Film to showcase panchayat’s past glory

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

Kochi :

Rayamangalam, one of the earliest panchayats in the district, has embarked on an innovative mission to teach its Generation Next – the history and culture of the village. And it is doing it the digital way.

The home to famous sons-of-soil like Kerala’s ninth chief minister P K Vasudevan Nair, noted communist P Govinda Pillai, and Dr D Babu Paul, former IAS officer and writer, Rayamangalam panchayat is proposing to make a documentary film, ‘My Village’, at a cost of Rs 3.5 lakh.

The panchayat has decided to produce a 45-minute documentary to shed light on the historical and cultural significance of the village as many of its younger generation are ignorant of its past glory and the famous personalities who lived there,” said K K Mathukunju, panchayat president.

Rayamangalam, situated in Kunnathunadu taluk, was the first village to be declared the total pension panchayat in the state.

“The Kuruppampady market in our village was once famous for lemon grass oil for its quality and hill produce. But with passing of time and people switching over to other farming activities, it lagged behind other markets. The Lemon Grass Oil and General Marketing Co-Operative Society Ltd is the only society in the state for the development of lemon grass oil,” Mathukunju said.

The panchayat has invited tenders for producing the film. The 1,600-year-old St Mary’s cathedral in Kuruppampady, Koottumadam temple, Kallil temple which is a Jain temple will be featured big time in the film. One of the attractions is a rock statue of a woman, Velathipara – which is being protected in the regional poultry farm.

The controversial plywood factories and the pollution caused by them will also be highlighted. There are 95 plywood factories, 12 crusher units and around 100 wood factories functioning in the panchayat, says Mathukunju.

Well-known ancestral homes in the village, how they came into existence and interesting anecdotes of former panchayat presidents will also be featured in the documentary.

source: http://www.timesofindia.indiatimes.com / The Times of India / Home> City> Kochi / by T C Sreemol, TNN / July 06th, 2014

Researchers try aquaponics to woo new-generation

Agriculture, Green Initiatives & Environment, Nature, Science & Technology

Mallapuram : 

In an attempt to attract new generation farmers, the Agricultural Research Centre of Kerala Agricultural University (KAU) at Anakkayam near here has decided to try its hand at aquaponics – an ancient method of farming vegetables and fishes together practised by ethnic groups in Mexico and China.

The centre has successfully cultivated tomatoes, cabbages, cauliflower, chilli and paddy via the soil-free method in which fish excreta is used as fertilizer. In fact, it began a second round of cultivation two weeks ago. Aquaponics is a portmanteau of words aquaculture (fish farming) and hydroponics (growing plants without soil).

Researchers at the centre used 12 units made of PVC pipes in which vegetables are grown. The units are placed inside a polyhouse situated close to a pond that holds about 3,000 varieties of fishes. The saplings or seeds are planted in small disposable fibre vessels filled with sponge-like pith particles of coconut husk. The vessels are then placed on small holes in PVS pipes. Water from the pond, carrying fish excrement is always circulated through the pipes and the plants grow in a hydroponic bath of flowing water enriched with minerals.

Farm officer at the centre E Jubail said the method is ideal for farming in populated areas and is cost effective. “No chemical fertilizers are used in the method as it would kill the fishes. This ensures that the crops are organic,” he said, adding that the method does not call for the use of pesticides and consumes less water compared to traditiional farming methods.

The plan is to introduce the method to farmers and visitors at the centre besides providing provide assistance to set up the system at their farmhouses.

source: http://www.timesofindia.indiatimes.com / The Times of India / Home> City> Kozhikode / by T P Nijish, TNN / July 02nd, 2014

Two-year-old gets liver transplant

Amazing Feats, Records, All, Science & Technology

A two-year-old child, suffering from a complex liver disease, has a new shot at life, thanks to a life-saving transplant performed on her by a team of doctors at the Kerala Institute of Medical Sciences (KIMS) here.

Sreelekshmi, born to her parents after 18 years of marriage, was transplanted with a portion of the liver donated by her father himself. The family hails from Shoranur, Palakkad.

Sreelekshmi’s liver disease began in infancy and she was diagnosed with progressive familial intrahepatic cholestasis, a rare autosomal recessive disorder of the liver (Though both parents carry a copy of faulty genes, they remain carriers only while the condition manifests in the offspring). She had been undergoing treatment in Kochi and came to KIMS when her condition worsened and a liver transplant emerged as the only option to save her.

Doctors at KIMS said that the child’s asthma was something that aggravated the complexity of the transplant. The father’s liver was found to be more compatible for the child.

Liver transplants in children who weigh less than 10 kg are rarely successful but Sreelekshmi, who weighed just 7.5 kg, beat all odds and came through the surgery well.

She was ready to be discharged, according to a statement issued by KIMS.

The transplant was done by a team of doctors at KIMS, led by Venugopal and Shabeer Ali, liver transplant surgeons, and other specialists.

source: http://www.thehindu.com / The Hindu / Home> News> Cities> Thirvananthapuram / by Special Correspondent / Thirvananthapuram – July 09th, 2014

Proposal for country’s first elephant hospital in Kerala

Arts,Culture & Entertainment, Green Initiatives & Environment, Nature, Records, All
Union Minister for Environment and Forest Prakash Javadekar. File photo
Union Minister for Environment and Forest Prakash Javadekar. File photo

Thrissur:

Groups of elephant lovers have submitted a proposal to the central government to set up the country’s first elephant hospital and a diagnostic laboratory here.

The proposal was submitted this month to Minister of Environment and Forests Prakash Javadekar when he visited the Sree Krishna Temple in Guruvayoor near here.

Elephant veterinarian Jacob Cheeran said that such a hospital would be the first of its kind in the country. He said the medical facility was necessary as the majority of the over 500 captive elephants in Kerala will soon be over 50 years of age.

“The proposal suggests a treatment facility for 10 elephants at a time which is required to treat elephants affected by chronic diseases like foot rot and so on.” Cheeran said.

“The diagnostic laboratory is to support the field veterinarians in early diagnosis of specific diseases like tuberculosis and infections in elephants,” he added.

Temple authorities in Thiruvambady, Paramekkavu and Guruvayoor and the Kerala State Elephant Owners Multipurpose Cooperative Society joined hands to support the proposal.

The proposal also suggests that both the hospital and the laboratory should be located on a five acre plot of land at the Kerala Veterinary and Animal Sciences University campus at Mannuthy near here.

Thrissur district has the maximum number of captive elephants in Kerala, with the famed Guruvayoor temple alone having 59 elephants.

Cheeran said that in recent years there has been a drastic decline in the number of captive elephants in Kerala due to increased death rate of the elephants and the restrictions in import of captive elephants from the north-eastern states.

The elephant hospital is expected to cost Rs.10 crore including the running costs for three years.

“Even though many field veterinarians are engaged in treating elephants in almost all districts in Kerala, there is no centralised specialist healthcare support,” Cheeran said.

” Since Thrissur is centrally located, transporting sick elephants from any place in the state is also easy,” added Cheeran, who has been to elephant hospitals in Thailand and other parts of the world.

State Tourism Minister A.P. Anil Kumar said that they will do their bit to take up the proposal with the central government.

source: http://www.beta.english.manoramaonline.com / ManoramaOnline / Home> News> Kerala / by The Correspondent / Thursday – July 10th, 2014

Laser Park set for inauguration

Agriculture, Arts,Culture & Entertainment, Green Initiatives & Environment, Nature
The Greater Cochin Development Authority’s Laser Park at Rajendra Maidan to be inaugurated in August.— Photo: Vipin Chandran
The Greater Cochin Development Authority’s Laser Park at Rajendra Maidan to be inaugurated in August.— Photo: Vipin Chandran

Mayor cries unauthorised construction

As the Greater Cochin Development Authority (GCDA) is all set to inaugurate its laser show project at Rajendra Maidan, the Kochi Corporation has termed it an unauthorised construction.

N. Venugopal, GCDA chairman, said that the project would be inaugurated in the last week of August.

At the same time, Kochi Mayor Tony Chammany said that the Kochi Corporation has not issued permission for setting up the Laser Park at Rajendra Maidan.

For any project to be approved by the Kochi Corporation, the project proponent should submit the documents pertaining to the ownership of the land along with the project details. In this case, the GCDA has not produced any documents to prove the ownership of the land, he said. The Authority has not obtained the permission from the Kochi Corporation, he asserted.

At the same time, Mr. Venugopal maintained that the Authority had submitted the documents pertaining to the ownership of the land. The Government had assigned the land to the Authority earlier. The Authority proceeded with the work after the expiry of the mandatory time for clearing the application. The municipal laws say that one can proceed with the work if the local body fails to respond within a specific time, Mr. Venugopal said.

An inspection by the Town Planning Standing Committee of the Kochi Corporation had earlier revealed that the Authority was proceeding without the mandatory permission from the local body. Hence, it was a case of unauthorised construction, said a member of the Committee. Meanwhile, the CPI (M) leadership in the Corporation council said that it will fight any move to usurp the public space, especially Rajendra Maidan.

K.N. Sunilkumar, the Parliamentary Party secretary of the CPI (M), said that the party was for protecting the public spaces in the city. The Kochi Mayor had earlier assured the council that all documents pertaining to the project will be placed before the council. Mr. Venugopal maintained that the free access to the site would not be curbed and the laser show will be held only after 8 p.m., the closing time of the park.

source: http://www.thehindu.com / The Hindu / Home> News>  Cities> Kochi / by  K. S. Sudhi / Kochi – July 11th, 2014

Seven, Including Five-yr-old,Selected for Bravery Awards

Amazing Feats, Arts,Culture & Entertainment, Education, Inspiration/ Positive News and Features
Abhaykrishnan, Akhil Biju, Girikrishna, Muneer Mohammed, Shalef Shaji, Subin Mathew and Yadukrishnan
Abhaykrishnan, Akhil Biju, Girikrishna, Muneer Mohammed, Shalef Shaji, Subin Mathew and Yadukrishnan

Thiruvananthapuram :

Seven boys, including a five-year-old who rescued his younger sister from drowning and a sixth standard student whose presence of mind saved the life of his ten-month-old brother, have been selected for the bravery awards instituted by the Kerala State Council for Child Welfare for the year 2013.

The winners are Muneer Mohammed, 14, of Manippuzha, Kottayam; Shalef Shaji, 9, of Panambukad, Ernakulam; Akhil Biju, 9, Subin Mathew, 10, and Yadukrishnan V S, 13 of Erumeli, Kottayam; Girikrishna, 5, of Kumarakom, Kottayam; and Abhaykrishnan, 11, of Kowdiar in Thiruvananthapuram. Social Justice Minister M K Muneer announced the winners here on Thursday.

Muneer Mohammed won the award for saving the life of Immanuel aka Appu, 72, who was grievously injured in a road accident on the Sabarimala route. When motorists ignored the accident victim, Muneer had run to the middle of the road, waved down a vehicle and rushed Immanuel to hospital. This tenth standard student of St Thomas High School, Erumeli, is the son of Mohammed and Aseena of Venkurinji Keecheri Purayidom, Manippuzha.

Shalef Shaji, a fourth standard student, was selected for the award for saving the life of Alna, the four-year-old daughter of Antony, Panambukad Veliyil, who fell into the backwater while playing with her friends. Shalef had jumped in and holding on to the ropes of a stake net, swum up to Alna and rescued her.

Abhaykrishnan, Akhil Biju, Girikrishna, Muneer Mohammed, Shalef Shaji, Subin Mathew and Yadukrishnan
Abhaykrishnan, Akhil Biju, Girikrishna, Muneer Mohammed, Shalef Shaji, Subin Mathew and Yadukrishnan

Shalef is a student of the St Joseph’s LP School, Panambukad.

Akhil Biju, Subin Mathew and Yadukrishnan V S saved Kalimuthu, 39, who got trapped in an eddy while bathing in the river.  Ten-year-old Akhil jumped in first, but he couldn’t get a hold on Kalimuthu. Yadu dived in next and they managed to reach the drowning man. Subin threw them a towel, and grabbing it, the boys managed a miraculous rescue. All three are sons of daily-wage labourers.

Akhil is the son of Biju and Lekha of Kannimala Puthuvelil and is a sixth standard student of St James UP School, Kannimala, Erumeli. Subin, who is his schoolmate, is the son of Mathew and Sheeba of Kattupurachakal House, Kannimala.  Yadukrishnan is the younger son of Sasidharan Nair and Sajini of Vattaparmbil House, and is a ninth standard student of St Joseph’s High School, Kannimala. He is also a recipient of the President’s award for bravery in 2013.

Girikrishna, aged 5, won the award for saving his four-year-old sister Gowri from drowning in a canal near their home. Although he could not swim, he jumped in and dragged young Gowri to the bank. Girikrishna is the son of Satheesh and Babitha of Peedikachira, Kumarakom. He is a first standard student of SKM Public School.

Abhaykrishnan of Kowdiar, Thiruvananthapuram, won the award for saving the life of his ten-month-old brother Adidev.

A huge tree had fallen on to their home in the heavy rain, and their mother, seeing the roof crashing down, tried to shield them with her body. But she collapsed, hit on the head by falling tiles and wood. Abhaykrishnan frantically dragged Adidev and sought cover under a cot.

All three were dragged out of the debris by the neighbours. Abhaykrishnan is the son of Sreenivasan, who is personal assistant to the Chief Secretary, and Sunanda. The award carries Rs 10,000 in cash, a plaque and certificate.

source: http://www.newindianexpress.com / The New Indian Express / Home> Cities> Thiruvananthapuram / by Express News Service / July 11th, 2014

Tree turmeric on the last leg

Agriculture
The seeds (inset) of the creeper tree turmeric on a huge tree in the Western Ghats. Photo: Special Arrangement
The seeds (inset) of the creeper tree turmeric on a huge tree in the Western Ghats. Photo: Special Arrangement

A survey conducted by KFRI could record only 33 mature plants

Tree turmeric, a rare medicinal plant, is clinging for dear life through a few mature plants in the Western Ghats.

A recent survey along the habitats of the species, known as Mara Manjal in local parlance, could record only 33 mature plants.

The survey by the Kerala Forest Research Institute, Thrissur, revealed that the plant was surviving in less than 10 habitats across the Kerala region of the ghats. Though distributed across the Indo-Malesian tropical rainforests, its habitat has shrunken to a few patches, said P. Sujanapal, a scientist at the institute.

In Kerala, they are found at Meenchalali in Sholayar, Pezha in Parambikulam, Madambra-Kozhikuthu area in Vazhachal range, Kannadivechakunnu, Paripputhode in Aralam Wildlife Sanctuary, and the Ambayathode- Palchuram area in the Kottiyur reserve forests. The survey was conducted for the National Medicinal Plant Board for restoring plants in its natural habitats.

Though the researchers could count 615 individuals, 514 were seedlings with bleak survival chances. The 33 ‘adult individuals’ had grown to achieve more than 10 cm in diameter. Among them, only two had fruits, Dr. Sujanapal said.

The climber (Coscinium fenestratum) is a valuable ingredient in a number of traditional medical systems of India, including Ayurveda, Unani and Siddha, and the medicial systems of Cambodia and Vietnam.

Berberine, a chemical extracted from the plant, is used in modern medicine and dye industry. Its wood with broad spectrum antiseptic properties is used to treat liver ailments, ulcers, and wounds.

It grows in moist shady and semi-rocky habitats under canopy, near streams. Habitat destruction and uprooting of plants had resulted in the depletion of number and size of the population. Destructive harvesting and the dioecious nature (a species with distinct male and female individuals) had also hit seed production, he said.

“Vegetative reproduction is being tried considering the issue of obtaining seeds. Ground layering and air layering are being tried in individuals of the species at the Meenchalali forest area in the Sholayar range and the Kulamavu area of the Idukki Wildlife Sanctuary.”

The national project plants to restore at least 10,000 seedlings of the species in its natural habitats with the support of the Forest Department, Dr. Sujanapal said.

source: http://www.thehindu.com / The Hindu / Home> Cities> Cities> Kochi / by  K. C. Sudhi / Kochi – July 10th, 2014

When Basheer’s women met each other

Arts,Culture & Entertainment
A scene from the solo docudrama ‘Soja Rajakumari,’ featuring 10 female characters from Vaikom Mohammed Basheer’s novels, staged at the Vyloppilly Samskrithi Bhavan in the city on Saturday. / Photo:S. Gopakumar / The Hindu
A scene from the solo docudrama ‘Soja Rajakumari,’ featuring 10 female characters from Vaikom Mohammed Basheer’s novels, staged at the Vyloppilly Samskrithi Bhavan in the city on Saturday. / Photo:S. Gopakumar / The Hindu

They were all living their sometimes magical, sometimes sad, and, at other times, quirky lives inside the pages of different books.

That was until Saturday evening, when ten of Vaikom Mohammed Basheer’s memorable female characters came together at the koothambalam inside Vyloppilly Samskrithi Bhavan to commemorate 20 years of the Beypore Sultan’s passing.

Soja Rajakumari, a solo docudrama directed by P.C. Hareesh, took back viewers to the time when they read each of those classics.

The first to arrive was Sainaba from Mucheetukalikkarante Makal, who engaged the audience in some friendly banter, at times touching upon even the rising prices.

The drama was so structured that the audience was very much a part all through, although things could have livened up a bit more had there been a glimmer of a response when the characters tried to involve them.

Bhargavikutti from Neelavelicham arrived in typical ghostly fashion, appearing first on a swing outside the koothambalam. If not for the posse of photographers around her, that would have been a bit more eerie. This being the 50th anniversary year of Bhargavi Nilayam, much of the drama’s time was put aside for Bhargavi, in sequences interspersed with songs and dialogues from the film.

Then there was a sequence between Suhara from Balyakalasakhi and Kunjipathumma fromNtuppuppakkoraanandarunnu. Kunjipathumma’s mother Kunjithachumma too peeked in for a minute. Pathumma from Pathummayude Aadu played out one of the famous conversations with her brother, the author himself, asking him to buy her ornaments.

Jameela Beevi from Poovanpazham took audience interaction to another level by actually distributing plantain to members of the crowd as she was exiting the stage.

Saramma from Pranayalekhanam remembered the classic love letter from Keshavan Nair while Devi from Kamukante Diary laid claim for being the writer’s true love.

The drama ended by reminding us of the pain of Narayani from Mathilukal.

Pooja K.Nair, a ninth grade student of Guruvayur Little Flower Convent High School, switched seamlessly from one character to the other and garnered the crowd’s applause.

The docudrama was staged by the Nataka Padana Kendram, Kozhikode.

source: http://www.thehindu.com / The Hindu / Home> News> Cities> Thiruvananthapuram / by S. R. Parveen / Thiruvananthapuram – July 06th, 2014

HIDDEN HISTORIES : A canal flowing with stories

Historical Links, Pre-Independence

CanalKERALA09jul2014

A king, a canal built overnight, and a shadowy enemy

Vehicles ply routinely over the nondescript Pulimuttu Palam (also referred to as Pallichal Bridge) in Palluruthy and people walk across it unmindful of its history. Very few from this generation know of the stories that hang by the bridge and of the canal that flows under it. Such hidden histories, often contested, remain forgotten except when ferreted for some reason. Many-a-time these stories are imagined narrations, exaggerated and many-a-time just half truths. Somewhere in between is authentic history.

In 1997-98 a ‘decentralisation programme’ of the State government led to a compilation of local histories of places and people. It stressed on oral histories that were handed down generations. The compilation, Pradeshika Charithra Shekarnam, is one source wherein is a story of the construction of the Pulimuttu (Pallichal) Canal.

It is said that Maharaja Godavarma of the Cochin Royal Family adopted five boys as his sons and successors. One among them, Veera Kerala Varma belonged to a family who lived in a house behind the Azhiyakavu Temple in Palluruthy. The house which exists till date is called kottaram, meaning palace, in lieu of its princely relation. Veera Kerala Varma is supposed to have ruled for just five years, from 1645-1650, and is said to have ordered for the building of the canal as he often visited the temple. The country boats which the maharaja used to travel in, called palliodams, required a place to harness. Hence a canal was constructed and came to be called pallichal. “Most probably that’s how the name came about,” says Sudhir K. Gopalan, a teacher and social worker from this area. “There are no factual details. Which maharaja, which year, when….all I have are land details,” says V.K. Radhakrishnan of Vadakkumthodam House in Palluruthy about the canal which flows contiguous to his property, a majestic, historical house.

The popular story is that the canal was constructed overnight at the behest of the Cochin maharaja as he made his way upwards on the waterway to survey the lands of his enemies. At these times he made the Vadakkumthodam house, a transit point.

Radhakrishnan is wary. He says it can be just a story. The Vadakkumthodam family were zamindars of the area and owners of land in and around Palluruthy. The maharaja was most probably an ally. According to Radhakrishnan the maharaja had enmity with people living behind their lands. The maharaja wished to see the land of his adversaries and assess the enemy. Hence a canal was built in the night, quietly, for him to go up the waterway.

The maharaja, on these visits, always offered obeisance at the Azhakiyakavu Temple that belonged to the family. “He visited the temple on the first day of every Malayalam month,” says Radhakrishnan.

Prof. K.V. Thomas mentions in his book, Ende Kumbalangi, a possible reason on how Palluruthy got its name. Once, the Vadakkumthodam house became a transit point for the maharaja, the area was referred to as Palli-iruthy, meaning a resting place for the maharaja. Over the years Palli-iruthy changed to a more facile usage, Palluruthy.

Sudhir speaks of the adversaries of the Cochin Royal Family, the muthavadi, who battled for kingship, and always conspired with the Dutch to oust the reigning maharaja, giving good reason to believe that the maharaja journeyed up the canal to assess the enemy territory. The records compiled in the nineties state the length of the canal to be 1.40 km and 5m in width.

Radhakrishnan also talks about the bridge that was later built on the canal over which the main Palluruthy road runs past. It is said that a man called Ramakrishnan began building the bridge but the piling was impossible. Every time the pillars were dug into the ground, it gave way. It is said that only after the appeasement of the Goddess the four pillars to the bridge stood ground and the canal got a bridge over it.

Sudhir hazards a guess about the year of construction of the new bridge. He says, “It must have come after the building of the Harbour Bridge, around the 1930s, out of necessity. By that time of course the maharaja was not visiting Palluruthy anymore.”

source: http://www.thehindu.com / The Hindu / Home> Features> MetroPlus> Society / by Priyadershini S / Kochi – July 04th, 2014

Cochin airport declares 18 percent dividend

Business & Economy
Cochin International Airport declares 18 percent dividend. File photo
Cochin International Airport declares 18 percent dividend. File photo

Kochi: 

Cochin International Airport Limited (CIAL), India’s first greenfield airport under the public-private-partnership model, has declared an 18 percent divided for the last fiscal, one per cent more than what was given during 2011-12.

In a statement here after its board meeting chaired by Chief Minister Oommen Chandy, CIAL said it has posted a record profit (after tax) of Rs.124.42 crore during the 2013-14 financial year, 11.68 percent up over the previous fiscal.

The company’s net profit stood at Rs.157.46 crore with total revenues touching Rs.361.39 crore.

CIAL has been showing consistent growth since its inception and paying dividend since 2003-04.

CIAL has an investor base of 11,000 individual investors from 30 countries and the total paid up capital of Rs.306.06 crore, of which the Kerala government has invested Rs.98 crore.

source : http://www.beta.english.manoramaonline.com / Manorama Online / Home> Business> News / by Agencies / Saturday – June 08th, 2014