “Only a small fraction of the house still exists, the padippura, the nalakam, the courtyard wing, and other associated structures have been demolished to make way for new constructions,” says Hassan.

“I don’t know for how long I will be able to maintain the house, but I will do my best,” he adds with a smile.

[The author is a conservation architect and history buff]

source: http://www.thehindu.com / The Hindu / Home> Features> MetroPlus> Hidden Histories / by Sharat Sunder Rajeev / Thiruvananthapuram – July 03rd, 2015

Three from Ernakulam figure in top 500 ranklist

Education, Records, All

Kochi  :

When UPSC civil services examination results were announced on Saturday, Ernakulam had its share of joy when threeresidents secured ranks in the top 500 list.

Sarayu K M, who secured rank 220, was the topper in the district. Bhavika Mangalanandan of Elamkulam and Satheesh V Menon of Maradu secured 249 and 342 ranks.

Sarayu (23) secured the rank in her first attempt and she is thankful to the Cusat librarian who helped her to achieve her dream. She started her coaching a year ago after she completed her BTech in civil engineering from M A College in Kothamangalam.

“Librarian Beena Cherukunnathu helped me to get magazines, allowed me to browse the internet and provided a lot of books to read. I studied in a Malayalam medium school. During school days, I found that many of my classmates belong to poor families and saw their struggles. So I wanted to serve the society. I believed, I can ace the exam,” she said. Malayalam was her optional subject.

Bhavika Mangalanandan secured the rank in her third attempt and her aim is to get into the IFS. “After completing MTech from IIT Delhi, I worked in Bangalore for some time. Though my mother is a government employee, she is very much involved in social service, especially women empowerment. Her involvement in social service influenced me to take up civil service,” she said adding that she did her coaching in Thiruvananthapuram. Geography was her optional subject.

Satheesh, son of a daily-wage worker, dreams of joining the IFS and he said he has a plan to achieve his goal in his next attempt. “I give coaching in engineering and medical entrance to students. I got secretariat assistant and high court assistant posts, but IFS is my ultimate aim,” he said.

source: http://www.timesofindia.indiatimes.com /  The Times of India / Home> City> Kochi / TNN / July 05th,  2015

Book unravels several mysteries of the sea

Arts,Culture & Entertainment, Historical Links, Pre-Independence, Records, All, Travel

The book ‘Kadalarivukalum Neranubhavangalum’, authored by marine researcher Robert Panipillai, can be regarded a treasure trove of information on the fishing community and the vast traditional knowledge they possess.

Many mysteries of the Thiruvananthapuram coast are unravelled in the 155-page book through extensive research that was undertaken by the author over a period of around 15 years. Particularly engaging is the chapter that has findings on the Dutch ship that sank off the Varkala coast in 1754.

A team led by Mr. Panipillai, which included two divers, conducted the expedition from Anchuthengu (or Anjengo) earlier this year to find the wreckage of the ship, nearly 9.7 km northwest of Anchuthengu at a depth of 43 metres.

The ship was later identified as ‘Wimmenum’ (named after a place in Holland) of the Dutch East India Company, as per information obtained by the researcher through archived documents in the Netherlands. The ship had been built in the Amsterdam wharf in 1752. It sank after being attacked by ‘Angrians’, believed to have been a group of pirates, in the Malabar coast, as per the Dutch archives. The ship had a crew of 356 members.

Visuals that were obtained by Mr. Panipillai during the expedition found the wreck to be home to a large number of varieties of marine species. It had a length of around 8 metres, while the archived documents showed that the ship had a length of 42.25 metres and weighed 1,150 tonnes.

The book also traces the link that ship had with the ‘Dutch Bell’, made of brass, at the Janardhana Swamy Temple in Varkala.

The bell, which has been found to have been made from Wimmenum, has the inscriptions of Michael Everhard, who was a soldier aboard the ‘Wimmenum’ ship, and of Pieter van Belson, a person who hailed from Middelburg in the Netherlands and had manufactured the bell.

“Several facts that have been obtained for the preparation of the book were from local fishermen. It was a matter of shame that the traditional knowledge of the community remained largely ignored by scientists and others in positions of authority. I hope the book serves to ensure that the authorities regard fishermen in an entirely new light and appreciate the vast knowledge they possessed regarding marine life,” Mr. Panipillai told The Hindu .

The book, which has been published by Current Books, was jointly released by Thomas, a fishermen, and Thiruvananthapuram Archbishop M. Soosa Pakiam, here on Saturday. Among the other attractive features of the book are the images of marine species and also those that reflect upon the lives of fishermen.

source: http://www.thehindu.com / The Hindu / Home> News> Cities> Thiruvananthapuram / by Sarath Babu George / Thiruvananthapuram – July 05th, 2015

Squash Finally Arrived in Kerala

Records, All, Sports

Squash has finally arrived in Kerala.

Technically a national level competition in squash took place in the state last year as part of the National Games.

But this will be the first time that a national championship will be hosted by Kerala.

The 63rd edition of the senior national championship is to be held at the modern air-conditioned Chandrasekharan Nair squash stadium in Thiruvananthapuram from July 7 to 12.

The squash facility at the Kerala Police’s Chandrasekharan Nair stadium has three singles courts and one for doubles events. It has a seating capacity for 3000 people.

source: http://www.newindianexpress.com / The New Indian Express / Home> Sport / by Express News Service / July 06th, 2015

Brennan College conferred special heritage status

Arts,Culture & Entertainment, Education, Historical Links, Pre-Independence, Records, All

Kannur :

In what can be termed yet another feather in the cap of this illustrious institution, Government Brennen College, Thalassery, has been accorded special heritage status by the University Grants Commisson (UGC). The college, which is celebrating its 125th anniversary this year, has been sanctioned Rs 1.5 crore for the conservation of valuable articles of historic and archaeological importance.

“We have received a communique in this connection from the UGC. The recognition and financial support would go a long way in preserving several articles of historic significance in the college dating back to the colonial period,” said principal P M Ismail. “Every department in this historic college has something or the other, including rare furniture, and they need to be preserved.”

As a start, the college plans to set up a small museum on its campus. Later, steps would be taken to preserve vintage buildings, too. “From the specimens and microscope in the zoology department to various other articles and documents in other departments, the college is a treasure trove that needs to be preserved for posterity,” said Valsalan A, head of the history department, who took the initiative – along with colleagues Dinesan V, Gireesh Vishnu Namboodiri and Sudheer Kumar P – to obtain UGC aid as part of recommendations in the 12th Plan.

The college, incidentally, also houses the remains of a fort on its campus, which has been described as a redoubt (temporary fortification) in William Logan’s Malabar Manual. This too needs to be protected, Valsalan said. Since there are limitations to use the UGC aid for this purpose, their plan is to approach the Archaeological Survey of India (ASI) in the coming days, he said.

The college was established in 1862 by Edward Brennen, a master attendant at Thalassery port, as a free school in Thalassery town. Later, in 1890, it was elevated to the status of a II-Grade College, and was shifted in 1958 to the new building at Dharmadam. In 2011, the college was accredited by the National Assessment and Accreditation Council with A-grade.

Now, with this rare accomplishment, the college plans to organize a year-long 125th anniversary celebration, which would be finalized later, the principal said.

source: http://www.timesofindia.indiatimes.com / The Times of India / Home> City> Kozhikode / by P. Sudhakaran, TNN / July 04th, 2015

Black tiger shrimp to become the new vannamei

Business & Economy
Tiger shrimps displayed for sale at Fort Kochi.— Photo: K.K. Mustafah
Tiger shrimps displayed for sale at Fort Kochi.— Photo: K.K. Mustafah

Native breed to step up national seafood business

Indian seafood business is on the verge of a major transformation, like the one ushered in by the exotic vannamei shrimp, with scientists at Rajiv Gandhi Centre for Aquaculture, Chennai, closing in on a stock of domesticated, disease-free black tiger shrimp, native to Indian waters.

“We are into the sixth generation of SPF tiger shrimp and trial farming in Odisha and Kerala, using bio-secure enclosures, has produced good results,” said an official of Marine Products Export Development Authority here on Thursday. He said that commercial-scale aquaculture using genetically-improved black tiger shrimp should be on in about five years. With it, black tiger shrimp will join Atlantic salmon, Pacific vannamei and unisex tilapia in the roster of genetically-improved varieties. SPF stocks are capable of doubling productivity, said the official pointing out what it meant to the seafood export business in the country.

Genetically improved, farmed tilapia yield is near five tonnes per hectare; vannamei yield is 3.5 to five tonnes and black tiger shrimp yield has been three tonnes. Farmers get Rs. 300 a kg of 30-count vannamei and the price of tiger shrimp is higher.

Besides a surge in production, acquiring a genetic base for aquaculture means more eco-friendly, sustainable business, he said.

source: http://www.thehindu.com / The Hindu / Home> News> Cities> Kochi / by K. A. Martin / Kochi – July 03rd, 2015

‘A visionary who was meted out unfair treatment’

Leaders, Records, All, Science & Technology

Thiruvananthapuram :

In 2003, a packed Senate chamber in the city witnessed a rare event that had just two speakers – both non politicians – F C Kohli, father of Indian IT, and Vijay Bhatkar, Padma Bhushan award winner. Policitians, including K R Gowri Amma and P K Vasudevan Nair, sat in the front row among the audience. All eyes were on a man in the wheelchair, K P P Nambiar, the visionary behind the establishment of Keltron and Technopark. The occasion was his 75th birthday.

The function is still vivid in the memories of Technopark founder CEO R Vijayaraghavan, who strongly feel that KPP could do a lot more and that his illness was the result of unfair treatment meted out by the state. “A vigilance inquiry was ordered against him out of political vendetta. This happened because he refused to bribe a prominent politician for KPP’s prestigious Kannur Power Project. He had put much effort into the project, incurring substantial debt,” he recollected.

“What is surprising is that the inquiry was forwarded by the then chief minister based on an anonymous letter which just said ‘inquire against KPP and Keltron’. The vigilance department informed the government that no inquiry could be made against individuals, but only against allegations. Then, another anonymous letter with various allegations against KPP was forwarded to the department. Several people, including those whom KPP had helped a lot, raised false accusations against him. Recognitions like the Padma Bhushan got delayed due to this. The inquiry was dropped during the tenure of the last UDF government. KPP had written about this controversial phase in his book ‘Saphalam Kalapabharitam’, but most of its copies were destroyed. The book I have with me has that portion edited out,” he said.

Former senior business development manager of Technopark, M Vasudevan, recollected KPP’s contribution of KPP as the secretary of the electronics department in the Rajiv Gandhi ministry. “When IBM was banned in the country in the mid-1980s, TCS decided to import large IBM mainframes worth $5 million. But the government refused. TCS gave a guarantee that it would generate four times that amount in three years from software exports. Nevertheless, the firm had to approach KPP, who understood its significance and took up the matter with the concerned ministries and obtained approval,” Vasudevan remembered.

Vijayaraghavan said KPP was a man of great memory who was not afraid of anyone. “Once he had an argument with one of the Cabinet members in the Rajiv Gandhi government. He walked out from the meeting, but went to meet Rajiv Gandhi himself and got a favourable decision,” he said.

Technopark CEO K G Girish Babu described Nambiar as a brave visionary. “He was one of those rare non-IAS men who singlehandedly fought against the IAS lobby in the government. Today we organized an internal meeting of Technopark officials and shared our memories,” Babu said, before leaving for KPP’s funeral.

Chief minister Oommen Chandy condoled the death of K P P Nambiar. He directed that the funeral be conducted with full state honours in Kannur on Thursday.

source: http://www.timesofindia.indiatimes.com / The Times of India / Home> City> Thiruvananthapuram / by Jisha Surya, TNN / July 02nd, 2015