Category Archives: Records, All

Century old ‘Anjal’ office at Devikulam falling apart

Arts,Culture & Entertainment, Historical Links, Pre-Independence, Records, All
The ‘Anjal’ office at Devikulam was once a beehive of activity.

The over-a-century-old building is one with historical importance

The over-a-century-old building that housed the ‘Anjal’ office (post office) at Devikulam is in a dilapidated condition. There is a thick overgrowth of grass on the roof and a portion of the wall has collapsed. Close to it is a sathram (lodge), which too is in the same condition.

The buildings were once a beehive of activity as the Anjal office provided the main means of communication to the world outside. The sathram was the halting station for people moving to the present Tamil Nadu.

Though it is believed that the Anjal office started functioning in the 18th century under the Moovattupuzha postal system as a third-grade post office, there are no documents to prove the claim. Some of the documents connected to the later periods of history had been taken to the higher postal department office, according to the local people. However, they are not sure whether the files and documents have been preserved.

The buildings are historically important as Devikulam was the headquarters of administration during the British rule and the erstwhile Travancore Kingdom.

Under the Devikulam Anjal office, sub-offices also functioned at Munnar, Marayur, Santhanpara , Udumbanchola and Pallivasal. The old generation in Devikulam still has vivid memories of the ‘Anjalottakaran’ moving with a bell in hand with postal items to Munnar and from Marayur to Devikulam.

The sathram provided a safe halting station to those travelling to Tamil Nadu from different parts of the High Ranges on business purposes.

Staying facility

This was also used as a staying facility for the cavalcade accompanying the Travancore King while on summer tour to Devikulam.

Though the buildings are important milestones in the development of present-day Munnar, they remain in a state of ruin. Soon the buildings would move into history unless measures are taken to restore and protect them.

source: http://www.thehindu.com / The Hindu / Home> News> Cities> Thiruvananthapuram / Giji K. Raman / Idukki – April 10th, 2018

‘Thottara Rice’ brand to hit the shelves soon

Agriculture, Business & Economy, Green Initiatives & Environment, Nature, Records, All

Harvest of paddy to be inaugurated on April 10

The Thottara organic rice brand harvested from Thottara Puncha, a vast expanse of paddy field spread over Amballoor and Edakkattuvayal in Ernakulam district, will hit the market by the end of this month.

Come April 10, and the inauguration of this year’s harvest of paddy cultivated in nearly 550 acres will take place amid a gathering of hundreds of farmers, elected representatives, and officials.

“We plan to brand nearly 40 tonnes of organic rice as Thottara Rice and market it through the existing network of the Agriculture Department. In the next phase, larger quantities of the produce will be taken up for branding,” said Sujith Karun, Ernakulam district co-ordinator of the Haritha Keralam Mission. The organisers are hoping to harvest around 1,500 metric tonnes of paddy from Thottara Puncha, which extends to around 1,200 acres at Amballur and Edakkattuvayal in Ernakulam district and Vellur panchayat in Kottayam district.

Farmers affiliated to nine Padashekhara Samitis are engaged in paddy cultivation. It is expected that around 300 tonnes of rice can be produced from 1,500 metric tonnes of paddy cultivated in the 550-acre area. The Agriculture Department has the capacity to market nearly 40 tonnes of Thottara brand rice in the first phase. And, farmers can sell the remaining rice to private mills.

Mill at Amballoor

Mr. Sujith said that the Kudumbasree Mission had agreed to set up a mill at Amballoor. It will also provide ₹40 lakh for the realisation of the project.

Interestingly, District Collector K. Mohammed Y. Safirulla had taken the lead in bringing the maximum available cultivable land under Thottara Puncha for paddy cultivation. Farming in the barren land began in 2015.

Major preparatory works like the cleaning up of 11 km of main canals by the Minor Irrigation Department to de-water the paddy fields, land preparatory work in padashekharams, field survey for installation of 12 submersible pumps, consultations with stakeholders, and field visits to padashekharams were completed as part of the initiative.

The district administration had increased the acreage of Thottara Puncha over the last couple of years starting with 150 acres in 2015-16 followed by 350 acres in 2016-17.

The district administration’s efforts to revive the rice bowl of Ernakulam were ably assisted by the agriculture and irrigation departments, KLDC, KSEB, local bodies, land owners, Padashekhara Samitis, and the local community at large. The Agriculture Technology Management Agency had offered training to farmers.

source: http://www.thehindu.com / The Hindu / Home> News> Cities> Kochi / by Special Correspondent / Kochi – April 09th, 2018

Housing project to be showcased at UN meet

Inspiration/ Positive News and Features, Records, All, World Opinion
Fisheries Minister J. Mercykutty Amma

Part of Kundara constituency development project

A low-cost housing project envisaged as part of the constituency development initiative at Kundara will be showcased as a model housing scheme at a UN international conference to be held in New York on April 10, Minister for Fisheries J. Mercykutty Amma said here on Friday.

The project, a joint effort by the State government and TKM Engineering College, will be presented at the Skills and Technology Achieving Rapid Transformation (START), international conference.

The conference is being organised by the United Nations Academic Impact (UNAI), a UN initiative to align institutions of higher education, scholarship, and research with the UN.

The low-cost housing project was initiated as part of the Kundara Assembly constituency development project, named ‘Idam, which envisages local development projects with technical assistance and expertise from various sectors.

Pre-cast concrete

The low-cost housing scheme envisages a 400 sq ft house using pre-cast concrete funicular shells at ₹4 lakh.

The project had been developed as a student project of the UNAI chapter at TKM Engineering College to prove how technology can be utilised to improve the life of the common man.

source: http://www.thehindu.com / The Hindu / Home> News> Cities> Thiruvananthapuram / by Special Correspondent / Thiruvananthapuram – April 07th, 2018

Port makes turnaround after a decade

Business & Economy, Records, All, Travel, World Opinion

Achieves all-time high cargo throughput of 29.14 million metric tonnes for 2017-18

Helped by a substantial increase in cargo throughput, the Cochin Port Trust made a net surplus of ₹4 crore during 2017-18, a turnaround after 10 years. The port had reported net loss of ₹40 crore during 2015-16 and ₹27 crore during 2016-17.

Port chairman P. Raveendran told a press conference here on Thursday that the port achieved an all-time high cargo throughput of 29.14 million metric tonnes for 2017-18, an impressive growth of 16.51% over 2016-17. The cargo growth rate in Kochi is the highest amongst all the major ports in the country. Container traffic grew 13% during the period.

The port handled a traffic of 29.14 million tonnes of cargo during the last financial year against 25.01 tonnes during 2016-17. Container cargo traffic touched 5.55 lakh TEUs during the last year against 4.91 lakh TEUs in the previous year. The growth is 13%.

Total petroleum oil lubricants (POL) handling improved from 15.79 million tonnes during 2016-17 to 18.66 million tonnes during 2017-18, a growth rate of 18.17%. Kochi is also the most preferred cruise destination port in India with 42 cruise vessels calling at the port during 2017-18.

The port, exploring new business, also handled coastal steel cargo of Rastriya Ispat Nigam, Visakhapatnam with effect from October 2017. The port attracted river sand and ilmenite vessels during the current year and handled 1.33 lakh tonnes and 0.37 lakh tonnes respectively during 2017-2018.

The introduction of incentive and penalty scheme under the berthing policy of the Government of India with effect from June last year has helped achieve higher productivity in handling POL and cement.

Deal with Navy

Meanwhile, the port has signed a memorandum of understanding with the Indian Navy for utilising the Q2-Q3 berths at the Mattacherry wharf of the port for berthing naval ships. The agreement was signed in early January this year and as per the MoU, Cochin Port’s Q2 and Q3 berths at Mattacherry wharf, totalling 228 m of quay length, is being handed over to the Navy for five years for berthing their ships.

source: http://www.thehindu.com / The Hindu / Home> News> Cities> Kochi / by Special Correspondent / Kochi – April 06th, 2018

Freedom fighter Madhavankutty dies

Arts,Culture & Entertainment, Education, Historical Links, Pre-Independence, Leaders, Records, All, Science & Technology

Kozhikode :

Dr K Madhavankutty, freedom fighter and director of Bharathiya Vichara Kendram, died here on Friday. He was 93.

Madhavankutty was taken into custody for participating in the Quit India movement while he was studying for the intermediate. But he was released as he was a minor.

After completing medical education from the Stanley Medical College in Chennai, he joined as tutor in the same college. He was appointed as professor when the Kozhikode Medical College was established in 1957. Later he became the principal of Kozhikode, Thrissur and Thiruvananthapuram medical colleges. He was also the chairman of Bharathiya Vidya Bhavan, Kozhikode.

He contested the Lok Sabha elections in 1984 from Kozhikode with BJP support. Again, he fought the assembly elections in 1991 from Beypore as an independent supported by both BJP and UDF. The strange political alliance is a point of debate in political circles even now. Madhavankutty had authored many books, including the autobiography ‘Mayillee Kanakaksharangal’.

He is survived by son C Jayaram and Dr C Jayasree. Cremation will be held at Puthiyapalam at 10am on Saturday. tnn

source: http://www.timesofindia.indiatimes.com / The Times of India / Home> News> City News> Kozhikode News / TNN / March 30th, 2018

Kerala’s karate kid

Records, All, Sports

Her dad is a karate instructor and watching his kicks and chops, a young  Amritha Vijayan  started learning the martial art at the age of 5.

In no time, it became a lot more than an extra-curricular activity for the Varkala girl. A ninth grader now, she recently became the first female martial artist from Kerala to qualify for the Asian Karate Championship, after winning a gold medal at the national tournament. The 15-year-old is busy preparing for the tournament, which will be held in Japan in May.

“Winning the gold in the nationals itself was a thing of pride, and a lot of effort went into it,” says the soft-spoken black-belt holder. A student of Government Higher Secondary School, Varkala, Amritha has been training under her father Vijayan, from an early age. “He has an academy in Varkala and is also the coach of Sainik School, Thiruvananthapuram. My dad is a seventh dan black belt holder in karate. When I started out, there weren’t many girls in the academy. However, my sister Avanthika and I trained in the martial art and over time, more women joined,” she recalls.

Her mom Geetha used to accompany her for the tournaments for years together but now, a confident Amritha says she can handle her own safety. “Due to the high expense, my parents don’t accompany me now and I am also going to Japan without them. I am confident enough to take care of myself, thanks to my passion for karate,” she says.

Amritha is also thrilled that the tournament will be held in the island of Okinawa, which is believed to be where karate originated. “It is famed for having the longest-living people in the world. Studies have found that practising martial arts is what helps them stay strong and healthy and live long,” she says. In fact, it was her dad’s dream to visit this island. “I am glad that he is getting to fulfill it through me. I can’t wait to check out the place,” she beams.

She is also happy that karate is now included in the Olympics, with it debuting in Tokyo 2020. “For a lot of us who are into the martial art, this has served as an inspiration to work harder. Getting to represent one’s country at Olympic Games is truly an unparalleled honour and I hope many people from the country make it to the Olympics for karate,” says the youngster, who wishes to join the police force when she grows up.

Ask her about her own expectations for the upcoming Asian Games as well as Tokyo 2020 and she says, “I can’t say anything on that yet, but I know I will give it my all.”

source: http://www.timesofindia.indiatimes.com / The Times of India / News> City News> Kochi News / by Deepa Soman / TNN / April 05th, 2018

New plant species found in Western Ghats

Agriculture, Green Initiatives & Environment, Nature, Records, All, World Opinion
Fimbristylis agasthyamalaensis.

Grass-like plant, discovered in Ponmudi, has been named Fimbristylis agasthyamalaensis

Researchers from the University College here have reported the discovery of a new plant species from the Western Ghats biodiversity hotspot. Classified as a sedge, the grass-like plant has been named Fimbristylis agasthyamalaensis, after the locality from which it was found.

The researchers, including post doctoral fellow A.R.Viji and Assistant Professor T.S.Preetha, came across the species during an expedition to the marshy grasslands in the Ponmudi hills within the Agasthyamala Biosphere Reserve. The survey was part of a project funded by the Women Scientists Division of the Kerala State Council for Science, Technology and Environment (KSCSTE). The finding has been published in Phytotaxa, an international journal of botanical systematics and biodiversity.

The authors have recommended a preliminary conservation assessment of the plant as ‘critically endangered,’ according to IUCN criteria. The report says the species is highly prone to wild grazing.

As the habitat falls within a tourism spot and the perimeter of a place of worship, the plant is also subject to anthropogenic pressures that could lead to its extinction in the absence of scientific conservation.

The new species belongs to the Cyperaceae family. In India, the genus is represented by 122 species, of which 87 are reported from the Western Ghats. Many of the known Cyperaceae species are medicinal plants or used as fodder.

During a critical analysis of the specimens, F.agasthyamalaensis was found to be similar to F.onchnidiocarpa in several characters including the nature of infloresence. But detailed studies revealed distinct features which led to the conclusion that it is a new species.

Flowering and fruiting were observed from October to March.

The authors have stressed the need for more scientific studies to determine the potential uses of the new species.

source: http://www.thehindu.com / The Hindu / Home> News> States> Kerala / by T. Nandakumar / Thiruvananthapuram – April 03rd, 2018

Foot-washing ceremony: Women can no longer be excluded from the holy ritual

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

If I, your Lord and teacher, have washed your feet, you also ought to do it to one another. For I have given you an example…’
Thus spake Jesus Christ. The rite of foot washing observed on Maundy Thursday, which is inspired by this Bibilical verse, is symbolic of Jesus washing the feet of his 12 disciples prior to the Last Supper. It brings to mind a predictable image — a line of men whose feet get washed and kissed by a priest in church. Thanks to Pope Francis, for the past two years, the image is getting an inclusive, modern twist with women also in the frame. In Kerala, many churches followed suit, though discordant voices were also heard. This year too, the Latin Church included women in the rite at a much larger scale across the State. On Good Friday, we take a close look at the history of the tradition in Kerala, how it changed over time and its contemporary significance.

An ancient custom
It was a Goan priest who introduced it to Kerala, says historian Fr Dr Xavier Koodopuzha. “Before the historical Synod of Diamper (Udayamperoor Sunnahados) in 1599, the Archbishop of Goa, Aleixo de Menezes, did the foot washing ceremony to showcase humility. Inspired by him, the Syrian Christians of Kerala started to organise the ceremony. For 297 years in which the Portuguese ruled the Marthoma Christians, it went on and continued even after indigenous metropolitans took over. That’s how we still have this tradition in Kerala churches,” he says.

While the credit for including women in the rite goes to Pope Francis after he did it in 2016, very few seem to remember that a priest in Kerala had done it, exactly three decades ago. Dr Babu Paul IAS, who has written about it in one of his books, says, “Fr Culas, who has served as the vicar of a diocese under the Latin archdiocese of Thiruvananthapuram, washed the feet of women first in 1988, and did it for three years consecutively, to promote gender justice. In the third year, about 15 people, out of the 400 parishioners, complained to Archbishop Soosa Pakiam against him. The Archbishop told the priest that being a Bible scholar, he did not find anything wrong with the practice, but he wanted to leave it to Fr Culas’ conscience as to whether a possible division in church should be entertained.” Fr Culas was also transferred to a different diocese in the following year. He did not continue it in the new church fearing opposition.

Not all sects welcome it

While the Latin Church embraced the Pope’s model, the Syro Malabar church, like many other factions, did not follow suit. However, inspired by the Pope and the Bible, Fr Jose Vailikodath, a Syro Malabar priest of Thrikkakara parish, washed women’s feet in 2016. But he did not follow it up later. “There was tremendous official pressure and a circular urged us not to do it. Personally, I don’t believe in discriminating against women. I followed what St Paul said in Galatians 3.28 of the Bible, about equality. I am sure the Pope also might have been inspired by the Bible to include women in this rite,” says Fr Jose.

Each of the churches follow a different tradition and that’s also why women are kept away from it in certain churches, says Dr Xavier. “There are 23 church communities under the Catholic church. Though the faith is basically the same, there are tremendous differences in customs, from prayers to costumes and they are also given the freedom to follow their own traditions,” he explains.

The concept is catching on

Of late, groups like Indian Christian Women’s Movement (ICWM) have been organising the ritual in Kerala involving women, to bring gender justice. Kochurani Abraham of the group says, “While our aim is not to work against the church, we believe in gender equality and want to bring it into as many spheres, including this rite. In the foot washing ceremony we organised this year, we had couples who washed each other’s feet, to establish this.”

Many youngsters believe that there is no logic in keeping women out of such a rite. Kesia M, a Plus Two student in Kottayam who took part in the rite last year, says, “Jesus asked to treat everyone equally through this rite, regardless of wealth or social status. Why find a way to discriminate in the name of gender?”

The practice has tremendous contemporary significance too, according to Fr Eugiene Periera from Thiruvananthapuram. “It’s a means to recognise the service women also have been offering to the church for years together. Moreover, it’s time we spread the message of equality as well. When the church took the initiative first, there were a few voices of opposition but gradually, people began understanding it and it’s all taken positively now.”

source: http://www.timesofindia.indiatimes.com / The Times of India / News> City News> Kochi News / by Deepa Soman / TNN / March 30th, 2018

Pinarayi opens Thiruvananthapuram’s first mall

Arts,Culture & Entertainment, Business & Economy, Records, All, Travel
A view of the interiors of the Mall of Travancore in Thiruvananthapuram on Friday. PHOTO: S. Gopakumar

‘Mall of Travancore’ is the capital’s first state-of-the-art shopping mall that has come up near Chakka on the NH 66 bypass.

Chief Minister Pinarayi Vijayan on Friday opened Malabar Group’s ‘Mall of Travancore,’ the capital’s first state-of-the-art shopping mall that has come up near Chakka on the National Highway 66 bypass.

Spread over 6.5 lakh sq ft in three floors, the mall with over 150 stores of 300 brands has been set up at ₹400 crore on seven acres near the international terminal of Thiruvananthapuram airport. Seven multiplex theatres, Playaza — a 15,000 sq ft play area with 11 indoor rides, 9D theatre, 60 video kiosks — a hyper market, jewellery showrooms, electronics and home appliances showroom, showrooms of lifestyle products, and a food court with 22 multi-cuisine restaurants are the attractions.

Houses for homeless

Speaker P. Sreeramakrishnan presided over the function. At the function, the Chief Minister also inaugurated the CSR Project of the Malabar Group, under which houses will be built for homeless people. MD (International Operations) Shamlal Ahammed and India operations MD O. Asher jointly handed over the funds to Mr. Vijayan for this purpose.

Showrooms of the different brands inside the mall were launched by Mr. Sreeramakrishnan, Ministers . E. Chandrasekharan, T.P. Ramakrishnan, K.T. Jaleel, A.K. Saseendran, K. Raju, P. K. Kunhalikutty, MP, and V.S. Sivakumar, MLA.

Mayor V.K. Prasanth handed over the Green Mall interim certificate to the management. Group Chairman M.P. Ahammed inaugurated the Carnival Group’s multiplex theatre.

Legislators O. Rajagopal, K. Muralidharan, K.C. Mammad Koya, A. Pradeepkumar, A.N. Shamseer, P. T.A. Rahim, P.K. Abdu Rabb, KPCC president M.M. Hassan and BJP State president Kummanam Rajasekharan were present.

source: http://www.thehindu.com / The Hindu / Home> News> Cities> Thiruvananthapuram / by Special Correspondent / Thiruvananthapuram – March 23rd, 2018

A fest to commemorate Goan exodus

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

Kochi :

At the temple festival at Srinivasa Kovil, commemorating the exodus of Goans to the South through the sea route during the Portuguese colonization centuries ago, the Kudumbis of Kerala will stage the horrors of the voyage through a ritualistic enactment called ‘Lifting of the boats.’

A documentary on the ritual was recently launched in Goa under the aegis of Kanaka N Swamy, who researched the festival and its history.

“I made the documentary as the festival in memory of the arduous journey from Goa to Kerala during the Portuguese colonization triggered my interest. Goans hardly had any knowledge about such a remarkable festival in Tripunithura,” Swamy said.

The documentary brings out the historical and cultural roots that run between the coastal states of Goa and Kerala.

During the ritual, decorated boats are carried by the youth who sway and roll them to symbolize the rough sea voyage the community went through during their exodus. The ritual is enacted accompanied by thonya melam, a percussion using Goan musical instruments. It earlier used to conclude with the boats being immersed in the temple pond.

“However, the forced capsizing of the boats are avoided to safety and security concerns of the people participating in the ritual, as once a person had drowned in the pond while trying to forcefully drown the boat,” said L Subramaniam, member of Kudumbi community and executive member, Kerala History Association.

The costumes and rituals are representative of the cultural diffusion between the Goan and Keralite Kudumbis, which amount to less than 300 families in the area.

This year’s procession which will begin from the Statue Square at Tripunithura on Wednesday at 10am will end at the Srinivasa Kovil pond at around 1 pm.

source: http://www.timesofindia.indiatimes.com / The Times of India / Home> City News> Kochi News / TNN / march 28th, 2018