Change in book release dates

The release of the book Puzhamalayalam a status of rivers in Kerala authored by CK SUjith Kumar and K Umadevi had to be postponed on request by the authors.

They intent to re-arrange certain chapters to include much more new content based on certain recent developments in the state. The authors believe that such a re-arrangment will increase the quality of content and make the publication more up to date.

Authors have asked for time till 10 July 2010 and base don this we will be announcing a new launch date. It might be disheartening for many who have been actively participating in the sketches competition to see the delay.

We are upset too, however we believe this publication will be a trail blazing initiative to bring together people who are concerned about the status of rivers in Kerala.

The Malayalam press release from the authors can be read here

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Judges and comments on sketches

'There were hardly any sketches where 'river' came across as a life experience irrespective of the age group. Most people attempted to share the knowledge of rivers from multi-media including TV, rather than from any personal experience. This seems to have limited the creativity of the person. " Judges also commented that 'sketches weren't successful to influence a new or unique visual language. Imagery used was from the old-school and there were more tendency amongst some of them to imitate mainstream artists. Most of the sketches expressed the visible environmental damage of rivers, however we hardly noticed any expressions of a rich and wild rivers".

Read more about judging and 14 winners who will get to experience rivers like Nila and Chalukudy in Kerala and its unique cultural and environment.

Winners of crowd-sourcing of sketches

Nila foundation announced the winners from crowd-sourcing of sketches of which 14 sketches will be used for designing ‘Puzha Malayalam’ a book on status of rivers in Kerala. The crowd-sourcing of sketches on the theme of ‘my river’ saw enthusiastic response from 620 global citizens from Austria, Bahrain, Germany, India, Kuwait, Mexico, Oman, Slovania, Srilanka and UAE.

14 best entries were selected by an expert panel of artists and environmentalists consisting of chairman of Kerala Lalita Kala Academy, CN Karunakaran, Mathrubhumi chief artist Madanan, cartoonist Venu, Dr. Latha Unnikrishnan of River research centre, CK Sujith Kumar of Nila foundation and Jayakumar C of Thanal on the 28^th April 2010 at Riverside Retreat, Cheruthuruthy, Kerala.

The selected entries came from Abhay PP (7, Balussery, India), Divij T (9, Bangalore, India), Eva Koegl (9, Vienna, Austria), Gayathri PS (10, Thrissur, India), Harikrishnan MV ( 16, Kottakkal, India), Harshitha VV (16, Kannur, India), Priyamvadha – (11, Pondicherry, India), Rajendran PP (32, Perumbavoor, India), Rajesh Babu ( 36, Dubai, UAE (2 entries)), Salsabeel(14, Mangalam, India), Sarath P (19, Kannur, India), Surya Mohan(8 , Thrikanappuram, India), Vijil(17, Kannur, India).

Three entries from Atheena S Sharma (10, Codacal, India), Manav D (7, Kozhikode, India) and Priya Sundaravalli (41, Pondicherry, India) received special mention from the judges.

Irrespective of the high number of participation, the judges commented that the standards of the entry were quite average. “There were hardly any sketches were ‘river’ came across as a life experience irrespective of the age group. Most people attempted to share the knowledge of rivers from multi-media including TV, rather than from any personal experience. This seems to have limited the creativity of the person". Judges commented that the "sketches weren’t successful to influence a new or unique visual language. Imagery used was from old-school and there were tendency amongst some of them to imitate mainstream artists. Most of the sketches expressed the visible environmental damages of rivers; however, we hardly noticed any expressions of a rich and wild river. “

Since most of the people in urban areas don’t get much time to observe a river, the judging committee unanimously suggested that they be given opportunities to know a river better. Based on this, Nila Foundation will be offering a river journey in partnership with River Research Centre in Chalakudy and The Blue Yonder, details of which will be shared shortly.

Prakash M, co-ordinator of Puzha Malayalam commented, “We were impressed by seeing the over-whelming response from public. Who would have thought that we would get entries from as far as Mexico? This once again gives us the confidence to build up a global movement for rivers. Nila is probably only a trigger. We congratulate all the winners whose sketches will be released in public on 5 June 2010. Some of the sketches that came in the shortlist might also find place in the book, websites, and other retail products that we are designing for raising funds for the foundation.”

CN Karunakaran, Madanan and Venu contributed impromptu sketches of Nila that they saw in front of their eyes from the river-facing restaurant at Riverside Retreat. The book containing the sketches and 14 chapters on status of rivers in Kerala will be published on the 5 June 2010.

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'Nalla kaaryam' - Sugatha Kumari

When we went to see Sugata Kumari, one of the most revered women activist and writers to let her know about 'Puzha Malayalam' and the small initiative we have kick-started to bring attention on the status of rivers in Kerala, she said, "Nalla Kaaryam".

She added that the general tendency of elders in Kerala these days are to ignore the issues surrounding them. 'Even though all of them are aware of the consequences, they don't react any more. You know, I have been doing this for ages:creating awareness through various programs, by writing articles, making people take oaths...for the last several years, I have attempted to cover so many issues in different parts of Kerala. But look at our society! there is hardly any effect of these campaigns".

On the way back we came across this news report in The Hindu newspaper in 2005 that said, "Sugata Kumari bemoaned the lack of interest in issues like the ruining of rivers by the sand mining mafia and an unbelievable water shortage in the land of rivers, tanks and ponds"...
Glad to see that people like Sugathakumari still continues to have the passion. That inspires us!

suggestions invited for cover design of the book

Continuing the initiatives to build up a participatory process in publishing the book 'Puzha Malayalam', we are inviting public opinion to design the cover-page. A trial sketch and layout for the book cover has been provided by our friend Manoj Parameswaran from Thrissur.

Background of how the book evolved can be read here .

"Puzha Malayalam is an exploration of Kerala and her rivers; a journey that begins with Kerala’s cultural history and wends its way to the environmental degradation of the State. It is a book that illustrates how rivers are a part and parcel of the Malayalee way of life. A book that reminds us that the death of a river is the death of Kerala itself and that the only way to protect life is by protecting rivers. A book that offers glimpses of hope, even as it underlines the burning realities of environmental degradation in the State. Written in the language of love, this is a book for every Malayalee who cherishes rivers."

You can post your comments here, on facebook or write to us directly.

CN Karunakaran on rivers

"Compared to my childhood, status of rivers in Kerala at present is quite sad. We all believe that we are knowledgeable about our water sources. However, except for some individual initiatives and small scale interventions in local issues, there is hardly any in-depth study undertaken on rivers yet. Rivers being elixir of life, polluting and exploiting of its water sources is a cruelty to the coming generation. As a medium, I believe that a fine art like sketching has an important role in spreading the awareness about rivers and related issues." CN Karunakaran

CN Karunakaran along with MT Vasudevan Nair, Artist Madanan, Cartoonist Venu, Dr Latha Unnikrishnan, C Jayakumar and Rajiv Menon will be reviewing the entries received from public as part of the crowd-sourcing initiative from Nila Foundation. The select entries from the competition will adorn the front pages of forteen chapters of 'Puzha Malayalam', a book on the status of rivers in Kerala.

The book will be released on the UN World Environment day 05 June 2010 in Thunjan parambu. Our next press conference will be in Trivandrum on the 17th Apr to announce the list of judges. For more details, please contact our colleague Prakash on +91.9388131777 9446280603.

pic The Hindu online

SMAAS tours and travels to support the initiative

SMAAS tours and travels based in Tirur, Malappuram district has announced its partnership in inviting sketches for the Puzha Malayalam book. A well known DMC in Malabar region, SMAAS has been supporting Nila Foundation's various initiatives for a while now. On 22 APR 2010, they are hiring space at Thunjan parambu to organise a workshop similar to summer camps that we shared in the previous blog posts. About 20 youngsters will be sketching on the theme of "my river".

Mohammed Baven, entrepreneurial proprietor of SMAAS tours and travels said, "It's with great pleasure that we are joining the initiative. We will be canvasing in all regions we are active to inspire people to contribute to sketches. As a first step, we have organised to have a workshop in Tirur Thunjan Parambu. We are also been discussing the possibilities of approaching the public with a chart paper and black ink pen asking people to sketch in locations like taxi stand. "

Crowd-sourcing of sketches can't get better. More details of SMAAS tours and travels can be found here.