Daily Archives: July 30, 2014

Kerala to Dedicate Sankar’s Cartoon Museum to Nation

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

Kottayam  (KERALA):

Chief Minister Oommen Chandy will formally dedicate the ‘Cartoonist Sankar Memorial National Cartoon Museum and Art Gallery’ to the nation on Thursday. Announcing the event at a press conference here on Tuesday, Minister for Cultural Affairs K C Joseph said the museum is   the first of its kind in the state and would be elevated to the ‘top cartoon study centre’ in the country.

The museum is being set up under the aegis of Kerala Lalithakala Academy at Krishnapuram near Kayamkulam. The museum, in memory of cartoonist Sankar on his 112th birthday, has been  built on a 15,000-sq ft area and will showcase Sankar’s major works. His tools including brush, pen, easel, table, overcoat and dolls would also be displayed at the museum, the minister said.

The tools are donated by Sankar’s daughters, Yamuna Sankar and Santha Sreenivas.  The minister said the museum will showcase cartoons of existing and former cartoonists, but will predominantly feature Sankar’s works.  Almost 120 original cartoons have been received from his kin. Cartoons of Gandhiji, Pandit Jawaharlal Nehru and Indira Gandhi are among them, the minister said. A water-coloured portrait of Nehru by him will be a major display at the museum. Cartoons of former stalwarts including Abu Abraham, O V Vijayan, Kutty, Samuel, B M Gafoor, John Mathew, Thomas P Mohan, Kerala Varma, K S Pillai, P K Manthri along with Sankar’s students and existing cartoonists including Yesudasan and B G Varma will be exhibited at the museum, he said.

Another draw would be Sankaran Kutty’s caricatures on Indira Gandhi and Vaikom Muhammed Basheer. The minister said the building was constructed by the Public Works Department at a cost of `3 crore, under the initiative of Kayamkulam MLA C K Sadasivan.

According to Lalithakala Academy officials,  Joseph will preside over the function on Thursday.

source: http://www.newindianexpress.com / The New Indian Express / Home> States> Kerala / Express News Service / July 30th, 2014

A proud collection of carnivorous plant species

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

PlantsKERALA30jul2014

JNTBGRI have developed three new hybrids of the Pitcher plant or Monkey cup (Nepenthes), a carnivorous plant that traps insects and small rodents and feeds on them.

Scientists at the Jawaharlal Nehru Tropical Botanic Garden and Research Institute (JNTBGRI) here have developed three new hybrids of the Pitcher plant or Monkey cup (Nepenthes), a carnivorous plant that traps insects and small rodents and feeds on them.

The institute is justifiably proud of its Nepenthes collection of 20 species brought from far and wide. Of the 140 species of Nepenthes distributed across the world, mainly in Madagascar, the Seychelles, Sri Lanka and Australia, only one — Nepenthes khasiana — is known to occur in India, in the Khasi and Jaintia hills of Meghalaya.

Plants of Nepenthes are usually climbers, growing several metres in length and straggling over low bushes and trees in forest areas. The leaves of the plant get modified into a pouch-like structure with a lid on top. The pouch produces enzymes that can kill insects and even small rodents. The trap is often colourful, attracting prey. The slick coating on the upper part of the trap makes escape nearly impossible for the prey.

According to C. Sathish Kumar, scientist, Orchid Biology and Conservation unit, JNTBGRI, Nepenthes and other carnivorous plants such as Aldrovanda, Dionea, Drosera, Sarracenia, and Utriculariaattract, kill, and digest insects to derive nitrogen required for their growth.

Dr. Sathish Kumar said the initial results of the breeding experiments with Nepenthes were exciting. “For the first time in India, we have developed a few wonderful hybrids.”

The collection of carnivorous plants is the highlight of Plant Wonders, a children’s education programme conducted by the JNTBGRI. “Understanding the basics of plant sciences will have to be a priority in this changing world when forced extinction of species is happening at a faster rate than ever. How many of the species on the earth today will be seen by our children or grandchildren is anybody’s guess. Botanical gardens will act as Noah’s Ark, arresting the extinction and saving some species for posterity.”

The JNTBGRI has drawn up plans to supply Nepenthes plants to students under the programme.

source: http://www.thehindu.com / The Hindu / Home> News> Cities> Thiruvananthapuram /   T.NandaKumar  / Thiruvananthapuram – July 28th, 2014

Colachal war anniversary to be observed

Historical Links, Pre-Independence

The victory of the forces of erstwhile Travancore against the Dutch navy in 1741 —known as the Colachal war — would be commemorated this year on July 31 at the Colachal war memorial.

The victory of the forces of erstwhile Travancore against the Dutch navy in 1741 —known as the Colachal war — would be commemorated this year on July 31 at the Colachal war memorial.

Brig. Samir Salunke, station commander of the Pangode Military station, police officials and civilian officials would attend the event, being organised by the Madras regiment of the Indian Army, a press note issued here said.

Wreath-laying

The highlight of the event would be a wreath-laying ceremony at the war memorial followed by a display by the pipe band of the Madras Regiment.

The battle of Colachal — located 68 km from Thiruvananthapuram — of 1741 earned for Travancore the distinction of being the only Asian military power to ever defeat a leading European sea power at sea and land.

Pillar

The pillar at Colachal was erected by the then Travancore king Marthanda Varma to commemorate this victory, the press note added.

source: http://www.thehindu.com / The Hindu / Home> News> Cities> Thiruvananthapuram /  Special Correspondent / Thiruvananthapuram – July 30th, 2014