Monthly Archives: May 2016

Kalaripayattu eyes Olympics berth

The growing popularity of Kalaripayattu has triggered hopes that the sport form could find a berth in the Olympics sooner than later.

The martial art form, widely practised in Kerala, has quietly grown into a popular sports form among enthusiasts, said V.A. Shiad, national secretary of the Indian Kalaripayattu Federation.

He said that around 1,000 participants from 24 States had arrived in Kochi for the fourth national championship beginning at the Rajiv Gandhi Indoor Stadium in the city. The competitions are scheduled to start at 10 a.m. on Monday.

The national championships got under way in 2013 as a small affair but have grown in popularity. Ranjan Mullaratt, who is the Kalari guru for the 19-member team from Karnataka, said that Kalaripayattu was getting popular in centres like Bangalore. He said that young people were keen to take up the martial art form and it was gaining ground fast.

The popularity of the sports form has spread internationally too. There are registered Kalaripyattu federations in 32 countries now. Once the number of countries with registered federations goes up to 40, the Kalaripayattu can vie for space in the Olympics competitions.

The national championships are conducted under age categories and there are separate sections of competitions such as Meypayattu, Chuvadu, Urumi, Vaalpayattu, freehand fight and Vadipayattu.

source: http://www.thehindu.com / The Hindu / Home> National> Kerala / by Special Correspondent / May 23rd, 2016

New look for Tangasseri lighthouse

Tourist attraction:Abseilers giving a fresh coat of paint to the Tangasseri Lighthouse in Kollam city.
Tourist attraction:Abseilers giving a fresh coat of paint to the Tangasseri Lighthouse in Kollam city.

The 114-year-old, 135-foot-tall structure is getting a fresh coat of paint

The 114-year-old iconic Tangasseri point lighthouse will soon sport a fresh look.

Painters have begun work to provide a fresh coat to the spiral red and white day mark stripes of the landmark lighthouse. Contractors say that if the weather is fine, the work could be finished in two days.

Painting the 135-foot-tall lighthouse, the biggest on the Kerala coast, is not an easy job.

It has to be done from top to bottom rather than bottom to top and it is impossible to put scaffolding around. So the work is being done by two abseilers.

Since the dimensions of the stripes have to be strictly maintained, the work will be a slow process.

The inside of the lighthouse is also being painted.

The work on directions from the Directorate of Lighthouses and Lightships is part of a process to give a facelift to the Tangasseri lighthouse complex.

The lighthouse was last painted in 1910, said Salim Jose, the head light keeper.

The grand old lady of Tangasseri had her origin as a raised column with an oil lamp built by the British East India Company at the same site during the mid-19th century.

The purpose was to guide their merchant vessels that came from the Malabar Coast to Anjengo (now Anchuthengu) and went further down to enter the Bay of Bengal via Ceylon.

The present structure, also erected by the British, was commissioned on March 1, 1902.

Mariners now identified the Tangasseri light house with its distinctive character of three flashes every 15 seconds, said Mr. Jose.

Visitors are allowed to go up the lighthouse everyday from 10 a.m. to 5 p.m.

They have to climb a spiral staircase comprising 193 steps to reach the lantern room.

The entry fee is Rs.10 for an adult and Rs.3 for a child. From the gallery on top, one could get a majestic aerial view of Kollam city and beyond.

Painting the lighthouse, the biggest on the Kerala coast, is not an easy job.

source: http://www.thehindu.com / The Hindu / Home> National> Kerala / by Special Correspondent / Kollam – May 23rd, 2016

12-year-old California student ready to start university

A 12-year-old Sacramento student who already has three community college degrees and has been accepted to two University of California campuses says he plans on studying biomedical engineering and becoming a doctor and medical researcher by the time he turns 18.

Tanishq Abraham has been accepted to UC Davis and received a regents scholarship to UC Santa Cruz, but he has yet to decide which university he’ll attend, reported Sacramento television station CBS yesterday.

“I think I’ll be 18 when I get my MD,” he said.

Tanishq started community college at age 7 and last year he received associate’s degrees from American River College, a community college in Sacramento, in general science; math and physical science; and foreign language studies.

Professors at the college didn’t initially want him in their classes because of his age. But finally a professor agreed to let him attend if his mother, a doctor of veterinary medicine, also took the class. “There were times when I had to explain general relativity and special relativity to my mom,” he said.

Biology professor Marlene Martinez said he was never afraid to ask lot of questions. “In lecture he would always pop up with ‘so, does that mean …’ or ‘what about this?’ ” Martinez said.

Tanishq, who joined the IQ society Mensa at a tender age of 4 has always picked up knowledge quickly, his father, Bijou Abraham, told NBC News.

“We tested him and discovered that he was pretty smart,” he said. “We were surprised when we started giving him advanced stuff and he was picking it up really fast.”

Tanishq says child geniuses are often seen as odd. “When you think of a genius, you think of a mad scientist kind of thing,” he said.

But he pointed out he’s just an ordinary kid who likes learning and microscopes but also playing video games. “I just think learning is fun,” Tanishq said.

source: http://www.thehindu.com / The Hindu / Home> International / PTI / Sacramento – May 23rd, 2016

‘Neera man’ Jose steps down after an eventful term

T.K. Jose
T.K. Jose

Jose helped set up new coconut farmer producer companies, besides turning around old ones

‘Neera man’ T.K. Jose, who helped bring the sweet drink made from coconut flowers out of the shackles of the Abkari Act to unleash its commercial potential, steps down as Chairman of the Coconut Development Board this week after an eventful tenure.

Over the last more than five years, Mr. Jose helped create new coconut farmer producer companies and turn around the old ones. He was instrumental in forming an army of coconut technicians, including Neera tappers, and tree climbers. He also laid down a roadmap for the growth of the business through value addition.

“The credit for pursuing the cause of Neera must go to the outgoing Chairman,” said V.K. Raju, former Associate Director of Research, Kerala Agricultural University, and an expert in Neera tapping.

Mr. Jose, an IAS officer of the Kerala cadre, joined the Coconut Development Board in May 2011 and immediately set about reviving the three-tier system of coconut farmers’ organisations. The outgoing Chairman also worked hard to bring Neera out of the Kerala Abkari Act.

source: http://www.thehindu.com / The Hindu / Home> News> Cities> Kochi / by Special Correspondent / Kochi – May 19th, 2016

Helmsman, who turned around a port, takes a bow

Paul Antony leaves the Cochin Port Trust with an operating surplus of Rs.70 crore in 2015-16.
Paul Antony leaves the Cochin Port Trust with an operating surplus of Rs.70 crore in 2015-16.

Paul Antony, who steered the course of the Cochin Port Trust through a phase of great financial troubles, completed his tenure at the helm on Monday.

The government is yet to appoint a new chairman though unconfirmed reports said a senior IAS cadre officer in the State was tipped to take over.

The outgoing chairman will join the government of Kerala at the end of May as Additional Chief Secretary after the new government takes over, sources said.

Crucial period

Mr. Antony, who was in-charge of the Port Trust for more than five years, assumed office at the crucial period immediately after the inauguration of the International Container Transshipment Terminal in February 2011.

The outgoing chairman thanked his former colleagues for the work they had done together even as he pointed out that the port itself had gone through a transformation internally with ERP being firmly established in all areas of the port’s operations.

Austerity measures

He recalled that the port had gone through a period of “tough austerity measures” with even benefits to employees and pensioners being restricted for a few months. “But we have come out stronger, with the whole-hearted cooperation of the employees and their unions”, he said.

He added that all the arrears to the employees had been paid.

Mr. Antony leaves the Port Trust with an operating surplus of Rs.70 crore in 2015-16, the highest since 1979-80. The port authority’s marketing initiatives under Mr. Antony also saw the ICTT crossing the four-lakh TEU-mark in 2015-16. The facility has come under fire for not achieving the target set for the first phase.

The period also saw the port authority beginning work on the Rs. 970-crore international ship repair facility jointly with the Cochin Shipyard using the Mattancherry wharf.

Work on the Rs. 240-crore multi-user-liquid terminal with a capacity to handle 4.1 million metric tonnes per annum in conjunction with IOC on Puthuvypeen island is underway.

source: http://www.thehindu.com / The Hindu / Home> News> Cities> Kochi / by Special Correspondent / Kochi – May 18th, 2016

Royce Victor ordained first CSI bishop Malabar

Kozhikode:

Rev Royce Manoj Victor was ordained as the first bishop of the newly formed Diocese of Malabar of the Church of South India (CSI) at a function held here on Tuesday.

CSI moderator Rev G Dyvasirvadam led the ordination ceremony held at the CSI Cathedral Church at Mananchira by handing over the Bible, crosier and ring to the newly ordained Bishop.

The ordination ceremony started at 10am with a procession from the BEM School. CSI deputy moderator Rev Thomas K Oommen, general secretary of CSI, Rev Daniel Ratnakar Sadananda, CSI bishops, priests and parishioners attended the ceremony.

A felicitation meeting was held in honour of the new bishop which was attended by Kozhikode MP, M K Raghavan, A Pradeep Kumar MLA among others.

source: http://www.timesofindia.indiatimes.com / The Times of India / News Home> City> Kozhikode / TNN / May 18th, 2016

Birds of Vellayani captured in a book

Avian register:‘Feathers of Vellayani’ is part of a project launched by the KSBB to take up conservation of the Vellayani lake as a biodiversity heritage site.
Avian register:‘Feathers of Vellayani’ is part of a project launched by the KSBB to take up conservation of the Vellayani lake as a biodiversity heritage site.

KSBB initiative lists 133 species at the lake and nearby wetlands

With more than 100 species of native and migratory birds, the avian diversity of the Vellayani freshwater lake and the adjoining wetlands in Thiruvananthapuram district has always enthralled researchers, birdwatchers, nature enthusiasts, and students.

Now, the Kerala State Biodiversity Board (KSBB) has come out with a comprehensive register on these birds. Named ‘Feathers of Vellayani,’ the register is part of an attempt launched by the KSBB to take up the conservation of the Vellayani lake as a biodiversity heritage site.

Authored by KSBB chairman Oommen V. Oommen, member secretary K.P. Laladhas, and Principal Scientific Officer Linda John, the book, running into 180 pages, lists 133 species of birds spotted at the lake and surrounding wetlands. These include 23 species of migratory birds such as the Glossy ibis, Common teal, Spot-billed pelican, Painted stork, Eurasian spoonbill, and Pacific swallow.

Printed in colour, the register has devoted one page each to describe a species with its picture, physical features, sound, preferred habitat, feeding, nesting and breeding habits, conservation status and scientific and vernacular names. The book outlines the threats posed to the avian diversity and the ecosystem by land reclamation, use of pesticides and poaching of birds. Last year, the KSBB had submitted a proposal to the Union Ministry of Environment, Forests and Climate Change for the conservation of the Vellayani lake as a biodiversity heritage site for birds. The Rs.75-crore project seeks to acquire the fallow land under private ownership and provide incentives for protecting the biodiversity of the area from further degradation. It moots a participatory programme to prevent poaching of birds and protect nests with the involvement of local communities.

The project also involves promotion of ecotourism, conservation of fish stocks, sustainable livelihood options for local communities and capacity building for wise use of wetlands. Dr. Oommen said the KSBB was dependent on Central funds for the project since a large portion of the lake and its catchment area belonged to private parties. The government, he said, would have to buy the land from the owners.

source: http://www.thehindu.com / The Hindu / Home> News> Cities> Thiruvananthapuram / by T. Nandakumar / Thiruvananthapuram – May 16th, 2016

Kerala’s farmers reap a rich plant genome saviour award harvest

Thrissur :

The Kerala farmers dominated the National Plant Genome Saviour Awards-2013 by winning seven out of fourteen rewards announced by the Protection of Plant Varieties and Farmers’ Rights (PPV & FR)  Authority, Government of India.

The seven farmers involved in conservation of traditional crop varieties were nominated for awards by Kerala Agricultural University (KAU).

FarmingTalesKERALA15may2016

K V Kannan ( Kannur), Benny Mathew (Agali, Palakkad), Melethil Beerankutty (Malappuram) and Muhammed Moopan (Malappuram) have been selected for Plant Genome Saviour farmer’s reward  which consists of a purse of `1.5 lakh, a memento and a citation, while K Raman (Cheruvayal, Wayanad), P Krishnan (Palakkad) and K Narendran (Kollam ) will receive Plant Genome Saviour recognition which consists of a purse carrying `1 lakh, a memento and a citation at a function to be held in Delhi shortly.

KAU Vice-Chancellor Dr P Rajendran described the seven awards as a significant acknowledgment for Kerala farming community as well as farm scientists. “Bagging seven out of fourteen awards is very special. The role of KAU in supporting such activists and helping them earn such recognition are often forgotten. I appreciate the efforts of our scientists, especially Dr C R Elsy, Coordinator, KAU IPR cell, Dr M C Narayanankutty, RARS, Pattambi and Dr M R Bindu, ORARS, Kayamkulam, who nominated these farmers,” he said.

The KAU had played a pivotal role in helping the Pokkali Rice farming Community (2011),  Akampadam Padasekhara Samithy (2012) and Ciby Kallungal of Thrissur and N Vasavan of Kannur ( 2012) win the Plant Genome Saviour Awards earlier.

source: http://www.newindianexpress.com / The New Indian Express / Home> States> Kerala / by Express News Service / May 11th, 2016

Documentary on K R Gowri released

Alappuzha:

CPM state secretary Kodiyeri Balakrishnan released the documentary titled-Kaalam Maayikkatha Ormakal (Memories that time did not erase) – on the life of veteran politician K R Gowri at a public function held in Alappuzha on Friday.

The function was presided over by MLA T M Thomas Isaac. The CD of the documentary was received by Gowri’s political secretary Sangeeth as she could not attend the function due to health issues.

source: http://www.timesofindia.indiatimes.com / The Times of India / News Home> City> Kozhikode / TNN / May 14th, 2016

On a roll

Kunju'sJamRollsKERALA13may2016

More than 80 years after they were first made, Kunju’s Jam Rolls continue to attract customers with sweetness.

The box of jam rolls is tempting, unwrapping the butter-paper package inside is like unravelling a mystery. Each box holds a plump, deliciously roll of golden jam and sponge. Boxes such as this travel across the country, overseas too, often travelling on a ticket called nostalgia. The rolls, once called Kanjirapally home; and for those who grew up there it still is a slice of home.

The story of Kunju’s Jam Rolls harks back to more than 80 years when destiny led a young man K.K. Kunju, from Thrissur, to the El Dorado of the time, Ceylon as Sri Lanka was known then. Family legend has it that there, at Kandy, he learnt to bake. He returned to India, joining a bakery in Chennai until the lure of home brought him back to Thrissur which, at the time, had no place for his new skill. Friendly advice suggested Kottayam, its considerable Christian population well-versed in the ways of the British, of cake and bakes, recounts Kunju’s son K.K. Jayan.

Kottayam did not have much to offer, eventually settling in Kanjirapally and starting his business, which came to be known as SAC Bakery there. Among the many bakes at his bakery was the jam roll. Every country has its take on the confection, the most popular being the deep pink and yellow, strawberry jam roll.

It being unlikely, in the day, that he’d locally find strawberry for his jam, he looked at the abundant pineapple. Guided by pragmatism, he designed the pineapple jam roll. Not the only thing on the menu, “It became very popular and over time it is one of the things people came to SAC Bakery for,” says Jayan.

Those days they were just jam rolls; it is Jayan who branded them as Kunju’s Jam Rolls, “This is his recipe, so we branded it thus.” The packaging, in keeping with the times, too is his idea.

Jayan remembers the baker’s oven or the ‘borma’, which was in one part of his house. “One half of our house served as the production unit, where my mother would keep an eye on the production. A few processes have been mechanised but the ‘borma’ is wood fired, using coconut shells.” One of nine siblings, and the only son, despite an interest in food he didn’t want to get involved initially.

But when he got involved he went the whole hog. He researched various types of jam rolls, which has made him something of a minor expert on the subject, and now wants to extend the menu to include other flavours as well.” A baking unit in the city caters to the city’s requirements while the unit at Kanjirapally handles its production. “My octogenarian mother still keeps an eye on the work.”

source: http://www.thehindu.com / The Hindu / Home> Features> MetroPlus> Food / Shilpa Nair Anand / Kochi – May 12th, 2016