A pond filled with royal history

By Faris Arakkal A Pond that makes you ponders over the history of the city. That is how MD Francis sums up the relevance of the pond in front of his house. A huge one that is as deep as 24ft, at some places. At the age of 74, Francis keeps a strong bond with the pond, preserving it like a treasure and a reminder of a historic era. Francis came to Chembukkavu deciding to settle down in Thrissur in 1982. Scouting for land to build his home, he came upon a large pond used by the royalty for bathing. He remembers there were two separate sections for men and women to take in the pond. It is not just the pond that makes Mangalam, Francis' home, a keepsake of history - the remains of a padka, large wooden buckets used to water large plots through bullock carts shows that the pond was also used for watering the entire vegetation in the area. The plot owned by one of the kin of the royal family came to Francis by sheer serendipity and officials had visited him recently searching for the pond. "They measured the length and breadth of the pond and went back; nothing has been heard so far from them", added Francis. "Constructing a home was not easy, as the entire land was a pond", Francis remembers. He had to fill up some part of the pond with mud in order to plan his home. The pond had a rich school of fish but the night poachers queuing up around the pond had forced Francis to stop keeping fish. He regrets the day when the pond was poisoned by the raiders. The sight of dead fish floating over the water was heart-rending for Francis. The heavy rain often makes the pond overflow but the valves he had installed which opened to a big pipe line beneath the adjacent road keeps water off from the premises of his home. Francis had also tried to pump the water out of the pond once. "Two motors worked for five days in vain", laughs Francis with a tint of surprise and mystery. While the authority has strict rules of preserving old monuments and relics, Francis has more strict self-imposed rules preserving his pond. [Pic on P2]

Old is not always gold, at least for some

GUARDIAN OF HISTORY: Sekharan in his Lambretta at Ariyangadi auto stand. By Faris Arakkal WITH a piercing sound, the yellow bird takes off and flies around the city. The bygone sight will never come back as Lambretta autorikshaws are on the verge of extinction. Lambretta autorikshaws, which came in the city in 80s, have been pushed aside by Bajaj, TVS and other diesel rivalries. Now, they stay off the snarling traffic of the city as public look down upon them. "They even get out the auto as soon they walk in," says Sekharan who has been earning his bread riding his Lambretta in the city for 27 years. He opines that the public cares more on the comfort of their journey. These days, none calls him for a trip in the Lambretta. The existing Lambrettas of the city are now in the business of shipping out goods from shops to various destinations. While Sekharan has the daily routine of carrying oil from Ariyangadi, Vijayan who owns a 1984 model Lambretta is working with a fruit shop in the city. He takes out fruits off from the city to rural retailers. "Mileage is not more than 25km per litre", adds Vijayan. He explains that they are not fit to run with the prescribed metre charge. "Front engine of Lambretta always makes disturbances but it never disappoints when climbing a steep road" said Anthappan, who owns a Lambretta. But he is confined to just personal short trips around the city. When most of the city drivers had gone towards four strokes and APE, these veterans still struggle to buy a new one. To get a town permit it needs more money in the pocket. This generation has a trend of bringing back the old and historic in to the world of 'freak', but for these auto walas old is never gold.

In search of history, not gazetted

REMNANTS OF THE PAST: A small building that was once used by the king near the Thrissur railway station. The remains of a golden era are yet to find a space in the annals of history, the archives. A small room adjacent to the parcel office in the railway station, now occupied by the Railway Health Inspecting Officer evokes memories of an illustrious rule of Thrissivaperur by kings of a bygone era. It was believed to be in the year 1912 that the city heard the first whistle of a train. The history says that the Cochin-Shornur railway was built under the reign of Divan AR Banerji. The small room was once the waiting room for the royalty. The kith and kin of the king spent time resting in the room before and after they had a journey. The room reflects every feature of an ageless, glorious craft. It is floored with Italian tiles, expensive but enduring tiles used by the kings to floor their palaces those times. "Mysore Palace has the same piece of tiles used for its flooring" said Krishna Raj, railway health inspecting officer of Thrissur station. The beautifully carved wooden roofs and the Belgium-made glass inside the room again authenticate the room's origin in the historic period. Sakthan Palace in the city has the same roof and glass in many parts. But glasses are broken and look bleary. "The beauty of this room is, it can keep a perfectly mild temperature always whatever the climate is', adds Krishna Raj. Railway authority refuses to demolish the ancient room as it is a part of history of the city and a monument. But the archeological and archives department have no clues about the room. Response to the City Journal's request to search the archives at regional archives office at Ernakulam was rather surprising. Searching the entire Cochin Government Gazette was in vain and nothing new was found. The small waiting room might not be the only monument standing outside the walls of the archives. But even a small neglect towards such prosaic monuments can always result in the forfeit of a great history.

Throwing light on an unknown memorial

UNNOTICED: The marble stone on the museum premises. "FROM this village, 200 men went to the Great War 1914 -1919," states a marble stone erected in the museum at Chembukkavu. The memorial enveloped by grass still stands pristine in the museum but without much knowledge of who and when it was erected. Records show that the museum comprising zoo and botanical garden was set up in 1885 in Sankariah Park, Viyyur. It was later shifted to Krishna Vilas Palace, Ernakulum. In 1941, the present museum was built at Chembukkavu and a house for animals also started. The documentation officer at Sakthan Thampuran Palace acknowledged the existence of the memorial in documents. Meanwhile, Archaeological Survey of India head office in Thrissur circle has started collecting information on this memorial. "We called up the regional archives office in Ernakulam and the research continues,'' ASI officials said.

Sakthan Palace on the brink of RUIN

FADING INTO OBLIVION: A damaged pillar of the nalukettu of Sakthan Palace. By Faris Arakkal SAKTHAN Palace located in the heart of the city badly needs maintenance. The roof of the palace is leaking at several places and above all, there is not enough security to protect the valuables. Sakthan Palace is a treasure house that keeps the remnants of the ancient rulers. In 2005, the palace was opened to the public. There were reports of cats damaging the roof tiles. Now, tiles seem scattered all over. Small pools are said to have formed in various corners of the palace. People are prohibited from entering these areas. It is learnt that one of the pillars of the naaluketttu appears to be damaged and the weapon gallery on the first floor is in total neglect. The collection of coins in the showcase is a rare sight for the public, but these are not visible because of poor lighting. Lack of security personnel as well as keepers increases the chances of these precious coins being stolen. Letters had been sent to the Archaeological Department of Kerala in this regard, but in vain. If the callous attitude of the authorities continues, the monument may fade into oblivion.

Rambutan reins in fruit market

By Faris Arakkal RAMBUTAN is not a novel fruit to Thrissurites now. It had come to fruit shops in the city three years ago. By June, the city market will be ready to sell the fruit. The yellow or red fruit was earlier spotted in the homes of rich, but now the fruit is available to the common man as it is cultivated in the state. The fruit is mainly cultivated in Kottayam district. Rambutan was found growing in Singapore, Malaysia and Indonesia earlier. Anil, who has been selling fruits in the city for 25 years, said that demand for the fruit is very high as the fruit is known for its sweet-sour taste. The fruit is nutritious too. Vitamin-C, copper, and manganese contents in the fruit are the added qualities. There are also claims of medicinal values of the fruit. It has been reported that the skin of the fruit contains garlic acid which can cure cancer. The fruit will also help reduce diabetes and control blood pressure, according to the report. Fruit shops charge around Rs 140 a kg of Rambutan. "The increased demand for the fruit has prompted local farmers to cultivate it," said Siddiq, a fruit shop owner. His house compound now has a number of Rambutan plants. "But it will take at least 10 years to yield a fruit," Siddiq added. Despite the demand, traders don't by the fruit in bulks as it will not remain fresh more than two days. As the season almost comes to a close, Rambutan will be showing up in the market for 15 days more.

Bringing up bookworms

Bookworm Library at Chakkamukku, Punkunnam. By Faris Arakkal A GROUP of women in the city are scripting a new story with a venture to bring back the habit of reading through their Bookworm Library at Punkunnam. Nalini Venkitesh, Banu Raju, Prajitha Shaju, Shyla Navaz, Bhanumathi V, Latha Venugopal, and Preetha Venugopal are now making the library a haven of knowledge. Five of them are working and the others are housewives. After finishing their daily chores, they rush to the library. The library owned by Suresh was handed over to the group two years ago. "Internet has thwarted the reading of printed texts,'' said Nalini Venkitesh, head mistress of Hari Sri Nursery School. The library now holds around 30,000 books in different languages which include fiction, history, classics and general knowledge. Specially arranged space in the library for research has helped students do their projects. Now, the library has around 700 bookworms as its members. Banu Raju believes that most students are victims of retina problems now as they read less and spend more time sitting before computer. The bookworm race is another creative initiative taken by the library for students. After reading a book, each student colours a small square on the long picture of a worm. When they finish reading 50 books, a colourful worm is given birth. Then the library will acknowledge them with certificates. Often, they engage in buying books while they travel to other states. Each member provides an amount for the upkeep of the library. Some well-wishers donate books. They all thank Nalini Chandran, founder principal of Hari Sri Vidya Nidhi School Punkunnam, for her contributions. On Sunday, Bookworm Library celebrated its second anniversary and has brought out its first souvenir on the day. MT Vasudevan Nair wrote in the souvenir: "If you find it difficult to get any book from any corner of the world, inform me. I will sort it out for you."

                                   GLAD(y)


                               "Deepa loves me


                                Haritha hugs me


                                Aisha kisses me


                                But Arun never touches me"






                                               ( lines dedicated for my transgender friend Glady)

AIR Thrissur still ruling the roost

Entrance of Akashvani Thrissur.

By Faris Arakkal

2011 MARKS 55 years of penetration of All India Radio service in the district. Audience research surveys conducted during the last 15 years show that AIR programmes play supreme in the early hours of the day in all households.
AIR has also proved that the common belief that private FMs have brought back the listeners to the radio is wrong.
Vividh Bharati, an outlet of AIR launched in 1957, was a full time entertainment channel with film music, skits and interactive programmes. It has indeed helped the new generation FMs of the city learn the basic lessons in the field.
AIR has an entertainment addition in every other districts of the state and Thrissur is also getting ready to have one. It could be an exciting information for the new generation of radio listeners.
FM Rainbow launched in 2006 by Kochi All India Radio has a wide audience. "Most buses in Ernakulam city play FM Rainbow as its clarity is superb," says Thrissur AIR programme head D Pradeep Kumar.
When private FMs have a penetration of not more than 40 km, AIR reaches remote villages of the country. "Now, the programmes are shaped and structured in tune with the target audience," adds Pradeep.
A mix of educational and entertainment programmes, which is the benchmark, is believed to have helped AIR gain a position among the audience.
Newly added adhesives like sms a song, folk special, news analysis, current affairs, update on the latest technologies and the latest Tamil and Hindi hits are the innovations made to capture the hearts of youth.
AIR Thrissur has around 6,000 songs in its possession. "Now, they are in the process of digitalising old melodies," says a programme executive.
But AIR provides no job opportunity to the new generation. Recruitment has been entrusted to UPSC and 90% of the posts lie vacant now. Majority of the staff are casuals who have been selected after a five-day Vani certificate course.
An increasing number of television channels and a wide range of programmes have obviously affected the medium, but the emergence of a radio culture among the youth and the recent National Merit Award for Thrissur AIR show the existence of a captive audience.

Making a great stride

Dr E Sandhya By Faris Arakkal MM GHANI Award instituted by the Calicut University for the best teachers at its affiliated colleges is yet another feather in her cap. Associate professor of Statistics in Pudukad Prajyoti Niketan college Dr E Sandhya who won the award for the 2010-11 academic year is a multi-faceted personality. Sandhya considers the award as an acknowledgemt for her years of sheer hard work. She believes that the ariticles she published in some research journals may have helped her winning the award. She took the road often less travelled. Selected statistics as her main subject and grabbed a rank by scoring 997 out of 1000. It was just an initial trigger; she then geared herself to another achievement. In 1990 she bagged the Young Scientist Award instituted by the Indian Science Congress. Dr Sandhya does not limit herself in the world of figures. Equally interested in literature, she published her maiden short story Kai Nirayunnu at the age of seven. Now, she has published her writings in mainstream Malayalam magazines and won some prizes. Her short story Puzha paranhathu won the first prize in a competition conducted by the Puzha online magazine. She has also won the second prize in Thakazhi short story awards for her story Patikal Kayarunna Penkutty. This story has later been filmed successfully. Dr K V Thomas of Kozhikode Malabar Christian College and Dr VD John of Irinjalakuda Christ College are also in the list of the best teachers this time. With this award Dr Sandhya, who had also worked at Marthoma College, Perumbavoor, gains more confidence as a teacher. However she promises that she will give due importance to her other roles like mother, wife and poet. Sandhya has two children and her husband santhosh is a BSNL employee.

Athletes rue neglect by government Faris Arakkal

Arya during a practice session Authorities are yet to reward gold medal winners from the state ARYA C and Chinju Jose, national gold winning athletes of the state, are working out at Corporation Stadium now. They are perhaps keeping themselves fit for another medal. Utopian promises from the state government have not kept them off the track. Arya and Chinju were the gold medal winners in the 4X400m relay with a meet record at the Common Wealth Youth Games 2008 held in Pune, but the state sports authorities are yet to recognise them with any reward. "Promises were many, but we haven't yet got any call," says Arya. There are many more names in the list of government's neglect. PC Thulasi for badminton and Jithin Paul for 4X400 relay at the Common Wealth Youth Games 2008 are a few examples of the government apathy towards athletes. They had sent a letter to then Sports Minister M Vijayakumar, but in vain. The new sports ministry office under KB Ganesh Kumar has nothing to say other than "lack of funds''. While athletes from other states were rewarded handsomely, athletes from Kerala received nothing other than a bunch of promises. "Athletes from Maharashtra get a minimum of Rs 10,000 for being selected to the camp alone," adds Arya who was selected for international meets like IAAF World Youth Athletics Championships and SAF games. "The irresponsibility of authorities can affect the status of the players and the events," says athletic coach of Sports Authority of India Thrissur Walter John. He has been guiding the athletes for more than four years. MA Prajusha, who won the gold in triple jump at the CWG 2010, was showered with rewards, but junior athletes who compete for the nation still find it hard to get acknowledged by the state. When asked if there was any hope, Arya and Chinju smiled and moved to the sprinting tracks.

Public Library goes hi-tech

By Faris Arakkal AMIDST hue and cry, Thrissur Public Library is getting a facelift. The new fully integrated Enterprise Resource Planning Solution is being upgraded. It's the first library solution in the state. So, the readers at Thrissur Public Library can now experience the advanced digital system. Leedhal Technologies Private Limited, which implements the system, is working on the first phase of the project. "We have to complete the project in three phases," said the firm's chief technology officer Murugan Andezuthu. "We will start the second phase only after evaluating the first phase,'' he said. The system with which the library has been functioning so far dates back to 15 years. The new system can manage the entire functioning of the library. More than the library, it manages all the systems connected to the desktop web content, payroll and purchase management. Hence, the system is characterised by high efficiency and multi tasking. The main task will be to collect every detail of each member. Members have to contribute to complete the task. Once programmed, the system will enable them to check the availability of a book through online, and also, with SMS integration, can update you with the current status of the book. The fully integrated solution can be applied in other fields too. It can well deal with all the activities of a hospital or an educational institution. "Touch screen system in the third phase will be a novel idea at the library," said one of the executive committee members of the library. However, everybody felt that raising funds would be a Herculean task, he added. He is optimistic as things happen out of the blue. For, initiating the library into the high-tech mode, PC Chacko provided Rs 4,10000 from the MP's fund.

KING COBRA ARRIVES

SSSS SPINE CHILLING!!! The King Cobra that was brought to Thrissur zoo yesterday. The 12ft snake weighs around 9kg. Picture by K Anup A NEW guest arrived at the zoo yesterday, causing some frightening moments for the visitors. A 25-year-old King Cobra, caught from the Nerimangalam- Neendapara region of the Idukki district, is now in a glass cage at the zoo. The 12ft snake weighs around 9kg. The temperature inside the cage has been brought down as it is highly essential for its survival. King Cobras are usually found in tropical forests. They come out of forests in search of prey. "Rat snakes are their favourite food," says Joseph, the snake keeper at the zoo, who caught the snake. The snake suffered bruises while taken into 'custody'. Treatment has already been given by the zoo authorities. "If provoked, the highly venomous snake will rise more than 8ft," Joseph said. Its poison can kill a man within seven seconds of the bite. At the zoo, the king is cool as visitors gather before the cage.

Canvas of collective efforts

Kalady Sree Sankara Sanskrit University Fine Arts students with their paintings at Lalita Kala Academy yesterday. KALADI Sree Sankara Sanskrit University Fine Arts students are in the city now to put their paintings on show in the weeklong exhibition started at the Kerala Lalita Kala Academy yesterday. A total of 37works by 13 students are exhibited in the show. The students are quite happy as they are given a warm welcome in the cultural capital. Works in the show are part of projects included in their course of study. The show is a mixture of murals and paintings. Traditional myth and different frames from religious scripts find place in their works. Students are free to select their topic of interest for the project. One artist Saranjith leaves more white space in his works and gives less importance to figures. His largest painting sized 12feet breadth and 8 feet length exploits the possibilities of installation in paintings. "Experiments in paintings are necessary and more are to come" Said renowned art historian Vijayakumar Menon who visited the gallery.

Octogenarian Rahamathullah still going strong

By Faris Arakkal

AGE has not dulled his wits or sapped his energy.  At 80, award-winning teacher ES Rahmathullah is as enthusiastic and active as ever.

In fact, he says, old-age diseases have helped him settle down and fight back his loneliness. He keeps himself busy by getting more involved in his hobbies – of collecting coins and currencies and of keeping scrap books.

The scrap books have indeed grown and now count 25. They are full of news articles he has cut out from newspapers. He cuts out “interesting” news articles and human interest stories and sorts them under such topics as disaster, human interest stories, school youth festivals, Thrissur Pooram and so on.

As a teacher, Rahmathullah had a distinguished career. In 1982, he was one of six teachers to have received the national award from the then President Giani Zail Singh.  He got the state award a year earlier.

His teaching career began in 1964 at the Government Model LP School in Mala and continued until 1988 when he retired as a head master from the same institution.  

Not only as a teacher, but he also excelled as an exhibitor at the school.  Every show there sported a good collection of coins and currencies from his private pool and this made the institution stand out.

He started compiling news articles in 2008. Despite his advancing age, he still religiously cuts scraps of news and pastes them in different shapes and sizes. He has dedicated an entire room for the purpose.

He has named one file as Malayude Muthu to keep every detail K Karunakaran, who represented Mala in the state assembly for several years. Rahmathullah holds him in special esteem not least because he received the teachers’ state award from the leader.

Rahmathullah is delighted that Kanurakaran’s son, Muraleedharan has requested for the scrap book.

His other hobby of coins and bank notes collection began in his childhood. Now his collection includes coins and currencies from more than 150 countries. They include coins of Thiruvithancore era and the Pallavara period.

Surprisingly, not one of them was purchased. He gathered the treasure from friends and through exchanges.

“Study aids help students learn better”, remarks the veteran teacher. Even now, students from various schools seek him out to borrow exhibits. He doesn’t disappoint them but makes them promise to return the items after use.

Besides teaching, Rahmathullah was good at singing as well. He puts this skill to good use to attract students to the usually boring Sahitya Samajam functions.

Rahamathullah now lives at his home at Mala. He is trying to compile a scrap book on state youth festivals and wants to hand it over to public instruction director APM Mohammed Hanish during the next event, due to be held in Thrissur.