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

Rajiv Menon joins the judging panel

Cinematographer and film director, Rajiv Menon has joined the esteemed judging panel of Nila Foundation to identify the best 14 sketches that will adorn the introductory pages of 'Puzha Malayalam', a book on status of rivers in Kerala. Famous for his cinematography in movies like Bombay, Morning Raga and Guru, Rajiv has directed two Tamil feature films Minsarakanavu and Kandukondein Kandukondein.

Rajiv who hails from Anakkara village that falls on the banks of Nila will be joining the likes of C Jayakumar, CN Karunakaran, Dr.Latha Unnikrishnan, Artist Madanan, CK Sujith Kumar, MT Vasudevan Nair and cartoonist Venu. Brief profile of these eminent people can be read here.

Due to a hartal called on the 27th Apr, we are forced to postpone the judging date to 28th Apr 2010. River Retreat in Cheruthuruthy is hosting the whole day exercise.

Judging panel announced

Nila foundation is glad to announce judges who are coming together to select the best 14 entries that has been invited from the public from all over the world. The selected sketches will adorn the introductory pages of 14 chapters of the book 'Puzha Malayalam' to be published on the 05 of June 2010. The judges will be gathering at Thunjan Parambu on the 27th APR 2010.

Judges (in alphabetical order)

C Jayakumar - a passionate environmentalist, Jayakumar manages Thanal - an NGO based in Kovalam. People behind Thanal are those who have, at some point in their lives, come together on the common concerns of nature conservation, environmental health and justice.

CN Karunakaran - is renowned for his highly stylised figures and intricately decorative patterns that weave across the pictorial surface. CN is currently the chairman of Kerala Lalita Kala Academy.

Dr.Latha Unnikrishnan - her name became synonymous with Chalakudy river conservation. Set up the Chalakudy River Research Centre and played a crucial role in influencing public and political opinion against the Athirapally hydro electric project.

Artist Madanan - Chief artist of Mathrubhumi weekly. Many short stories and novels in Malayalam lived through the characters he wove. His sketches bring in nostalgia about Kerala to many readers of Mathrubhumi weekly.

CK Sujith Kumar - Co-author of 'Puzha Malayalam' Sujith is another passionate environmentalist. His previous book on agrarian practices of Kerala is now a study material for Calicut university.

MT Vasudevan Nair - “For me, Nila's significance is greater than that of the greatest ocean in the world", Vasudevan Nair once famously said. Pained at seeing the indifference of people while Nila withers away in front of their eyes, MT recently announced that he will not write any more about Nila!

Cartoonist Venu - The popular satirist Venu is a free-lance cartoonist, columnist, painter and 2D animator. There are hardly any periodicals that haven't carried Venu's signature cartoons.