Monthly Archives: November 2018

Girl on a mission

About Kerala, Arts,Culture & Entertainment, Records, All

When kids her age were busy playing outside, she chose to remain inside

Angelin playing bulbul tarang as her grandfather listens carefully

Kochi :

When kids her age were busy playing outside, she chose to remain inside. Perhaps the world outside did not hold a candle to what kept her indoors. Ever since her grandfather dusted off a ‘bulbul tarang’ from the attic three months ago, she was intrigued. Seven-year-old Angelin Maria Able is probably the youngest musician to play the instrument in the state.

A Kothamangalam native, Angelin was introduced to the world of music when she saw her grandfather C K Alexander, a retired art teacher of Mar Basil Higher Secondary School, cleaning and oiling the old bulbul tarang, and playing a few tunes on it. “Immediately fascinated by the instrument that is rare now, she attempted to copy my father without success,” says Able C Alex, Angelin’s father. Not one to give up, she made several attempts to master the tune Alexander played.

Noticing her genuine interest in mastering the instrument, Alexander took it upon himself to teach the basic 101 of the bulbul tarang, which was once famously known as Indian Banjo. “Playing the keys on bulbul tarang is difficult because it requires flexibility in fingers. But Angelin kept practising. In no time, she was at ease with the instrument and could easily play popular songs on it,” says Able. The first song she learnt was the National Anthem.

Bulbul tarang, a string instrument, is said to have evolved from the Japanese taishogoto. It has two strings and keys that resemble those of a typewriter. While it is comparatively easy to master, the instrument itself is a rarity as hardly anyone manufactures it anymore.Angelin now plays with a bulbul tarang which is over 40 years old. “My father had bought it from Kolkatta during an all-India tour some 40 years ago. It was a rarity in south India because it was prominent in the north,” says Able. Alexander had already mastered the instrument under the tutelage of a north Indian who was in Kerala for job-related reasons. However, due to other commitments, the instrument was soon forgotten. During this time, the bulbul tarang also lost its prominence from the music scene.

The Class II student of St Stephen’s Bes-Ania School is now on a journey to revive the instrument back to its glory. “None of the kids studying with Angelin had ever heard of the instrument until she began learning it. Her teachers were also intrigued after my wife, who is also a teacher at the school, showed them videos of her performances,” says Able. Angelin is now getting ready to perform at the Children’s Day celebrations at her school.

source: http://www.newindianexpress.com / The New Indian Express / Home> Cities> Kochi / by Anna  Binoy / Express New Service / November 12th, 2018

Mobile app for pepper farmers

Agriculture, Science & Technology
A farm worker harvesting pepper at a plantation at Mepadi in Wayanad district. | Photo Credit: K. K. Mustafah

App connects framers with research institutions, govt agencies

The International Pepper Community (IPC) and All India Spices Exports Forum (AISEF) have jointly developed a personalised mobile application for pepper farmers aimed at better management of their crop and marketing the produce.

Santosh K. Sarangi, Joint Secretary, Ministry of Commerce and Industry, will launch the app at a function here on November 14.

Outlining the scenario that led to the launch of the app, AISEF Chairman Prakash Namboodiri said the effort is to empower pepper farmers to utilise the potential knowledge and expert network that the country has created to support them.

The farmers are so widely spread out that access to knowledge specific to their issues is beyond their reach.

The app will directly connect the framers with agri-research institutions, government and its agencies and the national and international markets. The farmers will get guidance on pepper farm practices, fertilizer recommendations, and pest and other diseases identification. The app would also guide the farmer through price movements and assist them selling their produce.

source: http://www.thehindu.com / The Hindu / Home> News> Cities> Kochi / by Special Correspondent / Kochi – November 13th, 2018

Burial urn of Megalithic era unearthed

Amazing Feats, Education, Historical Links, Pre-Independence, Records, All, Travel, World Opinion
A burial urn unearthed at Hydermettu, near Nedumkandam in Idukki district, is believed to be the largest one found in the region.

Largest urn unearthed so far is indicator of a culturally-oriented society

A huge burial urn dating back to the Megalithic era that was unearthed while clearing a private road to a house at Hydermettu, near Nedumkandam, recently is believed to be one of the major findings that would shed light on life in the pre-historic era on the western side of the Western Ghats.

The urn is said to be the largest one unearthed from the region so far. It is 3-ft wide at its mouth and its shape is a variant of other ones explorated in the district. Moreover, there are art works on it — a pointer to the cultural awareness of a society that belonged to the pre-historic period.

A large number of burial urns have been unearthed from Ramakkalmedu, Mundieruma and Puzhpakandam nearby in the recent past. However, they were comparatively small in size and do not have notable decorative works, said V.M. Safeer, Head, Department of History, MES College, Nedumkandam.

Mr. Safeer said the burial urns unearthed from the region belonged to 1,00 BCE and 500 BCE. Some of the urns have remains of iron weapons and pieces of bones. “Their period can be known only through carbon dating,” he said adding that some might be aged only a few hundred years.

Valuable evidence

The importance is that the findings in the hinterland of the erstwhile Muziris port is valuable evidence of a culturally-oriented society. The new finding is on the hill area bordering Tamil Nadu and believed to be linked to a settled life there. Burial urns, dolmen and hero stones are spread over a large area on the western side of the Western Ghats

Though individual studies were conducted in the past, specific studies and research are needed to throw light on the importance of these historical remains, he added.

Kerala Council for Historical Research chairman P.K. Michael Tharakan told The Hindu on Sunday that small-sized burial urns were unearthed from different areas in the State. However, it needed a study connected to the other ones unearthed in the region. It pointed to the need for a surface exploration there. On the basis of the evidence, further explorations could be taken up and it may lead to valuable conclusions with regard to the lengthy history of human habitation in the district. The Archaeological Department was undertaking excavations at historically important sites, he said adding that the district, especially the Anchunadu valley, was a treasure trove for historical studies.

At present, the KCHR was on a project to explore the historic importance of Kottappuram, he said adding that the High Range area on the Western Ghats needs a comprehensive exploration of its past. It was also the hinterland for moving hill produce to Muziris port and had a civilised society from the early period.

source:  http://www.thehindu.com / The Hindu / Home> News> States> Kerala / by Giji K. Raman / Idukki – November 11th, 2018

Samakalika Malayalam Vaarika award for environmentalist T P Padmanabhan

Amazing Feats, Green Initiatives & Environment, Nature, Records, All

Kochi :

Environmentalist T P Padmanabhan (Photo | Samakalika Malayalam)

T P Padmanabhan, environmentalist and director of  Payyannur-based Society for Environmental Education in Kerala (SEEK), an organisation spearheading environment protection campaigns and agitations, has won this year’s Social Service Award of Samakalika Malayalam Vaarika, a sister publication of The New Indian Express.

The award carries a plaque, citation and a purse of Rs 1 lakh. This year’s winner was selected by a jury comprising environmentalist M K Prasad, writer N Sasidharan and literary critic G Madhusudanan.

Samakalika Malayalam Vaarika had instituted the award in 2013 to honour persons who dedicate their lives to social service. Sixty-eight-year-old Padmanabhan has been working relentlessly for environment protection for the past several decades. He became the director of SEEK from 1987 and also the editor of the organisation’s mouth piece ‘Soochi Mukhi’.

He was the key person who led various agitations in Kerala seeking protection of the environment which included the famous Silent Valley movement that set the stage for environmental activism in the state.

The previous winners of the award are V P Suhara, social worker from Kozhikode: Raziya Banu, a social worker from Palakkad; V C Raju of Murikkasseri, Idukki; Krishnan Pallam of Pattambi, who runs the destitute home ‘Abhayam’; and Sajini Mathews, who founded Snehabhavan at Muttam, Melukavu.

source: http://www.newindianexpress.com / The New Indian Express / Home> States> Kerala / by Express News Service /  November 09th, 2018

Thiruvananthapuram student wins stamp designing contest

Arts,Culture & Entertainment, Records, All

Every year, the council conducts stamp designing contest.

Aneet Salu and Adeep Salu

Thiruvananthapuram :

The Kerala State Council for Child Welfare has selected the stamp designed by Aneet Salu of Nirmala Bhavan school, Thiruvananthapuram, from the Children’s Day stamp-2018 state-level competition. Aneet is a Class IV student. His design was selected by noted art director Nemom Pushparaj.

Every year, the council conducts stamp designing contest. Governor P Sathasivam will distribute the award to Aneet and rolling trophy for the school will be given at the state-level Children’s Day function to be held at Nishagandhi auditorium on November 14.

This year, the stamp designing competition was conducted on the theme “Navakerala Srishttikkayi Namukkorimikkam”.  ( Let us unite for building a new Kerala). Aneet Salu has a twin brother Adeeep Salu, who is also interested in drawing.

source: http://www.newindianexpress.com / The New Indian Express / Home> Cities> Thiruvananthapuram / by Express News Service / November 04th, 2018

Chinmaya Vidyalaya winners at The Hindu Academic Pentathlon

Education, Records, All
Proud moment: Winners of The Hindu Academic Pentathlon with the chief guest, Commanding Officer of INS Venduruthy and Kochi Station Commander of the Navy Commodore G. Prakash, in Kochi on Saturday. | Photo Credit: Thulasi Kakkat

State-level finals of the event will be held in Kochi later this month

A 10-member team from Chinmaya Vidyalaya, Thripunithura, walked away with the first prize at the Kochi edition of The Hindu Academic Pentathlon held at Oberon Mall in the city on Saturday.

The team, comprising Hari Ganesh, Anand K.S., Amal K.R., Megha Madhavan, Jayakrishnan K., Parvathy Anil, Aparna S. Nair, Shreya M.P., Vishnu Chandrasekharan and Saraswathy, scored 90 points.

A team from Bhavan’s Vidya Mandir, Eroor, was the first runner-up, scoring 74 points. The two teams will vie with eight winning teams from other regions of Kerala, in the State-level final event that will be held in Kochi later this month.

Other participants

The other teams which made it to the final of the Kochi edition were Chinmaya Vidyalaya, Vaduthala; Kendriya Vidyalaya, Ernakulam; Bharatiya Vidya Bhavan’s Vidya Mandir, Poochatty; and Bhavan’s Adarsha Vidyalaya, Thrikkakara.

The event, organised by The Hindu Future India Club in association with Vignan’s University, saw brainy young minds battle it out in a scholastic competition covering five disciplines — mathematics, physics, chemistry, English elocution and fine arts (music/dance).

Focus on humanities

The Commanding Officer of INS Venduruthy and Kochi Station Commander of the Navy Commodore G. Prakash was the chief guest. He exhorted the 440 participants from 44 schools to accord due importance to humanities as well, since they cover various disciplines, including governance and politics.

The obsession with medical and engineering courses is not good. A scientific approach to life helps though, he added.

Speaking of his rural background and Malayalam-medium schooling, Cmde Prakash cited how he became a voracious reader of books by famous English authors. He called upon youth to prioritise co-curricular activities and sports, so that failures in life were taken with a sportsman spirit. “The upcoming generation must also be highly adaptable and flexible, so that they can get jobs in a fast-changing and competitive world. Love life and live life,” he signed off.

The judges for various disciplines were K. Pradeep, Rangarajan, C.L. Jacob, N.K. Vijayan, Anu, Sen, Jayasree P.D. and Manju C. Kaimal. Also present were Suresh George and Suresh Pillai, Senior Deputy General Manager and Assistant General Manager respectively of The Hindu, and Jaison, Consultant, Vignan’s University.

Oberon Mall was the venue partner of the event.

source: http://www.thehindu.com / The Hindu / Home> News> Cities> Kochi / by Special Correspondent / Kochi – November 04th, 2018