Category Archives: Records, All

Arya Premji no more

Arts,Culture & Entertainment, Inspiration/ Positive News and Features, Records, All

Thiruvananthapuram :

Arya Premji, wife of social reformer the late M P Bhattathiripad (Premji) was laid to rest here on Monday.

Arya Premji, 99, died at her son, senior journalist Neelan’s residence here on Sunday. Her body was cremated at the Santhikavadam on Monday evening.

Arya and Premji were part of the state’s renaissance history for being the second couple in the Namboodiri community to engage in widow marriage.

Arya was born to Neelakandan Namboodiri and Umadevi Antharjanam of Karuvattu Mana at Anthikkad in Thrissur in 1917.

She got married at the age of 14 but became a widow a year after. Premji married her when she was 27.

Premji, then a proof reader with ‘Desabhimani’ daily, had triggered a debate in the community by marrying a widow, which eventually resulted in the community ostracising them.

Arya Premji was elected to the Thrissur municipal council as a Communist party candidate in 1964.

She is survived by sons M P Neelakandan (Neelan), Hareendranathan, retired Colonel Induchoodan, daughter Sathi, in-laws Santha, Leela, Varada and Parvathy. Her son KPAC Premachandran had predeceased her.

source: http://www.newindianexpress.com / The New Indian Express / Home> States> Kerala / by Express News Service / May 24th, 2016

Chef Senthil Raj bags laurels

Arts,Culture & Entertainment, Records, All

Kochi :

The three-day HotelTech, Kerala’s premier hospitality equipment exhibition, and Kerala Culinary Challenge, which witnessed over 3,200 footfalls, concluded at Samudrika Convention Centre, Willingdon Island.

Senthil Raj from Holiday Inn, Kochi, who bagged the award for the outstanding performer, will represent India at Hotel Asia, a premier event to be held in the Maldives in September that will feature 1,000 chefs vying for the honours.Hotel Leela bagged the award in the best culinary establishment category on the basis of the competitions held at the event. And competitions were organised for chefs from star hotels across the state. As many as 85 chefs from 30 star hotels participated in the competitions and the winners were chosen by a five-member panel. At the event, the chefs decided to launch Kerala Chefs’ Forum and provide free training to 100 students as part of the corporate social responsibility(CSR).

According to the organisers, it was decided to launch a forum for the chefs since no such forum existed at present, unlike in several other states where such forums exist. The forum will cater to the various needs of chefs and provide training to them. As for the decision to provide free training in the hospitality sector, 100 students from under-privileged families, who have passed Class X, will be selected and provided training through tie-up with various hotels in the state.

source: http://www.newindianexpress.com / The New Indian Express / Home> States> Kerala / by Express News Service / May 26th, 2016

New look for Tangasseri lighthouse

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

Education, Inspiration/ Positive News and Features, Nri's / Pio's, Records, All, Science & Technology, World Opinion

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

Royce Victor ordained first CSI bishop Malabar

Arts,Culture & Entertainment, Leaders, Records, All

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

Arts,Culture & Entertainment, Green Initiatives & Environment, Nature, Records, All, Travel
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

Documentary on K R Gowri released

Leaders, Records, All

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

Athletics is in his Genes

Records, All, Sports, World Opinion

 

Sreeshankar M
Sreeshankar M

Thiruvananthapuram  :

Everyone expects that an athlete would have zeroed in on his favourite event by the time he turns 18. But for 17-year-old Sreeshankar M, it was only a few months ago that he realised he was as good at running as he was at long jumps.

Let’s fast forward to Monday. The athlete’s on the podium after setting a new meet record in 100m race in the 6th Olympian Suresh Babu memorial Kerala State Youth Athletics Championship here. And the icing on the cake was that the youngster repeated the same feat in long jump too.

“It was after a long gap that he turned out for 100m race, in fact it is for the first time since the under-12 competitions,” said his father S Murali, who doubles up as his coach. Sreeshankar has sports running through his veins with father Murali, a silver medalist in triple jump at the 1987 South Asian Games, and mother K S Bijimol, an Asian medalist in 800m.

Murali revealed it was through pure chance that he found out his son is also a very good runner. “I recorded his times during sprint training for long jump and surprisingly the speed was excellent. That was when it dawned on me,” said the Southern Railways employee.  The youngster’s performance was not that good at the State Youth Meet compared to the Federation Cup Junior Athletics Meet, which was held last week in Bengaluru, but Murali blames the tight schedule of the athletics calendar for it.

“He had to appear for 100m heats at 5 pm, participate in the long jump finals at 6 and then run the 100m finals just after 7 pm. He even had a strained hamstring to deal with,” Murali said. “People just look at the statistics and say his performance has dipped. But these factors also have to be considered,” he said.

Sreeshankar has the national youth meet, which is to take place later this month at the Calicut University Stadium, to look forward to. However, he is disappointed to have missed out on the world youth championship by a whisker. “He leapt 7.41m at Bengaluru, but missed out on the mark. We will come back stronger next year,” Murali said.

The Rising Star

Hailing from Palakkad, Sreeshankar is the son of former athletes S Murali and K S Bijimol

The 17-year-old broke two meet records  on the opening day of the state youth athletics meet at Chandrasekharan Nair Stadium

Sreeshankar cleared 7.25 metres in long jump and timed 11.08 seconds in 100 metres race

source: http://www.newindianexpress.com / The New Indian Express / Home> Cities> Thiruvananthapuram / by Adwaidh Rajan / May 10th, 2016

Rich tributes to Krishna Menon in U.K. on his 120th birth anniversary

Amazing Feats, Historical Links, Pre-Independence, Inspiration/ Positive News and Features, Leaders, Records, All, World Opinion
Despite his prodigious intellect, Indian statesman V.K. Krishna Menon was no armchair intellectual and threw himself into local British politics and life. / The Hindu Photo Archives
Despite his prodigious intellect, Indian statesman V.K. Krishna Menon was no armchair intellectual and threw himself into local British politics and life.
/ The Hindu Photo Archives

“To describe Mr. Menon was like trying to contain the Niagra in a flask,” former civil servant P.N. Haksar famously said of him.

The life and multi-faceted contributions of the Indian statesman V.K. Krishna Menon (1896-1974), especially the less-known phase of his life in Britain, were remembered at a meeting organised by the V.K. Krishna Menon Research Institute at the Nehru Centre in London.

Speakers at the meeting included Cyriac Maprayil, Director of the Krishna Menon Institute; Virendar Paul, Deputy High Commissioner of India; Sir Peter Lloyd, former Minister of State for the Home office; and Chaya Ray, a lawyer who offered interesting reflections on Mr. Menon who she knew as a child in London.

“To describe Mr. Menon was like trying to contain the Niagra in a flask,” said Mr. Maprayil, quoting the former civil servant P.N. Haksar.

Prodigious intellect

Despite his prodigious intellect, Mr. Menon was no armchair intellectual and threw himself into local British politics and life. He an elected Councillor for Camden Town for four terms and was conferred the Freedom of the Borough for his public services.

As a member of the library committee, he wanted to see “as many libraries as pubs” in the area, Mr. Maprayil noted. His interest in promoting reading led him to set up Penguin paperbacks in 1935 with Sir Allen Lane. For a time during the war, he even acted as an air raid warden for his area.

Indian League role

Better known and documented are his activities in the India League, which he founded in 1929 and which canvassed support in Britain for Indian independence.

His contacts were wide and influential and included Bertrand Russell, J.B.S. Haldane, Michael Foote, Aneurin Bevan, E.M.Forster and Marie Seton.

1962 war defeat ‘hard on him’

Sir Peter Lloyd noted how Mr. Menon was invariably “right, but at the wrong time.” India’s defeat in the Indo-China’s war was “hard on him”, Mr. Lloyd said, “not the kind of payback he was looking for from the Chinese.” But on non-alignment, “his timing was right,” as it made the two power blocks take note of newly independent nations, even as it gave the latter a “sense of autonomy as equals rather than as players with client status.”

source: http://www.thehindu.com / The Hindu / Home> News / by Parvathi Menon / London – May 04th, 2016

In Kerala village, MGR’s childhood home in ruins

Arts,Culture & Entertainment, Leaders, Records, All, Travel
Children playing in front of the house of MGR at Vadavannur in Palakkad.
Children playing in front of the house of MGR at Vadavannur in Palakkad.

Though AIADMK leaders make the occasional pilgrimage, it is in a neglected state

While the All India Anna Dravida Munnetra Kazhagam (AIADMK) continues to invoke M.G. Ramachandran’s popularity to boost its prospects every elections, the ancestral home of his mother in this village in Kerala, which the idol was emotionally attached to during his lifetime, is languishing in neglect.

The house, where MGR spent his childhood after relocating from his birthplace Kandy in Sri Lanka, now serves as an Anganwadi centre under the Kerala Social Welfare Department.

The small tiled house, which MGR frequently visited even when he was the Chief Minister of Tamil Nadu, still retains an old-world charm.

Located barely 12 km from Palakkad town, it was occupied by relatives of MGR’s mother Sathyabhama until a few years ago, and once they decided to shift to Palakkad, they leased it to the Anganwadi, citing the icon’s affection for children.

“The house is in ruins due to lack of repair. Though AIADMK leaders from Tamil Nadu make the occasional pilgrimage, it is in a neglected state. As it happens to be a private property, the Kerala Government too faces limitations in converting it into an MGR memorial,” said M. Pushpalatha, a part-time teacher at the Anganwadi centre.

Apart from an old image of MGR, pictures of Dravidian leader C.N. Annadurai and AIADMK chief J. Jayalalithaa adorns its walls, as does an AIADMK calendar carrying messages from the Tamil Nadu Minister S.P. Velumani.

“MGR’s father Maruthur Gopala Menon, who hailed from the nearby Nalleppilly village, moved to Vadavannur after he retired as a magistrate in Kandy and stayed for some time in this house. After he died, MGR and his brother M.G. Chakrapani were taken by their mother to Kumbakonam, where the father’s elder brother lived. It was while living in Kumbakonam that both the brothers entered films,” said N. Mayil Swamy, the AIADMK candidate from Chittur constituency.

source: http://www.thehindu.com / The Hindu / Home> National / by K.A. Shaji / Vadavannur (Palakkad) – May 01st, 2016