From Sivagiri to soap wrappers, the 'Guru' is everwhere
Published December 30, 2009 | Varkala, my home-town is known far and wide for the Papanasam beach that attracts tourists from all over and for Sivagiri, the hillock on which Sri Narayana Guru, one of the greatest of social reformers in Kerala, had attained ‘samadhi’, where stands now the famous Sivagiri Mutt, often referred to by many as a centre of spiritual thought and spirituality.Well, starting today, Varkala will be abuzz with people and different kind of activities, focussing these two places. People from all over Kerala, especially from the Kollam, Alappuzha and Ernakulam districts flock to Sivagiri to take part in the ‘Sivagiri Theerthadanam‘, held annually on Dec 30, 31 and January 1. (I had come across, while coming back to Kochi after the Christmas vacations, groups of yellow-clad pilgrims marching to Sivagiri on foot from different parts of Kollam and Alappuzha). People from places near Varkala would be flocking to the Papanasam beach tomorrow evening to celebrate New Year’s eve in ‘grand style’, boozing, howling, paying fines to the cops for drunken driving etc.
It was in 1928, the very year in which the Guru had attained samadhi that the Sivagiri Theerthadanam (Theerthadanam=Pilgrimage) was conceived by a couple of his disciples and approved by the Guru himself. The Guru, who had always stood for the ideal of ‘One Caste, One Religion and One God’, wanted the pilgirms to observe 10 days’ self-purification according to Buddha’s principles of Pancha Dharma and wear yellow clothes,yellow being the colour of the garments worn by Buddha. He did make it clear that no one should purchase yellow silk or new clothes and also that a yellow garment can be had by dipping a white garment in turmeric water and then drying it. He desired the pilgrimage to be conducted in all simplicity. The Guru also recommended holding a series of lectures.
Of course the Sivagiri Theerthadanam began on the same lines, as said by the Guru. But in the course of time, or to be more precise, in the last one decade or so, it has attained more popularity and is now more of a celebration and fair than a pilgrimage for many. Of course there are the devout, especially those who come from far off places, who still see it as a real pilgrimage. But, there is no denying the fact that yellow robes and the seminars and lectures notwithstanding, the ‘Sivagiri Theerthadanam‘, like most other things associated with our cultural life, has taken the proportions of a festival held on a grand scale. The politics, which includes power-politics as well as caste-politics, which has crept into the ranks of the Guru’s followers too has led to it all attaining a different colour.
I too had been visiting Sivagiri during the Sivagiri Theerthadanam days in the past many years and, to be honest, I too have been seeing it and ‘enjoying’ it all in a very festive mood. But I’d say that other than the festivity-austerity issue, there is something of more serious concern relating to it all. It’s to be remembered that the ‘Guru’ had envisioned a society which would be casteless and where there would be no strifes and issues based on religion, caste and God. He had always stood for the ideal of ‘One Caste, One Religion and One God’ and had been against idol worship, but the saddest fact remains that in today’s Kerala, where age-old social evils like casteism, dowry etc seem to be still rampant (Remember our honourable President’s comments made a couple of days back?!), the ‘Guru’ and his ideals are all almost forgotten and he himself deified. In this context I am reminded of what noted Malayalam poet Chemmanam Chacko, noted for his waspish tongue, said in one of his poems about this particular thing- “Oru Jaathi, Oru Matham, Oru Deivam koodi Manushyanu” (Yet another caste, Yet another religion and Yet another God…for man)!!
I do agree that Sri Narayana Guru is there everywhere, right from Sivagiri to the bombastic speeches made by our politicians, cultural spokespersons et al to soap wrappers. (Yes, coincidentally it was today morning, on the very first day of this year’s Sivagiri Theerthadanam, that I happened to take a bath-soap out of its pack and find it wrapped by a small ad of ‘Yugapurushan’, a bio-pic in the making about Sri Narayana Guru. (It’s the same guy who manufactures the soap and produces the movie and hence the promotion strategy, hats off to his thought and novel ideas). Yes, the ‘Guru’ is there everywhere, from Sivagiri to soap-wrappers; but not in the hearts of the people. (Doesn’t this apply to all great men, including Mahatma Gandhi, Mother Teressa, Buddha etc?).
Well, that’s the way things are. Anyway, since it happens in my hometown, I am always with the Sivagiri Theerthadanam. Jai Ho, to Sivagiri and Sivagiri Theerthadanam!!
Missing – the cock that crowed at Udaya!
Published November 26, 2009 | There was a time when the cock crowed aloud at Udaya, evidently happy that Malayalam Cinema was free from the clutches of the all-powerful Madras studios.
It was Kunchacko who started Udaya Studios at Alappuzha and dared to free Malayalam Cinema from the clutches of the Madras studios. Yes, Malayalam Cinema had drifted gradually from Modern Studios Salem and Pakshiraja Coimbatore to the studio floors in and around Kodambakkam in Madras (now Chennai) and the Marwari financiers in Madras too had a decisive and rather vicious role to play in the making of Malayalam Cinema. But then, Kunchacko took a big step and Malayalam cinema soon went ‘native’ as movies began to be filmed here, in Alappuzha.
Udaya Studios, which had as its logo a cock crowing atop a revolving globe, ushered in a new era in Malayalam Cinema. Merryland at Thiruvananthapuram followed suit and then Malayalam film-wallahs started shuttling mostly between Alappuzha and Thiruvananthauram.
The main gate of the Udaya Studio, situated beside the NH 47 near Alappuzha had the globe and the cock atop and once drew the attention of every passer-by.
But then, in the course of time, Malayalam cinema and cinema itself came out of the studios and things changed for Udaya and Merryland. Time ticked on, Kunchacko passed away. His mantle was taken over by his son, Boban Kunchacko.
However, Udaya, which produced many a blockbuster, went out of movie production. The bright lights dimmed and the once busy studio floors became dilapidated. The famous cock too vanished, one fine day.
Today, there is a buzz in the industry that the studio may be revived by Kunchacko Boban, Boban Kunchacko’s son and a successful actor. He, it seems, has plans to produce films under the Udaya banner, which he is proud to say, is his legacy.
So will the Udaya cock crow again? Only time can tell.
Rowing all the way to Olympics!
Published November 18, 2009 | Snake Boat race lovers who flock to “The Land of Snake Boats” just to be a part of the boat race fervor are in for some good news. You can keep your eyes open and lookout for the 2012 London Olympics. For people who have not yet had the blessed opportunity to see the wonderful sight of a snake-boat being manned by 100-125 oarsmen, who along with four helmsmen, paddle in unison to the swift cadence of ‘vanchipattu’ (song of boatmen) sung by 25 singers (who never illustrate a slight dwindle in their enthusiasm all throughout the race) – this is the time to get lucky! The Snake boat race may make an international debut at the forthcoming Olympics.
Cholera in Kerala
Published June 1, 2009 | The arrival of the monsoon in May 2009 has brought with it some unwelcome visitors that the government is loathe to admit or even discuss – viral fever and cholera.
The scale of the epidemic is hard to quantify and assess and likely to be seriously understated. 10 cases have been acknowledged in the Kuttanad area around the backwaters of Alappuzha but with the monsoon flooding out the water supply, the scope of the epidemic is likely to take off.
That cholera exists in Kerala at all is shocking and reflects the woeful state of the water supply in the backwaters area and the continued poor investment in both infrastructure and education for the poor families who live on the backewaters. The people of the Kuttanad are familiar with monsoon illnesses which strike them every monsoon and are typically characterised as “viral illnesses”. Two years ago all India was gripped in fear of Dengue which especially affected the North and also Kerala. Kerala was especially impacted by chickunguniya which effected the tourism trade especially and was again handled with haphazard tactics by local officials.
Government response, typically, is denial in the hope that the problem will go away before anybody notices it. This year’s Cholera outbreak in Kerala is the most serious so far. First, it is the fact that Cholera which has been wiped out in most of the world by good infrastructure management can still break out in Kerala. It says everything about the state of water supplies and undermines government propaganda on the success of policies. Cholera is very much a 3rd world disease and this implies something about the backwaters which Kerala is loathe to admit.
What happens now will be interesting. Will the outbreak peter out and will it spread. What will/should the state authorities say.
Update 1:
about 1000 cases of viral illness have been reported, 260 cases of chickunguniya and a death from rat disease [sic]. Keralites will be relieved by Kerala Health Minister P.K. Sreemathy’s comments that the epidemics being reported from some parts of the State are now under ‘complete control.’ 11 cases of Cholera have been reported from one panchayat in Alappuzha district alone.
Opposition Leader Oommen Chandy descries the response of the state government and criticises them for not instating the Kuttanad scheme which was dropped, according to him, for narrow political reasons.
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Champakulam snake boat race to be held today
Published June 19, 2008 | 
Alappuzha: Once again the festive calendar of Kerala would be festooned with an array of snake boat races, the first of which will begin on Thursday. Known as the Champakulam snake boat race, it will be held in the Pampa River at Champakulam, 25km from Alappuzha. An interesting feature is the presence of three thekkanodi boats with women rowers. Conducted on the malayalam star of Moolam, this Moolam Boat Race. which was started much before the formation of the State is deep rooted in the history of Kerala.
A colourful cultural procession is organized on the previous day followed by the customary rituals performed by the Travancore Devaswom Board at the Champakulam Mutt temple and the Mappilassery ancestral home, from where the boat race is thought to have evolved are the other star attractions of the event.
This is the first boat race after the State Government accorded sports status to boat races. As per the new rules and regulations, oarsmen would be accepted as sportsmen. Uniforms are provided for the participants and separate tracks have been allocated for racing boat. However, the Boat Owners Association has decided to keep away from the race, demanding bonus prize money and maintenance grants for their boats, which would rob off much of its gloss due to the absence of ‘churulan’, ‘odi’ and ‘iruttukuthy’ boats, which were stellar attractions of this race for long.
However, the presence of the fabled Aranmula ‘palliyodam’ category of snake-boats is expected to make up for this flaw as ‘Palliyodam’ boats would be contesting in the event for the first time in its 400-year-old history. Nine ‘chundan’ boats, three ‘thekkanodi’ boats and three ‘palliyodam’ boats from some of the prestigious boat clubs of Alappuzha, Kottayam and Kollam districts are participating in the race.
Kerala Houseboats double up as corporate meeting venues
Published May 22, 2008 | 
Alappuzha: Companies looking out for five star hotels for carrying out their business meetings have long become cliché. More and more companies are opting for the piping hot option of sprawling and drop dead gorgeous houseboats, which are fully air conditioned to convene their business meetings. It goes without saying that not many options can match the charm of these unique floating palaces that skim along the enchanting Kerala backwaters.
Jala Samrat is the first of its kind in the league of floating convention centres. It is a double-storey, 150-foot long and 16-foot wide, fully air-conditioned houseboat with a seating capacity of over 160 executives on the first floor. Costing over 8 million, this houseboat is equipped with all the latest communication systems. Inaugurated a year ago, it is owned by Pulickattil Tourism Group. Within its short span of operation, it has been an instant hit as a popular business conventional centre of several commercial banks, public sector undertakings and even foreign companies. It is interesting to note that their customers have been their biggest brand ambassadors, who promote this boat by their word of mouth publicity.
Some of the celebrity meetings that were hosted in this houseboat include the official meetings of Parliamentary Affairs and Indian Overseas Affairs Minister Vayalar Ravi and Steel, Chemicals and Fertilisers Minister Ram Vilas Paswan. Its laurels transcended the barriers of time and space when Bahraini Labour Minister Majeed Al Alawi preferred to held a meeting aboard Jala Samrat. In the coming days, more such boats might take the Kerala backwaters by storm.
Coir exports all set to scale new heights
Published February 26, 2008 | 
Alappuzha: Coir and coir products have always been major revenue earners of Kerala, touted as the land of coconuts. Alappuzha is the major hub of coir production in Kerala with almost 80 per cent of the coir factories in the State located in this district. The newly launched Alappuzha Coir Cluster Development project, with a plan outlay of over Rs. 56 crores, is expected to bring relief to the limping coir industry, plagued by many problems including shortage of raw materials, lack of modernization to bridge the gap between the production and supply demands, inadequate R & D facilities for the development and diversification of its by-products like coir pith and so on.
Coir Cluster Development project forms part of the ambitious plan of the Coir Board to raise coir export turnover to Rs.1,000 crores by 2008. It is expected to enhance the optimization of coconut husk and setting up of industries to use up coir pith to make blocks and manure among others.
Most of the export units of coir production centres are centered in and around Cherthala and Ambalappuzha taluks of Alappuzha district. The cluster help in the setting up of husk collection banks for the pooling in of coconut husks otherwise discarded or wasted, establishment of units for fibre extraction, coir yarn production and coir mats and matting units, including power loom units. It would ensure an additional 20000 employment opportunities for women.
High level delegations from many foreign countries regularly visit the Coir Board’s Central Coir Research Institute and coir industries to learn more about the innovative technologies being employed in these units.
A high level delegation from China visited Coir Board on Monday and also visited coir producing centres in Alappuzha and Trikunnapuzha and discussed various matters of the development of coir industry in China. Better technological utilization and higher exports of Coir is sure to bring in a sea change in the economy of Kerala in general and the coastal hamlets of Alappuzha in particular.
Online registration of Foreign Tourists in Alappuzha soon
Published February 5, 2008 | 
ALAPPUZHA: Alapuzzha, more famous as the ‘Venice of the East’ for its meandering canals and waterways has made news recently for a different reason. It will be the first district in Kerala to introduce an online registration form (C Form) for foreigners touring this coastal town.
The District Police is planning an online registration system for foreign visitors at hotels, houseboats and home stays. Hitherto all the hotels would have to complete the registration formality which enables the district administration to prepare a data base of outlanders and to keep a tab on the visitors to the district, opined the district Superintendent of Police Nagaraju.
Many home stays operate without proper registration and this streamlining process might bring these unscrupulous elements into book. The police also plan to conduct regular beats to monitor the movements of strangers who loiter around without any valid reason, causing hardships to the general public and foreign tourists. A permanent police aid post will be set up on the beach apart from beefing up the patrolling to ensure a pleasant milieu to the tourists.
With the registration process in full swing, the tourists can now look forward to a well organized and pleasant holiday as never before!
Kerala Shopping festival in Alappuzha hogs limelight
Published January 17, 2008 | 
Alappuzha: Kerala seems to have followed the footsteps of the global shopping destinations like Dubai in luring the avid shoppers by conducting festivals and galas. The Alappuzha shopping fete could rake in Rs.65 crore and 118 shops participated in this venture. Considering the fact that this event was the first of its type, the venture was a huge success.
The media hype and publicity campaigns ensured drumming up of public support to this shopping festival and thousands of shoppers thronged to get a hang of the one stop shop experience. From electrical and electronics gadgets to garments and leather goods it touched upon virtually every segment of consumer goods.
The festival was from December 1 to January 5 and the shops, which participated in the fete had announced over 80,000 gift coupons and attractive discount vouchers to add impetus to the marketing campaign. The South Zone lucky draw will be held on the Alappuzha beach on January 18 and the mega draw is scheduled to be held at Thiruvananthapuram on January 22.
So far, 64 Santro cars and 64 Sony Plasma television sets have already been distributed to customers who had made purchases above Rs.1,000. Encouraged by the big success of this year’s shopping fete, the District Industries Centre is planning to conduct a similar show on a bigger scale next year also to cash in on the buoyant economy and an impressive purchasing capacity of the general public. In addition hundreds of smaller gifts were offered through the scratch-and-win coupons and weekly lucky draws.
When the curtains came down on this Grand Kerala Shopping Festival on Tuesday, authorities were basking under the glory of a run away hit with commercial transactions to the tune of Rs.65 crore from Alappuzha alone. Happy shopping days are here again!