Bringing up bookworms | |||
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." |
Wednesday, July 13, 2011
Wednesday, July 6, 2011
AIR Thrissur still ruling the roost
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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.
Sunday, July 3, 2011
Making a great stride | |||
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. |
Saturday, July 2, 2011
Athletes rue neglect by government Faris Arakkal | |||
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. |
Monday, June 27, 2011
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. |
Thursday, June 23, 2011
KING COBRA ARRIVES
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 | |||
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. |
Monday, June 20, 2011
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.
Tuesday, June 14, 2011
Siddiq's 'mobile venture' moves towards history | |||
By Faris Arakkal It was sheer determination that helped him tread through the road less travelled. Even in the midst of acute poverty, he nursed an ambition to become a film maker. Thus through the eyes of a small mobile phone, he became the first mobile documentary film maker from Kerala. Thora, a documentary on the reminiscence of Jewish existence at his native place Mala, was widely accepted and appreciated and thus Siddiq PI, became famous in no time. Siddiq is a third year degree student of St Theresa's College, Kottakkal, Mala. His craze for films was inborn. In childhood, he used to act out the roles played by the established actors in the films he watched. His ambition to become an actor made him a keen viewer of films. Thora, his documentary was also an eye opener as it portrayed a diminishing culture that existed years back in the district. He filmed the synagogue and the other remainings of the Jewish life from the place. Siddiq's happiness knew no bounds when he got a phone call from 'The week' magazine asking the details of his work. It doubled as he knew that a jewish journalist was coming from Mumbai to meet him. His other works include a documentary on Tsunami which was adjudged the best in a contest organised by a Mumbai-based film society. Another short fim 'A farmers sorrow', which brought him the'best director award' once, had screened at festivals. 'Who loves you', a short film on a lost love, had also been widenly acclaimed. He could not send his films to several award fests due to financial constraints. So he thought of 'mobile filming' as it was less expensive and more creative. "Thank god, I was blessed with lovely parents", says Siddiq. While directing 'A farmer's sorrow', Siddiq wanted to get an actor to play the title. As he had no money to give, no one accepted the role. Then his father came forward and made a superb performance as the farmer. Siddiq made several futile attempts to get an entry to the film world. When called, some film personalities discouraged him while some others termed his requests as 'gibberishes'. Even then Siddiq decided to go ahead with his dreams. Meanwhile he successfully initiated an audio magazine for his college. Siddiq' s dreams of doing a regular course in any of the established film institutes. But it is not so easy for him. Because his mother, who is working as a charwoman for a meagre salary in Goverment Hospital, Mala, is the only earning member of the family. His friends Ansar Majeed, Alsham, AkkbarAli, and Renjith gives his courage and confidence. They christened this circle as "creative boys. "We know nothing about the various types of shots, but we call them by different names such as 'Shaji shot', 'Sathyan Anthikad shot', and 'Adoorian shot'. |
A home for hapless | ||||
Faris Arakkal THANAL meaning shade in Malayalam is the name they aptly gave to their shelter home of hundreds of hapless people. In every sense, it's a huge tree where around 218 lives are given shelter. They include orphans, aged, and physically and mentally challenged. The institution near Kalathode is run by VMV Orphanage and Welfare Trust. "The institution started in 1997," says Rukhiya, the manager and in charge of the institution. The institution was once the home of a childless couple Veeravoo and Aisha. They wrote in their will that the house and 27 cents of land adjacent to it should be gifted for the orphans after their death. Their dream came true when another couple, Raheem and Rukhiya, took initiative. Since its inception, the couple has been living for the inmates of the house. Thanal has helped 57 inmates to find their soul mates. Vilasini, an inmate of the home, tied the knot with Kanakaraj at a temple in the city. It was a talk of the town. A lady from Andhra Pradesh found in the goods compartment at the Thrissur railway station was brought here and later she was sent back home. More than 80 students of the institution are being sent to different educational institutions in the city. Also some learn basic lessons in tailoring and computer. Many of them are physically and mentally challenged and so they need extra facilities and care. It has also provided a vehicle for their travel to and from schools. "Employees are here to serve them and not to earn,'' says Rukhiya. Some inmates are also suffering from diseases like fits which require immediate attention. She says it has become difficult to find a right employee for the institution. "I am happy and content here," opines Kalpana, 65, who was brought here as she had nobody to look after. VMV Orphanage and Welfare Trust has no sufficient funds and it needs assistance for growth. Rukhiya was an assistant executive engineer at Indian Telephone Industries. She took voluntary retirement in order to look after the underprivileged children. Her husband PK Raheem is the director of the institution. Inmates call them moothapa and moothumma in respect. "More than food, clothes and shelter, they need love and compassion. We are trying to ensure all these for them,'' Rukhiya adds. |
Saturday, June 11, 2011
Gurkhas lost dentity | |||
By Faris Arakkal RAM SINGH is no more a Gurkha sporting a long moustache and wielding rod, whistle and knife. He is now a security guard at an ATM counter in the city. Ram Singh from Nepal has been living in Kerala for 65 years. He has a family in Thrissur and owns a voters identity card now. Gurkhas were known for their bravery. Their attire and moustache command respect from people. It was a saying that if a Gurkha took his knife out of its sheath, he never kept it back without blood stains on it. But this is now a folklore that only a granny can tell her kid. Now, the city is not Gurkha friendly for different reasons. The alarming rise in thefts in the city led to the emergence of security guards everywhere. Many private security companies came into existence in the changed scenario, providing security guards to public and private institutions. But Gurkhas are not preferred for the job as they have no address. "Nobody without an identity is allowed in our group," says the man in charge of Gentleman Securities Thrissur. Moreover, Gurkhas are looked down as they turn up to each house asking for money. But Rajesh, who has been a Gurkha in Nadathara since 1998, is the only security guard of the area. He lives here with his Nepali family. He said that he inherited the job from his father. He is happy with whatever the households give in return for his service. Mannuthy is considered the hub of Gurkhas in the city. MB Selvaraj, who works as security guard in the city, said, "Families prefer us to Gurkhas." He criticises Gurkhas saying that they never caught any thief in the city |
Friday, June 10, 2011
Herbal Star plants on show at Oushadhi | |||
If you are an aswathi- born, plant a Kajra tree or if your star is bharani , you have to look after an Amla. According to the principles of Astrology, all the 27 stars have particular trees. Planting and taking care of these tree can bring good to the person concerned. Even sometimes these plants can help the healing of diseases as well. "Even though it is essentially a matter of belief, people just pick and plant the sapling of their star in these days", says Oushadhi Panchakarma Hospital Superintendent Dr KS Rajithan. Citing the example of actor Kavya Madhavan, who received her own star plant in a function held at the hospital, Dr Rajithan said that Oushadhi was on a mission to propagate the idea of preserving trees. "The star plant reflects your character", says Payas O.L, who is an organiser of various researches conducted in the field of medicinal plants. "Your star plant has the features of you", adds Payas. Oushadi has been taking efforts for the last some years to bring back the culture of planting trees especially medicinal plants. Around hundred schools in the district have now planted medicinal plants. All students including beginners take keen interest in collecting and planting star plants. KS Rajithan who has been in this field for 8 years says that the 'roots' of the star plants can be seen in the centuries-old culture and tradition of India. He adds that collection of star plants like vanni, vetti, karimaram are not so easy, as they are mostly found in dense forests. |
Seven-year-old drumming into history | |||
By Faris Arakkal Drumming on a flat surface, his nimble fingers produced soft sound rhythmically like that of a young percussionist. It was an obvious sign that the boy was born to be a percussionist. So, he was sent to learn music and its nuances. Seven-year-old Sreedhev Sreenivasan is now drumming into history with mridangam. He is the youngest pakkamelam player in the world. Sreedhev achieved this under the guidance of his guru Sri Vikraman Namboothiri, chief instructor of Korambu Mridanga Kalari. "His is gifted with magic fingers," says Sri Vikraman Namboodiri. His performance has the glitter of blending 12 keerthanas of adhithalam, roopathalam, mishrachap, ghandachap and 10 minute-long thaniyavarthanam, which needs enormous efforts. He used to attend online classes besides his daily lessons from Kalari. It has helped him reach this level of performance. His debut performance was at Thiruvambadi Temple Thrissur. Since then, it has been a long journey for him. He performed at various temples in Madurai, Thanjavur, Chidambaram and Mookambika. He participated in Chembai Sangeetholsavam 2010 at Guruvayur. Sreedhev has also performed in Mumbai and Chennai. Recently, a CD of his solo performance has been released by playback singer P Jayachandran in the city. Sreedhev is a 3rd standard student of Don Bosco School Irinjalakkuda. He longs to become a mridangam maestro. His father Sreenivasan is a happy man and satisfied with the performance of the young percussion artiste. |
Wednesday, June 8, 2011
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