Despite govt assurances, fishermen smell something fishy in marine Act
By Rajesh Ravi
The controversial Marine Fisheries (Regulation and Management) Act
2009 does not have any takers among the fish workers even after the
Centre announced that it was willing to discuss it with all concerned
parties.
While the Tamil Nadu government has welcomed it, traditional fish
workers all over the country under the banner of National Fish Workers
Forum have threatened to launch a nation-wide strike against the bill,
which they say infringes upon the rights of traditional fish workers.
According to the ministry of agriculture, major objective of the
legislation is to ensure that there is no unregulated fishing in the
exclusive economic zone (EEZ) beyond territorial waters, and to
conserve fisheries resources through a fisheries management plan.
At present, there is no such legal or regulatory framework to govern
fishing in the EEZ waters beyond 12 nautical miles and up to 200
nautical miles, which fall under the jurisdiction of the Centre. The
state governments have jurisdiction over 12 nautical miles from their
respective coast and have several regulations to protect the resources
and rights of the traditional fish workers.
The major point of conflict is the need for a special permit for the
fish workers to fish beyond the territorial waters and the penalty
proposed for any violation. This implies that though fishermen who are
issued fishing licences to operate within the territorial waters of
states will not be allowed to fish beyond 12 nautical miles without
getting another licence under the new act.
"It is our traditional and customary right to fish where the resources
are found. The act infringes on our right to livelihood while opening
up the sector to foreign operators," T Peter, secretary of the
National Fish workers Forum (NFF) told FE. The NFF wants the
traditional fishing sector to be excluded from the purview of the Act,
he said.
Fish workers are not against conservation of resources and security of
the coast, but the act in its current format would make them
vulnerable to the authorities.
"This regulation would create duplication of licensing system and
create confusion. It will compound the misery of fishermen. It is also
not practically possible to prevent the fishermen from fishing beyond
12 nautical miles," Peter said.
The penalty proposed for vessels fishing beyond 12 nautical miles is
harsh. It also goes against the Murari Committee recommendation, which
called for more participation of traditional fish workers in deep sea
fishing, he added.
ME Raghupathy of the Chennai Mechanised Boat Fishermen's Association
said the act prevents fishermen with permits to fish in the
territorial water to use long-lining nets.
"We use gill nets for fishing in the waters near the coast, while we
use long-liners for fishing in deep waters. Fishermen venture out into
the sea depending up on the availability and nature of fish. It is
seasonal and we cannot stick to the use of a single net," he added.
Marine resources are limited near the coast and in some parts, they
have been almost completely exploited, fishermen having mechanised
fishing crafts have been venturing into the sea beyond 12 nautical
miles for gaining access to under-exploited offshore fishery reserves,
Raghupathi said.
"Limiting us into the territorial water would be devastating. It can
also lead to more corruption and misery as the workers are mostly
illiterate," he added.
Moreover, the act also calls for maintaining a log book and a master
of vessel for fishing vessels above the length of 42 feet. "Such
things are not practical in the current system of operation," he said.
Joseph Xavier Kalappurakkal, president of Kerala Boat Owners
Association feels that management of marine resources from above is
not practical and good.
"Stakeholders have to be included in effective conservation of
resources. Fishermen know the sea and efficient management of its
resources calls for their participation," he added.
Monday, December 28, 2009
Thursday, November 19, 2009
teacher training-journalism
WORKSHOP FOR HIGHER SECONDARY TEACHERS
A workshop to empower higher secondary school teacher community the Higher Secondary department organize teacher trainings.to equip the state level resource team.a core state resource group workshop concentrating on preparing modules commenced at C.Achuthamenon memorial hall,Trivandrum on November 17,2009.SCERT curriculum head Gokuladasan Pillai,Chandni,Dr.P.K.Thilak and Dinesh lead the workashop.Prof.Gopalakrishnan and Dr.Rani interacted as subject experts.Different subjects included in the workashop.george Ignatious,GMGHSS,Kunnamkulam,Varghese Antony,GHSS,Valayam and
Ratheesh Kaliyadan,GGHSS,Thalassery represented the Journalism group.
Teacher training workshop for journalism teachers is scheduled to organize at Nalanda auditorium,Kozhikode on December3-5,2009.All journalism teachers are requested to participate.
A workshop to empower higher secondary school teacher community the Higher Secondary department organize teacher trainings.to equip the state level resource team.a core state resource group workshop concentrating on preparing modules commenced at C.Achuthamenon memorial hall,Trivandrum on November 17,2009.SCERT curriculum head Gokuladasan Pillai,Chandni,Dr.P.K.Thilak and Dinesh lead the workashop.Prof.Gopalakrishnan and Dr.Rani interacted as subject experts.Different subjects included in the workashop.george Ignatious,GMGHSS,Kunnamkulam,Varghese Antony,GHSS,Valayam and
Ratheesh Kaliyadan,GGHSS,Thalassery represented the Journalism group.
Teacher training workshop for journalism teachers is scheduled to organize at Nalanda auditorium,Kozhikode on December3-5,2009.All journalism teachers are requested to participate.
cream-ice/poem
CREAM-ICE
GEORGE IGNATIOUS
A long...long bargain
She got the room
Both of them accompanied up to the door
The kid not forgot the cream-ice.
Teacher was aware of the gap
Huge threats resisted her to point it out
Journey work and tension made her asleep.
Sweet memories of the "hus" embraced her
After the midnight city rats knew
They smelt the cream in the room
He entered through the under gap
Bit on the left leg of the kid gently
Cry and yell ended up with the phone
Pied pipers of Hemlet risen
Entered the room with the pipes
Chucked out the rat with a bye...bye.
Email:giputhettu@gmail.com
GEORGE IGNATIOUS
A long...long bargain
She got the room
Both of them accompanied up to the door
The kid not forgot the cream-ice.
Teacher was aware of the gap
Huge threats resisted her to point it out
Journey work and tension made her asleep.
Sweet memories of the "hus" embraced her
After the midnight city rats knew
They smelt the cream in the room
He entered through the under gap
Bit on the left leg of the kid gently
Cry and yell ended up with the phone
Pied pipers of Hemlet risen
Entered the room with the pipes
Chucked out the rat with a bye...bye.
Email:giputhettu@gmail.com
Monday, October 5, 2009
anarchic research
ANARCHIC RESEARCH TO INSULT LEADERS
Ratheesh Kaliyadan
Prime minister in India is the supreme and the team leader in the Union ministry. The Chief Minister entertains the same in the states. Government of Kerala is under the left orientation under the leadership of Mr.V.S.Achuthanandan as the chief minister. The government took several decisions in association with the political motive of the left front. The major decisions in educational sector proclaim the government’s commitment to the laymen.
The first decision was to pass a bill to control the self financing educational institutions. The same decision invited grudge from the parts of private managements. The anti government feeling is promoted by almost all religious and castes organizations that run self financing professional colleges and other educational institutions. They declared their real commitments to the upper middle class society through various campaigns against the left government. Christian institutions especially the Catholics are on the fore front of the war against the government. They already released a lot of idayalekhanams (shepherd’s gospel).
I have a first hand experience in connection with the catholic priest’s row over the left parties. I was in a course at Rajagiri College of Social Sciences, Kalamassery in Kerala. This institution run by the CMI fathers is one of the pioneer institutions that offer courses in social work. The college has an outreach department and a research wing. The research wing conducts various studies on various social issues. They also conducted studies for the government of Kerala and its various organizations. Still they have right to criticize the government and personalities in association with the government; but not to insult them.
Here is a glimpse of insult in their office. It is a crime also. The chief minister V.S.Achudanandan’s photo is morphed and pasted with that of Pinarayi Vijayan, state secretary of Communist Party of India (Marxist).They are portrayed in the wedding dress. V.S marries Pinarayi. Aha…What an excellent idea! V.S is the male and Pinarayi the girl. Sometimes it may mean that ‘She’ will be an obedient wife of him, as our custom imposes.
This exercise may be a mere joke; a joke of little guys. But it implies a lot of meanings, especially in such a context where priests are in a row over the communists and the morphed photograph is prevailed in the desktop of such a ‘reputed’ institution. Oh! is it part of your social science research? If your answer is YES, there will be multifaceted responses. On the contrary if your stand is “this is a mistake happened by a slip of intellectual shift”, please correct it and open up more judicious criticism and democratic dialogues on your feeling for or against the government and the communists. Otherwise it will be continued as an anarchic intervention in a pure democratic context
DEMOCRACY OF FASCISTS
Ratheesh Kaliyadan
Freedom of speech and expression is one of the fundamental rights of every Indian citizen. The constitution of India assures it for every Indians. Unfortunately certain organizations have not. The latest victim of such hard and fast rule of organizations is Mr. Jaswant Singh who was former minister and Bharathiya Janatha Party leader. Mr. Singh was expelled from his party only because of writing a book on Indian independence movement. He praised Mr. Muhammadali Jinnah the then leader of Muslim League which argued for an independent nation-Pakistan. BJP took a stand that it is against the policy of the party.
Rashtriya Swayam Sevak Sangham(RSS) leader clearly made a comment that the RSS will not tolerate with the ideological heresy, just before BJP’s Chinthan Bytak had started. The RSS leader’s words are accepted by the obedient leaders and took action against Mr. Singh. The former Union minister and one of the “fine” leaders of BJP has expelled from the party.
The action against Mr. Singh made the book popular. It is the other side of the expulsion. The publisher got maximum publicity and intensified circulation. The first edition of the book was finished in the very first day of its release itself. The business intensification is also possible through an expulsion.
The more interested thing in the Singh episode is his book’s ban in certain areas of the nation. Mr. Narendra Modi banned the book in his own world, Gujarath. The action was announced within seconds, the action against the author prevailed. The real expression of intolerance of a fascist. Mr. Modi once again scored in his aggressive pro-Hindutva agenda. But in the scoring; the fundamental right and scope for democratic dialogues become a nightmare. We can’t expect it from fascists.
Even though Mr. Singh’s ideology or points of views are not acceptable, unfortunately progressive activists could not to take part of the issue and exploit the situation in a better way by campaigning against the fascist’s anti-human approaches. The real face of fascist rulers is revealed through this episode. Similar to the Nazi ruler Adolph Hitler and fascist emperor Mussolini, BJP leaders and RSS ideologues took action against their own leader. Then what will be the case of an ordinary person who criticizes these ideologies?
Ratheesh Kaliyadan
Prime minister in India is the supreme and the team leader in the Union ministry. The Chief Minister entertains the same in the states. Government of Kerala is under the left orientation under the leadership of Mr.V.S.Achuthanandan as the chief minister. The government took several decisions in association with the political motive of the left front. The major decisions in educational sector proclaim the government’s commitment to the laymen.
The first decision was to pass a bill to control the self financing educational institutions. The same decision invited grudge from the parts of private managements. The anti government feeling is promoted by almost all religious and castes organizations that run self financing professional colleges and other educational institutions. They declared their real commitments to the upper middle class society through various campaigns against the left government. Christian institutions especially the Catholics are on the fore front of the war against the government. They already released a lot of idayalekhanams (shepherd’s gospel).
I have a first hand experience in connection with the catholic priest’s row over the left parties. I was in a course at Rajagiri College of Social Sciences, Kalamassery in Kerala. This institution run by the CMI fathers is one of the pioneer institutions that offer courses in social work. The college has an outreach department and a research wing. The research wing conducts various studies on various social issues. They also conducted studies for the government of Kerala and its various organizations. Still they have right to criticize the government and personalities in association with the government; but not to insult them.
This exercise may be a mere joke; a joke of little guys. But it implies a lot of meanings, especially in such a context where priests are in a row over the communists and the morphed photograph is prevailed in the desktop of such a ‘reputed’ institution. Oh! is it part of your social science research? If your answer is YES, there will be multifaceted responses. On the contrary if your stand is “this is a mistake happened by a slip of intellectual shift”, please correct it and open up more judicious criticism and democratic dialogues on your feeling for or against the government and the communists. Otherwise it will be continued as an anarchic intervention in a pure democratic context
DEMOCRACY OF FASCISTS
Ratheesh Kaliyadan
Freedom of speech and expression is one of the fundamental rights of every Indian citizen. The constitution of India assures it for every Indians. Unfortunately certain organizations have not. The latest victim of such hard and fast rule of organizations is Mr. Jaswant Singh who was former minister and Bharathiya Janatha Party leader. Mr. Singh was expelled from his party only because of writing a book on Indian independence movement. He praised Mr. Muhammadali Jinnah the then leader of Muslim League which argued for an independent nation-Pakistan. BJP took a stand that it is against the policy of the party.
Rashtriya Swayam Sevak Sangham(RSS) leader clearly made a comment that the RSS will not tolerate with the ideological heresy, just before BJP’s Chinthan Bytak had started. The RSS leader’s words are accepted by the obedient leaders and took action against Mr. Singh. The former Union minister and one of the “fine” leaders of BJP has expelled from the party.
The action against Mr. Singh made the book popular. It is the other side of the expulsion. The publisher got maximum publicity and intensified circulation. The first edition of the book was finished in the very first day of its release itself. The business intensification is also possible through an expulsion.
The more interested thing in the Singh episode is his book’s ban in certain areas of the nation. Mr. Narendra Modi banned the book in his own world, Gujarath. The action was announced within seconds, the action against the author prevailed. The real expression of intolerance of a fascist. Mr. Modi once again scored in his aggressive pro-Hindutva agenda. But in the scoring; the fundamental right and scope for democratic dialogues become a nightmare. We can’t expect it from fascists.
Even though Mr. Singh’s ideology or points of views are not acceptable, unfortunately progressive activists could not to take part of the issue and exploit the situation in a better way by campaigning against the fascist’s anti-human approaches. The real face of fascist rulers is revealed through this episode. Similar to the Nazi ruler Adolph Hitler and fascist emperor Mussolini, BJP leaders and RSS ideologues took action against their own leader. Then what will be the case of an ordinary person who criticizes these ideologies?
Thursday, October 1, 2009
reconstructing mahatma
RECONSTRUCTING MAHATMA
RATHEESH KALIYADAN
Here is a shocking news to Gandhians and Gandhi lovers! He is one of the most influential personalities of the century.Satyagraha movement and staunch leadership in Indian independence struggle make Mahatma Gandhi,the real 'Mahatma'.By delivering sparkling messages in a low but steady voice,Mahatma Gandhi empowered the Indian folks to attain an independent and sovereign state and hold its administration.He became the father of Nation.
As Mahatma Gandhi himself pointed out,his life was a message.He became a living model to the Indian fighters.It was through the great life,he became 'Mahatma' not by pretty words or orders.Gandhiji became the symbol of anti-imperialist movement all over the world.
Civil disobedience,Satyagraha,Dandi march,Quit India movement...made Mahatmaji the embodiment of Indian freedom struggle.His words and actions attracted not only the warriors but enemies also.Every moments ion his life inspired the villages and cities a lot.The followers had no doubt to act as he suggests, even though there were certain different opines on the way of movements.Long years after an American President,Barac Obama,declared his admiration to the great Indian leader and put a picture of Gandhi in his life.
Market oriented global business network system is in a tight competition to compete with similar products and producers.They are under acute research to marketize everything including the anti-incumbent factors.They are even ready to utilize all symbols and signs of anti-imperialist influences to marketize their own products.Strong slogans against a product in a protest expression may be a caption of the advertisements of the same product!Advertisements using picture of Che,the revolutionary communist leader and other leaders,their messages etc are examples for utilizing opposite symbols for marketing products.It means even a negative symbol can provide a positive output in market economic and advertorial strategy.
Latest example for this marketing strategy is of Mahatma Gandhi. 'Mahatma' is not only a symbol of anti-imperialist movement,but also a brand name.Being a writer and journalist penned his messages.He used a fountain pen for several years and utilised every space in a paper with keen attention.Pen and paper never used as luxury but a most wanted tool to propagate his own ideals.The newly introduced brand 'Mahatma' is a pen.the pen costs Rs.14 lakhs only!!German pen makers Mont Blanc is 'influenced by Mahatma Gandhi's Dandi march in 1930 to protest against the British Salt Tax'.The 241 mile March's influence is reproduced by the pen makers by making only 241 pieces to distribute all over the world.The father of Nation holding his trademark-Lathi-is imprinted on the 18 carat gold nib of each and every pieces.A capitalist thirsty man's honour to the great personality!
Besides the 'Mahatma' brand,there is also the Mahatma Gandhi Limited Education 3000 fountain pen available for Rs1.7 Lakhs and a roller ball point pen for Rs1.5 Lakhs.
Hello Gandhi lovers,come and unite.Buy a pen.declare your sympathy and empathy to the grate leader.You can also present it to the near and dear ones or intimate guests.Hurry up.This is the only way we have to proclaim your 'divine' adoration and integrity to the Mahatma because Congress and its followers already showcased their Gandhian principles,ideologies and values.Otherwise the situation never will be like this.No makers will not be courageous to imprint such a brand name and image.At least they cannot import and market it in India;The India under congress lead ministry and regime.
RATHEESH KALIYADAN
Here is a shocking news to Gandhians and Gandhi lovers! He is one of the most influential personalities of the century.Satyagraha movement and staunch leadership in Indian independence struggle make Mahatma Gandhi,the real 'Mahatma'.By delivering sparkling messages in a low but steady voice,Mahatma Gandhi empowered the Indian folks to attain an independent and sovereign state and hold its administration.He became the father of Nation.
As Mahatma Gandhi himself pointed out,his life was a message.He became a living model to the Indian fighters.It was through the great life,he became 'Mahatma' not by pretty words or orders.Gandhiji became the symbol of anti-imperialist movement all over the world.
Civil disobedience,Satyagraha,Dandi march,Quit India movement...made Mahatmaji the embodiment of Indian freedom struggle.His words and actions attracted not only the warriors but enemies also.Every moments ion his life inspired the villages and cities a lot.The followers had no doubt to act as he suggests, even though there were certain different opines on the way of movements.Long years after an American President,Barac Obama,declared his admiration to the great Indian leader and put a picture of Gandhi in his life.
Market oriented global business network system is in a tight competition to compete with similar products and producers.They are under acute research to marketize everything including the anti-incumbent factors.They are even ready to utilize all symbols and signs of anti-imperialist influences to marketize their own products.Strong slogans against a product in a protest expression may be a caption of the advertisements of the same product!Advertisements using picture of Che,the revolutionary communist leader and other leaders,their messages etc are examples for utilizing opposite symbols for marketing products.It means even a negative symbol can provide a positive output in market economic and advertorial strategy.
Latest example for this marketing strategy is of Mahatma Gandhi. 'Mahatma' is not only a symbol of anti-imperialist movement,but also a brand name.Being a writer and journalist penned his messages.He used a fountain pen for several years and utilised every space in a paper with keen attention.Pen and paper never used as luxury but a most wanted tool to propagate his own ideals.The newly introduced brand 'Mahatma' is a pen.the pen costs Rs.14 lakhs only!!German pen makers Mont Blanc is 'influenced by Mahatma Gandhi's Dandi march in 1930 to protest against the British Salt Tax'.The 241 mile March's influence is reproduced by the pen makers by making only 241 pieces to distribute all over the world.The father of Nation holding his trademark-Lathi-is imprinted on the 18 carat gold nib of each and every pieces.A capitalist thirsty man's honour to the great personality!
Besides the 'Mahatma' brand,there is also the Mahatma Gandhi Limited Education 3000 fountain pen available for Rs1.7 Lakhs and a roller ball point pen for Rs1.5 Lakhs.
Hello Gandhi lovers,come and unite.Buy a pen.declare your sympathy and empathy to the grate leader.You can also present it to the near and dear ones or intimate guests.Hurry up.This is the only way we have to proclaim your 'divine' adoration and integrity to the Mahatma because Congress and its followers already showcased their Gandhian principles,ideologies and values.Otherwise the situation never will be like this.No makers will not be courageous to imprint such a brand name and image.At least they cannot import and market it in India;The India under congress lead ministry and regime.
Wednesday, September 30, 2009
swadeshabhimani
SWADESHABHIMANI'S DEPORTATION TOWARDS A CENTURY
We were in a mood of celebration on 25Th September,2009.It was the day we observed Swadeshabhimani's deportation's anniversary at Govt.Girls Higher Secondary School, Thalassery.
Don't you know Swadeshabhoimani?He was a veteran journalist,editor and political thinker.He started journalism as a career while he was an school child.The very first 'news letter' published in MalayalaManorama was against a local Munsif who received presentations from the clients.Swadweshabhimani felt that this practice may harm the lay men who are not ready to present certain items to the munsif.Pointing out the scandal of the Munsif he wrote.It made certain problems in his family.
From the very first writing he got attention of the general public and became a man of notice to the rulers.After the incident he experienced a lot and suffered for the social cause.But he was not ready to withdraw his career.He stood for value based journalism till the last moment of his life.After a lot of dramatic incidents,he was deported from the native land,Travancore on September,26,1910.He reached Madras and continued his activities there.From Madras Swadeshabhimani and family moved to Palakkad and Kannur.B.Kallyani Amma became a teacher in Govt.Girls School in Kannur.It was a blessing to the starving family.
While Sweadeshabhimani was in Kannur,he continued writing and tried to make a dictionary.But he was suffering from acute TB.troubles and dacoities increased.At last on he withdrew from life due to TB related problems.
Media Analysis and Research Center helped us to conduct a memorial speech and two paper presentations.K.P.A.Rahim inaugurated.Ad.K.C.Raghunath presided over the function.Kadan Balakrishnan,Nayeema.A.P.M,Ashina Ashok,Manoharan.K and Ratheesh Kaliyadan delivered talks.
We were in a mood of celebration on 25Th September,2009.It was the day we observed Swadeshabhimani's deportation's anniversary at Govt.Girls Higher Secondary School, Thalassery.
Don't you know Swadeshabhoimani?He was a veteran journalist,editor and political thinker.He started journalism as a career while he was an school child.The very first 'news letter' published in MalayalaManorama was against a local Munsif who received presentations from the clients.Swadweshabhimani felt that this practice may harm the lay men who are not ready to present certain items to the munsif.Pointing out the scandal of the Munsif he wrote.It made certain problems in his family.
From the very first writing he got attention of the general public and became a man of notice to the rulers.After the incident he experienced a lot and suffered for the social cause.But he was not ready to withdraw his career.He stood for value based journalism till the last moment of his life.After a lot of dramatic incidents,he was deported from the native land,Travancore on September,26,1910.He reached Madras and continued his activities there.From Madras Swadeshabhimani and family moved to Palakkad and Kannur.B.Kallyani Amma became a teacher in Govt.Girls School in Kannur.It was a blessing to the starving family.
While Sweadeshabhimani was in Kannur,he continued writing and tried to make a dictionary.But he was suffering from acute TB.troubles and dacoities increased.At last on he withdrew from life due to TB related problems.
Media Analysis and Research Center helped us to conduct a memorial speech and two paper presentations.K.P.A.Rahim inaugurated.Ad.K.C.Raghunath presided over the function.Kadan Balakrishnan,Nayeema.A.P.M,Ashina Ashok,Manoharan.K and Ratheesh Kaliyadan delivered talks.
Saturday, September 26, 2009
DEPORTATION TOWARDS CENTURIAN
DEPORTATION TOWARDS CENTURION
Swadesabhimani Rama Krishna Pillai,veteran journalist and editor was deported by the then rulers because of his strong editorials against officials scandals.It was in September 26,1910.We are approaching hundred years to the deportation. Media Analysis and Research Center decides to celebrate centurion of deportation with a year's campaign regarding media affairs and Swadesabhimani's experiences.The campaign is named as Naadu kadathal nootandileku.The inauguration of the campaign was in Govt.Girls higher Secondary School,Thalassery on Sept 25,2009.In his inaugural speech,K.P.A.Rahim said that swadesabhimani is a martyr of value based journalism.Ad.K.C.Raghunath presided over.Kadan Balakrishnan,K.V.Srivalsan,Ashina Asok,Nayima.A.P.M.MARC director Ratheesh Kaliyadan delivered welcome speech and K.manoharan expressed vote of thanks.
Swadesabhimani Rama Krishna Pillai,veteran journalist and editor was deported by the then rulers because of his strong editorials against officials scandals.It was in September 26,1910.We are approaching hundred years to the deportation. Media Analysis and Research Center decides to celebrate centurion of deportation with a year's campaign regarding media affairs and Swadesabhimani's experiences.The campaign is named as Naadu kadathal nootandileku.The inauguration of the campaign was in Govt.Girls higher Secondary School,Thalassery on Sept 25,2009.In his inaugural speech,K.P.A.Rahim said that swadesabhimani is a martyr of value based journalism.Ad.K.C.Raghunath presided over.Kadan Balakrishnan,K.V.Srivalsan,Ashina Asok,Nayima.A.P.M.MARC director Ratheesh Kaliyadan delivered welcome speech and K.manoharan expressed vote of thanks.
Wednesday, July 8, 2009
COLOR OF PREJUDICE
COLOUR OF PREJUDICE
Ratheesh Kaliyadan
I am a secular person. I don't believe in any religions. But not ready to ridicule any one's beliefs. Now in an utter confusion.Do the believers are entitled to insult other believers or not in such a position? At my best knowledge nobody have such a right. Your degree of freedom goes to the nose of others,but you can't touch it without violating the others freedom told a resource person in the class.Unfortunately the same evening I was motivated to visit the reputed institution's library.I and my friend after a short break with an easy mood in saffron dhoti visited the library to search certain books on research.
After completing the official procedures we just entered the library room and approached a stack shelf.Within second one guy came and said"this dress is not allowed in library"
"Oh! Iam sorry.I was not aware of this kinsd of dress code."
"No problem. you continue your search. But later on you leavethis dress and wear a white dhoti or pants.If father sees it will make problem to us."
"Ok.I will not use this in tomorrow's visit."
While continued my search another person came with a furried face and told"this is not allowed here.You don't come with this dress."
The way of approach,kineshtetic expression and tonal variation pushed me to respond mildly:"So what? am I leave now?"
"Yes.You must'.
We left the place.It was a simple experience in Rajagiri College of Social science,Ernakulam,Kerala.This institution is considered to be one of the number one socialwork and management studies institute in Kerala,run by CMI fathers.We are here to attend a certificate course in advanced research methodology.
After return back to our room,rethought about the experience.Why diid I expell from the world of knowledge by a satan?The answer is very simple.You had worn a saffron dhoti.The office staff of the library coined my dhoti to the Hinduism!!!A hindu in His/her traditional wearings is not allwed inside a Christian institution.Where do we live? Is it part of a democratic,secular republic nation? Is this institution run in a more politically leftised Kerala?
Cultural analysts observed that Kerala will be the most explosive communal community rather than any north Indian states. Yes.This experience underlines it.Why do you leave saffron as a symbol of Hindutva? Why can't you deconstruct the traditional Indian symbols and colors in a democratic and secular cause? Not only the hindu symbols but all religius symbols should be reconstructed and redifined for establishing a secular environment.
Ratheesh Kaliyadan
I am a secular person. I don't believe in any religions. But not ready to ridicule any one's beliefs. Now in an utter confusion.Do the believers are entitled to insult other believers or not in such a position? At my best knowledge nobody have such a right. Your degree of freedom goes to the nose of others,but you can't touch it without violating the others freedom told a resource person in the class.Unfortunately the same evening I was motivated to visit the reputed institution's library.I and my friend after a short break with an easy mood in saffron dhoti visited the library to search certain books on research.
After completing the official procedures we just entered the library room and approached a stack shelf.Within second one guy came and said"this dress is not allowed in library"
"Oh! Iam sorry.I was not aware of this kinsd of dress code."
"No problem. you continue your search. But later on you leavethis dress and wear a white dhoti or pants.If father sees it will make problem to us."
"Ok.I will not use this in tomorrow's visit."
While continued my search another person came with a furried face and told"this is not allowed here.You don't come with this dress."
The way of approach,kineshtetic expression and tonal variation pushed me to respond mildly:"So what? am I leave now?"
"Yes.You must'.
We left the place.It was a simple experience in Rajagiri College of Social science,Ernakulam,Kerala.This institution is considered to be one of the number one socialwork and management studies institute in Kerala,run by CMI fathers.We are here to attend a certificate course in advanced research methodology.
After return back to our room,rethought about the experience.Why diid I expell from the world of knowledge by a satan?The answer is very simple.You had worn a saffron dhoti.The office staff of the library coined my dhoti to the Hinduism!!!A hindu in His/her traditional wearings is not allwed inside a Christian institution.Where do we live? Is it part of a democratic,secular republic nation? Is this institution run in a more politically leftised Kerala?
Cultural analysts observed that Kerala will be the most explosive communal community rather than any north Indian states. Yes.This experience underlines it.Why do you leave saffron as a symbol of Hindutva? Why can't you deconstruct the traditional Indian symbols and colors in a democratic and secular cause? Not only the hindu symbols but all religius symbols should be reconstructed and redifined for establishing a secular environment.
Monday, May 11, 2009
WORLD ENVIRONMENT DAY
PLANET NEEDS YOU
Ratheesh Kaliyadan
Our planet needs you for a better future. Try maximum to help her to do the activities as it was. The mother earth is in a dismay due to the cruel actions of her own children. They are destroying the green cover for their private purposes. They kill hills and rivers.Pollute air,water and soil.The mother earth becomes more and more ill by these actions.So she needs your help.
Hurry up,come and join the team of rescues.
You do only one thing.Always think about the mother and her other children.
That's all.Then you can limit your needs.don't be greedy.
Utilise the resources at its minimum.Keep it for the coming generation.
Ratheesh Kaliyadan
Our planet needs you for a better future. Try maximum to help her to do the activities as it was. The mother earth is in a dismay due to the cruel actions of her own children. They are destroying the green cover for their private purposes. They kill hills and rivers.Pollute air,water and soil.The mother earth becomes more and more ill by these actions.So she needs your help.
Hurry up,come and join the team of rescues.
You do only one thing.Always think about the mother and her other children.
That's all.Then you can limit your needs.don't be greedy.
Utilise the resources at its minimum.Keep it for the coming generation.
Monday, February 16, 2009
souhridam camp
SOUHRIDAM CAMP IN THIKOTI
Media Analysis &Research Center's media workshop (souhridam camp) concluded in Palur Lower Primary school,Thikoti,Kozhokode district of Kerala in India on February 15,2009. Thikoti grama panchayath hosted the camp. 50 children selected from all primary schools in the panchayath participated in the workshop. National Service Scheme volunteers-Sarath,Mishab, Shijin,Hasna,Thasleena,Raheena,Anjana,Renu,Sruthi,Aparna acted as teachers in the workshop.MARC director Ratheesh Kaliyadan lead the over all activities of the mdia workshop. This workshop enlightened the school children to read newspapers in a different perspective.
Media Analysis &Research Center's media workshop (souhridam camp) concluded in Palur Lower Primary school,Thikoti,Kozhokode district of Kerala in India on February 15,2009. Thikoti grama panchayath hosted the camp. 50 children selected from all primary schools in the panchayath participated in the workshop. National Service Scheme volunteers-Sarath,Mishab, Shijin,Hasna,Thasleena,Raheena,Anjana,Renu,Sruthi,Aparna acted as teachers in the workshop.MARC director Ratheesh Kaliyadan lead the over all activities of the mdia workshop. This workshop enlightened the school children to read newspapers in a different perspective.
Wednesday, February 11, 2009
MEDIA TERROR
Media terror
Medha Patkar
Hotel Taj : icon of whose India ?
Gnani Sankaran- Tamil writer, Chennai. Watching at least four English news channels surfing from one another during the last 60 hours of terror strike made me feel a terror of another kind. The terror of assaulting one's mind and sensitivity with cameras, sound bites and non-stop blabbers. All these channels have been trying to manufacture my consent for a big lie called - Hotel Taj the icon of India. Whose India, Whose Icon ?
It is a matter of great shame that these channels simply did not bother about the other icon that faced the first attack from terrorists - the Chatrapathi Shivaji Terminus (CST) railway station. CST is the true icon of Mumbai. It is through this railway station hundreds of Indians from Uttar Pradesh, Bihar, Rajasthan,West Bengal and Tamilnadu have poured into Mumbai over the years, transforming themselves into Mumbaikars and built the Mumbai of today along with the Marathis and Kolis But the channels would not recognise this. Nor would they recognise the thirty odd dead bodies strewn all over the platform of CST. No Barkha dutt went there to tell us who they were. But she was at Taj to show us the damaged furniture and reception lobby braving the guards. And the TV cameras did not go to the government run JJ hospital to find out who those 26 unidentified bodies were. Instead they were again invading the battered Taj to try in vain for a scoop shot of the dead bodies of the page 3 celebrities. In all probability, the unidentified bodies could be those of workers from Bihar and Uttar Pradesh migrating to Mumbai, arriving by train at CST without cell phones and pan cards to identify them. Even after 60 hours after the CST massacre, no channel has bothered to cover in detail what transpired there. The channels conveniently failed to acknowledge that the Aam Aadmis of India surviving in Mumbai were not affected by Taj, Oberoi and Trident closing down for a couple of weeks or months. What mattered to them was the stoppage of BEST buses and suburban trains even for one hour. But the channels were not covering that aspect of the terror attack. Such information at best merited a scroll line, while the cameras have to be dedicated for real time thriller unfolding at Taj or Nariman bhavan. The so called justification for the hype the channels built around heritage site Taj falling down (CST is also a heritage site), is that Hotel Taj is where the rich and the powerful of India and the globe congregate. It is a symbol or icon of power of money and politics, not India. It is the icon of the financiers and swindlers of India. The Mumbai and India were built by the Aam Aadmis who passed through CST and Taj was the oasis of peace and privacy for those who wielded power over these mass of labouring classes. Leopold club and Taj were the haunts of rich spoilt kids who would drive their vehicles over sleeping Aam Aadmis on the pavement, the Mafiosi of Mumbai forever financing the glitterati of Bollywood (and also the terrorists) , Political brokers and industrialists. It is precisely because Taj is the icon of power and not people, that the terrorists chose to strike. The terrorists have understood after several efforts that the Aam Aadmi will never break down even if you bomb her markets and trains. He/she was resilient because that is the only way he/she can even survive.
Resilience was another word that annoyed the pundits of news channels and their patrons this time. What resilience, enough is enough, said Pranoy Roy's channel on the left side of the channel spectrum. Same sentiments were echoed by Arnab Goswami representing the right wing of the broadcast media whose time is now. Can Rajdeep be far behind in this game of one upmanship over TRPs ? They all attacked resilience this time. They wanted firm action from the government in tackling terror.
The same channels celebrated resilience when bombs went off in trains and markets killing and maiming the Aam Aadmis. The resilience of the ordinary worker suited the rich business class of Mumbai since work or manufacture or filmshooting did not stop. When it came to them, the rich shamelessly exhibited their lack of nerves and refused to be resilient themselves. They cry for government intervention now to protect their private spas and swimming pools and bars and restaurants, similar to the way in which Citibank,General Motors and the ilk cry for government money when their coffers are emptied by their own ideologies.
The terrorists have learnt that the ordinary Indian is unperturbed by terror. For one whose daily existence itself is a terror of government sponsored inflation and market sponsored exclusion, pain is something he has learnt to live with. The rich of Mumbai and India Inc are facing the pain for the first time and learning about it just as the middle classes of India learnt about violation of human rights only during emergency, a cool 28 years after independence. And human rights were another favourite issue for the channels to whip at times of terrorism. Arnab Goswami in an animated voice wondered where were those champions of human rights now, not to be seen applauding the brave and selfless police officers who gave up their life in fighting terorism. Well, the counter question would be where were you when such officers were violating the human rights of Aam Aadmis. Has there ever been any 24 hour non stop coverage of violence against dalits and adivasis of this country?
This definitely was not the time to manufacture consent for the extra legal and third degree methods of interrogation of police and army but Arnabs don't miss a single opportunity to serve their class masters, this time the jingoistic patriotism came in handy to whitewash the
entire uniformed services.
The sacrifice of the commandos or the police officers who went down dying at the hands of ruthless terrorists is no doubt heart rending but in vain in a situation which needed not just bran but also brain. Israel has a point when it says the operations were misplanned resulting in the death of its nationals here.
Khakares and Salaskars would not be dead if they did not commit the mistake of traveling by the same vehicle. It is a basic lesson in management that the top brass should never travel together in crisis. The terrorists, if only they had watched the channels, would have laughed their hearts out when the Chief of the Marine commandos, an elite force, masking his face so unprofessionally in a see-through cloth, told the media that the commandos had no idea about the structure of the Hotel Taj which they were trying to> liberate. But the terrorists knew the place thoroughly, he acknowledged.
Is it so difficult to obtain a ground plan of Hotel Taj and discuss operation strategy thoroughly for at least one hour before entering? This is something even an event manager would first ask for, if he had to fix 25 audio systems and 50 CCtvs for a cultural event in a hotel. Would not Ratan Tata have provided a plan of his ancestral hotel to the commandos within one hour considering the mighty apparatus at his and government's disposal? Are satelite pictures only available for terrorists and not the government agencies ? In an operation known to consume time, one more hour for preparation would have only improved the efficiency of execution.
Sacrifices become doubly tragic in unprofessional circumstances. But the Aam Aadmis always believe that terror-shooters do better planning than terrorists. And the gullible media in a jingoistic mood would not raise any question about any of these issues. They after all have their favourite whipping boy - the politician the eternal entertainer for the non-voting rich classes of India.
Arnabs and Rajdeeps would wax eloquent on Manmohan Singh and Advani visiting Mumbai separately and not together showing solidarity even at this hour of national crisis. What a farce? Why can't these channels pool together all their camera crew and reporters at this time of national calamity and share the sound and visual bites which could mean a wider and deeper coverage of events with such a huge human resource to command? Why should Arnab and Rajdeep and Barkha keep harping every five minutes that this piece of information was exclusive to their channel, at the time of such a national crisis? Is this the time to promote the channel? If that is valid, the politician promoting his own political constituency is equally valid. And the duty of the politican is to do politics, his politics. It is for the people to evaluate that politics. And terrorism is not above politics. It is politics by other means.To come to grips with it and to eventually eliminate it, the practice of politics by proper means needs constant fine tuning and improvement. Decrying all politics and politicians, only helps terrorists and dictators who are the two sides of the same coin. And the rich and powerful always prefer terrorists and dictators to do business with.Those caught in this crossfire are always the Aam Aadmis whose deaths are not even mourned - the taxi driver who lost the entire family at CST firing, the numerous waiters and stewards who lost their lives working in Taj for a monthly salary that would be one time bill for their masters.
Postscript: In a fit of anger and depression, I sent a message to all the channels, 30 hours through the coverage. After all they have been constantly asking the viewers to message them for anything and everything. My message read: I send this with lots of pain. All channels, including yours, must apologise for not covering the victims of CST massacre, the real mumbaikars and aam aadmis of India. Your obsession with five star elite is disgusting. Learn from the print media please. No channel bothered. Only srinivasan Jain replied: you are right. We are trying to redress balance today. Well, nothing happened till the time of writing this 66 hours after the terror attack
Forwarded by Dr.D.S.Poornananda
November 29,2008 11pm
nba.medha@gmail.com
Medha Patkar
Hotel Taj : icon of whose India ?
Gnani Sankaran- Tamil writer, Chennai. Watching at least four English news channels surfing from one another during the last 60 hours of terror strike made me feel a terror of another kind. The terror of assaulting one's mind and sensitivity with cameras, sound bites and non-stop blabbers. All these channels have been trying to manufacture my consent for a big lie called - Hotel Taj the icon of India. Whose India, Whose Icon ?
It is a matter of great shame that these channels simply did not bother about the other icon that faced the first attack from terrorists - the Chatrapathi Shivaji Terminus (CST) railway station. CST is the true icon of Mumbai. It is through this railway station hundreds of Indians from Uttar Pradesh, Bihar, Rajasthan,West Bengal and Tamilnadu have poured into Mumbai over the years, transforming themselves into Mumbaikars and built the Mumbai of today along with the Marathis and Kolis But the channels would not recognise this. Nor would they recognise the thirty odd dead bodies strewn all over the platform of CST. No Barkha dutt went there to tell us who they were. But she was at Taj to show us the damaged furniture and reception lobby braving the guards. And the TV cameras did not go to the government run JJ hospital to find out who those 26 unidentified bodies were. Instead they were again invading the battered Taj to try in vain for a scoop shot of the dead bodies of the page 3 celebrities. In all probability, the unidentified bodies could be those of workers from Bihar and Uttar Pradesh migrating to Mumbai, arriving by train at CST without cell phones and pan cards to identify them. Even after 60 hours after the CST massacre, no channel has bothered to cover in detail what transpired there. The channels conveniently failed to acknowledge that the Aam Aadmis of India surviving in Mumbai were not affected by Taj, Oberoi and Trident closing down for a couple of weeks or months. What mattered to them was the stoppage of BEST buses and suburban trains even for one hour. But the channels were not covering that aspect of the terror attack. Such information at best merited a scroll line, while the cameras have to be dedicated for real time thriller unfolding at Taj or Nariman bhavan. The so called justification for the hype the channels built around heritage site Taj falling down (CST is also a heritage site), is that Hotel Taj is where the rich and the powerful of India and the globe congregate. It is a symbol or icon of power of money and politics, not India. It is the icon of the financiers and swindlers of India. The Mumbai and India were built by the Aam Aadmis who passed through CST and Taj was the oasis of peace and privacy for those who wielded power over these mass of labouring classes. Leopold club and Taj were the haunts of rich spoilt kids who would drive their vehicles over sleeping Aam Aadmis on the pavement, the Mafiosi of Mumbai forever financing the glitterati of Bollywood (and also the terrorists) , Political brokers and industrialists. It is precisely because Taj is the icon of power and not people, that the terrorists chose to strike. The terrorists have understood after several efforts that the Aam Aadmi will never break down even if you bomb her markets and trains. He/she was resilient because that is the only way he/she can even survive.
Resilience was another word that annoyed the pundits of news channels and their patrons this time. What resilience, enough is enough, said Pranoy Roy's channel on the left side of the channel spectrum. Same sentiments were echoed by Arnab Goswami representing the right wing of the broadcast media whose time is now. Can Rajdeep be far behind in this game of one upmanship over TRPs ? They all attacked resilience this time. They wanted firm action from the government in tackling terror.
The same channels celebrated resilience when bombs went off in trains and markets killing and maiming the Aam Aadmis. The resilience of the ordinary worker suited the rich business class of Mumbai since work or manufacture or filmshooting did not stop. When it came to them, the rich shamelessly exhibited their lack of nerves and refused to be resilient themselves. They cry for government intervention now to protect their private spas and swimming pools and bars and restaurants, similar to the way in which Citibank,General Motors and the ilk cry for government money when their coffers are emptied by their own ideologies.
The terrorists have learnt that the ordinary Indian is unperturbed by terror. For one whose daily existence itself is a terror of government sponsored inflation and market sponsored exclusion, pain is something he has learnt to live with. The rich of Mumbai and India Inc are facing the pain for the first time and learning about it just as the middle classes of India learnt about violation of human rights only during emergency, a cool 28 years after independence. And human rights were another favourite issue for the channels to whip at times of terrorism. Arnab Goswami in an animated voice wondered where were those champions of human rights now, not to be seen applauding the brave and selfless police officers who gave up their life in fighting terorism. Well, the counter question would be where were you when such officers were violating the human rights of Aam Aadmis. Has there ever been any 24 hour non stop coverage of violence against dalits and adivasis of this country?
This definitely was not the time to manufacture consent for the extra legal and third degree methods of interrogation of police and army but Arnabs don't miss a single opportunity to serve their class masters, this time the jingoistic patriotism came in handy to whitewash the
entire uniformed services.
The sacrifice of the commandos or the police officers who went down dying at the hands of ruthless terrorists is no doubt heart rending but in vain in a situation which needed not just bran but also brain. Israel has a point when it says the operations were misplanned resulting in the death of its nationals here.
Khakares and Salaskars would not be dead if they did not commit the mistake of traveling by the same vehicle. It is a basic lesson in management that the top brass should never travel together in crisis. The terrorists, if only they had watched the channels, would have laughed their hearts out when the Chief of the Marine commandos, an elite force, masking his face so unprofessionally in a see-through cloth, told the media that the commandos had no idea about the structure of the Hotel Taj which they were trying to> liberate. But the terrorists knew the place thoroughly, he acknowledged.
Is it so difficult to obtain a ground plan of Hotel Taj and discuss operation strategy thoroughly for at least one hour before entering? This is something even an event manager would first ask for, if he had to fix 25 audio systems and 50 CCtvs for a cultural event in a hotel. Would not Ratan Tata have provided a plan of his ancestral hotel to the commandos within one hour considering the mighty apparatus at his and government's disposal? Are satelite pictures only available for terrorists and not the government agencies ? In an operation known to consume time, one more hour for preparation would have only improved the efficiency of execution.
Sacrifices become doubly tragic in unprofessional circumstances. But the Aam Aadmis always believe that terror-shooters do better planning than terrorists. And the gullible media in a jingoistic mood would not raise any question about any of these issues. They after all have their favourite whipping boy - the politician the eternal entertainer for the non-voting rich classes of India.
Arnabs and Rajdeeps would wax eloquent on Manmohan Singh and Advani visiting Mumbai separately and not together showing solidarity even at this hour of national crisis. What a farce? Why can't these channels pool together all their camera crew and reporters at this time of national calamity and share the sound and visual bites which could mean a wider and deeper coverage of events with such a huge human resource to command? Why should Arnab and Rajdeep and Barkha keep harping every five minutes that this piece of information was exclusive to their channel, at the time of such a national crisis? Is this the time to promote the channel? If that is valid, the politician promoting his own political constituency is equally valid. And the duty of the politican is to do politics, his politics. It is for the people to evaluate that politics. And terrorism is not above politics. It is politics by other means.To come to grips with it and to eventually eliminate it, the practice of politics by proper means needs constant fine tuning and improvement. Decrying all politics and politicians, only helps terrorists and dictators who are the two sides of the same coin. And the rich and powerful always prefer terrorists and dictators to do business with.Those caught in this crossfire are always the Aam Aadmis whose deaths are not even mourned - the taxi driver who lost the entire family at CST firing, the numerous waiters and stewards who lost their lives working in Taj for a monthly salary that would be one time bill for their masters.
Postscript: In a fit of anger and depression, I sent a message to all the channels, 30 hours through the coverage. After all they have been constantly asking the viewers to message them for anything and everything. My message read: I send this with lots of pain. All channels, including yours, must apologise for not covering the victims of CST massacre, the real mumbaikars and aam aadmis of India. Your obsession with five star elite is disgusting. Learn from the print media please. No channel bothered. Only srinivasan Jain replied: you are right. We are trying to redress balance today. Well, nothing happened till the time of writing this 66 hours after the terror attack
Forwarded by Dr.D.S.Poornananda
November 29,2008 11pm
nba.medha@gmail.com
ALL ABOUT THIRAS
All about `thiras'
Staff Reporter
KOZHIKODE: Students of Thiruvangur Higher Secondary School in Koyilandy in the district have come up with a new venture, `Arulappad,' a book containing 50-odd features on `thiras' being performed by various communities in the State.
The book is expected to be released in the first or second week of July. Ratheesh Kaliyadan, journalism teacher who coordinates the activities for the book, says those who are involved in compiling the book are all students of journalism, an optional subject at the higher secondary level. — Staff Reporter
THE HINDU,Online edition of India's National NewspaperThursday, Jun 01, 2006
Staff Reporter
KOZHIKODE: Students of Thiruvangur Higher Secondary School in Koyilandy in the district have come up with a new venture, `Arulappad,' a book containing 50-odd features on `thiras' being performed by various communities in the State.
The book is expected to be released in the first or second week of July. Ratheesh Kaliyadan, journalism teacher who coordinates the activities for the book, says those who are involved in compiling the book are all students of journalism, an optional subject at the higher secondary level. — Staff Reporter
THE HINDU,Online edition of India's National NewspaperThursday, Jun 01, 2006
BUDDING SCRIBES DOCUMENT FOLKLORE
Budding scribes document folklore
Staff Reporter
The book on sacred groves.
KOZHIKODE: Journalism students in Thiruvangoor Higher Secondary School here have documented folklore surrounding "Kavus" (sacred groves) in Koyilandy taluk.
Their effort has yielded a handy volume, Arulappad, which was released at the school recently.
Reading the book is a journey through time, examining and analysing how folklore traditions surrounding sacred groves have stood the test of time.
Ratheesh Kaliyadan, Editor of Arulappad, says, "documentation of folklore was also part of an initiative to give life to the concept of citizens' journalism."
"The [students'] assignments of reporting and editing have been materialised through the project of compiling data by the student groups and bringing it out in book form, while, at the same time, providing opportunities for extracurricular activities."
He said many folklore traditions were in the process of being lost, and the publication was an attempt to document these societal traditions. While data existed on some traditions, no information was available on certain Theyyams of the lowest sections of society, he said.
Documentation involved painstaking inquiry into the stories and folk histories surrounding each grove. Songs relating to festivals of deities and stage details such as the costume worn by the oracles during the "Thira" festival have also been documented.
The fact that each "Thira" is a dialogue between the past and present is highlighted. Thirty-one gods and goddesses have been analysed as part of the documentation.
Students carried out the enquiry and documentation in groups and singly.
Raghavan Payyanad, Director, Centre for Folklore Studies, Calicut University, has written an informative introduction to the book.
Arulappad gives details of the lore surrounding deities such as Vettakkoru Magan, Bhairavi, Chamundi and Kuttichathan.
An interesting aspect of folk deities of sacred groves is that most of them are subaltern heroes.
Some of them are depicted as resisting the oppressive feudal system. Valiamuthappan, for instance, is one such hero.
The book highlights the fact that folklore has multiple dimensions.
On the surface, it is just stories passed on from generation to generation by word of mouth. Some of these are presented on stages, and on going deeper, their multiple dimensions are revealed.
The students' enquiry reveals the existence of a large number of sacred groves in Kerala, with distinct history and social relevance.
It provides ample material for serious academic research on folklore and understanding the essential discourse.
THE HINDU,Online edition of India's National NewspaperMonday, Jan 08, 2007
Staff Reporter
The book on sacred groves.
KOZHIKODE: Journalism students in Thiruvangoor Higher Secondary School here have documented folklore surrounding "Kavus" (sacred groves) in Koyilandy taluk.
Their effort has yielded a handy volume, Arulappad, which was released at the school recently.
Reading the book is a journey through time, examining and analysing how folklore traditions surrounding sacred groves have stood the test of time.
Ratheesh Kaliyadan, Editor of Arulappad, says, "documentation of folklore was also part of an initiative to give life to the concept of citizens' journalism."
"The [students'] assignments of reporting and editing have been materialised through the project of compiling data by the student groups and bringing it out in book form, while, at the same time, providing opportunities for extracurricular activities."
He said many folklore traditions were in the process of being lost, and the publication was an attempt to document these societal traditions. While data existed on some traditions, no information was available on certain Theyyams of the lowest sections of society, he said.
Documentation involved painstaking inquiry into the stories and folk histories surrounding each grove. Songs relating to festivals of deities and stage details such as the costume worn by the oracles during the "Thira" festival have also been documented.
The fact that each "Thira" is a dialogue between the past and present is highlighted. Thirty-one gods and goddesses have been analysed as part of the documentation.
Students carried out the enquiry and documentation in groups and singly.
Raghavan Payyanad, Director, Centre for Folklore Studies, Calicut University, has written an informative introduction to the book.
Arulappad gives details of the lore surrounding deities such as Vettakkoru Magan, Bhairavi, Chamundi and Kuttichathan.
An interesting aspect of folk deities of sacred groves is that most of them are subaltern heroes.
Some of them are depicted as resisting the oppressive feudal system. Valiamuthappan, for instance, is one such hero.
The book highlights the fact that folklore has multiple dimensions.
On the surface, it is just stories passed on from generation to generation by word of mouth. Some of these are presented on stages, and on going deeper, their multiple dimensions are revealed.
The students' enquiry reveals the existence of a large number of sacred groves in Kerala, with distinct history and social relevance.
It provides ample material for serious academic research on folklore and understanding the essential discourse.
THE HINDU,Online edition of India's National NewspaperMonday, Jan 08, 2007
YOUNG SCRIBES ON A MISSION
Young scribes on a mission
MALEEHA RAGHAVIAH
A study on people living by the sea coast threw light on unexplored facets.
Armed with note pads and pen, students of the Thiruvangoor Higher Secondary School, near Kozhikode, collected data on the lifestyle and traditions of the people who lived in the sea coast of the district. The material was collected for the publication “Kadaloram” as part of a study project in the journalism curriculum.
Compiling the details on the life of the people living in the coastal area turned out to be interesting. It took more than four months for the 57 students who were divided into six groups to complete the study as part of their journalism training.
After the annual examination, the students had set aside the summer holidays, to collect details of the people who lived on the beach. “Kadaloram in Malayalam, in a way combines aspects of folk, environment and citizen journalism. The activity of compiling data was enjoyable since a majority of students come from the coastal area and they could tabulate details of their own traditions,” says Ratheesh Kaliyadan, teacher of journalism.
The publication throws light on the varied aspects of the laws, implements, food habits, culture, biodiversity, and medicine of fisher folk. Three grama panchayats, along the Arabian Sea coast in Kozhikode district were chosen as the area of study. Fourth
This is the fourth publication being brought out by students of Thiruvangoor Higher Secondary School as part of the journalism curriculum.
Kadaloramis the first publication of its kind in the State, being brought out by school students, Ratheesh said.
The earlier publications of the school are Nattarangu, Arulappad and Karshikam.
THE HINDU,Online edition of India's National NewspaperTuesday, Sep 30, 2008
MALEEHA RAGHAVIAH
A study on people living by the sea coast threw light on unexplored facets.
Armed with note pads and pen, students of the Thiruvangoor Higher Secondary School, near Kozhikode, collected data on the lifestyle and traditions of the people who lived in the sea coast of the district. The material was collected for the publication “Kadaloram” as part of a study project in the journalism curriculum.
Compiling the details on the life of the people living in the coastal area turned out to be interesting. It took more than four months for the 57 students who were divided into six groups to complete the study as part of their journalism training.
After the annual examination, the students had set aside the summer holidays, to collect details of the people who lived on the beach. “Kadaloram in Malayalam, in a way combines aspects of folk, environment and citizen journalism. The activity of compiling data was enjoyable since a majority of students come from the coastal area and they could tabulate details of their own traditions,” says Ratheesh Kaliyadan, teacher of journalism.
The publication throws light on the varied aspects of the laws, implements, food habits, culture, biodiversity, and medicine of fisher folk. Three grama panchayats, along the Arabian Sea coast in Kozhikode district were chosen as the area of study. Fourth
This is the fourth publication being brought out by students of Thiruvangoor Higher Secondary School as part of the journalism curriculum.
Kadaloramis the first publication of its kind in the State, being brought out by school students, Ratheesh said.
The earlier publications of the school are Nattarangu, Arulappad and Karshikam.
THE HINDU,Online edition of India's National NewspaperTuesday, Sep 30, 2008
ON FARMING
On farming
MALEEHA RAGHAVIAH
Bought out by students the journal is quite a treatise on farming.
KOZHIKODE
The story of farming is also an interesting account of the evolution of society from nomadic groups to people engaged in cultivating land for food and clothing.
A book on lost farming practices of Kerala got up by students’ of Thiruvangoor Higher Secondary School near Kozhikode delves into an unusual, and often neglected area of concern. Karshikam, the slick volume was part of their journalism course an d takes the reader through the lush green paddy fields and coconut plantations that was so much part of the Kerala landscape.Great reading
The attractive publication of 175 odd pages also reminds us of the once prevalent farming system that provided food security to the people besides conserving nature. The colourful jacket displays the rich traditional crops of Kerala like coconut, areca and paddy.
Karshikam, edited by Ratheesh Kaliyadan, teacher in Journalism of Thiruvangoor Higher Secondary School has interesting accounts of what Malayali poets and writers had to say about agricultural practices.
Readers are familiar with the works of Vaikkom Mohammed Basheer, Vyloppilli Sreedhara Menon, Changampuzha, G. Shankara Kurup, P. Valsala and others.
The students compiled Karshikam by enquiring from those who have had long years of experience in agriculture in Koilandi and the surrounding areas in the Kozhikode District as part of a three-month study programme.
The initiative provided various opportunities for investigative journalism, says Mr. Ratheesh.
Dealing with very topical issues, Karshikam comes at a juncture when suicide among farmers is a matter of concern.
Written in a simple style, the chapters delve into the many aspects of farming practices such as preparing the field, judicious use of fertilizers, farm implements, and the careful conservation of seed for the next season’s crop.
The reader is informed of the peculiar rites connected to sowing and harvesting the rich diversity of food crops, feudal land systems in vogue, besides peasant-landlord relationship, literature and lore related to farming and agriculture as mentioned in the Vedas and Koran.
This is the third publication being brought out by the students as part of the journalism course.
Nattarangu and Arulappad earlier publications of the Thiruvangoor School had enquired into the folklore traditions of North Malabar. The Agriculture Minister, Mullakara Ratnakaran, released the book at a programme in Kozhikode recently.
THE HINDU,Online edition of India's National NewspaperFriday, Nov 02, 2007
MEDIA WORKSHOP
WELCOME TO SOUHRIDAM CAMP
Media Analysis and Research Center organises souhridam camps to school children.
The camp lasts for three days. All children in the age group of 5 to 15 years of the community can participate in this camp.Children are divided into 4 groups according to their classes.Each group has separate work book,text book,song book,children's certificate etc.
We have an exclusive package to the higher secondary school children who have the journalism option in their academia.
For details contact: Director,Media Analysis and Resrarch Center,Koyilandy,Kozhikode,Kerala. Ph:+919946445970. Email: mediafolk@rediffmail.com
Media Analysis and Research Center organises souhridam camps to school children.
The camp lasts for three days. All children in the age group of 5 to 15 years of the community can participate in this camp.Children are divided into 4 groups according to their classes.Each group has separate work book,text book,song book,children's certificate etc.
We have an exclusive package to the higher secondary school children who have the journalism option in their academia.
For details contact: Director,Media Analysis and Resrarch Center,Koyilandy,Kozhikode,Kerala. Ph:+919946445970. Email: mediafolk@rediffmail.com
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