Daily Archives: June 28, 2016

Rural boy steals show at space camp

Education, Science & Technology

P.S. Abhinand of Balussery Government High School was awarded the ‘Best Student’ title at the recently concluded six-day space camp organised by the Karnataka State Council for Science and Technology in association with Bengaluru-based Cindrebay Nurture.

Abhinand was credited with the title on the basis of his performance at various levels during the camp, which was attended by more than 70 students from premier educational institutions in Bengaluru.

Office-bearers of the Uralungal Labour Contract Cooperative Society (ULCCS) said the Class X boy was a member of their Vagbhatananda Educational Project at the Unnikulam centre.

source: http://www.thehindu.com / The Hindu / Home> News> Cities> Kozhikode / Staff Reporter / Kochi – June 27th, 2016

Docs’ celluloid initiative to dispel vaccination fears set for release

Arts,Culture & Entertainment, Science & Technology

Kochi  :

‘Thiricharivukal’ (Realisation), a short film, that seeks to counter the vituperative campaign against vaccination witnessed in some parts of Northern Kerala is now set to wow audiences nationwide. The film made by Kerala Chapter of Indian Association of Paediatricians, is being dubbed into Hindi and will be released in the first week of July.

“It was in 2008 that outbreak of diphtheria and tetanus were witnessed  in the state after a gap of 30 years and most of these cases were reported from Malappuram. Kerala Branch of the Indian Academy of Paediatrics (IAP) has been carrying out a campaign in support of the vaccination drive.  However, the social media was full of anti-vaccination campaigns based on half-baked truths. Some naturopathy healers were behind this. So we wanted to  to counter it,”  said  Dr Jiss Thomas Palukunnel, IAP secretary,  Kottayam Branch, who conceived  the idea which eventually coalesced into an eight minute-long film.

Though Paediatricians spearheaded the counter campaign, doctors from other streams, majority of whom hailed from Kottayam, were also part of the endeavor. Besides Dr Jiss Thomas, the cast includes Dr Sunu John, who is also the  vice-president of IAP Kottayam Chapter, Anaesthetist Dr Bulbul, surgeon Dr Jibin and Dr Linto from the Department of Health Services. The film, which is available on You Tube link http://youtu.be/ 10pyMi4b0po, depicts a middle class family where the husband is staunchly opposed to the idea of vaccinating his daughter on the grounds that he was quite healthy despite not receiving vaccination as a child. And the opening scene shows the girl asking her father whether she could get herself vaccinated since it was Vaccination Day at her school.  But the man’s stubborn stand  forces his wife and daughter to fall silent.

Later on,  the man realises that his friend’s daughter had died of diphteria and he rushes off to his daughter’s school. There he finds his daughter remaining all alone in the classroom as her batchmates had gone for vaccination.  Transformed, he takes his daughter to the doctor to get her vaccinated thereby showing a change in the mindset.

According to Dr Jiss, the film would be screened in schools as part of IAP’s DIET (Diet, Interaction and Immunisation, Exercise and TV and social networking) programme.

source: http://www.newindianexpress.com / The New Indian Express / Home> Cities> Kochi / by Express News Service / June 24th, 2016

Theatre doyen Kavalam Narayana Panicker passes away

Arts,Culture & Entertainment

Thiruvananthapuram :

Theatre doyen  Kavalam Narayana Panicker, who successfully blended the classical tradition and folk elements in the format of contemporary theatre, passed away at his home here.

He was 88. He is survived by his wife Saradamani and singer-son Kavalam Sreekumar.

He had been unwell for some time due to age related ailments, family sources said.

A multi-faceted personality who carved his niche in divergent fields, Panicker, popularly known as Kavalam, was a well-established poet, lyricist and theatre director.

Untouched by the western influence in dramas, Kavalam had evolved a unique theatre training system with Indian perspective.

His plays were known for its Indian narrative mode, usage of ethnic languages and rural flavour.

Famous for his own dramas like ‘Avanavan Kadamba’, ‘Daivathar’ and ‘Sakshi’, which are considered milestones in the history of contemporary Malayalam  theatre, he also translated Sanskrit plays of classical masters like  Kalidasa and Bhasa and brought them into the stage.

‘Shakunthalalam’, ‘Karnabharam’ and ‘Vikramorvasheeyam’ were among Sanskrit dramas which he adapted and gave life on the stage.

Hailing from scenic Kavalam in  Alappuzha district, the veteran was the founder director of ‘Sopanam’,a theatre group.

Kavalam, who served as secretary of the  Kerala Sangeetha Nataka Academy in the 1960s, was accorded with Padma Bhushan  in the year 2007.

He also won a number of honours, including Sangeeth Natak Akademy award, Sangeeth Natak Fellowship and  Kerala State Film Award for the best lyricist.

Expressing grief over his unexpected demise, state Cultural Affairs Minister A KBalan said his contributions to the contemporary theatre was unique.

The date and time of cremation is yet to be finalized, the family added.

LGK APR SMJ

source: http://www.timesofindia.indiatimes.com / The Times of India / News Home> City> Thiruvananthapuram / PTI / June 28th, 2016