Mobile phones to be banned in Kerala schools
Published July 9, 2008 | Thiruvananthapuram: Mobile phones have become a necessity than a luxury in the fast paced modern lives of today. But these smart wireless gadgets are playing havoc among youngsters. School kids have access to even the latest mobile phones with all features like camera and MP3 player, which could be misused to take pictures of unsuspecting fellow students.
The state government is planning to ban the use of mobile phones in the Higher Secondary Schools as a precautionary measure to prevent its misuse. Cyber crimes are also on the rise in Kerala and this move would defenitely be a small step in curbing cyber crimes.
Kerala IT firm develops an online version of Euro 2008
Published June 23, 2008 | Thiruvananthapuram: While the whole world is in the grip of Euro 2008 soccer fever, an IT company in Kerala has come up with an innovative online version of this popular football match.
The game, ‘Penalty Game Euro 2008′ has duration of 10-minutes and is created by Invision Technologies (Pvt) Ltd. It features all the 16 participating teams in the ongoing Euro 2008 championship.
Developed for a Dutch travel company, this virtual football game has become a huge hit that the client has already placed the order for a second game, which would have more interesting features than the first part of the game.
In the first series of interactive penalty shoot-out game, only the Dutch team takes the penalty kick against the other teams. This online version would satiate the football mania of many of the die hard fans of this game who could not make it to the live game venues.
Red Ribbon Express to visit Kerala
Published June 17, 2008 | Kochi, June 17
The Red Ribbon Express will make its appearance at Thiruvanathapuram on June 28, spreading the awareness about HIV/AIDS. The train which is touring the country creating awareness about the causes and preventions for HIV/AIDS will be in the State for 12 days.
During its halt in the state it will make its appearance in few other places giving people the opportunity to known more about this dreadful disease of HIV/AIDS. It also educates how to prevent one with this dreadful disease. In connection to this the Kerala zone of Nehru Yuva Kendra will be organising a media workshop on June 20.
The state capital to get Rs.8.05 billion worth convention centre
Published June 9, 2008 | Thiruvananthapuram: With Kerala playing host to an array of international programs and seminars, the need for a world class convention centre received more attention than ever before. Kerala government is planning to set up a state of the art convention centre on the banks of Akkulam lake with the collaboration of Mumbai-based Chalet Hotels at a cost of Rs.8.05 billion. The state government will have 26 percent share in this joint venture, the foundation stone of which was laid a couple of days back.
The first phase costing around Rs.2.05 billion would be ready by January 2011, while the second phase with a proposed plan outlay of Rs.6 billion would be completed by 2016. Situated close to the international airport, this convention centre would have an area of 41,720 sq ft , a banquet hall for 1,100 people, eight meeting rooms with 30 seats each, three meeting halls to seat 75 each and a VIP room with 50 seats will be built in the first phase. A five star hotel with 249 rooms, 25 luxury poolside cottages, water sport facilities, a marina and a parking space of 71,000 sq ft is yet another attraction.
The project would be operated under the built, own, operate and transfer basis with a lease period of 90 years. This project would give further impetus to the latest tourism segment of MICE- meetings, incentives, conventions and exhibition. The state government would pool in 176.6 million for this venture and the rest of the funds would be raised through loans. This avant garde convention centre coming up on the banks of the enchanting backwaters of Akkulam is sure to lure many a business group in the days to come.
Tintin sports a Malayalee look
Published May 9, 2008 | 
Thiruvananthapuram: Thanks to the efforts of a bunch of creative animators, Tintin, the world famous comic strip hero, sported a Kerala look, bringing cheer to scores of die hard aficionados of this endearing character. Late last month the animators from Toonz Animation Academy and Vismaya Max Animation Studio recreated this endearing character at a workshop organised at the Alliance Francaise de Trivandrum.
It was conducted as part of an exhibition, titled ‘Tintin in Pune,’ featuring drawings of the students of Bharati Vidyapeeth College of Fine Arts, Pune. Originally these pictures were displayed in Pune last year to commemorate the birth centenary of Herge, the creator of Tintin.
Number 13- A Kerala MLA goes all out to fight the false notions.
Published March 31, 2008 | 
Thiruvananthapuram: Number 13 has always been considered jinxed or unlucky. However, many eye brows were raised when Kerala assembly member Simon Britto fiercely argued that he be allotted Room No. 13 in the old block of the MLA Hostel. Now that he is staying in Room No 13, hopefully others would gather enough guts to follow the suit.
It is interesting to note that Britto who is a nominated member from the Anglo-Indian community, had been hotly pursuing this demand for the last many months as the hostel had only Room Nos. 12, 12 A, 12 B, and then 14, which saw the omission of 13. Probably the number would have purposefully left out when the building was opened in 1959, because of the superstitions that go with this number.
Britto decided to take up this cause of number 13 when he was allotted Room Nos. 12 A and 12B in 2006. When he found that room no. 13 does not exist in the hostel, he immediately wrote letters to the government and to the speaker pointing out this fact. Britto who is a staunch CPI (M) member believes that governments should not be superstitious. It is curious to note that Britto was allotted Room No.13 on his 54th birthday. Since 1988, Britto is confined to a wheel chair when as a Students Federation of India activist; he was stabbed in a political clash.
Panmana Pooram concludes
Published March 18, 2008 | 
Thiruvananthapuram: The famous Pooram festival of Sri Subramaniaswamy Temple at Panmana, popularly known as the ‘Pazhani of Kerala’ was celebrated with pomp and religious gaiety.
The best part of the festival is the impressive congregation of caparisoned elephants and the change of parasols, well complemented by stunning ensemble of an array of local musical instruments. Played by over 250 artists, this musical feat known in local parlance as Panchavadyam and Panchari melam, akin to the fabled Thrissur Pooram.
Panmana Pooram is a red letter day in the festive calendar of South Kerala. On the concluding day of the festival there will be a breathtaking elephant pageantry in which over twenty four caparisoned elephants would participate.
Getting there:
By Road: The nearest bus station of Karunagappally is at a distance of about 7 km.
Nearest Railway station: Karunagappally
Nearest Airport: Thiruvananthapuram International Airport, (90 km)
The first ever Beach handball tournament in the state capital
Published March 13, 2008 | 
Thiruvananthapuram: Though beach handball is an extremely popular sport played all over the world, especially in European countries, it was not very common in India in general and Kerala in particular till recently. This game, which is an outdoor version of the conventional handball is played on sandy beaches as against indoor stadiums. The ball is passed between the two teams and the players try to throw it at the goal of the opposite team.
Now, Kerala is all set to get the hang of the amazing Beach handball tournament. The three-day sixth National Beach Handball Championship for Men and Women is scheduled for March 14-16 at the famous Shangumugham beach in Thiruvananthapuram. 32 teams from all over the country are participating in this sports event, which will be played on a league-cum-knockout basis. Members for the Indian national team for the First Asian Beach Games to be held in Bali, will be picked up on the basis of the performance of the participants in this championship.
India is slowly starting to make its presence felt in the international scenario by actively participating and patronizing the exciting game of Beach handball. Kerala has a definite advantage in beach handball considering its amazing coastal line of over 600km of sand.
British Library becomes part of history
Published March 1, 2008 | 
Thiruvananthapuram, March 1: British Library which, ceased to function with effect from today was an integral part in the lives of millions of book busters in the State of Kerala. Many committed patrons of British Library, who gathered at the library on the occasion of the closure of its activities, shared their sentiments.
The shutterbugs were busy freezing the elegance of this timeless edifice and the endless shelves of books in their frames for posterity. The milieu was emotionally charged as tears welled up in many members as they bid adieu to the staff with whom they had shared an intimate relation over the last so many years.
It has been the ultimate succor for millions of students to quench their thirst of knowledge and many of them have become highly successful in life adorning celebrated positions in upper echelons both in India and abroad. It is indeed a matter of pride for this book repository, which have enlightened many and played a larger than life in the literacy drive of this State.
T K Subramoni, the librarian of the British Library could not control his emotions when the doors were closed behind the gathering for the last time. The entire collection of books, DVD and furniture, originally belonging to the British Council Division of the British Deputy High Commission, Chennai, is being donated to the State government for setting up a new library. The members collected their caution deposit and returned the books as the library will not be accepting any more applications for refunds; however the members will not be able to transfer the membership fee, to the new library.
The staff members who will be handing over their charge on the 31st of March have opted for voluntary retirement. For many, the fact that British Library has closed down would remain a painful chapter in their lives; for them it was not just any other job but a respectable vocation which threw open endless opportunities to relate to people from all sections of the society.
A Sneak peek into the ‘Tsunami-resistant house’ at Poovar
Published February 6, 2008 | 
Tiruvananthapuram: Poovar gets the first ‘Tsunami-resistant house’ driven by solar energy built by a British national, Mark Reynolds- a befitting tribute to this coastal island vulnerable to the risks of tsunami waves, which took the State by surprise, a few years back. Set amidst the swaying coconut palms this house looks intoxicatingly quixotic that subtly blends with its enchanting locale. This hydrodynamically shaped house is designed to protect it from high waves.
Mr. Reynolds claims that the laminar flow will protect its walls in the event of a tsunami. The tsunami house built at a cost of Rs.3 lakh will be a sure shot remedy to the burgeoning housing needs of this hamlet. A hollow concrete block that can contain 75,000 litres of water props up the house and it could be used to meet the drinking water needs of a family for 90 days. The dome shaped house is made up with local products and it has battered walls, cantilever steps and protruding walls. The bedroom built over the bathroom is on the second floor and the four poster bed also forms part of the roof!
Gouri Parvathi Bai, member of the erstwhile Travancore royal family inaugurated the tsunami-resistant house at a function held at the Poovar Island. The house belongs to the tourism venture promoted by Mark and Sujeewa Reynolds- the Friday’s Place Eco Lodge and Home stay, which bagged the award for innovative technology at the World Travel Mart at London in 2006. It is interesting to note that while Mr.Reynolds himself designed and built the cottages with the help of local workers, his wife takes the credit of a stunningly beautiful landscaped garden heavily punctuated with shrubs and bright flowered plants.
The island of Poovar has no drinking water facility and Fridays Place depends almost entirely on solar energy for its lighting needs. It even pumps water and runs the kitchen equipment using eight solar panels, which ensure uninterrupted power all through. Mr. Reynolds underscores the importance of preserving the wetlands of Poovar by putting a leash on unsustainable construction and developmental activities.