Monthly Archives: September 2015

Book on Kerala’s Cultural Symbols Launched at KMB

Arts,Culture & Entertainment, Records, All
Writer Sethu handing over ‘Virali Pattu, Valampiri Shankhu, Kannadi Bimbam’ to Biennale director of Programmes Riyas Komu. Artist Balan Nambiar and writer-journalist Jose Panachippuram are also seen
Writer Sethu handing over ‘Virali Pattu, Valampiri Shankhu, Kannadi Bimbam’ to Biennale director of Programmes Riyas Komu. Artist Balan Nambiar and writer-journalist Jose Panachippuram are also seen

For the past four decades, veteran artist Balan Nambiar has been researching on three key religious and cultural symbols of Kerala. Now, their key features found compilation as a book that was launched at a function at the ongoing Kochi-Muziris Biennale (KMB).

‘Virali Pattu, Valampiri Shankhu, Kannadi Bimbam’ was released at KMB ‘14 ‘History Now’ event last weekend, when writer Sethu handed over a copy of the multi-colour work to Biennale director of Programmes Riyas Komu. The book has been translated into Malayalam by writer-journalist Jose Panachippuram.

The tastefully published work looks at the history of the three iconic objects and their cultural and artistic evolution. The ‘virali pattu’ is a silk double ikat or Patola textile, which was traditionally hand-woven in Gujarat, Maharashtra and Karnataka. It has been used for centuries in Kerala as garments by priests, theyyam dancers and to clothe deities. Even in the kalam art portraying Bhagavathy, the goddess is depicted wearing the distinctive ‘virali pattu’ design.

“The weavers calculated the design through the warp and weft as if on a mental computer,” said Bengaluru-based Nambiar, who is a native of North Malabar.

“It was believed that silk cloth was unpolluted; so it was ideal for ritual use. Today, there are only five Jain families in Gujarat who still possess the weaving skills,” the 77-year-old artist noted at a function in Aspinwall House, the main KMB’14 venue, at Fort Kochi.

The ‘valampiri shanku’ is a sacred Hindu conch, in which spiral twists right when the spout is pointed up.  Nambiar, who is from Kannapuram near Kannur, has exhibited at the Venice Biennale, has used this and the ‘kannadi bimbam’ as inspirations in his many sculptural works, which have been exhibited around Europe and in India. The ‘kannadi bimbam’ is a metal mirror used as the deity in some temples in upstate Kerala, where devotees meditate upon their own reflection.

Sethu, also former chairman of the National Book Trust, suggested that the internationally renowned artist was giving back to his home-state through the book.

“It is sad that he has not got due recognition in Kerala, where none of his sculptures are exhibited,” he said. “But through this book, he is giving back stories of our tradition to our people.”

The evening ended with artist Shiva Shankaran rendering songs from the medieval ‘vadakkan pattu’ (ballads from north Malabar), which makes reference to the ‘virali pattu’ in the context of a baby’s cradle, and in the dressing up rituals of warriors’ Thacholi Othenan and Unniarcha.

source:  http://www.newindianexpress.com / The New Indian Express / Home> States> Kerala / by Express Features / March 27th, 2015

Kannur flew, way before its first airport

Business & Economy, Historical Links, Pre-Independence, Records, All, Travel

Kannur :

Kannur is all set to take wings with authorities of the Kannur International Airport burning the midnight oil to ensure that commercial operations at the airport begin by mid-2016.

However, this will not be the region’s first brush with airline operations. Not many know that the first flight to the state had landed in this cantonment town – decades before the Kannur airport was conceptualized. The DH83 Fox Moth aircraft of Tata Airlines was the maiden flight of that operator to Kerala, under the patronage of Maharaja Chithira Thirunal, the last king of Travancore.

The operator started the service to Kerala on October 29, 1935, after the frequency of the Karachi-Madras flight, was increased to twice a week in 1934, according to the website of Tata. The weekly service between Bombay and Trivandrum had stops at Goa and Cannanore. Though Kannur was not a commercial stop, the small aircraft had to land here for refuelling. It was the time of the British reign and Kannur cantonment had an airstrip as the military headquarters here used to have several airmail from Bombay.

“The first passengers were JRD Tata’s colleague Jal Naoroji and the well-known Bombay merchant Seth Kanji Dwarkadas, the latter wearing a traditional dhoti, a long black dagalo coat and a small black cap,” the website says.

Seeing the flight was nothing short of a great spectacle and children in the town went as if they were going to watch a festival, remembered Captain Krishnan Nair in his autobiography ‘Krishna Leela’.

“It was in the Fort Ground that the aircraft landed… and even now that feeling of wonder is in my heart. The ‘Pushapakavimana’ we heard of in the epics is here in the Kannur Fort Ground, we said in mind. We kids shouted and some of us wanted to touch it. But since there were security personnel there we couldn’t,” wrote Captain Krishnan Nair in his autobiography ‘Krishna Leela’.

The flight put Kannur on India’s airline map though it had no airport, according to Madhu Kayarat a former employee with Peirce & Leslie, the ticketing agent for Tata’s air service.

“And if the information I got from my seniors at Peirce & Leslie is correct, the first flight had birthday greeting for the Maharaja from Lord Willingdon, the viceroy, and a copy of The Times of India, making the most prominent daily newspaper in the country available to a Malayali reader on the day of its printing,” he said.

source: http://www.timesofindia.indiatimes.com / The Times of India / News Home> City> Kozhikode / by P. Sudhakaran, TNN / September 14th, 2015

Take a sip, thumb through at leisure

Arts,Culture & Entertainment

BookshopKERALA16sept2015

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

This year on, IFFK to host 15,000 delegates

Arts,Culture & Entertainment, World Opinion

Noted auteur Shaji N. Karun will be the director of the forthcoming edition of the festival.

Film festival to host 15,000 delegates; efforts on to become Asia’s largest

From this year onwards, there will be 15,000 delegates at the International Film Festival of Kerala, a good 5,000 more than the limit kept at present, Minister for Cinema Thiruvanchoor Radhakrishnan said.

A three-day workshop will also be held alongside the festival from this year onwards to facilitate interaction between international film personalities and those in the field from the State, Mr. Radhakrishnan told the media after holding discussions with representatives of film organisations in the State here on Monday.

A temporary open air theatre will be readied at Kanakakunnu Palace near the museum in Thiruvananthapuram in view of the increase in the number of delegates. The idea is to convert IFFK into the most widely-participated film festival in Asia, he said. Noted auteur Shaji N. Karun will be the director of the forthcoming edition of the festival, slated to get under way on December 4.

A book on yesteryear director Vincent that was curated by director Hariharan will be released at the fest.

Director K.G. George will be presented this year’s Masters Award instituted by FEFKA. Organisations from the film industry have come forward to sponsor awards in popular cinema segment in connection with the fest from next year onwards, the minister said.

The purpose of the fest is not just to facilitate film lovers to watch quality films, but also to ensure that those in the industry from the State also benefit from it.

“Workshops are organised from this year with this aim. The workshops will be centred on topics like screenplay, editing, direction and the like. Organisations in the film field will elect representatives for participation in these workshops.

Steering committees, comprising representatives of six organisations from the industry, have been formed to take a final call on topics at the workshop.

The committees will meet at Thiruvananthapuram on September 22.”

source: http://www.thehindu.com / The Hindu / Home> National> Kerala / by Special Correspondent / September 15th, 2015

Artificial pancreas to keep blood sugar in check

Amazing Feats, Inspiration/ Positive News and Features, Records, All, Science & Technology

Thiruvananthapuram  :

A 53-year-old man, who was diabetic for the past 18 years, became the first patient in south India to have an artificial pancreas after a successful procedure at Jothydev’s Diabetes Research Centre in Thiruvananthapuram. The first generation artificial pancreas, 640 G, was implanted earlier this month. Artificial pancreas was first tried on a four-year-old Australian boy who had type-one diabetes in January this year.

Dr Jothydev Kesavadev, who heads the centre, said that the 640 G is a network of devices that includes a device for continuous glucose monitoring and an insulin delivery system that are connected wirelessly. “In type-one diabetes and in many type-two cases, the biggest challenge is to keep the sugar level normal and avoiding hypoglycaemia or low sugar. It is a major cause for patient deaths in diabetes and a major reason for treatment failure. 640 G comes with an innovative technology where the pump will predict an impending low sugar 30 minutes in advance and automatically shutdown to prevent a low sugar episode. This system has automatic sensor to assess impending drop of blood sugar – say 60 – even when sugar level is 100. The pump will resume functioning once the sugar level is normal,” he said.

The device – which is almost the size of an iPhone – can be attached to the stomach, buttock of kids or on thighs of patients wearing dhoti. Insulin must be refilled every three days. 640G is so unique that the device need not be removed even while bathing or swimming. A tiny remote control, the contour meter helps glucose monitoring, insulin infusion and wireless communication between devices. The device is painless and ideal for kids,” said Dr Kesavadev.

“When insulin was founded in 1922, it was big remedy. But sudden change in sugar level remained a challenge. About 80-95 % of diabetes patients experience sudden change is sugar level. Either they get admitted for hypoglycaemia or for high sugar by eating sugar to control the sudden drop. This could be prevented if there is a device like 640 G,” he said.

The device is priced at Rs 5 to 6 lakh and entails a recurring monthly expense of Rs 10,000-20,000. However, the doctor said that it was cost-effective considering the cost for a pancreas transplant and related treatment.

source:  http://www.timesofindia.indiatimes.com / The Times of India / News Home> City> Thiruvananthapuram / by Jisha Surya, TNN / September 14th, 2015

Assumption College Overall Winners of College Games

Education, Sports
Athira Sasi, of Alphonsa College, Pala, who won gold in women’s 1,500 m race in the Ninth College Games 2015 at SAI-LNCPE, Kariavattom in Thiruvananthapuram on Friday | B P Deepu
Athira Sasi, of Alphonsa College, Pala, who won gold in women’s 1,500 m race in the Ninth College Games 2015 at SAI-LNCPE, Kariavattom in Thiruvananthapuram on Friday | B P Deepu

Thiruvananthapuram  :

Chief Minister Oommen Chandy on Friday said the success of Kerala athletes in the 35th National Games has proved that they can scale great heights with confidence and hard work.

Chandy was speaking at the valedictory function of the 9th College Games 2015 held at the Sports-Authority of India – Lakshmibai National College of Physical Education (SAI-LNCPE) in Kariavattom.

“Kerala is adopting all possible measures to help its sportspersons to train and perform. In the last four year, the state government has spent around Rs 18 crore on complimentary prizes for athletes and around 300 athletes have been recruited under the sports quota to government services,” he said.

“We are in the final stages of giving jobs to another 150 athletes who made Kerala proud in the last National Games,” he said. “The National Games was a huge challenge organisation-wise as well as sporting-wise and we have proved ourselves,” he said. Chandy congratulated the Kerala State Sports Council and participants of the College Games  for the success of the three-day event. “I hope all the athletes will be able to come up to expectations,” he said.

Sports Council president Padmini Thomas said  the quality of the Games has increased this year with the sheer number of new meet records set. “I am happy that plenty of those records were broken by trainees from the Council’s college hostels,” she said.

The Chief Minister distributed prizes to the winners of the College Games, including to the overall winners Assumption College, Changanassery, who defended their Games title. Assumption were also champions in the women’s section while St Thomas College, Pala, took the honour in the men’s division. The closing ceremony also featured a band display from students of Sainik School, Kazhakootam and a march-past by the participating teams.

source: http://www.newindianexpress.com / The New Indian Express / Home> Cities> Thiruvananthapuram / by Express News Service / September 12th, 2015