Kerala - Kochi   

Reporter's Diary

KOCHI IS turning out to be an art-savvy place these days with exhibitions and art shows taking place frequently. Long ago it was just the commercial capital of the State, but now some of its residents have become connoisseurs of art with deep pockets to encourage new artists.

At least a couple of reputed artists from the national level have chosen to exhibit in Kochi. Close on the heels of the Bangalore-based painter S.G. Vasudev holding his first-ever show in Kochi, N.N. Rimzon, the internationally-reputed sculptor has chosen to show in Kochi, that too for the first time.

Much more is in the offing for Kochi. The Bangalore-based art historian and curator, Suresh Jayaram, will organise a show at the Kashi Art Gallery this year. The show will include a couple of well-known names like Pushapamala and D. Sunoj, a young Malayali artist who is the winner of the prestigious, New York-based Bose Pacia Prize for Contemporary Art this time.

More interestingly, the new trend of online purchasing of art is also expected to increase the fortunes of Kochi on the art map.

THE GOSHREE bridges are worth their weight in gold considering the fact that the trio of bridges helped thousands of people on the islands neighbouring Ernakulam to run for the safety of the mainland in the wake of tsunami warnings on the night of December 27.

An official of the Goshree Development Authority (GIDA) described the bridge as the bridge to life after he experienced the virtual stampede that followed the tsunami warnings on that night.

In fact, several people who were present as the people crowded the areas neighbouring the Kerala High Court wondered as to what would have happened if the bridges were not complete.

The traditional modes of travel used by the islanders such as boats and junkars would not have been enough to ferry the people quickly and safely.

THE FORMER minster, M. A. Kuttappan, rubbing bureaucrats the wrong way is no news to Kochiites.

During his days as a Minister in A.K. Antony's cabinet, Mr. Kuttappan had locked horns with the then District Collector, Gyaneshkumar, over a protocol issue at the foundation stone laying ceremony of Goshree bridges. Mr. Kuttappan did it again.

This time around the occasion was the distribution of relief amount to the victims of the tsunami attack. The reported decision of the District Collector, A.P.M. Haneesh Mohammed, to distribute the relief amount to the victims at a camp at Vypeen without waiting for Mr. Kuttappan, who is also the local MLA, infuriated him. And a war of words ensued. After this, the district administration ensured the presence of Mr. Kuttappan at the function for releasing the disaster relief fund.

Mr. Mohammed, did a damage control exercise on the eve of New Year by issuing a press statement through the Public Relations Department stating that Mr. Kuttappan distributed relief amount to the tune of Rs. 3.85 lakh to as many as 77 persons who were injured in the attack.

K. A. Martin

and K.S. Sudhi.

By Renu Ramanath, K. A. Martin and K.S. Sudhi.

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