Books to raise coconut profile

Three books to create awareness on the potential of coconut production and export would be released on the occasion of World Coconut Day on September 2. The books are Nalikerathinte Nattil (In the Land of Coconut), Cracking Coconut and In a Nutshell.

Addressing journalists in Delhi on Tuesday, the Minister said the board had decided to register exporters of all coconut products. So far, 255 exporters from various sectors had registered with the board and obtained registration and membership certificates. Those who have registered are from Kerala, Tamil Nadu, Andhra Pradesh, Karnataka, Gujarat, Goa, Maharashtra, Delhi, West Bengal and the North-East.

‘‘As a result of these efforts, India could earn a foreign exchange of Rs.442 crore in 2009-10 from export of coconut products, recording an annual growth of 34 per cent. Taking into account the current trend, the board has set a target of Rs.600 crore for the current year,'' he said.

Full report here Hindu

Smallest to heaviest Bibles to be on display

The heaviest and smallest Bibles,besides a 'slide' Bible will be among 800 varieties of the holy book on display at the five-day Cochin International Christian Book Fair, which will get underway in Kochi from September 2.

Around 15,000 books, novels, theological resources, Christian music products, gifts and accessories would be on display and sale, Shaji T Daniel, Kerala Regional Manager of OM Books, which is organising the book fair, said.

The Heaviest Bible weighs seven kilos, the smallest just 10 grams. There is also a waterproof Bible and a steel grip Bible.

"One might come across bibles of different sizes, but the miniature bibles to be exhibited at the fair are certain to draw stares from visitors, he said.

Full report here DNA

It’s short story time

Short stories are, in fact, not so small, but pregnant with big messages. P K Parakkadavu, the master teller of short stories in Malayalam, firmly believes so. He also believes in the power of getting connected through words, which is why you see him on the blogosphere. Log on to www.meshavilakku.blogspot.com, which is the writer’s nest online.

A couple of mini stories, lots of his interviews that appeared in journals, his own articles that throw light on the genre he is king of, his relationship with other writers and his take on the chemistry of short stories - PKP, the writer, reveals Ahammad, the man himself, before his readers without any camouflage.

Residing at Kozhikode, and discharging his duties as a magazine editor of a journal, PKP took to blogging almost two years ago. Two of his friends, Shanavas and Prajesh, had introduced him to blogging.

Full report here New Indian Express 

Kamala Surayya commemoration meet

The memories of Kochi’s very own Madhavikkutty aka Kamala Surayya are once again coming back to the city. Noted Malayalam writers, along with some of Madhavikkutty’s well-wishers, are coming together on March 31, the 78th birthday of the writer.

The get-together styled as ‘Snehasangamam’ will be held at the apartment at Royal Stadium Mansion, Kadavanthra, where Madhavikkutty lived for two years. As part of the programme, writer and Kerala Sahitya Akademy president M Mukundan will inaugurate an exhibition of the paintings, photos and books of Kamala Surayya at 10 a.m.

Writer Zacharia will deliver the commemorative speech at the public meeting to be held at 5 p.m. Sara Joseph, K L Mohanavarma, Sethu, Balachandran Chullikkad, Krishnan Asan and Syril Jacob will speak at the meet, which will be followed by the screening of a documentary on Kamala Surayya by Suresh Koily. Madhavikkutty’s children Monu Nalappad, Chinnan Das and Jayasurya will take part in Snehasangamam.

Full report here New Indian Express

Autobiography of Malayalam writer released

Malayalam writer and critic M K Sanu's autobiography Karmagathi was released by Justice V R Krishna Iyer in Kochi on Friday by handing over a copy to Cusat Vice-Chancellor Ramachandran Thekkedath.

Describing Sanu as the 'Raja Rishi' of the state, Iyer said that people could learn a lot from the life of Sanu, who was his longtime associate.

Iyer exhorted people to read the book which would help them imbibe the ideals followed by M K Sanu.
He also expressed happiness that the book has been released when the state was observing the centenary celebrations of EMS Namboodiripad who was closely associated with Sanu.

Stating that Sanu master was committed to educating society, Justice Iyer said the writer devoted most of his time for the benefit of the common man. Sanu was not only a master of Malayalam, but also a scholar of English and had an profound knowledge in German and French literature.

Full report here New Indian Express

Desktop library turns a big hit

The state of school libraries is no different from the plight of extinct animals or dying art forms. Hardly appealing and no takers. And why should they, when students can read as much as they please by sitting in front of computers at home.

So, why not take a library online and make it available to students at their desktop? Faizal, the librarian at the Library Media Centre at Kendriya Vidyalaya Pattom, Thiruvananthapuram, had this idea one fine day in September 2007. Things have never been the same after that. The library took to web world with a blog of its own, which has been hailed as the first Indian library blog. Log on to www.librarykvpattom.wordpress.com and you know why it has many takers.

The whole concept revolves around the idea that a library should be a friend, says Faizal. He, a qualified librarian, manages the blogs and all the other web initiatives of KV Pattom. “Children spend more time before computers logging on to social networking sites. On an experimental basis, we began this library blog, which was a way of reaching out to these kids online. If they don’t come to the library, then let’s reach them where they are,” Faizal says.

Full report here New Indian Express

Tharoor swings willow for $333-m Kochi IPL team

Co-author of a book on India-Pakistan cricket Shashi Tharoor has given a business spin to his writer-turned-politician career, spindoctoring a consortium Rendezvous Sports World Ltd that bagged a cricket team for Kochi in Indian Premier League (IPL). Rendezvous, spearheaded by Mumbai-based Shylendra Gaekwad and Gulf-based Vivek Venugopal, was jubiliant in its $333.33 million (Rs 1,533.33 crore) to get Kochi, one of the two new IPL teams from the next season.

Initially Bollywood filmmaker Priyadarshan and Malayalam screen idol Mohanlal was prepared to be part of the Kerala team bidding for IPL. Later, when IPL had raised some caveats, they had backed off. “Since the final shape of the team is yet to be concrete, I am keeping fingers crossed that they may once again come to the picture. No reason, why they cannot,” minister of state for external affairs Shashi Tharoor told FE. “However, the ball is not in my court and the right people will make the decision in right time,” he hastened to add.

Full report here Financial Express

Kerala's ancient glory revealed, but creators untraced

A multi-disciplinary project launched three years ago has yielded archaeological evidence of Kerala's ancient glory. The official establishment plans to exploit the find to boost tourism but has little interest in identifying its creators.

Kerala has boasted of a long history on the basis of references in ancient Tamil texts and the accounts of foreign travellers. However, barring a stray find of Roman coins, no tangible proof of its antiquity was available until now.

Tamil literature of 2,000 years ago contains references to a prosperous port city of Muchiri, where ships from distant lands came with gold to fetch pepper. Romans called it Muziris and said there was a temple of Augustus Caesar north of the city.

Apparently, it was through Muziris that Christianity and Islam entered the subcontinent. Jews fleeing from Jerusalem found refuge there. The younger generation having migrated to Israel, the Jewish community is now almost extinct. Muziris, which according to foreign accounts could be reached from Egypt in 40 days under favourable wind conditions, disappeared 10 or 12 centuries ago in circumstances that are unclear. Until recently scholars believed Kodungallur, 35 km north of Kochi, was the legendary port city but no evidence of maritime mercantile activity could be found there.

Full report here Little About