Thampuran Nagar Residents Association Building Inauguration: Mayor K Chandrika

UNNIKUTTAN ROCKS....Arun's tabla performance at TNRA FAMILY MEET

THAMPURAN NAGAR RESIDENTS ASSOCIATION BUILDING

A Born Dog Lover

When Sathish was around five years old, his family and relatives went to Ooty on a holiday. It was not the beautiful landscape that caught his attention, but some cute German Shepherd puppies, which had been kept for sale by the lake. When his parents refused to buy one for him, Sathish grabbed a puppy and quickly ran towards the bus.

“I don’t remember what exactly happened afterwards. But, my parents and relatives often make fun of me over that incident,’’ Sathish said.

For S. Sathish - ‘Pakku’ to his family and friends - this obsession with pets was not a childhood fancy. Love for animals, particularly dogs, comes quite naturally to him. A visit to his house, ‘Aayilyam’, at Govindamangalam near Ooruttambalam, on the outskirts of the city, would prove this fact.

‘Aayilyam’ is literally a jungle of pets. Sathish owns more than 30 dogs, including eight Labradors, two Great Danes, five Rottweilers, two Dachshunds, four German Shepherds, two French Bull Dogs, one Neapolitan Mastiff and a pug.

“When I was in the eighth standard, I had caught 16 water snakes and conducted an exhibition in school. Besides, I used to bring young street dogs home,’’ said Sathish, who is a lift technician by profession.

Sathish set up the present kennel around ten years ago. He has a thorough knowledge of pets and is a regular participant in dog shows and exhibitions. What makes his kennel special is that most of the breeds are of a direct lineage of original foreign breeds.

“Dogs commonly available here are either a cross or may be the puppies of some 30th or 40th generation. In order to get the puppies from the original bloodline, I buy the puppies from kennels in Chennai and Delhi, where they mate the original breeds. And, I can tell the exact lineage of all the dogs in my kennel,’’ he said.

Sathish shares a deep relationship with all his dogs. “Everyone has a name. Once they hear the sound of my bike, all of them start barking in a particular manner. It will continue till I take a quick round of the kennel and pat everyone on the head calling their names,’’ he said.

The dogs also hold a special attachment with Sathish and his family members. “My younger daughter, when she was around three years old, went outside the compound. I was not there. My wife and mother did not see her as they were in the backyard. Suddenly, Appu (a Labrador) started barking violently. When my wife reached the kennel, she noticed that the gate was left open. She rushed outside. By that time, some of our relatives, who were passing by, brought the child inside,’’ Sathish said.

In contrast, Sathish has faced some sad incidents too. “Unlike Labs, Rottweilers cannot be trusted. Once, Rocky, a Rottweiler, had bitten my daughter’s hands. The injury was so severe that there were over 12 stitches on her hand,’’ he said.

And, Sathish had to remove Rocky from his kennel soon after. “My daughter and Appu are great friends. This incident had occurred in front of Appu. After this incident, Appu started attacking Rocky everytime and finally I decided to give Rocky away,’’ Sathish said.

Though Labrador is the most tame of the lot and will become a member of the family very quickly, Doberman is the best as a watch dog. “Doberman is vigilant, has an attacking mentality and has a big size. Besides, he will consider only one person as his master,’’ he said.

Sathish’s wife Sandhya and mother Shyamala Devi assist him in his endeavour. Besides dogs, Sathish also has a collection of around 200 Bonsai specimens, an orchid cultivation and diverse types of birds and ornamental fishes in his house.

THE NEW INDIAN EXPRESS CITY EXPRESS SEPTEMBER 2009

Swami Saranam: Spiritual Journey Through The Deep Woods

How long do we have to walk through the forest? Father, are there any wild animals in it?” As eight-year-old Akshaya began her journey to Sabarimala from Kalaketti near Erumeli, she was full of doubts.

I had the same thoughts as well while reaching the Azhuthakadavu (Pampa Valley), from where the pilgrims begin their barefoot journey through the forest.

It was her maiden trip along this 26km traditional route through the dense Periyar Tiger Reserve forest in Pathanamthitta district to the abode of Lord Ayyappa.

Akshaya, the young Malikappuram , (While men are addressed as ‘Swamis’, women devotees are called as ‘Malikppurams’) was one among a group from Kattakada in Thiruvananthapuram. Like them, thousands of Ayyappa devotees, from across the country opt to take this traditional route for their annual pilgrimage to the hill shrine.

Clad in dark blue or saffron dhotis and kurtas, and holding the Irumudikkettu , they started climbing the first hill known as the Azhuthakayattam around 9 am. I also joined them.

It’s a strenuous journey through the rocky terrain. The tract is so steep that sometimes one would have to stoop so low to keep balance that the head would almost touch the knee as if in penance. Heaving long sighs every now and then, the pilgrims inched forward.

At first, Akshaya appeared quite energetic and was moving at a good pace along the steep rocky terrain, holding her father Prasanth’s hand. For them, the pilgrimage was part of an offering to Lord Ayyappa.

“Akshaya had some heart problems soon after she was born. Doctors said we had to go for an operation if the problem persisted. At that time, we prayed to Lord Ayyappa that Akshaya would be brought to Sabarimala thrice if she were cured of her illness. Fortunately, there was no need for an operation,” Prasanth said.

Meanwhile, Akshaya starts showing signs of discomfort. “We can sit here, father,” she said. Soon, one of her uncles began narrating the story of the fight between Lord Ayyappa and Mahishi.

 As they slowed down their pace a bit, I joined a three-member group from Palakkad. Over the past decade, Abhilash and Ajith have been visiting Sabarimala through this forest route. Anurenj joined them this year. Each was carrying a stone.

“While taking bath in Azhutha, each devotee takes the first stone that touches his hand. Later, the stone will be thrown in Kallidamkunnu, a place at the summit of the Azhuthakayattam. It is said that Lord Ayyappa had buried the body of Mahishi at that place after defeating her.

The stone is deposited over there to commemorate the victory. Another belief is that each pilgrim gets a stone as large as the amount of sins they committed. Once they throw this stone at Kallidamkunnu, pilgrims will be freed from the sins,” said Ajith, an asthma patient. His was the smallest stone.

“Swami padam, Swami padam,” somebody behind me sounded. At first, I was confused. Then, Abhilash told me that he was asking for way, a unique form of communication during pilgrimage. That swami was holding a long bamboo stick fixed with 37 sanctified silver pieces.

“This shows the number of times I have visited Sabarimala,” said Vasudevan. He was once touched by a miracle.

“Our only sister Retnamma had speech problems. In 1970, we brought her to Sabarimala. As soon as she completed climbing the Pathinettampadi (18-holy steps), she called ‘Swamiye’. After that I regularly visit Sabarimala,” said Vasudevan, a police head constable.

 “Vasudevan is popularly known as police swami in Pambadi,” said Shan, a youth from Ranni and an employee with the Social Welfare Board.

This is the sixth time that Shan is travelling through the route. “The pilgrimage will become complete only if we travel through this route. There is silence everywhere and it offers a day of total devotion,” he said.

After one and a half hours of arduous journey, we reached Kallidamkunnu. It’s a small hill of rounded stones. While watching the pilgrims depositing stones, I had some lemon soda from a wayside stall.

Every season, the Sabarimala Ayyappa Poonkavana Punarudharana Eco Development Committee (SAPP EDC) sets up pilgrim service centres along the forest route.

 Apart from light refreshments, they offer space to put the Viri (mat) . There are around 200 EDC stalls along the Azhutha–Pampa stretch.

“One steep hill is over. Now, it’s a few kms of even land,” Shan said. On the way, all the devotees visit the Sastha Temple at the Injipparakotta, which is managed by the Mala Araya tribes.

“The deity here is warrior Ayyappa with bows and arrows. Villan, a member of the Mala Araya tribe, offered help to Ayyappa in his mission to collect the milk of a tigress and later Villan became a friend of Ayyappa.”

As we came out of the temple office, the young Malikappuram Akshaya was seen carried on her uncle’s shoulders. Perhaps, her uncle had run out of stories.

Our next destination is Mukkuzhi and we decided to have our lunch there. By noon, it had started raining. But the pilgrims continue to walk after covering the Irumudikettu with plastic.



At 2 pm we stopped at the Puthussery Thavalam for lunch. From the EDC stall, we had Kappa-Kanji (tapioca and boiled rice). All the provisions required for the stalls are brought as headloads through the same undulating forest route.

 “To bring one kg of provision, we have to pay Rs 10. At a time, a worker carries around 30-kg provision. Apart from that, we have to give them food as well,” said Chacko, the convenor of the Puthusserry EDC.

“The major challenge of the journey awaits ahead, the Karimala,” Shan said. After some small talk with the forest officials in Puthussery, we set out to climb the Karimala. It was a steep hill. Most of the pilgrims used a stick for a support. Loud chants of ‘Sarana Ayyappa’ reverberated in the verdant forest tracts.

The intermittent rains had made the surface very slippery. But, the thick roots of the mighty trees, snaking above the ground, offered a firm grip to the devotees. We walked for five minutes and took rest for two. The heart gets worked up every five minutes. It turned difficult for Ajith to keep up. We waited for him.

Minutes later, I joined Karimala section Forester Aliyar on his daily patrol in the area. I was struggling to keep up with Aliyar. I was quite surprised to see an old woman climbing the Karimala.

After two hours, we reached the summit of Karimala. The Akhila Bharatha Ayyappa Seva Sanghom volunteers, the only organisation that offers free food to devotees on the forest route, invited us for tea.


Soon, we started climbing down Karimala. Aliyar left at the limits of his section. The journey was slow as the rain had made the sloppy terrain very slippery.

A minor slip could leave a person with several fractures. There was also a chance that one would land deep into the forest. It was getting darker and the mist was getting thicker.

As every step became harder, I could hear the unclear but not too distant sounds of the bustle in Pampa. By then, I had been walking for around one and a half hours from Karimala. The sounds whispered, ‘you are almost there. It is just a few steps ahead.’ Through the thick leaves could be seen the glint of Pampa.

Brooding for a while about the little Malikappuram, Akshaya who had by then been left behind by my older and nimble feet. I immersed myself in the sea of devotees in Pampa, who were in for another four kilometres journey to the holy shrine of Lord Ayyappa.


THROUGH THE PULMEDU ROUTE

The Kozhikkanam-Uppupara-Pulmedu route, approximately 7 km through the Periyar Tiger Reserve Forest, is most convenient for pilgrims crossing the state border at Kumily. Instead of travelling to Pampa via Erumeli, pilgrims can directly reach Sabarimala through this route.

From Kumily, it takes only three hours to reach Uppupara from where the pilgrims start their barefoot journey to Sabarimala. Pilgrims can reach the holy shrine in two hours from there. The journey via Erumeli takes double the time to reach Pampa. Then, pilgrims face another 4 km stretch. The Pulmedu path joins the Sannidhanam premises near the Uralkuzhi Theertham. KSRTC operates chain services to Uppupara from Kumily during the pilgrim season. There are regular jeep services from Uppupara to Kumily. The journey through the stretch is regulated as movement of elephant herds is common. Travel is permitted from 6 am to 6 pm.

THE NEW INDIAN EXPRESS SUNDAY MAGAZINE 2010

Praveen Prem and His Eight Year Long Struggle

At first sight, he strikes you as someone brimming with humor.

A talkative, roly-poly youngster with a wide, innocent smile. But underneath that layer of jollity, there lies a story of hardships.

Cinema is - and has been - his only passion. Soon after school he set out to become an actor. But, it took eight long years of struggle for him to make a mark. And when he made it, he did it with a bang.

Meet Praveen Prem, who breathed life into Harichandran, the ambitious junior singer in Sathyan Anthikad’s recent flick ‘Katha Thudarunnu.’ Though a small role, it indeed was a giant leap for Praveen’s budding career. Just like a summer shower after a prolonged drought.

Born into a lower middle class family settled in Balaramapuram in the outskirts of the city, the road to cinema was not smooth for Praveen. Soon after completing Plus Two, he decided to walk into the film industry. Except for a burning desire to act and numerous certificates he got during his school days for acting, he had nothing to boast of. Neither did he have a film background nor friends in the industry.

"Nothing worked for me initially, I was very confused. I didn’t know which way to go. In fact, I was in a dilemma whether I should become an actor, a director or a technician. But, I always loved acting. The only thing then I had in my mind was to associate with film-making somehow," says Praveen, who now lives at Karamana.

As days passed by, Praveen decided to study cinema to learn where his talents lay. "I began watching films. From the 10th edition of the IFFK, I actively participated in film festivals and voluntarily worked for the Chalachitra Academy. To meet daily expenses I worked as a marketing executive, a salesman and also worked at the State Institute of Languages," says Praveen, who made up his mind to become a technician after seeing the Tamil movie ‘Annyan.’

Praveen adds, "The movie shook my mind like anything. It instilled more confidence in me" But his attempt to join for the cinematography course at Adyar proved futile. However, he managed to do an editing course. "As soon as I completed the course, I got an opportunity to assist Mahesh Narayanan in several ad films. Soon, I came across so many persons involved in film making and became more focused," he says.

Slowly, but steadily, things started happening for him. To his luck, he got a chance to be part of the Soorya Theatre Festival. "It was the turning point for me. I acted in Soorya Krishnamoorthy sir’s drama ‘Pulari.’ During one of the shows, I met Sreebala K Menon, the assistant of Sathyan Anthikad who had turned up to watch the drama. She was impressed with my performance and I conveyed my interest in acting in films. I was asked to meet Sathyan sir. That happened in October 2009 and he just said, ‘Will let you know'," Praveen says.

It was a New Year gift- the much-awaited call from Sreebala in the first week of 2010 asking Praveen to join the shoot of Sathyan Anthikad’s new film. "I joined the film crew at Kozhikode. I was given a room and some acting tips initially. A costumer came and took measurements for my dress. In the first three days, there was no shoot. ‘Praveen, you just watch and understand things,’ I was told,'' memories started rolling out, scene by scene.

The D-day was February 1.

Praveen was given four lines of a song ‘Kizhakkumala kammalitta thankathalam / kalikkalam / olithadam / Urakkayoru mangalathin thakilthalam / Muzhakkidam perukkidam, ’ and was asked to memorize it. He roamed around the shooting site reciting these lines.

After taking blessings from KPAC Lalitha, Praveen stepped before the camera. 'Now we can see how many rolls will be wasted,' came the comment from cinematographer Venu," Praveen remembers with a chuckle.

All eyes were on the debutant. It was a close-up shot and he was asked to sing those four lines. "After a rehearsal, we went for a take. As soon as I finished singing, Sathyan sir said, ‘Ok, good!’ The first take was ok," he still has that excitement on his face.

"A small character in the film. But, for me, it was a big thing. To work with Sathyan sir, Venu, Jayaram, KPAC Lalitha and Innocent - the biggies of Malayalam film and, of course, to sing a song composed by Ilayaraja," says 25-year-old Praveen. He also dubbed for the character.

Soon, a flurry of offers came his way. "I have the confidence in doing whatever roles given to me. It’s a good beginning and I will continue putting in the same effort as earlier. And the rest lies in the hands of the Almighty," Praveen signs out.

(The New Indian Express, July 2010)

Invisible Nightingale

Think of ‘Manjil Virinja Pookkal’ and a series of landmarks will rise up in your mind: Mohanlal’s entry, Fazil’s debut, the Shankar-Poornima pairing, and Jerry Amaldev’s romantic melodies.

Yet another breakthrough happened, less talked-about but equally impressive. A new voice for Malayalam heroines. Anandavally gave voice to Prabha, the character played by Poornima Jayaram.

Her brilliant rendition in the movie catapulted her to the throne of the queen of Malayalam dubbing industry, with a flurry of offers coming her way. She reigned as the most sought-after dubbing artist during the 80s and 90s, the period they call the golden period of Malayalam cinema.

‘‘The film was a turning point in my career. In fact, it was a recognition that my voice was apt for heroines. Soon, producers and directors started recommending my voice for heroines,’’ says Anandavally, the veteran dubbing artist.

Thereafter, Anandavally have not looked back. As of now, she has dubbed for more than 3,000 films and is still active. She was the exclusive choice of several leading heroines.

Geetha, for instance. Anandavally dubbed for Geetha in all the 123 films she acted in Malayalam. Their combination won her a State Award for the film ‘Aadharam’. Silk Smitha was the other actor with whom Anandavally struck a fruitful partnership.

Besides, she gave her voice to almost all the roles played by Sumalatha, Ambika, Parvathy and Gouthami in Malayalam.

The list is never ending - Suhasini, Sobhana, Sukanya, Sarada, Saritha, Suchitra, Menaka, Bangalore Bharathi, Bhanupriya, Rekha, Revathi, Renjini, Mohini, Nanditha Bose, Vinayaprasad, Urvashi, Karthika, Kanaka, Khushboo, Madhavi, Urmila Unni, Unni Mary, Santhikrishna and so on.

The variety is mind boggling. If she made Silk Smitha sound tantalisingly sensuous, it was warmth and love that she aroused through the grandmother (played by Sarada) in Lohitadas’s ‘Kanmadham’.

The most amazing aspect, perhaps, is none of the heroines for whom she had given voice sounds the same. ‘‘That’s because I have not given my original voice to anyone. I make variations in my sound depending upon actresses,’’ Anandavally says.

In 1978, two years before ‘Manjil Virinja Pookkal’ happened, Anandavally had shifted to Chennai, the cradle of Malayalam cinema in those days. ‘‘During those days, from 1985 to 1998 to be precise, it was very challenging as I used to dub for seven to eight films in a day. For me, the day used to begin at AVM studio, then revolved around Prasad Studio, Suresh Mahal, Venus Studio, Vasu Studio and Kalpaka Studio. In the film ‘Sthalathe Pradhana Payyans’, I had dubbed for five characters,’’ she sighs, as though looking back the feat seemed impossible to her.

‘‘Truly, unthinkable. Now, most of you will hardly believe this,’’ adds the 56 year-old artist, whose career in Malayalam films began as an actress.

Born into an agricultural family at Veliyam, Anandavally used to sing for dramas even while a teenager. But, unexpectedly, her acting skills were put to test in front of a large audience during an exceptionally hot night in 1969. ‘‘I went to sing for the drama ‘Chithalu Kayariya Bhoomi’. Just minutes before the drama commenced, the director came and said that the main actress didn’t turn up. Anandavally should act. I was shocked. I was very lean and did not have the looks of a heroine as well. Besides, renowned dramatist O Madhavan was seated in the front row. Any way, I managed to perform. After the show, O Madhavan came to me and appreciated the effort. That gave me the confidence and soon I started performing in several dramas of KPAC and Kalidasa Kalakendram,’’ she says.

Later, Anandavally entered the film industry through the film ‘Kadu’ and went on to act in around 40 films. She also worked as an announcer with the All India Radio. ‘‘In 1973, I debuted as a dubbing artist. I gave my sound for actress Rajasri in the film ‘Devi Kanyakumari’,’’ she said.

And what was the most difficult role she dubbed for? The answer came promptly - dubbing for the climax of the film ‘Akashadoothu’. ‘‘It took a lot of time. Most of the time, I became so emotional that I could not say the dialogue. Similar instances occurred during the dubbing of the ‘Aadharam’ as well,’’ she says.

Anandavally is still active through films and serials. She has dubbed for Sudha Chandran in the film ‘Alexander The Great’, Chitra Shenoy in ‘Rajamanikyam’ and for Ambika in ‘Thanthonni’. ‘‘I wish I continue this for a long time, ‘’she says.

Now, Anandavally who lives with her son Diphan and family at Thampuran Nagar near Nemom in the city, has a dream. ‘‘I want to pen an autobiography. Earlier, I used to write down my experiences. Now, I have to sort those collections and make it in the form of a book,’’ says Anandavally, who owes all her success to the Almighty.

Diphan, who is now a director to be reckoned with after the huge success of ‘Puthiya Mukham’, could at some point of time may translate his mother’s dreams onto the celluloid.

The New Indian Express, 2010

A Crusader in Integrated Dairy Farming

A crusader in integrated dairy farming. More than a farmer, perhaps, this would be the ideal way to hail A R Avaneendranathan of Payattuvila in Kottukal panchayat near Balaramapuram in Thiruvananthapuram.

From a small-time dairy farmer, he has emerged into a proud owner of a dairy unit by successfully adopting integrated farming.

Nathans Dairy Farm, comprising about 100 cows, has a daily production of over 600 litres of milk and caters to the needs of several households in and around Payattuvila. Apart from local supply of milk, Nathans dairy unit gives 350 litres of milk to MILMA every day. “My aim is to increase the production to 1000 litres per day,” says Avaneendranathan, who earlier had a mini homestead dairy farm.

The sheer passion for dairy farming and the innate ability to do experiments in farming are the secrets of his success. One may wonder how dairy farming can be profitable considering the skyrocketing prices of cattle feed, straw and grass and high labour charges. Here is where integrated farming comes to play.

“Don’t depend solely on cattle feed, straw and grass. This is the only way to run the show profitably,” Nathan says. He cultivates banana and tapioca on four acres of land. “Leaves and stem of banana and tapioca are the main feed for cattle. Coconut leaves are also given. And the cow dung is the main manure for banana and tapioca”. Nathan also uses brewery waste as a cattle feed, which is available at the rate of Rs 4 per kg.

According to Nathan, small scale dairy farming will only become profitable if the price of milk is increased to Rs 30 a litre. “See, a milking cow should be given 10 kg of cattle feed, 35 kg of grass and 10 kg of straw a day. One kg each of cattle feed and grass cost Rs 15 and Rs 2 respectively. Thus, it requires a minimum sum of Rs 225 for a cow daily, which produces over 25 litres of milk a day. On an average, we have a production of 600 litres a day. Though we have to feed 100 cows more or less in the same rate, only half of them will be in the milking stage. That’s where the economics of dairy farming goes wrong. The expense comes around Rs 22,000 and the income is only 15,000,” he said.

Nathan follows a definite pattern for feeding and milking the cows. For him, a day starts at 1 a.m. The first thing is to give feed to the cattle. By the time his employees join Nathan, he would have removed the cow dung and other waste from the shed. After cleaning the cows, the milking will start at around 3.30 a.m. “Machines are used for milking and at a time two cows can be milked,” Nathan said. Another group of employees will join at around 7 a.m. who will be engaged in feeding the cattle and cleaning. The second milking of the day starts at 3 p.m.

Cleanliness and hygiene are very important in dairy farming. “Before milking, cow’s udder is washed using potassium permanganate. The whole shed is washed using lotion or bleaching powder and maintained dry. Utmost care has to be taken to keep the cow’s hoof dry to prevent infection,” Nathan says.

Another highlight of Nathan’s dairy farm is the presence of traditional cattle breeds like Kapila, Kasargod Dwarf and Vechoor. The other breeds include HF (Holstein Freisian), Brown Jersey and Jersey. Besides, he owns a mini goat farm which consists of high yielding varieties like Malabari Goat, Jamnapari, Saanen and Vendoor. “Goat milk is mainly supplied for ayurvedic medicinal purposes,” he adds.

According to Nathan, the encouragement he got from Krishi Bhavan, Dairy Development Board and Animal Husbandry Department has helped a lot in his endeavour. Recently, he got a subsidy for setting up the heifer unit with 30 calves. But, he has also expressed some discontent over certain initiatives of the animal husbandry department.

“The only way to promote and support dairy farming and farmers is to provide subsidy to cattle feed. Now, the situation is worse. The expense is so huge that one does dairy farming even with five cows. Projects should be evolved through which the expense can be brought down. Farmers should be given 50 percent subsidy on cattle feed on the basis of the quantity of milk they supply to the milk societies. In states like Karnataka, dairy farmers are given a subsidy of Rs 2 for a litre of milk by the government in addition to its price,’’ Nathan points out.

(The New Indian Express, City Express, 2011)

Organic Crusader

His farms are a fitting reply to chemically-driven farm production. By successfully adopting organic farming as a way of life, he has broken the general notion that chemical fertilisers and pesticides are the only way for productive farming.

Meet K Mohanan, 44, the farmer who is into integrated farming, hailing from Bhagavathyvila in Kulathur near Neyyattinkara on the outskirts of Thiruvananthapuram, who has evolved into one of the biggest propagators of organic farming over the last five years. “If someone gets inspired from these farms and adopts organic farming, it will be a great achievement for me,’’ says Mohanan, who once used toxic chemical fertilisers on his crops.

“Earlier, I used to apply pesticides and fertilisers for farming. But, due to the continuous application of chemicals, the soil began to lose its natural essence. Every time I had to apply more amount of fertilisers to maintain the desired quantity of harvest. This affects the environment also. Later, I came to know about some innovative ways for keeping away the pests and realised the importance of pursuing natural ways of manuring. When I tried, the results were positive,” says Mohanan, who can now be hailed as a master of organic pesticides and manures.

Recently, the Vegetable and Fruit Promotion Council Keralam (VFPCK) adopted Mohanan’s bitter gourd farm as a demonstration plot for organic farming. He had also bagged awards for the best vegetable farmer and the best integrated farmer given away by the Krishi Bhavan and the VFPCK respectively in the past. Last year, he missed the ‘Karshaka Mitra’ award instituted by the State Government by a whisker.

Everyday, Mohanan steps into his field at 6 a.m. Each plant will be examined carefully to check whether there is any pest attack or not.

“Sometimes, the monitoring will last till late night using the light from the mobile phones,’’ he says. Mohanan spends 12 to 14 hours daily in his farms along with seven labourers.

One has to be vigilant and patient to pursue organic farming, opines Mohanan. “It is not merely applying organic pesticides and manure. One has to be patient and spend a lot of time in the field. Monitoring should be done everyday. If pests are found, they have to be removed manually from the plant. Traps should be installed in the farm. Application of organic pesticides should be the last and final step,’’ says Mohanan.

Mohanan, who started farming on five cents of leased land at the age of 14, now carries out integrated farming in around six hectares of land and has emerged as one of the largest producers of vegetables and bananas in the district. Besides, he has a coconut farm and cultivates tapioca, vanilla and pepper.

What makes him more distinct is his genuine interest to experiment. He has a passion to cultivate different types of crops. Apart from bitter gourd, snake gourd, brinjal, lady’s finger, amaranthus, cucumber and elephant yam, Mohanan cultivates seasonal vegetables like cabbage, carrot, beetroot, cauliflower and the like. Once, he even tried to cultivate onion as well. Besides, Mohanan has a special love for traditional vegetables like ‘Churakka’ (Ridge gourd), ‘Kumbalam’ (Ash gourd) and ‘Kovakka’ (Little gourd) and ‘Chathura payar’ (Winged bean).

Last year, Mohanan surprised everyone by doing upland farming in around 1.75 acres. “Actually, I want to show people that paddy cultivation can be done profitably amidst the coconut garden. Lots of people from various parts of the district came to watch the farming. There was a good yield and now I am thinking of continuing upland farming every year,” says Mohanan. He now has plans to venture into the dairy sector.

“Perhaps, he may be the only farmer in this modern world who has always said that farming is profitable. I have never heard him say that farming is a loss,’’ these words by Victor Raj, the agriculture officer of the Kulathur Krishi Bhavan, are a testimony to his passion.

(The New Indian Express, City Express, 2010)

Golden Mushrooms

Bitten by the entrepreneurial bug, she quit her job at a publishing house around 12 years ago. She wanted to be free, wished to do something of her own and started doing something that others thought foolish – mushroom farming. As the small farm that she made in one of her bedrooms mushroomed over the years, little did she know that farming history was in the making.

Janaky, the 44-year-old agripreneur from PTP Nagar in Thiruvananthapuram has trodden a path of her own making. She recognised a new opportunity in every challenge. From fresh mushroom production, her venture ‘Swadishta Mushrooms’ flourished in a big way that she is now on the threshold of launching a one-crore farming project spread over six acres of land near Ooruttambalam. Apart from fresh mushroom farming, Janaky operates a spawn industry, supplies value added products from mushroom and runs a vermi-compost unit. Besides, she provides employment to 15 women.

Having been brought up in an agriculture family, Janaky, a post graduate in English has always loved farming. But, she was never interested in the usual sort of vegetable cultivation. It was her husband, Sreekumar, an Agriculture officer who introduced her to mushroom farming.

“Actually, I only thought of doing it in a small way that could fetch me some pocket money. Mushroom beds were set up in a portion of the bed room and I started cultivating Oyster mushrooms. Some time later, I took part in a mushroom cultivation training and it was very helpful to me,’’ she says.

The first challenge for Janaky was to find a market for her produce. “The concept of using fresh mushroom was not there when I began my initiative. Restaurants used the canned button mushrooms that came from Ooty or Himachal Pradesh. After much effort, one vegetarian hotel in the city agreed to try the fresh mushrooms on the condition that I had to provide recipes. It became so successful that they began to give orders everyday,” says Janaky, who used most of her produce to make various mushroom recipes. “You know, every non-vegetarian curry can be substituted with mushrooms. Right from chilly chicken to soups, you can substitute meat with mushroom,’’ she adds.

At the same time, she held cooking demonstrations with mushroom recipes in clubs, hotels and residential colonies. A small quantity of mushroom along with a recipe was distributed free of cost during those sessions. She also served the participants hot mushroom cutlets to sample. Gradually, the demand for her produce increased. She also began cultivating milky mushrooms. The farm expanded to the other rooms and later to a rented house nearby.

But, it has never been a straight path to success. She had to face several bumps and detours. “There was severe shortage of good spawns at that time. In order to meet the demands, we had to produce a definite quantity of mushrooms consistently. To tackle this, we started a spawn production unit in the rented house where spawns are packed in a sterile environment,” says Janaky who uses an inoculation chamber with UV light in her spawn laboratory.

She overcame the challenge of garbage disposal by starting vermi compost unit to manage the solid waste. Mushroom beds, usually made of straw and each weighing more than a kilogram, should be replaced every one-and-a-half month.

Mushroom farming gives sudden profit but it can collapse like anything, says Janaky citing the huge loss she suffered due to a pest attack. “Being a Saprophyte, it is highly sensitive. One single pest attack will affect the whole yield. It will spread quickly and the entire mushroom beds will have to be replaced,’’ she adds.

However, once she had to promise her mother that she would quit her venture – at the hospital bed when she was suffering from 20 percent burns following a burst in her spawn lab. “For creating a sterile environment to pack the spawns, we used a glass chamber fitted with a burner. One day it burst accidentally and I suffered serious burns. All the time while I was in the hospital, my mother asked me to promise her that I would not continue farming. She always said that I am a little abnormal. Soon after the completion of my treatment I resumed my activities,’’ she chuckles.

Now, ‘Swadishta Mushrooms’ caters to the mushroom requirements of major hotels in the city. It is also one of the biggest spawn suppliers in the state, having a production of around 2500 packets per month. About six tonnes of Vermi-compost is produced every month of which a major chunk is supplied to Agri Horti Society. Above all, Janaky conducts free training programme at her home on the last Saturday of every month. She believes her best is yet to come.

Presently, her business is in a transition stage. Everything is being transferred to the new farm in Ooruttambalam, where she aims to double the production. “Apart from year round production of mushroom and spawned mushroom beds, we are planning continuous production and sale of value-added mushroom products and their popularisation.”

Besides, the firm will serve as a demonstration unit, conducting training programmes and promoting contract farming with buy-back arrangement,” says Janaky, who has secured the progressive farmer award instituted by the Directorate of Mushroom Research, Solan.

(The New Indian Express, City Express, 2010)

If music be the food of flowers...

Passing across Plamoottukada, a village nearly five kilometres away from Udiyankulangara on the outskirts of Thiruvananthapuram, one would hardly miss the colourful terrace garden on a two-storeyed building.

Spread over the terrace and adjascent acreage is ‘Admatha’, the ornamental flower garden of J C Cicilchandran where Orchids, Anthuriums and Heliconia sway in full bloom, sporting vibrant hues.

Way back in the year 2000, Cicilchandran quit his job as a technician in the MILMA to start his own farming venture relying on the farming experiences, which he acquired from his father. Though a school teacher, Cicil’s father practised farming, especially paddy cutlivation. Like other farmers in the village, vegetable farming was his Cicil’s choice. The vegetable garden, which spread across the three-acre plot located at a few kilometers away from his home, reaped him much profits initially.

“As years passed on, farming expenses skyrocketed. There was acute shortage of labour as well. This made me think of venturing into floriculture,” he says.

Eventually, Cicil shifted his attention to the small Anthurium garden, which had been maintained by his parents at his house. “My parents were fond of flowers and they used to maintain a small garden in the courtyard. They had always urged me to start cultivation of ornamental plants along with vegetable farming. As it became hard to maintain the vegetable farm, I decided to try ornamental flower farming on an experimental basis,’’ says Cicil, 47, a graduate in Botany and a diploma holder in food technology.

Gradually, he expanded the Anthurium garden. He also planted one hundred Jasmine saplings in his plot. However, some of his friends and relatives were against his new idea. They raised doubts about how floriculture can provide a regular income. “I visited several flower gardens and read several magazines regarding floriculture. From these, I understood that floriculture requires only one-time initial investment. Unlike vegetable farming, we need not have to replenish the soil between every intervals, which also spares the labour. Once they attain full growth, it will go on producing flowers and manuring and caring are the only things we have to continue to carry out,” says Cicil.

The technical expertise provided by then agriculture officer Nicholas Chandran boosted his confidence. ‘‘Nicholas sir helped me to attend training programmes at the Kerala Agricultural University. It was indeed a turning point. He also supported me in growing various varieties of ornamental plants,’’ Cicil recalls.

Soon, hundreds of Heliconia saplings replaced the bittergourds and snake gourds in his three-acre plot, and diverse varieties of Orchids and Anthuriums popped up on the courtyard and the terrace. At present, Cicil grows over 37 varieties of Heliconia, as many as 17 types of Anthuriums and 47 types of Orchids. Anthurium varieties include Tropical Red, Honduras, Hawaiian Orange, Agnihotri, Acropolis. 

“Customers used to ask for Orchids while they came to buy Anthuriums. That’s how I realised the market potential of Orchids and began growing them,’’ Cicil says. He manages to supply about 3000 ornamental flowers a month. Apart from this, he also sells saplings and bouquets.

Cicil supplies flowers to retailers of Nagercoil and marthandam markets. Besides, he serves the ornamental flower requirements of nearby churches and provides bouquets and does flower arrangements for wedding functions and occasions. Cicil’s wife Shobhanalatha and his daughter Anne, a plus two student of G R Memorial Public School, Neyyattinkara, craft bouquets for the purpose.

According to Cicil, success in floriculture depends on how fast you catch the techniques of growing ornamental plants and the diversity in plant varieties you can bring in the garden. “Bacterial disease is the major threat to Orchids and Anthuriums. However, growing Heliconia is easier when compared to Orchids and Anthuriums,’’ Cicil said. Kulathur Krishi Bhavan Agriculture Officer Victor Raj guides Cicil in the application of fertilisers and pesticides in his flower garden.

Every day, right from 5 am onwards, Cicil is with his plants observing their growth, closely examining them to remove the pests and supplying nutrients based on the requirements. “They are my good friends. Life with them refreshes my mind and makes me happy,” adds Cicil, who plays guitar and organ. On weekends, Cicil and Anne play guitar and violin sitting amidst Anthuriums and Orchids on the terrace garden.

Now, the flower farmer is all set to establish a 2000 sq. ft. hi-tech polyhouse, costing over Rs 10 lakh, for growing ornamental plants. “The idea of fully mechanised Anthurium and Orchid garden was suggested by the agriculture officer Victor Raj. We are actively working on the project. The plan is to grow Orchids and Anthuriums in controlled temperature conditions. Heat and humidity inside the garden will be regulated using exhaust fans,” he said.

Cicil secured third prize in the in the flower arrangement section of Flower Show 2011 held recently in the city. “My aim is to fetch a state award in floriculture,” says the agriprenuer, who got best farmer awards from the Agriculture Department in the Krishi Bhavan and at the district levels for vegetable farming.

( The New Indian Express, City Express, 2011)

A Farm Girl's Tale

Briteeshia A

‘Janitha’, the two-storey building in the middle of a four-acre plot situated on the banks of Vamanapuram River, is not just a home. For residents in and around Pandakasala near Chirayinkeezhu, the traders at Chirayinkeezhu junction and for several catering agencies, it’s an abode of fresh farm produce. In short, a one stop destination for their daily food basket.

Over a period of seven years, a young lady with a quaint name, A Briteeshia has succeeded in converting this four-acre land to an exemplary model of integrated farming. For the laborious achievement, this young agripreneur has recently been presented the state award for the best young woman farmer.

Unlike her odd name, she appears simple and restrained but full of vigour and enthusiasm. ‘’Initially, my parents thought of naming me as Patricia. But they wanted the name to start with the alphabet ‘B’ as my sister’s name was Beatrics. Finally, they settled for Briteeshia,” she chuckles.

Briteeshia has a coconut farm, banana plantation, vegetable garden, dairy farm, poultry farm and rabbit yard in the four-acre plot. Recently, she has started growing betel leaves, ginger and even fish!.

Everyday, Briteeshia wakes up to scores of customers queuing up in the courtyard to buy milk, right at 5 a.m. She has 10 milking cows. As the day becomes brighter and brighter, she will turn busier and busier selling eggs, banana, tender coconuts and the like. All these are done amidst getting her three children ready for school.

‘’If we are sincere, agriculture can be a profit-making profession. You should enjoy farming,’’ says Briteeshia, 35, who holds a diploma in agriculture.

A walk around her field would leave one awestruck. More than hard work, it’s smart work. A well-planned field divided into several plots, each of them irrigated using sprinklers.

She has effectively executed the inter-cropping strategy. Coconut garden is inter-cropped with banana and vegetables. One could see banana plants in its various growth phase. While one area is filled with ripened banana plants, shoots have just started to sprout in the other. And another one is being tilled for planting saplings. ‘’Coconut is the main crop. Banana saplings are planted in the coconut garden as the first inter-crop. Vegetables and pulses are cultivated around the banana plants as the second inter-crop. It will take around three months for the banana plant to develop big shoot system. The vegetables will get enough sunlight and by around 90 days, vegetables can be harvested,’’ she describes the pattern.

Later, Colocasia is planted in place of vegetables. ‘’As colocasia does not require much sunlight, it will grow well under the banana plants. This cycle is rotated every year. The vegetables will be rotated each time. It varies from bitter gourd, gram, ladies’ finger, cucumber and elephant yam. Last time, we had grown water melon,’’ she adds.

By evening, she shepherds the flock of geese along the shore of Vamanapuram river. Exploiting the advantage of the river nearby to the fullest, she recently ventured into pisciculture. Fingerlings are weaned in the pond in the farm premises. Later, these are transferred to the net cages submerged in the river water adjacent to the shore.

‘’Unlike in tanks and artificial ponds, this is ideal for pisciculture as fish can grow in a more natural environment. The only thing we have to do is to give food pellets at regular intervals,’’ she explains, while sprinkling grains to the geese after caging them.

The daylight has almost faded and its time for her to do a last round patrolling in the farm. She rushes to every cage to see whether it is locked or not. Finally, she returns to Janitha after handing over the duty to the watchman.

There are three employees to help her in looking after the cows. Her father looks after the rabbits. But, she gives all the credit to her husband, Jain, who is an NRI. ‘’Whenever he comes on leave, he joins me in farming. It is his support that enables me to carry out these activities well,’’ she says.

(The New Indian Express, September 2010)

Goodbye sloth, hello freshness!

The adage has it that the pouring rains bring forth a horde of health problems along with their rhythmic beats. As the Karkadakam, the lean month of the Malayalam calendar, sets in Kerala, amidst the heavy monsoon showers, Kalari centres have become active with the traditional treatment—‘Karkadaka Chikitsa’—to rejuvenate the human body.

From time immemorial, the people used to undergo this special rejuvenation therapy between mid-June and mid-August. According to traditional Kalari experts, the rainy season is the ideal period to cleanse the body, and to expel the toxins.

Somehow, this indigenous therapy got sidelined with the revolution in modern medicine which offered instant relief from diseases. The traditional method was practiced only in the households of Kalari experts and those who learn the martial art. Even successive governments treated it as a tool to promote the tourism sector. Consequently, the treatment became a luxury for the common man, as spa and massage centres sprouted all over the state.

“These days, the human body is hardly in tune with nature due to the busy and mechanical lifestyle,” says S K Rajesh Gurukkal of Bhargava Kalari Sanghom in Kottooli in Kozhikode. “Environmental pollution, and the intake of excessive fats through fish and meat products, clubbed with the consumption of alcohol, drugs and tobacco, lead to the accumulation of toxins, making the body vulnerable to diseases. Stress, lack of exercise and indiscriminate use of painkillers accelerate the chances of getting diseases.”

The toxins are flushed out through processes determined by the ‘Gurukkal’—the master of the Kalari—according to the ‘Prakriti’ (constitution) of the patient. ‘Darsana Sparsana Prasne’—detecting the problems by sight, touch and questioning—is the methodology adopted by the masters to detect the problems in the body, and to determine the type of treatment to be given.

“By watching the sitting or the standing posture of a person, we can understand which part of his body is weak,” says Rajesh. “While sitting, one may, unknowingly, put his hand under the cheek for a support. The person will not be aware, as it is purely due to a command given by the unconscious mind. This indicates a problem in his neck. And the reason may be very simple —a swelling in the neck due to a muscular spasm which causes accumulation of watery fluids in a particular area. Over the years, it will become thick and affect the blood circulation leading to fatal consequences. The only solution is to unfreeze this clot through exercise and massage.”

Every person who comes for treatment has to do certain exercises. After its completion, the master determines the mode of treatment, its duration and the dietary restrictions. The treatment involves Panchakarma, Uzhichil, steam bath, oil massage and Ayurvedic medicines.

“Usually, the treatment is carried out between 5 a.m. and 8.30 a.m. After that the person can go for work. But he or she should avoid non-vegetarian food, consumption of alcohol, smoking and sex,” says Rajesh.

As of now, over 80 Kalari centres exist in Kozhikode district itself offering various modes of ‘Karkadaka Chikitsa’. Besides, Kalari centres are also active in Kannur and Malappuram districts. “There is a 30 per cent increase in the number of youngsters arriving for treatment,” says Sudhakaran Gurukkal of C V N Kalari, Edakkad in Kozhikode. “It is the most encouraging trend this season.”

This indicates the re-emergence of ‘Karkadaka Chikitsa’, especially in the Kalaris of the Malabar region. And the customers are satisfied.

“I have lost six kg after the five-day therapy,” says a business executive, who is undergoing the traditional treatment at the Bhargava Kalari Centre.

(The New Indian Express, Sunday Magazine, 2011)

An Eternal Romance With Kathakali

It was the annual day celebration at the Malabar Institute of Medical Sciences (MIMS) in Kozhikode last December. The battery of events included a Kathakali performance—Duryodhanavadham. The tale from Mahabharata was indeed riveting. The real surprise came at the end. Patients, their companions and a majority of the hospital staff were astonished when they realised that Krishna’s character was performed by none other than their very own veteran Pediatrician Dr Sudha Krishnanunni.

Dr Sudha is daughter of P K S Raja, the present Zamorin (royal title) of Kozhikode has been doing a balancing act for the last few decades. For, she has been serving as a pediatrician and performing ‘Kathakali’ quite comfortably. The sexagenarian physician, before joining MIMS had a successful stint at the Government Medical College, Kozhikode. The pediatrician is now into her 25th year as an artist.

Sudha’s love affair with Kathakali began after witnessing the art at her mother’s house in Nilambur Kovilakam, the cultural heart of Nilambur, a place in Malappuram district. “Then we were based in Chennai and used to come to Kerala during school vacations. Kathakali recitals were common during festivals. We had a temple inside the Nilambur Kovilakam and the whole family used to regularly go to enjoy the recitals. I was amazed by the dancer’s expressions, movement of the eyeballs, eyelids and fingers.’’

Dr Sudha, then a 10-year-old girl conveyed her interest in learning Kathakali to her maternal uncle. “Initially, he thought it was just a fascination. Besides, a few women practiced the art at that time. But when he realised that I was deeply interested, he arranged a Kathakali teacher at our residence in Nungumbakkam, Chennai,’’ she said.

The outhouse of her residence soon became a Kathakali school. Around 25 students also joined the class and we started to perform in and around Chennai. “It was not just a passion or a hobby. Our Guru Balakrishnan was very particular and we received a proper basic course,’’ said Dr Sudha, who did her Arengettam (debut on-stage performance) at Guruvayur in 1960. She continued her practice even after getting admission to MBBS.

While doing her MD in Oxford University in UK in 1988, she performed Kathakali there as well. “It was really a wonderful experience. Students and faculty were keen to know about the art. After a brief enactment, I demonstrated them various Mudras and make-up of characters as they were very interested to learn Kathakali,’’ Dr Sudha added.

Besides, she performed at several stages in Mumbai, Trichy, Chennai, Coimbatore and Kerala. Dr Sudha, usually portrays lord Krishna’s character in Kuchelavritham, Duryodhanavadham, Rukmini Swayamvaram, Lavanasuramardhanam and Gurudakhina. She plays the role of Panchali in Keechakabadham, Lalitha in Kirmeeravadham and Uthara in Uthara Swayamvaram. She also excelled in solo Kathakali performance, Poothana Moksham.

Once in a while Dr. Sudha does a refresher course at the Cheliya Kathakali Vidyalayam in Kozhikode, founded by noted Kathakali exponent Guru Chemencheri Kunhiraman Nair. Dr Sudha feels that Kathakali is making a comeback in Kerala. “After the 1990s, I think, interest in Kathakali declined significantly. There was a period when it even disappeared from the temple festivals. Now, things have changed a lot,’’ she said.

Dr Sudha is the vice-chairman of ‘Navarasam’, a cultural organization based in Kozhikode which is working for revival of Kathakali. It also provides opportunities for talented children to learn the art. She is also the active member of Thodayam Kathakali Yogam and Sopanam, which work for promotion of traditional arts, forms particularly Kathakali.

Sudha is all praise for her husband Krishnanunni Raja for his support and appreciation. “Being her husband it’s unfair to comment on her performance, but one thing I must say. I appreciate her sincerity and dedication for taking a lot of pain and perform Kathakali even at this age,’’ added K Raja.

(The New Indian Express, Sunday Magazine)

A Sexagenarian Farmer with a 'Nutmeg Will’

Kadukanmackal Abraham Mathew (pic: K Shijith)

A sexagenarian farmer, who lives in the suburbs of Kozhikode, has taken special care of not just his children but also the nutmeg trees in his will. While dividing the four acres of land for his son and daughter, Kadukanmackal Abraham Mathew has added a clause that his children can exchange the property to a third party only 100 years after his and his wife Chinnamma’s death.

Abraham, who hails from Kallanode near Koorachundu, explains his will logically. He has single-handedly developed a high-yielding nutmeg variety, ‘Kadukanmackal nutmeg,’ which even fetched him a place in the Limca Book of Records besides various honours and awards from the state and union govts since 1995.

It is one among the crop varieties which the Food and Agriculture Organisation of the United Nations selected from Asia in 2010 under the International Treaty on Plant Genetic Resources for Food and Agriculture.

“If there is no 100-year clause, it is almost certain that my children or their kids would sell this fertile farmland for some other purpose. I don’t want to destroy this priceless asset,” says Mathew.

And what if the kids strike a deal trickily before the period? “Then, according to the clause, the whole land would automatically come under the hands of the state government,” he clarified.

 And did his wife endorse this unique agreement? “Actually, she wished to give the right to exchange the property soon after our death. But my son and daughter had no problems.”

Of course, ‘Kadukanmackal nutmeg’ was not developed in a day. Of the 100 nutmeg saplings that he planted in 1971, Mathew found peculiarities in one plant. Then he visited the farms of 80 nutmeg farmers in and around the state to find whether there was any variety that was better than the one he identified in his land. And Mathew could not find a better variety. Then he chopped all the plants except the one around half-way mark and started budding the stem of the unique variety with others.

“Overall, it took around 19 years to complete the budding process in all plants,” says Mathew. “The budding done in this plant became successful only in the 63rd attempt. The process clicked with other plants after around 40 attempts. That’s why this tree appears a little younger than others,” he adds.



(The New Indian Express, May 2012)

Thank You...Sachin

For that Hook Shot against Caddick at the Oval
For that Flick through mid-wicket against Shoaib Akhtar at Johannesburg
For that Paddle Sweeps against Ashley Giles
For that Straight Hits against Warne
For that `Olonga bashing' at Sharjah
For that Massive six against Glenn McGrath
For that Upper Cuts against Brett Lee
For that patriotic back-to-back 100s at Sharjah
For that tricky bowling at Kochi against the Aussies...
And
For that Bohemian Simplicity

Shortcut to wealth: Divorce 'n' remarry

Cashing in on the naivete of uneducated and conservative families, a shocking fraud where lakhs of rupees change hands with each ‘marriage transactions’ has been thriving in Kozhikode for the last few months. Legal experts and women NGOs like Anweshi and NISA are foxed by this alarming new trend in the ‘marriage trade’ where the bride-to-be is required to pay off her husband's current wife.

They may call it alimony in the civilised world but this is a crude version where the first wife would be lucky to get off with the money her family had paid her husband many years ago. In many cases, these hapless women are coerced to sign for a larger amount while only a fraction of it is actually paid to her. What is more, her husband has no future responsibility to look after the children from the marriage that has thus been annulled.

This is how it operates. A youngster from a relatively poor family manages to find a bride with a substantial dowry, though the word dowry is rarely used. He opens a business or lands a job using this money –  he might even manage to go abroad – the thought of acquiring a better social status and a new wife creeps in.

Taking advantage of the liberal marital laws existing in his community, he decides to remarry. Once he finds a girl who fits the bill, the negotiations begin. Getting rid of the existing wife and children becomes the major headache.

Finally, the new-found bride and her family are compelled to repay the first wife's dowry. Some families even do this without much compelling, said NGOs. All this is done under the cover of an ‘agreement’ entered between husband and wife.

What’s interesting is that this practice is not confined to a particular community in Kozhikode. The NGOs have stumbled upon the fraud in both Muslim and Hindu communities, but with slight modifications tailored to suit the different marriage laws. More than 100 such incidents have been reported by Anweshi alone.

Legal experts say that the majority of the cases are linked with the middle and lower middle class families of the Muslim community. “As far as Hindus are concerned, such an agreement is not legally valid until the divorce. So, the man would come to a tacit understanding with his prospective bride's family regarding the pay-off for his current wife,” said A C Ambika, senior advocate and legal advisor to Anweshi.

The agreement would be crafted in such a manner as to create the impression that the husband and wife had mutually agreed to the divorce and the former had gifted a substantial sum to the latter. Also it would emphasise that the wife was fully satisfied with the settlement and she would not question it in Court.

Ambika said that the agreement only serves the interest of the husband as he ensures his former wife does not drag him into trouble.

“What is shocking is the fact that the women come up with complaints not because their husbands divorce them without reason but because this so-called marriage contract has been violated. And, even after registering complaints both parties always try to make a settlement without our knowledge,” says Anitha, senior counsellor with Anweshi in Kozhikode.

Activist V P Suhara, who has been vocal against the misuse of Islamic marriage laws, said that the police cases are rarely registered since the girls are usually minors when they are married off.  “If you really want to end the exploitation of Muslim women, make marriage registration mandatory. Now, marriages are properly registered only for official purposes like getting a passport,” she said.

(The New Indian Express, November 2012)

THE REVOLUTION THAT COULD HAVE BEEN...

A screenshot of the blog of CCMS

After six long years I have started posting blogs again a few days ago, thanks to my colleague and room mate Reji. A web designer by profession, he is an avid social media enthusiast and a blogger. He gave a few good tips and now I am afraid I might become a blog addict.

It was Vijayakumar sir, former head of DCJ, who initiated me to the world of blogging. This blog was created way back in 2007 at the Centre for Convergence Media Studies (CCMS), Kerala University, under the Department of Communication and Journalism, Kariavattom Campus, and technically powered by C-DIT. CCMS was the brain child of V K sir.

Now, going through some of the posts, I could recollect VK's suggestions to make my blog a popular one. Looking @ the blog, then, V K said, "Athul, if you want search engines to list your blog, you should add certain key words in your text. For instance, you say that Attukal is near international beach Kovalam. So, if somebody searches Kovalam, he or she will probably see ur blog as well."

A futuristic person, V K sir used to talk a lot about Blogging, Citizen Journalism, Media Convergence and the like during his classes on reporting @ DCJ. I often wondered about his interests in new media despite being an elder person. I still remember his words that in the near future your watch or mobile would become a personal computer with data connection.

Though a faculty @ DCJ, V K sir was always busy with the work of CCMS, which was launched soon after my admission to MCJ course at DCJ in 2005. V K sir made a good speech followed by then DCJ head Subash Kuttan sir detailing V K's struggle for arranging the fund for CCMS. Later in 2006, CCMS hosted a seminar on New Media with lectures by eminent media personalities including Anand Parthasarathy. In the seminar that followed, Achuth Sankar S Nair predicted that text messages would change the character of languages in the near future. There was a debate but now it appears to be partly true.

One day, V K sir had asked all of us to come to CCMS and contribute some stories to the blog of CCMS. Honestly, we were hardly aware about what CCMS was all about. We were really surprised to see the class room. An air conditioned hall, with separate PCs - having latest configuration and broadband internet connection - for each student and an lcd projector. From the first batch students, we came to know that they are mainly learning web designing.

Now, after eight years, it is quite unfortunate to say that Kerala University had shut down CCMS. Whatever might be reason, I strongly feel K U authorities had totally failed to realise the importance of the course; market it properly or could not comprehend V K sir's vision in the correct sense.

By launching such a revolutionary course at a time when people of these part of the world were hardly aware about the scope of convergence, K U could boast off achieving a rare feat. But, definitely, KERALA UNIVERSITY would be blamed in the annals of history as a varsity, which killed the most innovative and farsighted course, perhaps, the whole state had ever witnessed.


(October 9, 2013)