ICPA, which enjoys CBCI’s patronage has representation in international media organisations.
Ignatius Gonsalves
Kochi :
Veteran journalist Ignatius Gonsalves has been elected president of the Indian Catholic Press Association (ICPA), becoming the first lay person from Kerala to head the ICPA in its six-decade-long history. He was unanimously elected to the top post at the association’s annual general body meeting at Jharsuguda near Kandhamal in Odisha , a release said here.
Rev Suresh Mathew, editor of New Delhi-based Indian Currents magazine, is the incumbent general secretary of ICPA.
The other office bearers are: Fr Sunil Damor SVD – Odisha (vice-president); Fr Joby Mathew, former editor of Mumbai-based The Teenager Today magazine (treasurer); and Sr Tessy Jacob of the Holy Spirit Congregation – Odisha (joint secretary). Fr Valerian Fernandes, editor of Mangaluru-based Konkani publication Raknno; Roman Bhatia – Surat and Sebastian Kallarackal of Deepika are regional representatives. ICPA, which enjoys CBCI’s patronage has representation in international media organisations.
source: http://www.newindianexpress.com / The New Indian Express / Home> States> Kerala / by Express News Service / March 04th, 2019
The Thames River Festival is held annually from September 1-30. Numerous events, including exhibitions and cultural events attended by people from various countries, take place every year.
A snakeboat being rowed in the backwaters of Kochi. (File | EPS)
Kochi :
Soon we may get to see Kerala’s snakeboat cruising through the Thames in London, if things work out as per procedures. Sounds interesting? The British Council has expressed interest in offering Kerala a stage to showcase its art and culture as part of the acclaimed Thames River Festival held annually in Britain. A delegation comprising Finance Minister Thomas Isaac, Tourism Minister Kadakampally Surendran, Tourism Director P Bala Kiran and Tourism Secretary Rani George held a meeting with Unesco representatives in New Delhi last week as part of the Spice Route project.
The meeting was also attended by British Council director, South India, Janaka Pushpanathan. “The British Council has placed before us a proposal to provide Kerala with a representation in the Thames River Festival. We are considering it, as last year the highest foreign tourist arrival to the state was from the UK. Kerala getting representation in the festival will promote its tourism abroad,” Tourism Director P Bala Kiran said.
British Council keen on organising events in Kerala
The Thames River Festival is held annually from September 1-30. Numerous events, including exhibitions and cultural events attended by people from various countries, take place every year. In 2018, the West Bengal government had signed an MoU with the British Council, as part of which the famous Durga Puja was showcased at the festival. “A decision about collaborating with the British Council will be taken as part of the Spice Route international conference to be attended by representatives, from August 29 this year. Currently, only a proposal has been received.
The British Council is also interested in organising similar events in Kerala. They have also put forward a proposal for us to curate events at some of the famous museums in Britain,” he said. A top official with the Spice Route project said the government is seriously considering organising similar river festivals in Kerala.
“As part of the Thames festival, we are planning to exhibit snakeboats in the UK. As far as the river festival in Kerala is considered, we are planning to organise it in Alappuzha or at Kodungallur, which is close to the Periyar. Similar to the Thames River Festival exhibitions, conferences and cultural events will be organised here,” he said. The British Council had last year signed an MoU with the Kerala government for collaboration in the educational sector.
A similar agreement in the tourism sector with the British Council is being considered by the Kerala government now. Apart from Britain, the Netherlands also has agreed to collaborate with the Spice Route Project. P M Nowshad, managing director, Muziris Heritage Project (MHP), said technical assistance of the Netherlands has been sought for setting up a maritime museum in Alappuzha. MHP oversees the development of various heritage projects, including the Alappuzha heritage project.
“Netherlands has some of the famous maritime museums in the world. During the Spice Route meeting with the representatives of various countries in New Delhi, the Netherlands had agreed to provide technical assistance to set up maritime museums. Similarly, they also will assist us in digitising the archives,” he said.
source: http://www.newindianexpress.com / The New Indian Express / Home> States> Kerala / by Toby A N Tony / Express News Service / March 03rd, 2019
Barrier-free access for hearing and visually challenged to country’s first planned ecotourism destination
Visually challenged people reaching Thenmala, the country’s first planned ecotourism destination, will be provided with a visitor’s guide in Braille, the tactile writing system, from March.
For the aurally challenged, a video brochure with sign language has been incorporated as a separate corner in www.thenmalaecotourism. com, the official website of the Thenmala Ecotourism Promotion Society (TEPS) that manages the destination.
Mobile app
A mobile application, a guiding app that will briefly narrate the attractions of the destination, is also on the anvil. The 16-page Braille brochure has all information needed for a traveller.
The initiative is part of the efforts to encourage people with visual and hearing impairement to visit Thenmala.
It is also part of the barrier-free tourism project launched last year to make tourist destinations accessible to all visitors.
“This is the first time a Braille tourism brochure is being made available at a tourist destination in the State. The brochures will be provided to the visually challenged from the TEPS office,” Ecotourism Director and CEO of TEPS P.P. Pramod told The Hindu.
Students of Government School for the Blind, Vazhuthacaud, is behind the Braille brochure.
It is the outcome of a day trip organised for students as part of a CSR initiative. “We realised the constraints faced and requested them for solutions. The Braille brochure was the outcome,” he said. Students of Government VHSS for Deaf, Jagathy, came up with the video brochure with sign language after their visit.
For using the mobile application being launched on trial basis, the QR code will come in handy if the visitor does not have data connection. After getting the feedback, a complete version of the app will be rolled out by TEPS in IOS platform.
Along with this, Buddha Mayoori, which has been declared as the State butterfly, has got a special corner in the butterfly park.
source: http://www.thehindu.com / The Hindu / Home> News> States> Kerala / by S. Anil Radhakrishnan / Thiruvananthapuram – February 27th, 2019
Professor Lissie Mathew’s book, Kathivanoor Veeran: Malakayariya Manushyan, Churamirangiya Daivam, traces the evolution of an ordinary man to God
Mannappan and Chemmarathy were not exactly a model couple, they fought as intensely as they loved. When he dies in war, after a domestic squabble, Chemmarathy is heartbroken, the last words she uttered to him were the unkindest. She jumps into his pyre and the two attain godly status. This is an extraordinary tale of Mannappan, a man who goes up to Coorg in Karnataka from his village, Mangad in Kannur, dies a war hero, and returns as Kathivanoor Veeran. To this date, few can listen to the tragic hero’s tale without a lump in the throat.
Professor Lissie Mathew’s book, Kathivanoor Veeran: Malakayariya Manushyan, Churamirangiya Daivam, retraces Mannappan’s journey to Kodagu (Coorg). Having grown up in Vayattuparambu in Kannur, Lissie’s childhood was full of the stories and colours of Theyyam. And she had always wanted to explore the story of Kathivanoor Veeran. A professor of Malayalam at the Sankaracharya College, Kalady, working on its Payyannur campus, she has to her credit 12 books.
Kathivanoor Veeran is one among the most popular Theyyams, for it is a visual spectacle where the performer indulges in acrobatics and comes in close contact with fire. “It is an experience to watch Kathivanoor Veeran in action. I wanted to bring out the hero’s story through this book,” Lissie says.
The book delves into the micro-histories of Northern Malabar, where folktales, fiction, fact and history mingle in curious ways. It also explains the Theyyam, its rituals and practices in a detailed manner.
Excerpts from an interview with Lissie Mathew
Can you describe your relationship with the work.
I should say the book came out straight out of my mind, though it took four years of research, travel and interaction with people, to complete. It was hard work, but I wanted to trace Kathivanoor Veeran’s route from Mangad in Kannur to Kodagu (modern day Coorg). Through the thottam (the song sung before the ritualistic practice), which describes Mannappan’s life and death in great detail, one can get an insight into the geography, culture, mores and history of North Malabar. I followed the thottam to retrace Mannappan’s journey.
The thottam would have been difficult to interpret as it is in archaic Malayalam, often in the local dialect.
Yes. I could not understand it, the first time I heard it. I got the thottam singers to sing it for me, recorded it and I listened to it over and over again, until it began to make sense. It is fascinating, how these songs combine legend, history, reality and imagination. Most of the places mentioned in the thottams remain, though in different names. These thottams speak of a culture that is over a 1,000 years old.
What is the relevance of Theyyam today?
Theyyam talks about people and their problems, their relationship with Nature and fellow creatures. A rural-agricultural lifestyle makes up its very foundation. For instance, a Kathivanoor Veeran Theyyam performance is always followed by an annadanam (feast), which everyone partakes of. In this day and age, when we, as a people are becoming more self-centred, this is an example of how we are a part of our community and how we need to share our resources.
Performed most often in sacred groves (kaavus), it is important to understand the relevance of preserving these pockets of biodiversity intact. It is heartening to see that even the younger generation respects the rituals associated with Theyyam. By wanting to preserve the sanctity of Theyyam’s rituals, they are also contributing towards preserving the ecosystem.
Theyyam is performed by people in the subaltern communities. The Chirakkal Kolathiris, the rulers of the land, gave certain subaltern communities the right to perform Theyyam and it is continued to this day. Once they become Gods, even the upper castes, pray to them.
In that sense, Theyyam is undoubtedly, extremely relevant today.
source: http://www.thehindu.com / The Hindu / Home> Books / by Anasuya Menon / February 28th, 2019
The State government on Wednesday set the ball rolling for five major IT projects, including the ambitious Space Technology Application Development Ecosystem (STADE) and the 2.5 million sq ft World Trade Centre (WTC) project of the Brigade Group.
STADE, a project of the KeralaStartup Mission (KSUM) supported by ISRO’s Vikram Sarabhai Space Centre, was launched with three companies on board.
Occupancy certificates
At a function chaired by Chief Minister Pinarayi Vijayan, IT secretary M. Sivasankar handed over occupancy certificates to Indian companies SatSure, Bellatrix Aerospace and Agnikul.
STADE is aimed at promoting companies and start-ups that are into space data analytics and development of space-tech components.
According to the government, Airbus has agreed on an ‘ecosystem partnership’ with it for the STADE project. Talks are on with French space agency CNES and the European Space Agency (ESA) for establishing similar partnerships, the government said.
Technopark has signed an MoU with the Brigade Group for establishing the WTC, the second one in Kerala, in Technocity. Technopark CEO Hrishikesh Nair and M.R. Jaishankar, CMD, Brigade Group, signed the MoU.
The first WTC in Kerala was established at Infopark. Technopark has allotted 12 acres to build the 2.5 million sq ft WTC. The project is expected to generate employment for 15,000 people.
The government has inked an MoU with US-based Lumium for establishing a Design Innovation Centre here. KSUM CEO Saji Gopinath exchanged the MoU with Sreeni Sreenivasan, chairman and CEO of the design product firm.
Chief Minister Pinarayi Vijayan inaugurated the industry-backed, technology-enabled Skills Delivery Platform Kerala (SDPK). SDPK aims to bridge employability gaps and produce skilled workforce for the industry. Connecting 150 hi-tech classrooms in engineering colleges, SDPK will provide skills training to 40,000 students every year.
Swatantra launched
The Chief Minister also launched ‘Swatantra,’ billed as the world’s largest integrated free and open source facility in a government sector at the research and innovation centre of the International Centre for Free and Open Source Software (ICFOSS).
Tourism Minister Kadakampally Surendran presided over the function. IT secretary and Jayasankar Prasad, director, ICFOSS, also were present.
source: http://www.thehindu.com / The Hindu / Home> News> States> Kerala / by Special Correspondent / Thiruvananthapuram / February 27th, 2019
The Olympian Suresh Babu Memorial Lifetime Achievement Award was presented to badminton coach S Muraleedharan.
Thiruvananthapuram :
The State’s highest sporting honour G V Raja Award for 2017 was awarded to the athletes Jinson Johnson and Neena V by the Chief Minister Pinarayi Vijayan at a function organized at Jimmy George Indoor Stadium, on Wednesday.
The Olympian Suresh Babu Memorial Lifetime Achievement Award was presented to badminton coach S Muraleedharan. Sports Minister E P Jayarajan said to nurture the sporting talents in the state the government is spearheading various efforts including construction of stadiums with synthetic tracks apart from indoor stadiums.
“164 sportspersons, who have won national and international medals, were awarded government jobs while 248 others will also be appointed soon,” said Jayarajan at the event.
Other winners
Volleyball player Jinsy Johnson (college-level)
Athlete Ms Abigeyil Arogyanathan (school-level) for the best sportspersons in the academies under the State Sports Council.
Sports Council volleyball coach S Manoj won the best coach award. Mathews Jacob, Mar Athanasius College, Kothamangalam won the best college sports teacher award.
Assumption College, Changanassery, was awarded the best college for remarkable sports achievements.
Awards were also distributed to the winners of the 2016-17 national and international competitions, including Asian Games.
Kerala volleyball team that had won the 66th national volleyball championship and participants of the Special Olympics 2015 held in Los Angeles were also awarded.
source: http://www.newindianexpress.com / The New Indian Express / Home> States> Kerala / by Express News Service / February 28th, 2019
The district emerged second in the category of best performing districts in the southern region for rejuvenation/creation of water bodies such as lakes and ponds.
Kochi :
Ernakulam district has received the prestigious National Water Awards 2018 instituted by the Ministry of Water Resources, River Development and Ganga Rejuvenation at a function held in New Delhi.
District co-ordinator of Haritha Keralam Mission, Sujith Karun, received the award from Central Water Resources Minister Nitin Gadkari, on behalf of District Collector Muhammed Y Safirulla.
The district emerged second in the category of best performing districts in the southern region for rejuvenation/creation of water bodies such as lakes and ponds.
National Water awards were launched in the year 2007 to encourage all stakeholders to manage their water resources. The Minister of state for Water Resources Arjun Ram Mehwal and Secretary, Ministry of Water Resource U P Singh were also present on the occasion.
source: http://www.newindianexpress.com / The New Indian Express/ Home> States> Kerala / by Express News Service / February 27th, 2019
Chief Minister Pinarayi Vijayan on Monday inaugurated a non-beta-lactam plant at KeralaState Drugs and Pharmaceuticals Limited (KSDP).
According to officials, the new plant can produce 158 types of medicines needed for government hospitals. It can make 250 crore tablets, five crore capsules, 1.5 crore ORS packets and so on every year.
Industries Minister E.P. Jayarajan, who presided over the function, said that the LDF government had spent ₹50,000 crore on various development projects in the State. “The government will not allow pharmaceutical companies to loot the patients. Drug prices will be brought under control by increasing the production of medicines. The new plant will create 100 jobs,” Mr. Jayarajan said.
Rice parks
He said that the government would set up rice parks in Kuttanad, Palakkad and Thrissur.
Finance Minister T.M. Thomas Isaac inaugurated work on a new non-beta-lactam injection plant. Dr. Isaac said that the production of medicines for the treatment of cancer would begin at KSDP next year.
Public Works Minister G. Sudhakaran launched the distribution of free medicines to patients who have undergone organ transplantation.
KSDP chairman C.B. Chandrababu, U. Pratibha, MLA, district panchayat president G. Venugopal, District Collector S. Suhas, Planning Board member B. Ekbal and others spoke.
source: http://www.thehindu.com / The Hindu / Home> News> States> Kerala / by Staff Reporter / Alappuzha – February 25th, 2019
Canonisation : Kollam Bishop Paul Antony Mullassery declaring Bishop Jerome as Servant of God during the holy mass at Thangassery on Sunday. | Photo Credit: C Suresh Kumar R
Bishop Jerome, the first native bishop of Kollam diocese of the Catholic Church, has been declared Servant of God, initiating the process of his beatification and canonisation.
Kollam Bishop Paul Antony Mullassery made the declaration during the holy mass held at Infant Jesus Cathedral, Thangassery, here on Sunday. He also unveiled a portrait of the late bishop, who would be now called the Servant of God.
Archbishop M. Soosapakiam was the chief celebrant who led the pontifical mass while the co-celebrants included Changanassery Arch Bishop Joseph Perunthottam, former Kollam Boshop Stanley Roman, Neyyattinkara Bishop Vincent Samuel, Punalur Bishop Selvister Ponnumuthan, Alappuzha Bishop Stephan Athipozhiyil, Mavelikkara Bishop Joshua Mar Ignathios and Pathanamthitta Bishop Samuel Irenios.
First step
Declaring the late bishop Servant of God is the first step towards recognising him as a saint.
Former Kollam Bishop Stanley Roman had started the proceedings for the same and a delegation from Kollam had visited Vatican last year to hand over the report on the completion of the initialisation. Bishop Jerome, who was ordained as the first native Bishop of Kollam in 1937 and led the diocese till 1978, will be bestowed the title of ‘venerable’ in the next stage followed by beatification and canonisation.
Kollam diocese had organised programmes to mark the occasion including workshops on the life of the late bishop and processions.
source: http://www.thehindu.com / The Hindu / Home> News> State> Kerala / by Staff Reporter / Kollam – February 25th, 2019
K.S. Srinivas, chairman of MPEDA, handing over black tiger shrimp seeds to Hormis Tharakan, former Police Chief of Kerala, in Kochi on Monday.
The Marine Products Export Development Authority (MPEDA) started supplying high-health black tiger shrimp seeds from its new Multispecies Aquaculture Complex at Vallarpadam on Monday. The inaugural sale of the seeds was done by MPEDA chairman K.S. Srinivas, who handed over a lakh of them to former Kerala Director General of Police Hormis Tharakan, who is also a shrimp farmer.
The MPEDA is a statutory body under the Ministry of Commerce and Industry and has developed the seeds with the help of its research wing Rajiv Gandhi Centre for Aquaculture, according to a press release here.
Mr. Srinivas said lessons from the international market had prompted the MPEDA to promote the production of black tiger shrimp in Kerala. He said black tiger was the dominant cultured shrimp in India till a decade ago. In 2009, the country began experiencing non-availability of disease-free seeds of the species, prompting aquaculture farmers to shift focus to exotic vannamei species.
The MPEDA has now decided to encourage and expand the production of black tiger shrimp endemic to South Asia. Production of black tiger could support shrimp exports much more in the long run, said Mr. Srinivas.
Of late, tiger shrimp’s higher price and increasing demand in the international market has led India’s farming community to restart farming of the variety. To meet that, the country needs more disease-free seeds of black tiger.
source: http://www.thehindu.com / The Hindu / Home> News> Cities> Kochi / by Special Correspondent / Kochi – February 19th, 2019
