C O V E R S TO RY

Rain Water
The Saviou
N.K. Premachandran conservation activities.
Minister for Water Resources Campaign Activities

K
erala is a blessed land with Training programmes for the mason
green vegetation, rivers, trainees on Rain Water Harvesting with
backwaters and vast natural Special emphasis on Ferro cement
resources. The state receives Technology for Roof Water Harvesting
an average annual rainfall of 3000 mm. have been completed in all districts. A
But Kerala faces severe water scarcity work force of 700
between February and mid May every trained masons on
year which leads to acute water shortages Rain Water/Roof
during summer, especially in the drinking water harvesting
water sector. During this period water for technologies is now
drinking purposes as well as other needs ready in the districts.
become unavailable to the poor with Training was given
adversely impact the health, education, to 350 Engineers
and nutrition of the citizens. This from various
situation is expected to persist in the Government
coming years also. It is estimated that Departments in the
Kerala needs 5823 million cu. metres of state.
water additionally over and above the Considering the
existing resources every year to meet its State as a whole, 475
needs. Despite 44 rivers and world's demonstration units
largest well density, per capita surface and of 10,000 I itres
groundwater availability of the State is capacity and 126
lower than that of other States in the demonstration units Despite 44 rivers and
country. Harvesting rainwater, which is of 30,000 litres world's largest well density
density,,
abundantly available, for dry months capacity were per capita surface and
lends itself as a viable solution in Kerala constructed in
groundwater availability of
for solving the shortage of drinking water. public buildings.
If even a small proportion of the huge Priority was the State is lower than that of
volume of rainwater lost to the sea can be extended to drought other states in the country
country..
successfully harvested, it can solve the prone areas.
problem of drinking water scarcity in IEC campaign/
Kerala especially in the dry months. water literacy
Government of Kerala has embarked programmes with Wall writings, Film of trained masons on R WH technology
on a special campaign for promoting Rain slides, Seminars, Workshops, Exhibitions and two booklets on R WH were brought
Water Harvesting (RWH). Roof Water etc. were initiated in all the districts. The out and sent to all
Harvesting systems have been made R WH Cell directly organized/ LSGD institutions in theState. We
mandatory for new houses falling under participated in six State level workshops, have also decided to publish a book on
Corporations, Municipal and Special 17 exhibitions and 101 seminars across success stories of R WH&GWR across
Grade Panchayaths since 2004. This year the State.
2007-08 has been declared as Water A Community Manual (prepared in
Literacy year for promotion of water coordination with SPB), an Address Book Contd. on page 32

6 KERALA CALLING June 2007

 C O V E R S TO RY

ur

Find the way

and step in
P.K. Kurian
in less prosperous countries, most of them falling from the heavens and seeping into

D
ifficult to purify, expensive
to transport and impossible
to substitute, water is
essential to food
production, to economic development
and to life itself. When taps run dry,
citizenry of the affluent world is
reminded of how critical fresh water is to
all aspects of life.
For millions of less fortunate people
women, need no such reminder. They
walk long distance each day to find the
water they need and carry it home. On a
planet whose two third is covered by
water, the illusion of abundance has
clouded the reality that renewable fresh
water is an increasingly scarce commodity.
Over the long term, the water humanity
can count on for use year after year is the
planet's renewable supply, the rainwater,
the ground or gets collected in surface
sources. To be used sustainable, water
cannot be withdrawn from reservoirs and
other sources faster than it is replenished
through the natural hydrologic cycle. The
reality is that there is essentially no more
fresh water on the planet today than there
was 2,000 years ago when the earth's
human population was less than three
percent its current size of six billion

June 2007
KERALA CALLING 7
people. The discussion on Rain Water
Harvesting (RWH) takes place in this
backdrop of increasing scarcity for
freshwater.
Rain Water Harvesting can be defined
as appropriate in situ collection and
storage of rainwater. Broadly, there are
two methods of harvesting rainwater; (i)
harvesting and storage in a storage
reservoir built of appropriate material; (ii)
conservation and storage as soil moisture.
The years, 1983, 1987, 2004 and
to some extent 2007 are etched indelibly
in our memory. These were severe
drought years. The Kerala society slowly
began to discuss and appreciate that
water abundance is more a myth than a
reality even in Kerala. Some efforts in
RWH by voluntary agencies and a few
informed citizens to combat drought were
made and this resulted in a few models
of success. The most noteworthy among
these is the roofwater harvesting. Tens of
thousands of households and institutions
have adopted it and still practice the same
with good rates of success. However,
Government of Kerala woke up to the
reality of drought in 2004 and launched
a campaign on RWH. Even this campaign
gave lot of focus on roofwater harvesting,
water literacy, creation of demonstration
structures and capacity building in the
craft of roof water harvesting.
Falling in the humid tropics, receiving
copious rainfall, the narrow elongated
terrain sloping mostly to the west, what
is the best socio-techno option in RWH
Agencies offering support in Roof Water Harvesting
Name of Institution
Peermedu Development Society (PDS )
Malanadu Development Society (MDS) Kottayam / Idukki/
Socio-Economic Unit Foundation
Kottapuram Integrated Development
Society (KIDS)
Welfare Services
Anthyodaya
Kuttanadu Vikasana Samithy (KVS)
People’s Social Service Society
Shreyas -
Wayanadu Social Service Society (WSSS) Mananthavady – Wayanadu
Thalassery Social Service Society (TSSS)
Centre for Water Resources Development All Districts of Kerala
and Management (CWRDM)
8 KERALA CALLING June 2007
for Kerala? Roof water
harvesting has several
limitations as it focuses more
on the domestic (household)
water security and ignores the
larger needs of the
environment. To attain this
household security, the
resources that we employ are
disproportionately high (the
use of cement, steel, sand,
space). Therefore, roofwater
harvesting must be used very
sparingly. The author has
been a user of roof water
harvesting for the last
fourteen years and have also
participated in the
promotional campaigns on
RWH. There is a tinge of
experience and self-critical
reflection when I say that we
must use roofwater
harvesting more sparingly.
But given the trend now, it is
likely that roofwater
harvesting is going to stay as a stand alone pattern of Kerala are very disturbing.
and individual owned household model. These include steady depletion of forest
Instead, we must all think of the larger and vegetative cover on the higher slopes
aspect of water harvesting, ie, harvesting of the Western Ghats, fast spreading
water into the soil and thereby making monoculture plantation, reclamation of
moisture and water available to humans, paddy fields and swamps. These activities
animals, vegetation, microbes, marine life go against the conservation of rainwater.
and the whole environment itself. Only Do we have appropriate ‘Kerala’
this sort of water security is going to be models for this sort of RWH? It is a pity
sustainable. that, we do not have many models.
Certain tendencies in the land use However, we have a few success stories in
this context. Afforestation as a land use
management measure has yielded positive
District/ Operational Area results in soil moisture retention and rising
Idukki of ground water table. The cases of
‘Sarang’ school at Agali (Attappadi), M.
Pathanamthitta P. Chandrakumar (Kalpetta), P.
Thiruvananthapuram, Kollam, Vinodkumar (Maithri) at Muthalamada,
Alappuzha, Kottayam, Thrissur, Palakkad and that of Abdul Kareem at
Malappuram, Kozhikode Parappa (Kasaragod district) are success
stories in this regard. Long before anyone
else had given it a thought, T. J. Mathew
Thrissur
Thumbasseril at Areeplachy- Punalur
Ernakulam had grown Ayani (Anjili) trees along with
Ernakulam Rubber in his plantation and his land
Alappuzha was a proven test case for rising ground
Palakkad water even in the worst drought hit year
Sulthan Bathery- Wayanadu like 1983.
We also have other structures in large
Kannur , Kasaragod rainwater harvesting models. Innovative
harvesting, recharging and subsequent
collection of freshwater at Indian Institute
of Management, Kozhikode is a good
model for an institution with substantial
water demand. The only drawback here
is that it requires large land space for
harvesting and ponding. Kerala Police
Academy, Ramavarmapuram, Thrissur
has solved the water problem of the
Agencies offering support in Rain Water Harvesting
Name of Institution
Centre for Earth Science Studies
Thiruvananthapuram
Centre for Water Resources Development
and Management (CWRDM) - Kozhikode
Kerala Forest Research Institute – Peechi, Thrissur
Indian Institute of Management – Kozhikode
Kerala Agricultural University
Dept of Soil Conservation
Ground Water Department
RWH Cell – KRWSA
PLANET Kerala
campus employing imaginative water
harvesting practices. The case of Hotel
BTH Sarovaram at Vyttila, NH 47,
Ernakulam is a classical case of rainwater
harvesting using low-lying swamp surface
for harvesting, ponding and purifying
rainwater for commercial hospitality
industry. The case of Aysha plantations
at Vythiri also is a typical case for
converting highland marshy swamps for
water ponding and subsequent
recharging of the lower reaches.
Another remarkable example is
reported from the Coastal region of
Kerala. PLANET Kerala, a small NGO
group has done pioneering experiments
to improve well water quality. The
problem in the coastal areas is that there
is plenty of water, but is not of usable
quality. High iron content, turbidity,
acidity and hardness are some of the
problems. These pollutants are present
in the soil. The basic effort of PLANET
was to clean the soil by harvesting
rainwater. Their experiments based on
feeding roofwater directly into wells
proved successful, as it reduced hardness,
iron content, colour and turbidity. They
were proving that ‘solution to pollution
is through dilution’. They called the
process ‘well backwashing’ PLANET has
also experimented with ‘phyto-
remediation’ to improve water quality, ie,
planting a set of diverse plants and trees
around a water source, its quality and
acceptability have improved.
What do we need to do if we are to
harvest rainwater? First and foremost, we
need to understand our rains, its
seasonality, quantity, intensity, rainfall
days and locale specific differences. Then
District/ Operational Area
Kerala State
Kerala State
Kerala State
Kozhikode
Kerala State
Kerala State
Kerala State
Kerala State
Kerala State
we need to become water literates.
Thirdly, we need to develop a
behavioural and attitudinal change
towards managing rainfall and water.
There is immense scope for a total
campaign in rainwater harvesting as in
the model of the total literacy movement
and People’s Planning Campaign. The
local bodies, both urban and rural can be
substantially involved in it. There must
be a shift in the paradigm from “Build-
operate-neglect-abandon- Rebuild” of
assets to “Build–operate-own-manage-
sustain- replicate”models. There must be
a shift from the drainage line treatment
June 2007
using engineering structures to land use
management and intensive introduction
of vegetative measures. The vegetative
approach would be lot more sensible as
nutrient stocking in the humid tropics is
done in the vegetation than in the soil.
Therefore, it is Nature’s law and intent
here in the tropics that soil must be
covered by vegetation.
What will happen if such vegetative
measures are adopted for harvesting
rainwater? It will in the first place reduce
soil erosion, enhance soil moisture,
improve crop production and
productivity, improve food, fodder, fuel,
fibre and timber security. It will bring in
tremendous economic advantage in the
long run. Above all it will improve sub-
surface and ground water table. Given
the peculiar geographical, geological and
climatological factors present in Kerala,
no single standard engineering structural
solution exists as a method for rainwater
RAVISANKAR
harvesting. Umpteen methods – both
engineering and ecological- must be
employed to harvest rainwater. Kerala has
all factors that favour rainwater
harvesting and watershed based
development. (knowledge institutions,
trained man power, finances, informed
citizenry and empowered local
governments). Let the next ten years be a
decade of rainwater harvesting in Kerala,
which combines community, Grama
Panchayath, Government and NGO
participation.
The writer is Manager (Capacity Building)
at Kerala Rural Water Supply and Sanitation
Agency.
KERALA CALLING 9
 C O V E R S TO RY

V.Subhash Chandra Bose, It has been estimated that Kerala mm of rainfall, which is around three
S. Sameer needs 5823 million cu. metres of water times the national average. Harvesting
additionally to meet its needs. In spite of rainwater for dry months is a viable

K
erala, the ‘Gods own country’
44 rivers and world's largest well density, solution in Kerala for solving the shortage
is a land blessed with green
per capita surface and groundwater of drinking water. Even if a small portion
vegetation, rivers, backwaters
availability of the State is lower than that of the huge quantity of rainwater lost to
and many other natural
of dry States of India. Moreover, Kerala the sea is harvested it can solve the
resources. It is probably one among the
has one of the lowest per capita rainwater problem of drinking water scarcity in
few states blessed with two predominant
availability in the Indian Sub-Continent Kerala especially in the dry months.
rainy seasons. At the same time Kerala is
facing severe water scarcity between
taking into consideration the density of Roof Water Harvesting
population and it is still decreasing over The Government of Kerala has made
February and mid May every year
the time, even though it receives 3000 Roof Water Harvesting systems

10 KERALA CALLING June 2007

mandatory for new houses in filtration can be adopted here. 10 cm thick main types of drawing water are usually
Corporation, Municipal and Special 20mm rubbles, 10 cm thick charcoal/ adopted. They are by using tap (small
Grade Panchayaths since 2004. The coconut shell, 15 cm thick coarse sand, capacity tanks with basement and over
Government has directed that a Roof five cm thick six mm rubbles etc may be ground tanks), hand pump (under
water harvesting system shall contain arranged from bottom to top in the filter ground tanks) and electric pump sets
Roof catchment area, Roof gutters, Down unit. The water that is passed through (large capacity tanks).
pipe and first flush arrangement, Filter this filter shall remain safe for a long period Ferro cement technology and
unit, Storage tank and provision for of storage. Charcoal/coconut shell is Rainwater Harvesting
drawing water and spill over. Let us added to eliminate gaseous pollutants. Ferro cement technology is a low cost
examine in detail what these structures Storage tank mainly three types of
are.
Roof catchment area Roofs made Cost comparison of different types of storage tanks
of tiles, concrete, tin sheet etc are suitable Nature of storage tank Production cost/ litre
for roof water harvesting. Even in
Underground ferro cement tank 1.70
thatched roofs, tarpaulin cover/ metal
sheets can be used for the purpose in order Above ground ferro cement tank 1.80-2.00
to suit the poor people. For catering the Brick masonry tank 4.00
needs of more than one building, rain Steel tank 4.25
water may be collected from open rocky Plastic/ fibre tank 4.00
strata or from the roof of public Concrete tank 6.00
buildings/ industrial establishments.
Roof gutters This is
the channel arrangement to
collect water from the roof
and to route it to the storage
tank. There is no special
instruction as to the shape of
the tank. Nowadays
readymade gutters are
available in open market
made of PVC. In addition
to this, aluminium, GI sheet,
bamboo etc can also be
utilised for the purpose.
From the concrete roofs,
water may be directed to the
storage tank through a single
pipe instead of providing
gutters.
Down pipe and first
flush arrangement This is
an arrangement to prevent
the dust and other
unwanted materials that
may be seen on the roof,
from reaching the storage tank. By fitting storage tanks are constructed for roof one with comparatively higher efficiency
a down pipe with an end cap or valve water harvesting. They are aboveground, user friendly and suited to land
can ensure that the washed water from underground or sub surface tanks. availability. The term ferro is derived from
the roof does not reach the storage tank. Storage tanks may be made of many the term ferrous, which means iron. Ferro
It is always safe to ensure that first flush materials like concrete, fibre glass, plastic, cement is a form of reinforced cement
arrangement remains open during non- brick masonry, steel or ferro cement. mortar. It is made by using closely spaced
rainy days and should be closed after first Provision for drawing water and spill multiple layers of mesh and small
rain upto the satisfaction of the end user. over for drawing water from the storage diameter rods completely infiltrated with
Filter unit the rainwater collected tanks any method may be adopted in rich cement mortar. The most common
from the roof should be allowed to reach provided it shall be drawn only when type of reinforcement is steel mesh. This
the storage tank only through a filtering needed. The more easier the method technology is nowadays widely used for
mechanism. Metal, sand and charcoal as adopted for drawing water is, the more roof water harvesting. Ferro cement tanks
is used in the traditional three-pot will be the chances for its misuse. Three can be constructed in almost all the

June 2007
KERALA CALLING 11

shapes. Ferrocement tanks are eco-
friendly and cost effective. It does not
involve any maintenance cost.
The code of specifications required
for the storage tanks under ferro cement
technology are laid down in IS:13356-
1992 of Bureau of Indian Standards.
Sizing of RWH structure The size of
the RWH structure is decided upon
considering the demand factors such as
number of users, daily requirement and
dearth period.
For example, if the number of users
is 100 and daily requirement is 10 litres
per day and the dearth (scarcity) period
is 60 days in a year, a minimum of 100 x
10 x 60 = 60, 000 litres capacity is
required. The capacity of RWH unit
required for 100 sq.m area = 100 x 25 =
2500 litres. ( i.e, 25 litre/sq m area is
specified for household and for
commercial buildings this is 50 litre/
sq.metre).
Maximum availability of rainwater
from the roof:- Availability of rain water
from the roof can be calculated by
studying the following example.
Imagine the roof area of a building
is100 m2. The average annual rainfall of
our state is 3 m. To get the volume of
water, multiply the roof area with the
annual rainfall, ie, 100m2x 3m= 300m3
= 3 lakhs litres.
Ferrocement technology is now
widely accepted by the people as a low
cost, low maintenance and eco friendly
12 KERALA CALLING June 2007
The concept of
Rain water
harvesting is
accepted by the
people in all walks
of life throughout
the State. V arious
Various
low cost and eco-
friendly practices
are available in
rain water
harvesting and
ground water
recharge. If this
practices can be
spread even more,
the results will be
more fruitful.
technology for roof water collection. The
excess water from these structures are also
used for well recharge. Water from the
roof can be directly used for well
recharging with filter chamber and other
materials. Ferrocement technology for
rainwater harvesting has been
propogated in the state mainly by NGO’s.
This technology is used for demo units
in the RWH campaign as well as Jalanidhi
Projects, VARSHA project of KWA,
Western Ghat development programme,
Giridhara project and Ground Water
Department and various other
developmental programmes of govt.
departments. There are many
panchayaths in Kerala which ensured
water security through rainwater
harvesting.
Rain Water Harvesting for
Ground Water Recharge
Well recharge – existing well can be
used as a measure for recharging the
ground water. The rain water falling on
the roof top or the overflow from the
rain water harvesting system can be
directed into existing well for this
purpose. In Kerala the no.of wells as per
available statistics is around 45 lochs.
(Largest well density in the world, 200-
400/sq.km.) Material cost for well
recharge including filter chamber,
downpipes, gutters and other accessories
will be around Rs.2000/unit. It is an ideal
solution for midland regions and
controlling saline intrusion in coastal
areas.
Engineering
measures for
Ground Water
Recharge
Following are the major
engineering measures for
Ground water recharge:
Rain Pits
z
z Check dams
z Gully plugging
z Contour bunds
Agronomic
measures for
Water Recharge
Major agronomic
measures helpful for
ground water recharging
and soil moisture retention
are as follows:-
z Mulching
z Bio fencing
z Bench terracing
Silpaulin ponds
Large ponds covered with silpaulin
sheets can be utilized for collecting rain
water for irrigation purposes. By covering
with silpaulin the infiltration is very less
and ideal for rain water harvesting.
Through this large of water can be
collected. This is now becoming more
popular among the farmers in the state.
The cost per litre for such ponds is 15
paise-25 paise/litre.
Conclusion
Now the concept of Rain water
harvesting is accepted by the people in
all walks of life through out the State.
Various low cost and eco friendly practices
are available in rain water harvesting and
ground water recharge. If this practices
can be spread even more, the results will
be more fruitful. Attitudinal Behavioral
change is now visible among the people
in using rain water as a drinking water
source. This shows a positive change. If
rain water harvesting can be extended
through Peoples participation and
cooperation, we can become self sufficient
in addressing water problems in the state.
A joint effort from all parts especially
technocrats, Bureaucrats, Policy makers
and Financial Institutions is the need of
the hour.
The writers are Manager and Extension
Coordinator respectively, Rain Centre, KRWSA,
Thiruvananthapuram.
 C O V E R S TO RY
The greening
wonder
R. Hali
K
erala is hailed as a green magic
in the tourist literature. The
secret that make God’s Own
Country evergreen is perhaps
‘the wonder magic’ that monsoon rains
play. Monsoon provide many more
choice gifts to Kerala which make it a
paradise of biological diversity and one
among the must be seen tourist centres
of the world. The rich flora and fauna
extending from the 8841 feet high
Anamudi peaks to Kuttanadu ‘where rice
is tamed’ to grow eight feet below the sea
level make it a unique love spot of nature
lovers.
The rainy season of India, every year
enter the country through its south
western tip. But for the Himalayas in the
north and the range of hills along the
western and eastern flanks of the
peninsula, India would have been a
rainless desert like Arabia. These
mountain barriers compel the humid
winds to yield their moisture as rainfall.
South West monsoon that enter Kerala
during June slowly move to the north
and the entire country will be in its grip
June 2007
by middle of July. The success of Indian
agriculture largely depends on the timely
commencement of the monsoon and its
steady spreading to other parts of the
country provides perfuse precipitation.
This phenomenon is so vital that no
Indian Finance Minister during the last
Sixty years has never completed the
budget speech without mentioning the
performance of the monsoon. According
to the social scientists ‘Indian economy
really depend on a successful monsoon,
more than any other single factor for its
growth’.
KERALA CALLING 13
 Monsoon rains are welcomed by one
and all in Kerala and the farming season
start along with its commencement. The
crop calendar in Kerala open from the
month of Medam and all agricultural
operation are linked with availability of
rains. Modernization of farming, though,
has made several changes in the rural areas
people still use to plan every agricultural
activity giving due respect to the age old
proverbs and the practices framed based
on their rich experience and monsoon
behaviour. The faith they had in the
seasons was so strong that Zamorin, the
king of Malabar when heard that
Portuguese are smuggling pepper saplings
to plant them in their own country said
let them take the cuttings but how can
they take ‘Thiruvathira Njattuvela’
season. Farmers still believe that this is
the most ideal season suited to plant
pepper cuttings in the gardens taking
advantage of continuous rains.
Commencement of rainy
season could be
classified as the ‘feeding
season
season’’ to the coconut
and fruit trees in
the homestead however
small they may be.
The minimum operation
one should do for
coconut is the formation
of a basin around the
palm and filling it with
green leaves, twigs or
organic manure like
compost or cattle dung.
All those who own a piece of land
with a love for growing one crop or other
in their homesteads will become active
by the commencement of monsoon. But
rice farmers should be always alert due to
their over dependence to water for a
trouble free growth. Kerala has two
important seasons for growing rice
though the state is hailed as a place where
rice could be grown round the year.
‘Virippu’ is the main rice season of Kerala
and it commences from May and extends
upto September for harvest. It will be of
great interest to those who watch rice
culture, the variety of farming operations
undertaken by the farmers in the different
14 KERALA CALLING June 2007
regions taking advantage of the behaviour
of rains, type of soil, irrigation and
drainage methods and above all even
floods. Though Kerala is classified as a
heavy rainfall tract our farming practices
still depend on rains than assured
irrigation facilities. This make rice culture
more labour intensive and call for more
care and above all make it more expensive
when compared to other parts of the
country. The rice farming season has its
own thrill in the days of York when the
entire community get associated with the
rice culture operations. Farm labour used
to reach the fields by dawn and work till
the sunset. To ward off monotony they
used to sing while transplanting weeding
and harvesting in their own ragas and
tunes. All such unforgettable scenes and
events are slowly becoming sweet
memories. Rice culture has become very
expensive and its poor profit generating
capacity has made it very unattractive.
So both farmers and farm labour are
deserting the crop, which could be seen
from the shrinkage of the rice area from
eight lakhs hectares to less than 2.5 lakhs
hectares, during the last fifteen years.
Reduction in the rice area is also creating
very serious environmental problems and
has affected the milk production sector
also. It is also causing the early drying up
of wells leading to drinking water
shortage. Revival of rice culture must
been seen as an unavoidable necessity for
protecting environment, enhancing
employment and preserving the rural
culture which lend a lot of charm and
nobility to the village life style.
Modernization has brought tractors and
other machine to the rice fields. This is
welcomed by the farming community as
it help to reduce the shortage of labour
to a very large extent. The sound and
fumes the machineries produce are
creating noise pollution too. The sad fact
is the gradual removal of community
action by labour and melodious songs
which use to fill the fields and
atmosphere.
Every homestead in Kerala will have
a few coconut palms along with three or
four perennial fruit trees like mangoes,
jack fruit, guava, clustered apples and
some bananas. All these have a place of
prominence in our dining tables and the
popular belief is that to enjoy good
quality fruits to your heart’s content
one has to collect it from own
homesteads. This desire and the
intensive use of coconut in our
cooking system make every Keralite
who own a piece of land knowingly
or unknowingly interested and
involved in the farming operations.
Commencement of rainy season
could be classified as the ‘feeding
season’ to the coconut and other fruit
trees in the homestead however small
they may be. The minimum operation
one should do for coconut is the
formation of a basin around the palm
and filling it with green leaves, twigs or
organic manure like compost or cattle
dung. Each palm should be given 25
kgs of the same and two kg of fertilizer
and this is enough for them to satisfy
you with a fair yield for one year.
All those who desire to plant fruit
plant like mango, jack, guava etc. may do
it now so that it will get assured rains for
the next five months. It is always desirable
to buy planting materials from well-
known nurseries run by government and
agencies with reputation. Better avoid
way side selling centres of planting
materials. Monsoon also marks the
commencement of a busy season for those
who prepare vegetables for Onam
market. In all vegetable producing centres
the activities for cultivating vegetables like
snakegaurd, bittergaurd, green chillies,
pumpkin, cucumber must start the job
now. The sowing of seeds for vegetables
are synchronized in such a way that they
could harvest them in the peak Onam
season. This is also the time for taking up
special care of banana gardens from
onslaught of very heavy monsoon rains
and severe winds.
Monsoon signals the arrival of festival
season and preparations connected with
Contd. to page 20

A story time
Wet and Dripping
C. Radhakrishnan
A
ncient Indians considered
Varsha or rain as the vehicle
of life cycle on earth. It was
prayed for and worshipped.
The Bhagawat Geetha, summarizing all
that is said about rains in the Vedaas and
the Upanishats postulates:
Annaal havanthi Bhoothaani
Parjannyadhanna sambhava
Yagnyat Bhavathi Parjannyo
Yagnyah karma samulbhavah
Living things are begotten from food;
food is created from rains; rains are
brought about by yagnya; yagnya is the
outcome of action.
There is some controversy over the
interpretation of this statement.
Differences stem from varying
viewpoints regarding the meaning of the
word yagnya. Some take it to mean the
ritual. Others think it means ‘fusing’.
However, the Indian mind has come to
associate rains with ritualistic yagnya.
Highly expensive yagnyas were
performed by many an ancient monarch
to appease the Rain God. Even today,
June 2007
C O V E R S T O R Y
DALU PARAMESWARAN, I&PRD
belief in the efficacy of yagnya is
widespread. It is believed that rains will
follow when the entire yagnyasaala is
finally offered to agni deva.
Lord Indra is supposed to be the
devatha (driving spirit) behind the
monsoons. Lightning is the display of his
weapon chandrahaasa. Indra is known
to be very fond of song and dance. So
people in rural India even today sing and
dance in the open to appease Indra. In
some villages they do it naked for better
results coming sooner. Still better if virgins
do it!
KERALA CALLING 15
 Saint Rishyasringa is the other route
to copious rain. He is the son begotten
by saint Vibhaandaka in a deer.
Vibhaandaka was a naishtika
brahmachaari (devout abstainer). He
brought up his horned son in total
ignorance of sex so that the young fellow
never wavered from the path chosen for
him. But the king of a neighbouring
country was told by a wise man that if
his parched kingdom was to get rain, he
should bring Rishyasringa to his palace
and make him conduct a yagnya. So the
raja sent dancing girls from his court to
entice Rishyasringa when the father rishi
was away from the ashram. They were
experienced artists. They accomplished
the job very well. Even when the young
son told his father in all innocence about
the strange playmates that had visited
him – playmates with beautiful and soft
balls on their chest – the maharshi did
not suspect foul play. The story is
torrential rains fell when Rishyasringa
performed the yagnya. (When a furious
Vibhaandaka marched to the palace to
burn the country down by curse, he was
offered a red carpet welcome by beautiful
dancers and he got pacified.)
Lord Shiva is the custodian of the
river Ganges. He is married to her. She
hides herself in the hair on his head (as
she does not want to engage herself in
constant fight with Shiva’s other consort
Parvathy). But she makes her presence
felt at all times by throwing up a small
fountain that keeps the surroundings
cool and providing the world with rain.
However, the most meaningful myth
regarding rains and fresh water is the one
associated with monarch Bhaageeratha.
His days witnessed a severe drought as
rains failed for years. Bhageeratha tried
his level best to appease Indra but that
did not work. He probably arranged
virgins to dance naked on the fields to no
avail. Finally he was advised to please the
Ganges through penance. This he did in
all earnest. The Ganges was pleased. She
came down from her abode in heaven,
appeared before him in the garb of a
beautiful lady and asked what he desired.
He prayed for rain. Ok she said and asked:
‘But, as I descend from the heavens in
profusion, what is there to bear the
impact? The earth will shatter and get
washed away!’
‘I will sacrifice myself to bear it,’ said
16 KERALA CALLING June 2007
Bhageeratha, ‘Please fall on my head!’
The Ganges kept her word and
emperor Bhageeratha stood his ground.
This act of valour and endurance
performed by the emperor is believed to
be the most difficult human action ever.
It is since known as Bhageeratha prayatna.
The arrival of the monsoon also
reminds the Indian mind of Kaalidaasa’s
Meghasandesa. It describes the onslaught
of the monsoon and outlines the
yearnings of the separated lover. The poet
brings in the mood of the occasion and
makes a rain cloud the imaginary
messenger to his beloved. For those who
are acquainted with the poem, rains are
therefore also an invitation to an aesthetic
experience.
In Kerala, the Dharma Saastha is the
The concept of the
world’s best
umbrella is
associated with
torrential rains.
Lord Krishna saved
his playmates from
demon-launched
rains and
storm by lifting up
a mountain called
Govardhanam and
holding it high
as an umbrella.
custodian of rain and shine. Fortunately
for me, He is my neighbour here. It is
firmly believed that if one offers tender
coconuts to him and prays for rains there
will be immediate results. Similarly, if it
goes on raining cats and dogs and one
needs a respite, one makes an offering of
powdered rice with sugar and coconut
shavings. ‘Cease-rain’ is ordered
forthwith.
The problem is when there arise
conflicting requests like the father of a
girl fixing up a day for marriage and then
praying for a respite and a farmer prays
for rain to help germinate the seeds he
has just sown. Naturally, the sincerity of
prayer and the weight of the offering
decide the issue.
The temple of Dharma Sastha is on
the bank of the river Peraar or
Bhaarathappuzha. The river issues forth
from Aanamalai and falls into the Arabian
Sea at Ponnani. People on either side of
the river all the way on its course throw
coconuts into the river imagining that
the Saastha gets it.
The concept of the world’s best
umbrella is associated with torrential rains.
(One wonders why no umbrella
company has so far thought of using the
story for ads.) Lord Krishna saved his
playmates from demon-launched rains
and storm by lifting up a mountain
called Govardhanam and holding it high
as an umbrella.
In Kerala there is the belief that a lot
of demons come in following the rains.
So, the household has to be kept clean
during the monsoon. No demon should
be able to get a foothold on any dirt. No
work, no food, no firewood, high
humidity, floods, diseases, high winds
and disasters are subconsciously
associated with the rainy spell. Everybody
is aware of the need for providing for the
rainy day. Over the generations, the
Keralite has learned to be somewhat
frugal.
All the same, for generations of
children, monsoon has meant the
fierceness of its onslaught, the lightning,
the thunder, the dance of trees in high
winds, the drumming on the roof, the
flooded fields, the shelter on the laps of
grandparents and story time during
which myths and mythology trickles
down the line. So ‘Rain, rain, come again
and again…!’
 C O V E R S TO RY
raining
Calendar
Dr P.V.Joseph
N
ature has given Kerala
abundant rainfall. The
average annual rainfall is
about 300 cms, three
times the rainfall of India. Along the coast
of Kerala rainfall increases from about
150 cms in the extreme south to more
than 350 cms in the extreme north. There
are two pockets of high rainfall on the
slopes of the western ghats in the high
ranges with rainfall over 400 cms. The
southern pocket is to the east of Kottayam
(around Peermade) and the northern one
is to the northeast of Kozhikode (around
Vaithiri). The four month period, June
to September, is designated as the south-
west monsoon season (Kalavarsham),
which contributes 40 to 50% of the
annual rainfall over the extreme south of
Kerala and over 80% in the extreme north
of the State. The pre-monsoon season
March to May and the north-east
monsoon season October to December
contribute significantly to the annual
rainfall, particularly in south Kerala. The
winter season of January and February
has very little rainfall.
Kerala is the gateway of southwest
monsoon to India. After it sets in over
Kerala the monsoon winds and the
monsoon rains move north to cover the
whole of India in about a month. The
date of monsoon onset over Kerala varies
from year to year. It has been as early as
May 11, 1918 and as late as June 18,
1972. The long term mean onset date is
June 1st. Malayalis have rightly named
the South West monsoon as
Edavappathi. A decadal scale variation is
found in the date of monsoon onset over
Kerala. In the early decades of the
twentieth century monsoon set in mostly
in the first or second week of June.
During the decades 1950s and 1960s
monsoon onset occurred many times in
the second and third weeks of May.
The southwest monsoon current
(winds) extends upwards upto about six
kms. It has a high speed core flow
embedded in it called the Low Level
Jetstream whose axis is about 1.5 kms
above sea level. From low levels wind
speed increases, reaches maximum at the
axis level and decreases further up. In the
core the wind speeds can be 60 to 100
kms per hour. The moisture bearing
monsoon current with such high speed
winds in it impinges on the slopes of the
Western Ghats (Sahyadri) producing
copious rainfall on its windward side.
Highest rainfalls occur a few tens of
kilometers before reaching the peak of
the ghats. Further east rainfall decreases
June 2007
fast. Western ghat orography and the
Low Level Jetstream have great control
on the rains of Kerala.
Within the southwest monsoon
season rainfall varies from day to day
(intra-seasonal variation). There are years
with short period (20 to 30 days) intra-
seasonal variations. In some years the
period becomes as large as 60 days when
spells of very low rainfall last several
weeks, which can adversely affect crops.
Rainfall of the State also has large
variations from year to year (inter-annual
variations). One of the factors adversely
affecting the rainfall inter-annually is the
El Nino, an anomalous warming of the
equatorial central and eastern Pacific ocean
that lasts for ten to fifteen months and
occurs once in about four to seven years.
The rainfall of Kerala has shown a
decreasing trend in the 100 years. This
decrease is large in south Kerala,
particularly in the hill areas around
Cardamom hills where at Peermade
rainfall has decreased through about 26%
of the long term mean in the last 100
years.
One of the common weather systems
causing rainfall in Kerala is the
thunderstorm, which gives short
duration heavy showers accompanied by
lightning and thunder. Pre-monsoon
KERALA CALLING 17

season rainfall is mostly from
thunderstorms. Very heavy downpours
from thunderstorms often called cloud
burst occurring on the steep slopes of
western ghats cause landslides (urulpottal)
particularly during the southwest
monsoon season. Low pressure areas and
depressions are associated with rainfall of
the northeast monsoon season. Cyclones
of the Indian seas, which cause lot of
destruction very rarely, strike Kerala
coasts. However, in the month of
November many of the cyclones that
form in the Bay of Bengal move
westwards, hit Tamilnadu coast and after
weakening into depressions or low
pressure areas move across Kerala giving
plenty of rainfall to the State without
causing much wind damage.
One of the major effects caused by
global warming as obtained from studies
using computer models of the global
atmosphere is its capability to change the
atmospheric wind flow patterns, which
cause change in rainfall regimes. Is the
long term decrease in the rainfall of south
Kerala caused by global warming? Only
well focused studies using global
atmospheric models can give us the
required answers. The rapid decrease in
the tree population (forest cover) could
be another factor for the decreasing trend
in the rainfall. To understand this also
well planned modelling experiments are
needed.
As mentioned earlier, Kerala is gifted
by nature with abundant rainfall. We
have to use this rainfall resource to our
greatest advantage and learn to cope with
the year to year and decade to decade
18 KERALA CALLING June 2007
C O V E R S T O R Y
Weat
V.K. Mini
K
erala is blessed with monsoon,
rainfall variations, which are not large a phenomenon that can be
percentages of the mean annual rainfall, considered as the gift of God.
although their magnitudes appear large. The word ‘monsoon’ is
Engineers and hydrologists who manage derived from the Arabic Word “Mausin”
waters in our river basins, geologists who which means season. Monsoon is the
know techniques for charging ground reversal of wind systems characterised by
water aquifers and meteorologists who a variety of physical mechanisms. The
monitor and predict rainfall should come Indian Ocean Monsoon winds blow
together to help those who use our water from the southwest during summer and
resource. from the northeast in winter.
Antharish project now under The Southwest monsoon from June
implementation by a joint team consisting to September (Summer Monsoon) is the
of Indian Space Research Organisation, principal rainy season for the Indian sub
Planning Board of the Government of continent except Kashmir and Tamil
Kerala and the Centre for Monsoon Nadu. India, with a poor water storage
Studies of Cochin University of Science facility for irrigation, is much dependent
and Technology will have 60 Automatic
Weather Stations installed soon well
distributed over Kerala that will measure
several atmospheric parameters including
rainfall every hour round the clock and
transmit the data thus collected
expeditiously to the Centre for Monsoon
Studies through a dedicated Indian
satellite. India Meteorological
Department will soon be installing
powerful Doppler Weather Radar at
Cochin, which can monitor continuously
the spatial distribution, height and
intensity of rain bearing clouds over Kerala
and determine other parameters like
wind. With these arrangements we will
be able to continuously monitor the
spatial and temporal variations of the
rainfall of Kerala and to develop methods
for accurate and timely forecasts and
warnings.
RAVISANKAR
The writer is Professor Emeritus, Cochin
University of Science and Technology and
former Director, India Meteorological Dept.,
Govt. of India
ther
forecasted
on the monsoon rainfall for good crop
raising and high return. As such the
erratic nature of monsoon rainfall, being
most unfavourable, creates havoc to the The advance of
farming community. monsoon is pulsatory
Monsoon Mechanism in character i.e., the
Monsoon results from land–ocean northwards advance
thermal contrasts. Unlike the Atlantic of the monsoon is not
and Pacific Oceans, which are open a steady march.
towards north and south, the Indian The activity
Ocean is land locked in the north by of the monsoon
Eurasian continents. This geographical weakens after an
feature gives rise to extreme thermal advance of about 500
contrast between the land in the north km and a fresh surge
and the ocean in the south during is needed to advance
summer and winter. This is a crucial factor the monsoon further
further..
in the development of monsoon
circulation.

In March and April, the India Sub-
continent begins to heat up. This
dramatic heat up causes variation in
temperature of land surface and sea
surface, resulting in a reversal of winds
from seaward (towards the sea) to
landward. During the monsoon period
(June to September) a large low-pressure
cell exists over southwest Asia. A huge
high pressure region over South Indian
Ocean near Madagaskar Islands, known
as Mascarine High, also forms. The large
scale wind system starts from Mascarine
High and moves towards the low-pressure
areas in the southeast Asia. As the wind
flows over the vast Indian Ocean, it picks
up enough moisture to pour over the
sub-continent. The orography of the
sub-continent also helps some pockets to
get heavy to very heavy rainfall.
Onset and Advance
Normally the southwest monsoon
sets in over Kerala and Northeast India
on 1st June and reaches Mumbai and
Kolkotta by 10th, New Delhi by 25th
and covers entire country by 15th July.
The date of onset of southwest monsoon
over Kerala marks the beginning of the
rainy season for the Indian land mass.
The advance of monsoon is pulsatory
in character ie; the northwards advance
of the monsoon is not a steady march.
There are temporary advances and
retreats before the sustained advance.
The activity of the monsoon weakens
after an advance of about 500 km and a
fresh surge is needed to advance the
monsoon further.
The monsoon begins to withdraw
from mid September from north India
and from entire country by 1st
December.
Climate of Kerala During
Monsoon
The Southwest Monsoon
(Edavapathi) sets in over the southern

June 2007
KERALA CALLING 19

parts of the State by about 1st June and
extends over the entire state by 5th June.
June and July are the rainiest months,
each accounting individually to about
23% of annual total rainfall. The
contribution of southwest monsoon to
the annual rainfall of the state is about
69% and that of northeast monsoon is
16%. The southwest monsoon rainfall
as percentage of annual rainfall decreases
from North (87%) to South (54%),
whereas Northeast Monsoon rainfall
increases from North (10%) to South
(17%). Such North-South variation of
rainfall is due to the decrease of height of
western ghats towards south of State. The
southern most district
Thiruvananthapuram, where western
ghats are nearest to the sea coast and its
average height is least in the State, receives
minimum amount of rainfall.
The climate over the State is of the
type “Tropical Monsoon with Seasonally
excessive rainfall and hot Summer”
except over Thiruvananthapuram
district, where it is “Tropical Savanna
with seasonally dry and hot summer
weather”. The climate is pleasant from
June to February. Summer months
(March to May) are uncomfortable due
to high temperature and humidity. The
State is extremely humid due to existence
of Arabian Sea on the west.
Weather Parameters During
Monsoon Season
Strong pressure gradient (pressure
decreases from west to east) exists over
the State during monsoon season and
minimum diurnal range (range for 24
hours of the day) of pressure is
20 KERALA CALLING June 2007
Highest Humidity
for the State as a
whole (85%) exists
during monsoon period
and diurnal variation
is minimum.
During monsoon season
skies are heavily clouded
with mornings and
evenings equally cloudy
cloudy..
experienced during June and July, when
maximum clouding exists.
Mean maximum temperature is
- of the country. Though it creates some
minimum in the month of July (nearly
29oC) when the State receives plenty of
rainfall and the sky is heavily clouded,
whereas April is the hottest month
(33.5oC). Coastal stations experience
lower maximum temperature than inland
stations due to proximity of sea. Mean
minimum temperature is lowest during
December-January and a secondary
minimum occurs during July (23oC),
when the State is in peak of monsoon.
Smallest diurnal range of temperature is
experienced during July and August.
The diurnal range increases rapidly after
withdrawal of monsoon.
Highest Humidity for the State as a
whole (85%) exists during monsoon
period and diurnal variation is minimum.
During monsoon season skies are heavily
clouded with mornings and evenings
equally cloudy.
The writer is Meteorologist Gr II, India
Meteorological Department
Thiruvananthapuram.
Contd. from page 14
The Greening Wonder...
the same should start now. Prominent
among the festivals is the snake boat race,
which starts during the rainy season.
Snake boat race forms the unique water
festival of Kerala that requires preparation
lasting for several weeks. Kerala blessed
with 42 rivers offer unique opportunity
for doing different type of boat races.
Formerly it was a festival confined to
Central Travancore area but now it is
spreading to different parts of the state
wherever conducive conditions are
available for conducting boat races in
which thousands join together to witness
the competitions and enjoy. This has also
paved way for exposing the lifestyle of
Kerala before the tourism lovers of within
the country and abroad. It is also
changing the tourism calendar of the
state. Few years back monsoon season was
earmarked as a lean season for tourism
and tourists were advised to skip the
period as it may drench them. Now
tourists within the country and the
middle east are more enamoured to visit
Kerala during monsoon and experience
the music of rain and enjoy the rustic
beauty of the nature when the rain bless
the trees, the soil and the people in
abundance.
Monsoon in Kerala is slowly gaining
a place of prominence in the tourist map
uncomfortable experiences like flood,
deluge, landslides and crop damages it
make the land, flora and fauna and the
people more energetic, attractive and
vigorous. Monsoon provides Kerala over
2500MM of rainfall. Strong wind blast
across the sea and the land. Fierce tidal
waves lash the coast frightening the
masses and uprooting the trees and huts
without any mercy. But the rains are
always welcome as the monsoon winds
and water rejuvenate the entire
environment. Nature gets back the
greenery spoiled by the dry summer.
Rivers and water tanks get replenished
and soil gets nourished. All crops dear to
the man and domestic animals get a new
life during the season and so monsoon
could be hailed as a true life giving gift of
nature to crop husbandry and its real hero
the farmer.
The writer is the former Director of
Agriculture, Govt. of Kerala.
 C O V E R S T O R Y
Itrains
line and light
B. Harikumar
A
s the popular advertisement
says, nothing covers Kerala
better than the rain. The same
is applicable to literature and
film. It rains heavily and
elegantly in both with cascading
impact, drawing even the dry
hearts to the niceties of life.
Monsoon is the source of
Malayalam literature. It rains
abundantly on our stories,
poems, music, folklore and
movies. Because Monsoon is a
part of Malayali life. So an art form dealing
life cannot ignore it. Though monsoon
has many meanings such as trade wind,
silk etc., in Kerala, monsoon simply means
rainy season and that includes all.
From the classical story
Vellappokkathil (In the Flood) by
DRENCHED : A scene
from Perumazhakkalam
Thakazhi in which the fierceness and of God’s justice.
horror of rain is personified as death
Rain remains always as an integral part
which steals the life of Vedamanikyam,
of Malayalam cinema. Even in that day
to the much quoted Khasakkinte
when technology was not much
Ithihasam (The legend of Khasak) in
advanced, Hariharan’s Vellam (Water)
which Ravi, the protagonist, lays on
draws a clear picture of a terrified face of
earth, waiting death to be
village submerged in a great flood, with
embraced, fully wet with rain
mind-boggling perfection. The distress
drops, Malayalam literature
and violence caused by drought and
gracefully illustrates the vivacity
water scarcity is artistically illustrated in
of monsoon.
the movie Vaisali by Bharathan using the
In Rathrimazha (Rain in the possibilities of myths abundantly.
Night), a masterpiece of
The ecstasy of love in the background
Sugathakumari, our nature poet,
of rain is beautifully pictured in Mazha
night-rain gets unison with the poetess
(The Rain) by Lenin Rajendran. The
herself who experiences different
movie Perumazhakkalam (The heavy
situations of life. Zakhariah’s story, Mazha
rainy season), as the title means, tries rain
(The Rain) is considered as the lone heavy
as an actor filled with its presence through
rain in the genre of short story of
out the movie like a shadow.
Malayalam literary arena whereas M.N.
Vijayan looks into the rain as a market In short, the oeuvre of Malayalam
system, which reflects the discrimination filmdom is rich with raindrops.
June 2007
KERALA CALLING 21
 C O V E R S T O R Y

Recipes Seasoned
Dr. M. Radhamani occurring in the bodily functions and environmental
Dr. K. Muralidharan conditions consequent to seasonal variations. As far as
the body functions are concerned, the monsoon

T
he cycles of the season and the
climate are natural
phenomena. They have close
bearing and decisive influence
on the physical and mental status of
human beings. Ayurveda, as a science of
life and health, has recognised the
importance of incorporating appropriate
changes in life style to suit the rigours of
seasonal variations. In fact, the classic
treatises have a very organised chapter on
the subject called ritucharya which
prescribes season-specific food and other
regimen.
The monsoon affects not only the
physical and behavioural aspects of
humans and animals, but it has an impact
on the socio-economic environment as
well. The regimen modulation is
prescribed for the purpose of enabling
humans to cope with the alterations
primarily affects the digestive system. Ayurveda uses
the term agni to denote digestive power. The agni
digests food and helps in metabolising the useful
components as also to throw out the worthless
components as excrement. It converts the useful
component to energy. It also destroys toxins. When
agni depletes, the toxic elements and germs tend to
accumulate and morbidity results. Thus, maintaining
agni at its optimum power is a prime concern of
Ayurveda. It is perceived that fluctuations occurring
in the power of agni as a result of seasonal variations
will consequently affect human health. Season-specific
measures are recommended for maintaining agni at
its proper level so that the morbidity resistance of
body is preserved.
During monsoon, agni loses some of its power.
This reduces the capacity of the body to resist the
attack of an ailment. It also affects the ability to bear
the stress of the onslaught of ailment. This is one
reason why ailments are more prevalent during

Mukkudi This is also known as oushadhakkanji.

Malayalam name Sanskrit Botanical name Navarayari (Oryza sativa), uluva (Trigonella foenum-graecum),
Ingredients name ellu (Sesamum indicum), chukku (Zingiber officinale), jirakam
Chukku Nagara Zingiber officinale (Cuminum cyminum), ayamodakam (Trachyspermum
Jirakam Jiraka Cuminum cyminum roxburghianum), satakuppa (Anethum graveolens) and jaggery
Ayamodakam Ajamoda Trachyspermum roxburghianum are to be mixed in a certain specified proportion. Rice, uluva
and ellu are to be boiled in water and the herbal mix to be
Kurumulaku Maricha Piper nigrum
mixed in it and well blended. Coconut milk can be added at
Puliyarila Changeri Oxalis corniculata the end. Jaggery can be replaced by salt if required. Ghee and
Kutakappalayari Kutaja Holarrhena pubescens salt can be used in place of coconut milk, if so desired.
Kottamalli Dhanyaka Coriandrum sativum Tavidappam
These ingredients (total 48 g) are ground together and then a Another recommended food called tavidappam has gone out
little manjal (haldi, Curcuma longa) powder is added to it. of fashion now. Tavid (rice bran) contains a lot of Vitamin-B.
The mix is blended with butter milk (384 ml) and boiled and It is interesting to note that Vitamin B complex is commonly
concentrated. This is to be taken with salt on empty stomach prescribed for the treatment of joints pains and other bodily
in the morning. This mukkudi is to be taken once every day for aches.
a fortnight. Tavid is to be made into a paste with water and is then to be
Karkitakakkanji spread on a plantain leaf. Jaggery, coconut scrapings, jirakam
The now popular karkitakakkanji is yet another example. This (Cuminum cyminum), chukku (Zingiber officinale), elattari
gruel is to be prepared by boiling several herb items in water. (Elettaria cardamomum) are to be added to this. The mix is to

22 KERALA CALLING June 2007

 monsoon and also why their manifestation is more
virulent. There is yet another angle to this. The three
humoural theory of Ayurveda is well known. Vata, pitta
and kapha are the three constitutional humours of human
system. The vata component tends to get vitiated during
monsoon period. This affects the central nervous system.
It also results in ailments of the bones and joints. Monsoon
is a temporary decay period for the pitta component. It is
a sub-clinical condition and may not manifest in itself.
But it will affect the metabolic activity. The special food
regimen for the monsoon season is aimed at effectively
combating these unhealthy conditions.
The monsoon is the right season for undertaking the
typical rejuvanative procedures with appropriate sodhana
therapy. Application of medicated oils is an integral part
of these procedures. The famous Kerala therapies like dhara
and pizhichil also come handy in this context. All these
procedures are prescribed to mange the ailment prone
condition of the monsoon season. In addition, very strict
practice of personal and behavioural hygiene is also
recommended.
During monsoon, food which is hard to digest should
be avoided because of the low power of agni. Soups
made with vegetable or meat well cooked with a herbal
collection called panchakolam (a mix of pippali (Piper
longum), pippalimula (Piper longum (wild)), chavya
(Piper brachystachyum), chitraka (Plumbago indica) and
nagara (Zingiber officinale)) and a lot of salt are good for
the season. Whey-water, water mixed with honey and
well cooked food of seasoned cereals or even tender meat
are particularly recommended for the period. Only clean
well water is recommended for drinking purpose. In the
present days boiled water would be better.
Ayurveda has a knack of recommending medicinal
materials to be used as food. The Kerala tradition of
Ayurveda, which has developed many unique therapeutic
and pharmaceutic practices, has evolved
its own special food regimen. It should
be noted that this has been done to suit
the food habits of Keralites as well as to
match with the food resources of the
region. A few examples can be cited.
There is a concoction called mukkudi. It
is a preparation of herbs in butter milk.
See Table-1 for details.
There was a traditional practice of
dedicating one day during monsoon
(mostly in the month of karkitakam)
exclusively for medication. The medical
herb kotuveli (Plumbago indica) is the
drug used for the purpose. It must be
mentioned here that kotuveli in Sanskrit
is called agni.
The important point to be noted
here is that both classical Ayurveda as well
as the traditional practices of the Kerala
Society were quite aware of the illness-
prone nature of monsoon season. They
also devised special food regimen to deal
with that condition. And we know that
those practices have stood the test of time.
The contemporary life style of Keralites
may find those practices not suiting their
current preferences. But there is no doubt
about the fact that the modern man, in
his fast life, should practice an
appropriately modified food regimen to
manage the health impact of monsoon.
A commercialised karkitakakkanji alone
may not serve that purpose.
The writers are Physician, Department of
Publications and Deputy Chief Physician
respectively, Arya Vaidya Sala, Kottakkal.

Dasapushpam
be cooked in steam to get an appam. Another vegetable combination is a collection of ten flowers
called dasapushpam. These flowers possess very strong
Pattila medicinal activity particularly against fever, dysentery,
Malayalam name Sanskrit name Botanical name haemorrhage, constipation, etc.
Ingredients
Neyyuruni Lingini Diplocyclos palmatus Malayalam name Sanskrit name Botanical name
Talu Alukam Colocasia esculenta (wild) Ingredients
Takara Chakramardha Cassia tora Puvvamkurunnila Sahadevi Vernonia cinerea
Muyalchevi Sasasruti Emilia sonchifolia
Mullanchira Tanduliya Amaranthus spinosus
Karuka Durva Cynodon dactylon
Kumbalam Kusmanda Benincasa hispida
Nilappana Musali Curculigo orchioides
Mattan Pitakusmanda Cuccurbita maxima
Kayyonni Bhringaraja Eclipta prostrata
Vellari Trapusha Cucumis sativus
Vishnukranti Vishnukranta Evolvulus alsinoides
Anakodituva Dusparsa Tragia involucrata
Cherula Bhadra Aerva lanata
Chembu Alukam Colocasia esculenta
Tirutali Lakshmana Ipomoea sepiaria
Payar Rajamasham Vigna unguiculata
Uzhinja Sakralata Cardiospermum halicacabum
These leaves can be cooked and used as a side dish. They are all Mukkutti Viparitalajjalu Biophytum sensitivum
rich in Vitamins and minerals.

June 2007
KERALA CALLING 23
 C O V E R S T O R Y
Beware of
Monsoon Diseases
Dr B.Padmakumar
I
t is said that the peacocks dance
when the first rain falls and who
can blame them after going
through the sullen sultry scorching
heat of summer. In some days hidden
parts of our heats, we too dance to the
sound of rain drops. But going through
the monsoon are like opening the
Pandora ’s Box the good with the bad.
Along with the life giving rains we also
get the diseases associated with the
monsoon. The most common diseases
associated with the monsoon are the acute
diarrhoeal diseases, cholera, typhoid,
hepatitis, Weil’s disease and amoebiasis.
A leading cause of morbidity and
mortality in case of children are the
diarrhoeal diseases and dysentery.
The causative organisms are usually
bacteria, virus and amoebae .The diseases
spread through contaminated food and
water.
26 KERALA CALLING June 2007
Those diseases are most common in
children of age between 1-5yrs, and
among them the most vulnerable are those
on formula feeds and cow milk. The
causes of mortality in these diseases are
due to huge loss of water and electrolytes
from the patient’s body.
One of the most dreaded diseases
even in the 21st Century is cholera. It is
feared not only because of the mortality
rates, 30-40% of cholera patients will die
if left untreated, but also it can be spread
like wild fire in a community. The mode
of spread is through contaminated food
and water, especially through drinking
water contaminated by feces. The rice
water stools of cholera are the main
feature by which it is diagnosed. The
affected patient passes through stools,
which has the appearance of rice water
(kanji), 30-40 times per day. This
diarrhea is associated with vomiting,
which is usually present, causes a huge
One of the most
dreaded diseases
even in the
21 st century
is cholera.
It is feared not only
because of the
mortality rates,
but also its wild fire
like spreading
in a community
community..
loss of water and electrolytes from the
body. Without adequate medical
intervention the patient can go into renal
failure and finally death.
The organism causing cholera is
vibrio cholera, which is a fragile bacteria.
The El-tor subtype is the causative
organism for the current pandemic.
Cholera bacteria can easily be destroyed
by boiling drinking water. Vibrio cholera,
is also destroyed by sunlight and in dry
condition. The fact is that cholera can
easily be controlled if not eradicated by
simple measures such as boiling water.
What is more unbelievable is that the
treatment for cholera can be started at
home itself, even before the medical
intervention, is by starting oral
rehydration therapy. To make oral
Rehydration solution (ORS), take a
packet of ORS powder ,put it in a clean
container add a litre of pre boiled water,
mix well. A glass of this solution is given
each time the patient passes stool. The
rest of the solution should be kept
covered. The left over solution should
not be used on the next day. The ORS
powder can be prepared at home itself
by mixing a pinch of table salt, with a
spoon of sugar and adding it to a litre of
water.
Another dreaded disease during rainy
monsoon is typhoid. Typhoid is caused
by Salmonella typhi bacteria. It affects all
age groups, the most vulnerable are those
in the age group 5-20years.
After 20years the infection rate falls
due to an increase in the immunity. This
is more commonly seen in males.
Once the bacteria enters the body,
the disease manifests within ten days.
Fever, headache, fatigue, anorexia are the
main symptoms. Fever can go on up to
three weeks. For the first two weeks there
may be constipation which is followed
by diarrhea .The fatal complication are
Intestinal perforation and intestinal
bleeding. A peculiarity of this disease are
the "typhoid carriers"- people who can
carry the bacteria in their bodies with no
ill effect and who will pass out the
bacteria through the feces. House-flies
spread the disease by contaminating food
and water.
Now comes the hepatitis. Hepatitis
A&E are the food
born diseases.
These tough
viruses can exist in
water sources for
weeks. Within 15-
45 days after
entering human
body the
symptoms will
start. Fever
anorexia nausea,
vomiting are the
initial symptoms.
After 3-4 days the
urine will be high
coloured, and eyes
will be yellowish,
with a fall in fever.
After about four weeks, most of the
patients will start recovering.
The land called the “Venice of the
East"- Alleppey and Kuttanad are
waterlogged and beautiful. These
beautiful serene waters also harbour a
deadly organism of Weil's Disease. These
The common
infection seen in
outpatient clinics
across our country is
intestinal worms.
Lack of personal and
community hygiene
will cause
contamination
of water with the
eggs of intestinal
worm
w ormss .
Among all the
intestinal worms, the
most common are the
roundworms.
organisms can stay alive in brackish and
stagnant water. The water gets
contaminated by urine from affected
animals. The disease spreads by drinking
the water or by contact of a wound with
water. Organisms can enter the body
through the mucosal surfaces of the body
and also through wounds. Within 1-2
weeks after entering the body the
symptoms will start developing. There
are two stages, the first stage is
characterised by severe headache, muscle
pain. Other features include jaundice,
pneumonia and renal diseases. There may
be haemorrhage in to the eyes; "the red
eyes" is one of the main features of Weils'
Disease.
After the initial stage subsides the
second stage begins, which is
characterised by high fever. This may go
into meningitis. Liver and kidney may
also be affected.
June 2007
Amoebic Dysentery is one
of the main causes of morbidity
during monsoons. This disease
is mainly caused by lack of
personal hygiene. 15% of our
population is affected by this
disease. The main mode of
spread is by contaminated
water. The symptoms are
bloody diarrhoea with
mucuous and vomiting. Rarely
Amoebae can enter in to liver
through blood vessels causing
amoebic liver disease.
The common infection seen in
outpatient clinics across our country is
intestinal worms. Lack of personal and
community hygiene will cause
contamination of water with the eggs of
intestinal worms. Among all the intestinal
worms, the most common are the round
worms. Not all the affected patients are
symptomatic. In children, worm infection
can lead to a nutritional deficiency and
arrest in growth. Other symptoms are
fever, vomiting, abdominal pain and
diarrhoea.
All of these mentioned and not
mentioned can be deadly. But we can
take a few precautions to control the water
born diseases of monsoon season.
The cardinal rules are:
1) Drink boiled water
2) Avoid uncooked food like salads
during monsoon.
3) Food that is cooked should be taken
as early as possible
4) Food should always be left covered
5) Vegetables and fruits should be
cleaned in water for at least five
minutes.
6) Wash hands with soap before eating
7) Children should be taught to use the
toilet.
8) People with open wounds should not
work in dirty water.
9) Sewage should be properly treated
and disposed.
10)Our roads and public places are
considered as toilets. That should be
discouraged.
With proper personal and
community hygiene, the monsoon
diseases may soon become a nightmare
of the past.
The writer is Assistant Professor, Dept of
Medicine, Medical College, Alleppey
KERALA CALLING 27
 C O V E R S T O R Y
VENICEXPRESS
After successful completion
of degree with high marks,
one should chose or
specialise in meteorology
or atmospheric science for
their post graduation.
In India these specialised
subjects are available at
the Masters degree level.
In USA and Canada
undergraduate, graduate
and post graduate level
programmes are available
in meteorology or
atmospheric science.
28 KERALA CALLING June 2007
Forecast
yourcareer
Gopakumar Karakonam
M
eteorology is the Science
of the atmosphere. It is
derived from the Greek
word meteoron-
something that happens high in the Sky.
Meteorology is an inter-disciplinary
science which studies and analyses
processes in the earth’s atmosphere that
cause weather conditions. In this respect,
meteorology is mainly concerned with
the study of weather and weather
forecasting.
Meteorologists study weather
conditions and prepare current and long
range weather forecasts. Military
operations such as troop movements,
missile launches and ship and flight
movements rely accurate weather
information. Forecasting has always been
at the heart of meteorology and few
young people have been drawn to the
profession by the challenge of forecasting
a natural event. Weather forecasting
involves many people in many countries
because the systems that bring us our
weather are hundreds of miles away and
move across vast region of the earth’s
surface as they grow and change. The
weather forecast on television is the end
product of a worldwide effort by
thousands of meteorologists in the
national weather services of many
countries. Radar, aircraft and satellites
are some of the basic tools of meteorology
which used to collect data on what is
happening in the atmosphere. A special
kind of radar known as Doppler radar
can measure wind speed and direction
and it has become the best tool available
for detecting tornadoes. Satellites and
computers are other tools of modern
meteorology. Today’s satellites use
advanced remote sensing techniques to
measure temperature, winds and so on.
Daily weather forecast are inevitable for
the proper functioning of business,
industries, transport, telecommunication,
agriculture, defence etc. Weather
bulletins and meteorological alerts help
farmers deciding the course of action for
protecting and enhancing crop yields. In
aviations, critical, information is provided
to pilot and airports on actual and
expected weather conditions, surface
winds, temperature etc. Accurate weather
warning is vital for ship sailing on the
high seas.
Options
The first step for a student in
considering a career in meteorology or
atmospheric sciences is better to opt
physics, chemistry, mathematics,
computer science subjects combination
for Plus Two education. Aptitude
towards Physics and Mathematics are
essential. They can later choose Physics
or Mathematics as main subjects for
degree. Those with Mathematics as the
main subject should have studied physics
as one of the subsidiary subjects and vice-
versa. After successful completion of
degree with high marks, one should
choose or specialize in meteorology or
atmospheric science for their post
graduation. In India these specialized
subjects are available at the Masters
degree level. In USA and Canada
undergraduate / graduate and post
graduate level programmes are available
in meteorology or atmospheric science.
Doctoral degree is very essential to those
who wish to become a Scientist or
Scientific Officer.
 Atmospheric Science is a combination
of meteorology and other branches of
physical science that are involved in
studying the atmosphere. In the area of
atmospheric sciences specialized courses
are available such as Meteorology,
Agricultural meteorology, Climatology at
masters degree level. Fundamentals of the
study of atmospheric science covers
atmospheric and its compositions,
pressure and its variation with height,
earth - sun relationship, variation of
temperature with height, tropical
depression, storm etc. Atmosphere science
courses are generally conducting at MSc
and M.Tech level. The atmospheric
scientist also study factors affecting the
formations of clouds rain, snow and they
may collect analyze and interpret past
records of wind, rainfall, sunshine and
temperature in specific areas or regions.
Courses
MSc courses in meteorology or
atmospheric science are offered by few
universities in India. M.Tech programme
in atmospheric science is also rarely
available.
In Kerala, The Department of
Atmospheric Science under the Cochin
University of Science and Technology
(CUSAT) started offering a four semester
M.Sc programme in Meteorology since
1975 and a four semester M.Tech in
Atmospheric Science since 1989.
Those who have passed B.Sc degree
with Physics/ Mathematics as the main
subject with 55% marks are eligible for
admission to M.Sc Meteorology course.
Selection is based on all India level
Entrance Test (CUSAT – CAT). Course
contents includes Geophysical Fluid
Dynamics, Atmospheric Physics,
Introduction to the Ocean, Advanced
Mathematics, Numerical Methods,
Meteorological Instruments,
Observational Techniques, Computer
Programming, Synoptic Meteorology,
World Climatology, Dynamic
Meteorology, Cloud Physics &
Atmospheric Electricity, Remote sensing,
Meteorological Computation, Tropical
Meteorology, Satellite Meteorology, Air-
Sea Interaction, Middle Atmosphere,
Meteorology Analysis, Numerical
Weather Prediction, Agricultural
Meteorology, Hydrometeorology,
Atmospheric Chemistry, Atmospheric
Boundary layer etc.
Minimum eligibility for admission to
M.Tech Atmospheric Science is MSc
Degree in Meteorology/ Oceanography
/ Mathematics / Physics/ Space Physics
with first class (60% Marks) and valid
GATE Score or qualified in UGC-CSIR
NET. Selection is based on GATE Score
or Department Level Admission Test
(DAT). Syllabus covers large scale
Atmospheric Circulations, Atmospheric
Physics, Tropical Meteorology,
Atmospheric Dynamics, Remote Sensing
Applications, Applied Statistics, Advance
Mathematics, Meteorological Analysis
Middle Atmosphere, Atmospheric
Modeling, Air Pollutions Meteorology,
Agricultural Meteorology, Hydro
Meteorology, Boundary Layer
Meteorology, Atmospheric Chemistry
etc.
Research facilities leading to Ph.D are
also available here. Thrust areas of research
include Mesoscale Modelling, Monsoon
Meteorology, Stratosphere- Troposphere
Interactions, Agricultural Meteorology,
Remote sensing, Atmospheric Modeling,
Solar- Terrestrial Physics, Air Pollution and
Environmental Meteorology. For more
details either contact with the
Department of Atmospheric Science,
Cochin University of Science and
Technology, Fine Arts Avenue, Cochin –
682016 or visit www.cusat.ac.in.
The Department of Atmospheric
and Space Sciences of the University of
Pune offers M.Tech in Atmospheric
June 2007
science. Selection is based on National
Level Entrance Test.
Andhra University, Waltair,
Visakhapatnam – 530003 conduct M.Sc
Meteorology programme.
List of more Universities offering
MS.c Meteorology, M.Sc / M.Tech
Atmospheric Science can be collected
from the University Hand Book
published by the Association of Indian
Universities (AIU), New Delhi, which
will be available for reference in the
University Employment Information and
Guidance Bureaux functioning under
various Universities in Kerala.
Job Prospects
Students who successfully complete
their M.Sc in Meteorology and M.Sc and
M.Tech in Atmospheric Sciences are
qualified for the post of Meteorologist /
Scientists and suitable other posts in
Indian Meteorological Department,
National Centre for Weather Forecasting,
New Delhi, Indian Institute of Tropical
Meteorology, Pune, Indian Air force,
Space Applicants Centre, Ahamedabad,
National Remote Sensing Agency
Hyderabad, Defence Research and
Development Organization, Indian
Space Research Organization, National
Institute of Oceanography, Indian
Institute of Science, Bangalore and as
teachers in Universities. Ample
opportunities are also available for higher
studies and employment in these fields
in abroad.
KERALA CALLING 29
 C O V E R S T O R Y
Managing the
Dr G.S.L.H.V. Prasada Rao
monsoon
T
he beneficial/malevolent
effects of monsoon are
enormous with reference to
crops across Kerala, which are
grown under rain-fed conditions. Heavy
and prolonged rain from June to
September, followed by a dry spell is the
characteristic feature of Kerala, which falls
in the humid tropics. The failure of pre-
monsoon showers and break in monsoon
could well produce a crisis of considerable
magnitude in the case of paddy during
the virippu season. The lack of pre-
monsoon showers during April and May
lead to seedling mortality under
broadcasting system of rice cultivation
while continuous wet spell during the
second fortnight of August or first week
30 KERALA CALLING June 2007
of September results in grain chaffing,
accounting 20-30 per cent grain loss as
the flowering coincides with rainfall.
Heavy monsoon rainfall also leads to
flooding in wetlands. As wetland area is
declining year- after- year due to various
reasons, it will be detrimental as landslips
and mudslips are not uncommon. It also
results in scarcity of water during the lean
months. The wetlands act as a sink during
the rainy season while water resource
during the summer. In addition, low
evapo-transpiration may lead to less
nutrient uptake during the monsoon
period. That is why, coconut palms show
yellowing immediately after the monsoon
is over. It is more predominant along the
coast in sandy and sandy loam soils.
Overcast sky may result in low amount
of solar radiation during the rainy season,
resulting in low crop productivity except
in the case of rubber as it performs better
under the diffused radiation. Broadly,
heavy rainfall may not adversely affect
the crops like black pepper, cashew,
rubber, coffee, tea and cardamom,
wherever they grow on sloppy-terrain.
In the case coconut, arecanut, cocoa and
oil palm, monsoon has over all negative
effects. High relative humidity during
the monsoon leads to incidence of many
crop pests and diseases, affecting the crop
production during the monsoon period.
And thus, the monsoon plays a major
role in State’s economy. Both the
monsoons along with the pre-monsoon
showers make the State forward or vice-
versa in terms of foodgrains/plantation
crop production. As seen in summer
1983 and 2004, the failure of northeast
 C U R R E N T
Theice
is so HOT
Prof. (Dr) V. Sobha
T
his year the World
Environment Day (WED)
has come heralding a new
subject - ‘Melting ice: a hot
topic?’. As the mercury levels soar to newer
heights owing to ‘global warming’, this
year’s WED slogan is a timely wake-up
call. The deteriorating fate of our ice-
capped poles and the mountain peaks
including that of the Himalayas has
become subjects for heated debates
among green activists, scientists and
planners all over the world. Tropical
Indians in general and coastal Keralites
4 KERALA CALLING June 2007
World Environment Day falls on June 5th.
Every year
year,, this day has been observed as
Environment Day since the Stockholm
Declaration held on that day in 1972
under the aegis of the United Nations.
in particular are equally posed with this
‘warming-melting’ threat.
Even the slightest changes in the
polar glaciers badly affect the water levels
and the inner currents of our oceans. We
know that since time immemorial, these
oceans are the worldwide web that
sustains life on this blue planet. The basic
cyclic process of sea water getting
vaporised, vapour getting condensed,
clouds finally getting collected to give us
good rounds of rain are one of the several
vital climatic phenomena that even a
primary student knows. This process
ultimately has been turning the wheels
of seasons through years, promptly and
precisely. When sea water level gets on
increasing, this very basic natural routine
gets hampered, entirely changing the
nature’s timetable. Consequently the
periodicity and intensity of the rains and
shines become unpredictable.
Through generations, our peasant
communities have been depending on a
precise climatic system for planning their
cultivations. But the climatic changes can
wash away their traditionally earned
knowledge, making farming an unreliable
Contd. on page 41
 From drizzling drops to
unleashing showers, Monsoon beauty
pitter-pattersin the
inner hearts of Malayalis.
Here is an attempt to
buffer the nature’s bounty.

Harvesting
the beauty
RAVISANKAR

June 2007
KERALA CALLING 5
P H O TO F E AT U R E

Munnar
The pristine beauty
I&PRD PHOTOGRAPHS

is spoiled
High
greed
 Committed to
recover Munnar
Roads and canals
not spared

h rising Demolishing
d of man the unauthorised
 C A R T O O N
monsoon along with pre-monsoon
showers resulted in disastrous drought
during which the economy of
plantation sector was adversely affected
to a large extent. Hence, there is a
need to manage both the monsoons
effectively for sustenance of crop
Searchingthefate
production across the State of Kerala. P.V. Krishnan
Realising its importance, Dr. M.S.
Swaminathan quoted that the
“Monsoon Management Boards” at
the Centre and State levels can only
change the saying “Indian agriculture
is a gamble of the monsoon”, into
“India’s strength lies in its ability to
manage monsoons”. The technological
innovations and awareness on weather
should be brought under the umbrella
of Monsoon Management Boards,
wherein climate managers and Crop
Weather Watch Groups with
compensatory crop production
programmes play a crucial role in pro-
active monsoon management so as to
sustain Indian agricultural production.
In this direction, people should be
trained at the village level or watershed
level on weather aberrations, water
conservation and water harvesting and
they are known as climate managers.
They are assigned to study and assess
monsoon impacts at micro level. The
Crop Weather Watch Group
(CWWG) at the District level, which
is multidisciplinary group/agency, is
supposed to develop online
contingency plans depending upon
the situations. It can also identify most
favourable areas and areas prone to
natural calamities which are weather
related. It will help to plan
compensation crop production
programmes in adverse weather
situations in most favourable areas.
The crop and weather insurance
schemes should be brought out as a
part of compensation crop production
programme for the benefit of farming
community in adversities. The whole
concept of the “Monsoon
Management Board” can be brought
under the proposed Centre of Disaster
Management“ at the State level, which
will go a long way in sustenance of
agricultural production of the State.
The writer is Professor and Head, Dept.
of Agricultural Meteorology, College of
Horticulture, Kerala Agricultural University,
Vellanikkara, Thrissur-680656

June 2007
KERALA CALLING 31

Contd. from page 6
Rain Water: The Saviour
the State. Action has already been
initiated in this regard. Flex boards,
Stickers, Posters, CDs, Pocket Calendars
and Handouts have also been produced
and distributed to all districts.
State-wide mass-media publicity
campaign on Rain Water Harvesting and
Ground Water Recharge have also been
initiated. A special 40 episode Special
series on Rain Water Harvesting was
broadcast through AIR from 16/02/05
to 29/08/05. A Special 5 episode Live
phone-in-programmes was also aired
through AIR from 05/06/06 to 03/07/
06. Produced and telecasted TV spots
on RWH and GWR through TV
channels. Action has been initiated for
producing documentary on success story
of RWH & GWR and the campaign
activities. Efforts have also been taken to
propagate the message using various IEC
tools such as wall writings, film slides,
KSTRC bus advertisements, stickers,
posters, flex boards, street plays etc.
Thus thousands of people have been
sensitised directly on Rain water
harvesting/ground Water Recharge
through training programmes, seminars,
workshops, exhibitions, telephone, e-
32 KERALA CALLING June 2007
mail, replies, personal
interviews across the
state. More than 150
training programmes/
seminars/workshops
organized at various
parts of Kerala and tried
to propagate the R WH
technology to the masses.
A Roof Water
Harvesting system of
62,000 litres capacity
was commissioned at
the Kerala State
Planning Board
Campus, Pattom,
Thiruvananthapuram.
Government has
mooted special proposals
to take up Integrated
Rain Water Harvesting/
Ground Water Recharge
Projects in 14 major
govt. institutions
including all Govt.
Medical Colleges, Veterinary College,
KILA etc, and 50 educational institutions
in Thiruvananthapuram which are in
high demand of water, but facing severe
water scarcity.
The project has been completed in
Malappuram, Alappuzha, Kozhikode
and Kottayam Districts. The work is
ongoing in Thiruvananthapuram and
Thrissur. The State Level Inauguration
of the completed Special Proposal was
made at Ayurveda College,
Thiruvananthapuram. The completed
Special Proposal at KILA, Thrissur was
inaugurated by the LSGD Minister. The
special proposal at Kozhikode medical
college has also been inaugurated.
Physical achievements
Around 4.5 crores litres of water will
be harvested (one time) in total in all the
RWH units constructed as part of the
campaign. 12,000 RWH units to
individuals have been constructed in
Jalanidhi panchayaths. Rain Water
Harvesting projects are implemented by
RWH campaign as well as Jalanidhi
Projects, VARSHA project of KWA,
Western Ghat development programme,
Giridhara project, Hariyali project,
LSGD and Ground Water Department
and various other developmental
programmes of Government
departments.
 E T H N I C F O O D

Avalunda
and Ada
Rice based snacks
Dr V.Indira, C.L. Sharon Rice Halwa

A
snack food is a hurried or light Raw rice 250g
meal or a food eaten between Jaggery 500g
meals. The hallmark of a good Coconut grated (Extract 350g
snack is to have little fat, little coconut milk by adding water)
protein and some carbohydrates. Snacks Ghee 25g
have been viewed as appetite-wreckers, Cashew nuts 10g
but they can be made as diet-enhancers
Cardamom 3-4 No.
and thus to fill nutrient gaps. Some of
the traditional rice based snack Method of preparation: Soak rice in
preparations are given here. cold water for 4-6 hours, drain water and
spread on a clean cloth to remove excess
Avalunda
water. Powder rice, sieve in a fine mesh
Aval / Rice flakes 200g sieve. Melt jaggery with small quantity
Jaggery 100g of water and strain the syrup to remove
Coconut (scraped) 80g impurities. Mix jaggery syrup, coconut
Method of preparation: Roast rice milk and rice flour together without
flakes till crisp and grind to a fine powder. forming lumps. Cook this batter on a low
Melt jaggery with small quantity of water flame to form a thick porridge with
and prepare a syrup. Strain the syrup to continuous stirring. Add ghee, mix well
remove impurities and other foreign and cook again till the contents leave
particles. Mix scraped coconut with the from the sides of the pan. Spread the
jaggery syrup and add rice flakes powder, halwa in a pan greased with small quantity
and mix thoroughly. Make into balls. of ghee. Cool it and cut into pieces.
Ada
Raw rice 200g
Coconut (scraped) 120g
Jaggery 50g by adding boiled water with salt. Cool,
mix nicely so as to form a smooth dough.
Salt to taste
Divide the dough into three equal
Method of preparation: Soak rice in portions and spread each portion in a
cold water for 4-6 hours, drain water, separate banana leaf. Place a portion of
spread on a clean cloth to remove excess the scraped coconut mixed with jaggery,
water. Powder rice, sieve in a fine mesh on the flattened dough and fold the
sieve. Heat the pan and roast the rice banana leaf and cook under steam.
flour. Prepare dough with the rice flour
These tasty snack items per serving
will provide 233 to 475 Kilo calories of
Nutritive Value of the Snack Preparations energy, 1.73g to 6.44g protein, 43.1g to
Preparation No. per Calorie Protein Carbo Fibre Calcium Iron Phosph- 73.54g carbohydrate and small
serving (Kcal) (g) hydrate(g) (g) (mg) (mg) orus(mg) quantities of essential micronutrients.
Avalunda 2(60g) 233 2.61 43.1 0.66 22.2 6.89 111 The writers are Head of the Department
and Senior Research Fellow respectively, Dept.
Rice Halwa 2(75g) 237 1.73 44.16 0.17 29.59 1.17 55
of Home Science, College of Horticulture,
Ada1(120g) 475 6.44 73.54 1.58 24.13 1.59 210 Vellanikkara, Trichur – 680 656.

June 2007
KERALA CALLING 33
 R E S E A R C H

Brand the
Kerala products
Thomason Rajan value-addition. Let us examine three a white cover with the brand name and
Dr K.S. Chandrasekar Kerala based FMCG companies to know the snap of the turmeric herb
how they captured the market and prominently embossed. That helped in

T
he Indian Fast Moving
Consumer Good (FMCG) successfully built their brands in Kerala. differentiating itself from the other multi-
sector, estimated at Rs. Oriental Extractions coloured soap packs on the supermarket
69,000 crores is an In mid 2005, Oriental Extractions shelf. The soap achieved a turnover of
important contributor to the country's Pvt Ltd, a sister concern of S D Pharmacy Rs. 12 crore a year and was subsequently
GDP. It is the fourth largest sector in the Group with a turnover of Rs. 20 crore bought by Marico in 2006. The second
economy and is responsible for 5% of entered the herbal soaps category in product offering from the company was
the total factory employment in India. Kerala with its Manjal brand. Manjal, the Chandanam soap, a sandal variant.
The industry also creates employment for which is the Malayalam word for turmeric A third brand called Mullappoo was
three million people in downstream became an instant hit. According to the launched this year, which is being
activities, much of which is scattered in company sources, the success of the positioned as a herbal toilet soap with
small towns and rural India. The use of brand was partly due to choosing the jasmine fragrance. The company’s
brands, especially in Fast Moving generic name of the herb as the brand strategy is to make use of regional
Consumer Goods has developed name. The therapeutic properties of branding to promote its soaps, and unlike
considerably in India, since the opening turmeric were already well-known among other soap brands, it will have different
up of the economy. Indian households and several research names in different states across India, as
studies had also documented its the local generic names differ from state
Brands from Kerala
medicinal value. The soap was packed in to state. For example, the generic name
The widely accepted definition for a
brand is that it is a name, term, sign,
symbol or design, or a combination of
them intended to identify the goods and
services of one seller or a group of sellers
and to differentiate them from those of
the competition.
The general argument about Kerala
is that high levels of per capita
consumption coupled with lack of
entrepreneurship within has made the
State the happy hunting ground of
multinationals and FMCG brand
manufacturers from other parts of the
country. Unofficial estimates also show
that Keralites, who form nearly 3.5 per
cent of the country's population,
consume almost 10 per cent of the
consumer goods produced in India. It is
also true that most of the entrepreneurs
in the State produce only a small number
of food and non-food items, most of
which are characterised by low
technology, low investment and marginal

34 KERALA CALLING June 2007


for jasmine is Mullappoo in Kerala and
Mallikaippoo in Tamil Nadu.
Eastern Condiments
Eastern Condiments, a spices and
condiments firm based in Idukki was
started in 1981 to manufacture curry
powders and ground spice. With a
turnover of close to Rs. 400 crores in this
financial year, this brand commands a
market share of nearly 70% in KeralaThe
company believes in three time-tested
principles for its success. One, provide
good quality products at reasonable prices.
While certifications like ISO and HACCP
help in confirming the quality of the
product, the key is to price the product
right and make it affordable to the
common housewife. This can only be
done through direct sourcing of
ingredient raw materials and maintaining
a steady source of suppliers. Two, use
attractively designed packets and inform
customers about the brand using
advertising. The company logo and
product packs were redesigned in 2006
to cater to the growing needs of the
market. Three, make the product easily
available to the customer. To ensure that,
Eastern relies on a strong marketing team
that caters directly to 44,000 retailers
throughout Kerala.
Balaji Marketing
What does a new small player do to
create a brand in a heavily competitive
shampoo market? Balaji Marketing, the
company behind Krishna Thulasi herbal
shampoo suggests creating a niche brand.
Krishna Thulasi Herbal Shampoo was
introduced in mid-2005 after a customer
survey revealed that most shampoo users
wanted their shampoos to be free from
chemicals and side-effects. The need for
a safe shampoo was clearly identified
based on this insight. Being a relatively
new player in a competitive market, Balaji
Marketing had to first ensure that the
product was of superior quality, as that
was the easiest way to generate repeat
sales. To compete with the synthetic
detergent-based shampoos that were
available in the market, the company
decided to use the whole plant extract of
the herb Krishna Thulasi (Ocimum
sanctum) which has been prescribed as a
highly medicinal and curative herb
according to Ayurveda.
With 96% positive feedback from the
sample market, the company decided to
go ahead with the formulation. The
shampoo was packed in a bottle with a
June 2007
The general argument
about Kerala is that
high levels of per capita
consumption coupled
with lack of
entrepreneurship
within has made
the State the happy
hunting ground
of multinationals
and FMCG brand
manufacturers from
other parts of the country
country..
uniquely odd shape that captured the
attention of the casual shopper. Once
trials took place, the product took care of
the rest. In 2006, the product was
reformulated and a natural conditioner
was added to the product to cater to the
growing demand for a shampoo coupled
with conditioner.
These success stories remind us that
there are five simple rules that all
companies must follow to build their
brands, and this is especially true with
products that cater to the mass market.
These are:
z Understand the customer.
z Create good quality products by
adding value and promote these
products at reasonable prices.
z Have something unique to
differentiate yourself from the
competition.
z Use good packaging and advertising
to attract the attention of the
prospective buyer.
z Ensure that the products are readily
available to the customer.
The writers are Research Scholar in
Management, University of Kerala and
Chairman, Board of Studies in Business
Management, University of Kerala.
KERALA CALLING 35
 C U L T U R E
Dr Marc Lambert

I
n the 1970s, the poet Kadammanitta Ramakrishnan brought in
front of the scene, together with the musicologist Kadammanitta
Vasudevan Pillai, one of the most traditional icons of Kerala culture
- Padayani. This highly codified cult often presented as a “folk
art” is performed in a specific area, which originates its denomination,
“the Pamba River culture”. It includes not only magnificent songs and
masks; it is also a complex dance art form distinct from the classical
Indian heritage. But, one wonders how can people claim the survival of
such an elaborated genre whether Dravidian or “Pre-Dravidian (which
represents at least a period over 3,000 or 4,000 years), long before the One could
actual brahmanisation of the South Indian region, without any trace or argue that for
any written canon comparable to the Natya Shastra. sociological
The question will probably stay an enigma or a myth in the collective reasons, classical
psyche as long as the actual scenology of any given performing art form art forms have
will not be thoroughly studied, understood and integrated into its always been the
sociological context. Today, in the field of anthropology, one can no
most privileged
longer get satisfied with an ethnocentrism, which pretends that the
Indian classical art forms represent a musical achievement or a progress ones in terms of
compared to the folk “gross forms”. sponsoring,
The ethnoscenologic survey of Padayani brings forward the entity diffusing, tracing
of a “folk” traditional rhythmical knowledge, where vaitharis – the the memory
sound from the mouth, allow the rooting of body practices inside the throughout their
universe of the Goddess Mother, the Mother Nature. In the religious relatively recent
practices of Padayani, the notion of nature is fully embodied and
history
history..
perceived within the senses; there is no body without the mind, the

Padayani
A Foreigner’s impressions
36 KERALA CALLING June 2007
body is the mind. Performance is a bodily
as well as a cognitive, emotional and
spiritual act. In fact, this remark could
stand for any other Keralite folk-art form.
The whole aesthetic construction reflects
rhythmically the religious attitude.
One could argue that for sociological
reasons, classical art forms have always
been the most privileged ones in terms of
sponsoring, diffusing, tracing the
memory throughout their relatively
recent history. For instance in Kerala there
is still no cultural structure totally devoted
to the safeguard of traditional folk-art
culture, a structure equipped in human
few ashans (teachers), already in their late
forties, are still active in transmitting the
vital dancing keys. What will happen for
the next generation? Will villagers still
find the extra-time necessary at the end
of a full working day, commuting from
the cities, to devote themselves to the
transmission of this difficult exercise,
knowing that the actual learning of the
dance process in Padayani is extremely
strenuous? However, we can assert that
every year the rite festivities attract
modern choreographers and researchers
from all over the world; it looks like there
is something more than just “simple dance

D ancer-choreographer and the author of this article,

Dr Marc Lambert studied choreographic
composition with the Post-modern school (Steve
Paxton, Trisha Brown) in Bennington College, United
States. A French national, he immersed himself in the
study of the rural art form of Padayani, among the rich
oral tradition of Kerala warriors. He has practiced for
more than a decade under the supervision of his friend
and guru Kadammanitta Reghukumar, documenting
Padayani and analyzing the context of the world famous
breeding-ground for dance and theater genres of Kerala. He is the first dancer from the
West who ever entered and performed officially in a rural dance kalari: the Kadammanitta
Gothra Kala Kalari (1998). Dr Lambert is currently a member of the Ethnoscenology
Laboratory Paris VIII University, directed by Jean-Marie Pradier, and la Maison des
Sciences de l’Homme Paris-Nord, owner of a post-doc grant for video and photo
documentation, 2007-2008.
He took part recently in the workshop “Understanding religious practices, going
beyond the philosophy of religions”, Philosophy department, University of Sanskrit,
Kalady.
He has got PhD for hisThesis `Ethnoscenology of Padayani, getting the body to
the borders of imagination’ from Paris VIII Vincennes Saint-Denis University, 2004. e-
mail: sundara2004 @yahoo.com

valid knowledge, which means experts
in the transmission process, that we could
compare to the university of
Kalamandalam. We could say as well that
the central concern for Padayani
worshippers has always been to keep their
culture alive throughout ages besides any
social or cultural constraint.
Nowadays, in the context of an
accelerating univocal world culture,
things have changed together with the
economical attraction of the Gulf
countries, which causes the actual human
desertification of Kerala villages. Another
danger would be then to diminish the
traditional folk-art forms, into elegant
ways of refreshing memories and reduce
this extraordinary human patrimony to
mere exoticisms, affordable enough for a
growing population of tourists and
visitors.
In fact, concerning Padayani, a very
steps” to Padayani. “It looks simple
because of the form it is achieved, but
not easy to do” says ashan, Reghukumar.
The mystery of incarnation, in the
case of performance, is not the mystery
of an invisible God who slips into a
human body. It is the performing person
reaching out to the divine realm,
uncovering it to our eyes. “If you want to
enjoy the beauties of Nature, first you
should learn how to protect yourself; on
the other hand, you should sacrifice
yourself totally to Her”(Ibid).
This is in fact a very old question, the
ascetic quest. That is why researchers such
as Jerzy Grotowsky were interested in
India, because many times, in Indian
religious cultures, the performative
processes lead to divinity, each in its
special way. This patrimony – this
embodied memory - should not be
forgotten.

June 2007
KERALA CALLING 37
 M O N U M E N T

The Palaces of
Dr. Binumol Tom
Travancore
I
f you have ever felt a sense of
excitement and mystery going
inside any old edifice, it is probably
because its features, materials and
planning principles resonate with the
spirit of the past people and forgone
events. And this excitement about the
unknown is heightened when a historic
artifact is examined architecturally and
reviewed critically to understand the spirit
of the building. The palatial buildings of
Travancore create an enigma in the mind
of a curious learner. According to a report
published in 1943, Travancore had more
than seventy big as well as small palaces,
which were spread from Thovala to
Peerumedu and to Thenkashi areas.
To date, very little information has
been received or gathered about the
logical planning sequence of these
palaces. The land is characterized by Padmanabhapuram palace presenting the glory of ancient Travancore
superior quality of building skills in
timber great understanding and defined style, but also produced Marthanda Varma Maharaja and has
craftsmanship of timber pertaining to the buildings that were pleasingly been considered as the epitome of
southern regional style. The land rich in proportioned and appropriate to the excellence in the field of traditional
timber has buildings mostly constructed human scale, as well as being in complete architecture of Kerala.
out of wood with laterite or stone used harmony with nature and attaining for The complex consists of palaces like
very minimally for plinths and selected themselves longer life span. Though the Thaikottaram, Upparika malika (Kings
walls only. land has witnessed continuous building Palace), Pilamuttu Kottaram,
The roof structure is constructed out activities of varied styles from 1590’s to Veppamuttu Kottaram, Indiravilasam
of timber, covered with thatch or clay early 1800’s, the built forms exhibit palace, Lakhmi vilasam palace,
tiles. Constructed primarily of wood, consistency of indigenous building Thekkemalika and Manimeda along
these buildings were erected with techniques and grandeur of excellent with many ancillary buildings.
relatively strict adherence to the canons craftsmanship in wood. Padmanabhapuram complex wins
of Tachusastra (the science of carpentry), At Padmanabhapuram, the oldest anyone’s heart through its austere
which were formulated over the years of seat of power of the Travancore kings had ambience, exquisite floral carvings,
experience obtained in building a number of palaces that were built extraordinary murals, as the glorious
construction crystallized into a number during a span of around 200 years. The testimony to the traditional architecture
of formulae, governing proportions, initial structures of the palace complex of Kerala. The traditional timber
dimensions, orientation, location and were dated back to 1590. The palace Architecture of Padmanabhapuram
procedures, thus creating a genetic code complex is set within a fort of about 185 palace can stand par with that of Kondo
for timber architecture. Strict adherence acres located strategically at the base of (Nara, Japan) with its excellence in
to the principles laid out by Tachusastra the mountains. The palace enjoyed its wooden craftsmanship, though not in
resulted in the creation of not only a well most glorious days during the reign of age.

38 KERALA CALLING June 2007

 The state of Travancore was a treasure
house of palaces that includes the palaces
at Kadinamkulam, Ulloor, Thiruvallam,
Kazhakkoottam, Vellayambalam,
Thrippappur and Sethalmond. Many
of these are now ruined and the other
few are still craving for the sympathy of
people. Yet the palaces at Kowdiar and
Kanakakunnu stand head and shoulder
above all proclaiming their magnificence
and with a sense of pride of their culture
and traditions.
At
P admanabhapuram,
the oldest seat of
power of the
Travancore kings
had a number of
palaces that were
built during a span
of around
200 years.
The initial structures
of the palace
complex were dated
back to 1590.
The Valiya Kottaram complex inside
the Fort also consists of a series of (cluster
of) palatial buildings. Important among
them are Bhajanappura,
Chokkattmandapam (used for pooja and
related activities), Nalukettu (used for
king’s Durbar) Thevarathu Koyickal,
Ramanamadom and Marthandamadom.
The Karivelippura malika (Karuvelam
means treasury) situated on the southern
portion of Valiakottaram complex was
constructed for Karthika Thirunal
Maharaja during 1776. Other
noteworthy buildings located at the
central portion of the complex are
Rangavilasom (1838) and Puthen malika
(1846) both constructed by illustrious
Sree Swathi Thirunal Maharaja. Puthen
malika is also known as Kuthira malika
due to the series of wooden horse like
gables running through the entire length
of the upper storey of the palace.
The Ananthavilasom Palace
constructed by Visakham Thirunal
Maharaja and Krishna vilasam and
Lekshmi vilasam constructed by Sree
Moolam Thirunal Maharaja are other
important palaces in the Fort Complex.
The Vadakke Kottaram in the fort area
was built during the reign of Aayillyam
Thirunal Maharaja reusing the materials
of Vijayapuram palace of Thiruvalla. It is
currently being used as Govt. Office. The
royal family used the Sankumukham
palace built in 1880 by Visakham
Thirunal Maharaja as an evening retreat
centre.
Built in the mid eighteenth century
by Marthanda Varma Maharajah (1729
– 58) of Travancore, Krishnapuram
palace in Kayamkulam (Alleppey district)
is a typical pathinarukettu, a multi-
courtyard dwelling, comprising of 4
courtyards (four chathurshala) built in
the traditional architectural style of
Travancore. This palatial complex is built
in simhayoni.
The palace complex, which is in two
floors, has the first floor, built completely
of timber. The western chathurshala in
the ground floor is entirely, wooden
construction. The palace was occupied
and maintained by the royal family till
the state re-organisation settlement in
1956.
A lost palace at Eraniel
Eraniel Palace at Marthandom (near
Padmanabhapuram) adjoining the state
of Kerala, which has witnessed many a
decisive change in the history of
Travancore, is dying. There are no clear
records that are left out in history about
the construction of this palace at Eraniel.
Yet, it is presumed that Eraniel palace was
constructed during the reign of Vanchi
Marthanda Varma of the Venad dynasty
about five hundred years ago.
When Padmanabhapuram
(Kalkulam) Palace was completed in 1601
the King Ravi Varma Kulashekhara
shifted the seat of power to
Padmanabhapuram and Eraniel was
maintained as the sub capital. The
historical importance of Eraniel palace is
also connected with Marthanda Varma
Maharaja who is rightly regarded as the
maker of modern Travancore. The palace
at Eraniel has always glittered in the
chronicles of Venad and later Travancore
and the ruining sight of the palace evokes
June 2007
pain in the hearts of those who are
devoted lovers of history.
The palace compound which spreads
over slightly more than three- and- a- half
acres only now consists of three
identifiable parts - the Padippura or the
majestic entrance way (now in total
ruins), the main palace (also called
Kuthiramalika) and third the
vasanthamandapam (spring pavilion).
The central courtyard of this typical
nalukettu played a major role in the day-
to-day life of the occupants, as this
became an extension of the interior
function into the semi exteriors. The
upper level rooms also have an important
relationship with the courtyard. There is
a verandah, which runs all along the
ground floor of the Kuthiramalika
serving as a buffer and circulation space
for the building. The Vasanthamalika,
which used to be the spring palace of the
King, has an Ottakkal Kattil (one stone
cot), which is remarkable for its rich stone
carvings. Above this is a wooden pavilion
adorned with wooden decorations
depicting episodes from Ramayana.
There were a lot more of palaces,
which were very famous like Rathapura
Kottaram at Sasthamangalam (converted
as Tennis Club), Thirumala Kottaram,
Ambarimukhappu (Poojappura),
Manmohan Palace (near Bell heaven),
Nanthancaud Palace etc.
Most of these palace complexes are
‘Hindu Cosmoses’ in themselves, catering
to the needs of all the phases of a human
life, from the time of conception in
mother’s womb to the very end when
one leaves behind the material world and
enters the supreme bliss. As
Kumaraswamy very rightly points out
recognition of beauty depends not on
Sensation but on the right judgment of
the information that these buildings
impart. Some of these palaces do not exist
in their complete form today. Yet any
concerted effort is not proposed either
from the prophets of Heritage or from
the Architectural guilds of the state to
document and collect historic evidence
and positively channelise the
developmental activities in and around
these historic edifices before the
remaining ones also are ruined or
deformed.
The writer is Asst. Professor, School of
Architecture, Government Engineering College,
Thrissur.
KERALA CALLING 39
 P S U
Dr J. R. Warier
T
he Kerala State Horticultural
Products Development
Corporation Limited,
(Horticorp), is a Government
of Kerala undertaking formed in 1989.
The basic objectives of the Corporation
are to reduce the role of middlemen in
the trading of vegetables and fruits so as
to ensure fair price to the farmers for their
produce and to provide all major
vegetables (including cool season varieties)
to the public in the State at a reasonable
price. The thrust, initially, was to ensure
fair prices to farmers and to make available
fruits and vegetables to the end users in
Kerala. Stabilization of prices in the
market is also another thrust area.
Successful forays into the perishable
commodity sector and the effective
market intervention initiatives
undertaken by KSHPDC brought down
prices for the benefit of consumers, even
during seasons of high demand such as
Onam.
40 KERALA CALLING June 2007
Further, during 1996-97, the Kerala
State Horticultural Products
Development Corporation developed a
backward integration strategy of
procurement of produce available in
Kerala through the Haritha groups
located at Panchayath level. The
Corporation also developed a network to
reach out to different target groups of
customers through its Haritha Chain of
outlets.
It was around this time that mandate
was given to KSHPDC to intervene
proactively in promoting beekeeping
activities in the State. The KSHPDC was
made the State Designated Agency for
promotion of beekeeping in Kerala. The
priorities in this sector have been to
conduct awareness programmes in
apiculture, to motivate the farmers so as
to facilitate additional revenue generation,
to enhance the area for beekeeping, to
provide infrastructure for beekeeping, to
help the farmers for increasing the total
production of honey and apiary products
and to achieve higher productivity levels.
Veg and
Fruits
at fair price
The Mission of Horticorp
Having successfully carried out the
responsibilities, the Corporation has now
shifted its focus to the next phase of its
expansion during 2007-08. Plans are
afoot to strengthen the backward linkages
with the producer farmers and also
expand it spatially to newer farmers/
farmer groups to give them an assured
income for their produce. In order to
procure larger volumes of produce from
farmers, we need to attain larger volume
of sales and achieve broader market share
and penetration. Therefore, most of the
attempts of the Corporation are directed
at revamping the infrastructure to meet
the increasing aspirations of the farmer
and the rising demands of the consumer.
The approach of the Corporation is
scientific and is based on executing
planned production with select farmers/
farmer groups/farmer centric
organizations, reducing in and off farm
post harvest losses through hygienic
handling, use of technological know how
and consumer friendly marketing. With
this purpose, the already established
supply chain scheme is being
strengthened qualitatively and up
scaled quantitatively. Further, the
backward integration concept is now
extrapolated to include organized set
up of farmers of other neighboring
states such as SAFAL market at
Bangalore and farmers’ markets of
Tamil Nadu (Uzhavar chandai).
Most of the projects sponsored
by KSHPDC are farmer-centric .
Apart from guaranteeing them an
assured income for their produce
through planned production, the
Corporation also facilitates in raising
their net incomes per unit area. This,
in a wider perspective, can give
impetus to stimulated growth rates
in the economy of rural sector.
On the other hand, we also have
our end-user customers, the
consumers to take care of. At the
outlets run by the Corporations staff,
products are hygienically packed
and brought forth to the consumer.
The result is healthy and wholesome
farm fresh produce for the customer
. destiny is now predictable
The strength of the Corporation
is that it is a pioneering Government
organization in Kerala and perhaps
in India to undertake supply chain
of perishable commodities. Besides,
it has tremendous experience in
horticulture produce procurement
and marketing and scientific
handling of the same. The
knowledge and availability of
infrastructure, technical know how
and the available trained manpower
are its other strengths. There is
immense goodwill and faith of the
farming fraternity and consumer
community and perhaps most
importantly the credibility
commanded by the Corporation
among the public are other positive
points worth mentioning.
The writer is Regional Manager
(Projects), Kerala State Horticultural
Products Development Corporation.
Contd. from page 4
The ice is so HOT
job. This leads to a dwindling agricultural is a glaring icon for an environment
friendly city planning. Would history
economy.
Pain of the peasants is just the tip of repeat?
an iceberg. The Himalayan glaciers are A recent report by the UNEP points
found to be the fastest receding ones in to the fact that the Earth has warmed by
the world. Their vanishing approximately 0.750C
happens at an alarming pace since pre-industrial time,
whereas the average surface
of 10-15 meters per year! It
Social scientists
won’t be an exaggeration if temperature of the Arctic
we predict a life span of just forecast that Circle has risen by more
drastic climatic than 0.50C. It also tells that
50-60 years more for some
alterations all the 11 warmest years of
of them. Since most north
Indian rivers depend on would lead to the past 125 years come
these glacier pools for water, migrations in between 1990 and 2005.
Doesn’t this point to
looming is a future of fierce
search of
drought. When ice melts something wrong with our
rapidly, enormous quantity suitable dwelling environmental dealings
of water get into the stream environs. during the recent decades?
and initially these rivers History texts Why is the Earth hotter?
cause floods. As time goes, carry umpteen of How can we preserve our
water quantity gets stories of human ice-caps?
gradually reduced to reach There is only one way
migrations. Even
the final state of severe left: reduce greenhouse
water scarcity and then our sub-
gases and put a control on
death of the river. This fatal continent has its the soaring atmospheric
own tale to temperature. There are
for major Indian and share. anthropogenic as well as
Chinese rivers including natural greenhouse gases.
Ganga, Brahmaputra, Carbon dioxide, Methane
Sindhu, Salween, Mekong, Yangtze and (CH4), Chlorofluoro-carbons (CFCs)
Huang He. Melting of ice also leads to and Nitrous oxide (N2O) come under
extinction of several precious species of man-made category whereas Carbon
animals, birds and plants along the poles dioxide (CO2), water vapor and even our
and in the mountains. protective ozone are among the natural
Encroaching-sea is a threat for several greenhouse gases. A few practical
coastal cities including our own Kochi. measures to contain the devil are:
Studies have revealed that Mumbai, z Periodically check vehicular emissions
Kochi and Visakhapatnam respectively to control CO2
showed a sea level rise of 0.78, 1.14 and z Keep the wetlands healthy and
0.75 mm per year during 1939 to 1997. public places clean to handle Cfu .
Instead there was a recorded decline by Use judiciously in industries and
0.65mm/year in the sea level of Chennai refrigerators to check discharge of
during 1955-1994. CFCs .
Social scientists forecast that drastic z Practice controlled use of fertilizers
climatic alterations would lead to to stop the formation of N2O
migrations in search of suitable dwelling So next time when your vehicle gets
environs. History texts carry umpteen of a pollution-free certificate, you are joining
stories of human migrations. Even our the march towards a cool, comfortable
sub-continent has its own tale to share. Earth that sustains the challenges of time.
It’s believed that people fled from the Let us gather synergy to keep the world’s
Mehrgarh civilization (7000 BC to 3300 ice-caps shine forever, sending rays of
BC) due to a decline in the climatic good hope.
conditions of ancient Balochistan. They The writer is Head, Department of
gathered along the fertile banks of great Environmental Sciences and Dean of Applied
Sindhu River. Resultant was an ever- Sciences, University of Kerala, Kariavattom,
glorious Indus valley civilization that still Thiruvananthapuram 695581
June 2007
KERALA CALLING 41
 N A T U R E
In olden days
Palmyra trees and
coconut trees were
generally used for
construction of
giant ‘tharavads’
in Kerala.
Constructions made
by palmyra trees
were famous for
their antiquity
antiquity..
Glory of
M.K. Krishnan
Palm Trees
O
nce Palm trees were grown
abundantly at length and
breadth of Peninsular India.
In the Epic ‘Raghuvamsam’
the great poet Kalidas had described that
when Soorya dynasty Emperor Reghu’s
‘digvijaya’ forces entered the boundaries
of Chera Kingdom, they were welcomed
by the leaves of ‘thalavlikshas’ (palmyra
trees).
In the past days people believed that
Palm trees were dwelling of the witches.
In Malabar Manual, William Logan, the
then British Malabar Collector had
mentioned that jaggory produced from
palm trees was one of the eminent
agricultural crops of Malabar during the
19th century. Taxes like ‘enikaram’ - ladder
tax and thalap karam-climbing hoop tax
were levied from the farmers who were
engaged with production of toddy and
jaggory at that lime. The jaggory was
transported to the other parts of British
India. There were a large number of
Jaggory Producers’ Co-operative Societies
in Malabar. Jagogory production was an
income generating occupation for the
people. Above all climbing on palm trees
for the collection of toddy and
manufacturing of jaggory were treated as
42 KERALA CALLING June 2007
magnificent jobs in the society. Jaggery
producers later became so rich to purchase
land from the ‘Jenmies’ (land owners).
Like coconut tree, palm tree also is a
branchless tree with mass of large fan
shaped leaves. Origin of this tree is tropical
Africa. It is known as areccea and belongs
to Borassus Flabellifer family.
In olden days Palmyra trees and
coconut trees were generally used for
construction of giant ‘tharavads’ in Kerala.
Construction made by palmyra trees were
famous for its antiquity. Olden
documents and monuments were
written on palm leaves. Though a number
of surveys had been conducted on various
aspects such as agricultural crops, the
departments like Agriculture, Economics
and Statistics have not initiated to census
the palmyra trees grown in the State.
Thatched sheds covered by palm leaves
are well known for their cooling which is
liked by the tourists. Until the
introduction of plastics in the routine life,
palm fibre brushes were largely used in
the sanitary field. In Palakkad District
there were a large number of small scale
industries based on palm fibre products.
Palm mats were famous for its beauty and
attracted each and everyone.
In the past, palm fruit and its bye
products were familiar and were
consumed by all walks of people in Kerala.
‘Panam Nongu’ the unripe pulp, ‘panam
koombu’ edible sprout of Palmyra
prepared during the monsoon,
‘panampazham’-the ripened palm fruit
are considered as good for health.
In summer season Panam Nongu is
sold along the side walks of National
Highways in Kerala. Panamnongu is
brought from Pollachi and Pazhani in
vehicles in bulk. A number of Tamil
youths are engaged with this business.
Panamnongu is famous for curing prickly
heat.
If palm fibre brushes were used in
our daily life, we can avoid plastic
materials and we can escape From the
menaces of the same. If the soft drinks
extracted from palm trees are widely
used, we can keep away the drinks like
Pepsi Cola etc. From our state.
The Government of Kerala has
started a Corporation for the welfare of
workers relating with. palmyra products.
It is functioning at Nandavanam in
Thiruvananthapuram. If researches are
conducted in the field of Palmyra
products, there is large scope for exports.
Again it will become an income
generating business for the unemployed
youths of Kerala.
 S T U D Y
Subterranean Channel
in Alappuzha district
Dr P. Rajendran
A
nchorages or Mud banks at
Njarakkal and Alappuzha
have been known to mariners
from time immemorial. They
were also aware of the peculiar
characteristics of the sea in these regions.
The sea in these regions is perfectly quite
and smooth during the south-west
monsoon contrary to the tumbling sea
outside.
The earliest account of the Mud
Banks is in an extract from Hamilton's
account of the East Indies in Pinkerton's
collection of Voyager and Travels of 1861.
Later studies of Lieut Taylor, Logan, King
etc. brought out significant characteristics
of the mud bay. Studies reported by King
in the Records of the GSI-vol.xvii in 1884
had shown that the best marked and
most generally known mud banks are at
Njarakkal, near Cochin and at Purakkad,
near Alappuzha. The violent discharge
of mud or oil are confined to Purakkad
bank only and he concludes that there is
an underground discharge of water to
the sea from the lagoon and river system
PHOTO: VENICEXPRESS
Renovated canal in Alappuzha
behind the Alappuzha-Purakkad coast
during the flood time.
It was Heber Drury who had pointed
out, for the first time, in 1858 the
probability of a subterranean channel
communicating with the sea from the
backwater near Njarakkal through which
the large quantities of mud is carried off
and throws up again by the sea in the
form of a bank. Later it was proved by
Crawford in 1860 and according to him
the perfect smoothness of the water at
Alappuzha beach was attributed not to
the softness of the mud at the bottom
Rohde had noted deep
pot-holes of 20 to 70
feet depth in the big lake
east of Alappuzha where
lake is only a few feet
deep and it strengthened
the belief that
subterranean rivers
connect the backwater
with the sea.
June 2007
but due to the existence of a subterranean
passage or stream, or a succession of them
which communicate with some of the
rivers inland and backwater. He had
proved the presence of subterranean
channel there with the sunken pipes
seven hundred yards east from the beach
to a depth of 50 to 60 feet. After going
through the crust of chocolate coloured
sandstone or conglomerate mixture of
that and lignite, the shaft sunk suddenly
to 80 feet proving the presence of a large
cavern probably of the under terrain
channel.
Rohde had noted deep pot-holes of
20 to 70 feet depth in the big lake east of
Alappuzha where lake is only a few feet
deep and it strengthened the belief that
subterranean rivers connect the
backwater with the sea.
This being the only one subterranean
channel ever reported from the west coast
of India, the available data has greater
potentiality. It has greater significance
while looking into the developmental
activities in the coastal region of
Alappuzha district and has ample scope
for more studies by Geologists,
Environmentalists, Agriculturalists,
Hydrologists, Fisheries, Engineers, and
Archaeologists. If integrated
multidisciplinary study is undertaken
several matters such as stability of the
land, land subsidence, high water level,
presence of fossil wood, clay and oil
content in the sea, availability of
petroleum, sea erosion, fishing,
transportation etc. can be dealt with for
the development of the region. It appears
that rise in the water level in the Kuttanad
rice field, railway line stability in the
region, mud bank formation in the sea
etc. have some relation with the
subterranean channel in the region.
The writer is UGC Research Scientist, Dept
of History, University of Kerala.
KERALA CALLING 43
 P E O P L E

Glimpses of
Tribal Arc
Mini P.V. sports in the world because of its 28, 287. During olden days large scale
antiquity. Shooting arrows with a bow is hunting expeditions were organized in

S
ports as such originated as a
leisure time enjoyment. later it
developed as a competitive
event to exhibit various skills
acquired by human beings. Certain
culturally ingrained habits with the
support of technological innovations have
been transformed into the present day
items for sports. Archery has become one
such important event in the arena of
International sports.
An archer is a person who gains
mastery in archery. In the field of sports
Government of India give two awards;
Dronacharya Award, in memoriam of to
the great guru of Kauravas and Pandvas,
is given to the best coaches. Arjuna
Award, to commemorate devoted to the
great Archer Arjuna of Mahabharatha
Classics, is given to the individuals who
are found famous, dedicated and skilled
in their respective sports events.
Archery is one of the most remarkable
Traditional house of
Mullukurumans (Nellara
settlement)
one of the oldest skills practiced by man.
In ancient times the bow and arrows were
used for hunting, and it was considered
as a means for livelihood. The bow and
arrow was the only weapon, which was
used for hunting and self defence 50,000
years ago. Men hunt individually they
themselves decided where and when to
go for hunting and the main interest was
usually to satisfy hunger.
Traditional hunting culture of
Kurichiyans & Mullukurumans
Kurichiyans and Mullukurumans
(SI.No.16 & SI.No.17 in the list of
Scheduled Tribes, (As amended by the
Scheduled Castes and Scheduled Tribes
Orders (Amendment) Act, 2002) live in
the Wayand district, which has the
greatest concentration of Tribal
population in Kerala. They are expert
hunters and trackers. According to 1991
census the population of Kurichiyan is
the near by jungles with bow and arrow,
spear. They were assisted by trained dogs,
the event which was called as
Kadilakkuka. This is an important
occasion for them. An open place is
selected for the process of Kadilakkal and
hunters with bows, arrows and spears
stand there. The trained dogs surround
the jungle from all sides and drive the
animals towards the bows and arrows.
The scared animal succumbs before the
hunters. After catching the animal, the
hunters assemble in a place where the
animals are dressed and distributed.
Once the meat is distributed, a fire is
made with the leaves and small sticks. As
the ritual, some parts of the killed animal
is stuck on a stick and boiling in the fire.
The fried part is given to their traditional
God (Kula Daivam) and after that all of
the hunters eat together.
The population of Mullukurumans
as per 1991 Census is 23,444. They have
a glorious past and the oral tradition says

44 KERALA CALLING June 2007

 fiber of certain trees. The net is so big
enough to encircle an area of about half
an acre or even one acre of land. It serves
like a fence when fixed and tied to poles.
The net when fixed tightly comes up to
a height of eight feet to ten feet from the
ground. Peechang Kathi is used in cutting
the branches and creepers that hinder
archery became a permanent event in
sports items. The Archery association of
India controls the competitions
throughout the country. There are state
wise and district wise units for the
association. For the competitions there
are two types of events viz; Indian Round
and Fita Round. The former one is meant

chery
that the Mullukurumans were the
descendants of the 'Veda' kings who
originally ruled Wayanad. According to
their tradition, God Siva and Goddess
Parvathi descended on earth in the guise
of hunter couple to grant Arjuna, the epic
hero, the boon of Pasupathastram (A
special type of bow and arrow). God
Shiva created a band of hunters to
accompany him and the descendent of
those hunters are now known as the
Mullukurumans. Vattakali is their
traditional dance and in some of the songs
this myth has been described and the
main theme relates to hunting.
Hunting Equipments
The main implements used for
hunting are Thettadi, vii, (bow),
Mottambu (arrow), Kathiyambu,
Pulikundam (spear), Peechang kathi
(knife), Narivalai (tiger net) and Thokku
(gun). They make these implements
according to their traditional way of
knowledge. Thettadi used for catching
small animals and birds with stone which
is placed in a specific place in between
the strings and the pellets just like arrows.
Vii is local name for bow and every male
possesses at least one. The bow is made
out of bamboo. Mottambu is used to
hunt wild animals like hare and wild hen.
The animal becomes unconscious once
the hunter hits it with motta ambu.
When a hunter let off the kathi ambu
(knife arrow) from his bow the animal
falls on the ground after it pierces its body.
Pulikundam is a long, wooden pole of
about eight to twelve feet in length, with
an iron spear head. These are made by
the Vettakuruman tribal community of
Wynad. Narivalai is a net plaited out of
the thick coir spun by the
Mullukurumans themselves from the
their way while they go to jungles for for the traditional archery by using only
hunting. It is with this knife that the indigenous materials and the later for the
animals killed are divided amongst modern archery, the equipments where
themselves. Vilanjikol is used for hunting are made of sophisticated fibre materials.
birds.. If any bird sits either on the In order to upgrade the inherent skill
Vilanjikol itself or on the branch and if of the use of bow and arrow, and also to
its wings come in contact
with the paste on the cole,
the bird drops down. The
paste sticking to the wings
does not allow the wings to
open and thus the helpless
bird, however big or strong
falls and is caught. Avanazhi
is a bamboo case (or materials
likes spathe) for storing the
arrows and it is carried on the
shoulders by using a bamboo
string.
Conservation of
Tradition
The Kurchyians and
Mullukurumans have an
important place in the
history of Malabar. They were
loyal soldiers of Pazhassi Raja.
During the British period,
the Kurichiyans and
Kurumans under the
leadership of Thalakkal
Chandu successfully A view of archery competition
attacked the British army
through their guerrilla tactics and by
using traditional bow and arrows. Its remember the patriotism, valour and
modern form is the art of shooting arrows courage exhibited by the Thalakkal
from a bow to a fixed target. Thus, their Chandu, KIRTADS (Kerala Institute for
traditional way of using the bow and Research, Training and Development
arrow for hunting has been transformed Studies of Scheduled Castes and
into a competitive archery, both at the Scheduled Tribes) has started a State Level
State and National level. In archery the Archery Competition exclusively for the
Kurichiyans of Wayanad excel all the Tribes of Kerala in the year 1982. A
Scheduled Tribes and Non tribes of rolling trophy has been instituted and
Kerala. the competitions are held every year to
The archery competitions for the first boost their morale. Thus, the cultural
time became an item in the Olympics significance. tradition of hunting, transfer
held at Paris, in the 19th century. In 1972 of traditional knowledge, skill
America offered an individual gold medal development, etc are enhanced and
for Archery competition. In 1974, commemorated through these glimpses.
archery was recognized an item at the The writer is Research Officer
(Anthropology) KIRTADS, Chevayur.P.O.,
Asian games held at Tehran. Thereafter Kozhikode

June 2007
KERALA CALLING 45
K.P Rajendran, Minister for Revenue, inaugurates District level Pattayamela
at Thodupuzha.

Title Deed for 5299 Families

When the Government has taken initiative to conduct a Pattyamela in the district 5299
families in the High Range region in Idukki had a sigh of relief. Seven representatives of
landless farmers, SC, ST communities and weaker sections have accepted the title deed from
P.K Rajendran, Minister for Revenue.
Addressing the function, P. K Rajendran said that the Government is committed to
provide pattas to those who have occupied the land before January 1, 1977. He added that
pattayamela will be organised in 140 constituencies on the same day in September. 72,000
acres of surplus land is yet to be taken over by the Government. Effort has been made to
distribute 3172 acre surplus land. On completion of this scheme, 20,000 families will be
getting land in their name. 22,000 tribal families will also get land in the near future.
In the pattaya mela at Kottayam on the other day, the Minister said that the Government
would distribute one lakh title deeds in the next two years, as a part of its commitment to
make all landless people owners of a piece of land.

Kerala Police
50 years with the People
The people in Thiruvananthapuram had a rare occasion
to watch the paraphernalia of the Police force in the State.
An exhibition was organised by the Kerala Police in
connection with the celebrations of 50 years. The wireless
system that was in use in the early 1970s attracted the
people due to its peculiar shape. The big instrument has
now reduced its shape to a small one. Voice logger, another
equipment used by the Police to record all the telephonic
calls to the police stations and wireless messages was another
attraction because this electronic device can record such
messages for a duration of 20,000 hours. This instrument is
very helpful to the Police to catch the anti social elements
who make anonymous calls to the police stations.
The exhibition also narrates how the police wireless
system works with the help of five wireless stations at
Ponmudi, Sanghumala, Nelliampathi, Kurichiyarmala and
Mavunkal. The exhibition also explained how one could
recognise a fake note.

46 KERALA CALLING June 2007


National Award for
Kerala Library
Vidya Poshini Grandalayam, Mannarmala, Malappuram
has won third place for the best Non Governmental
Organization in National level, jointly institute by the Sports
Authority of India and Nehru Yuvak Kendra. K. Jaffar,
President and M. Vijayakumar, Secretary of the Grandalayam
have received the cash award for Rs 25,000 and certificate
from Dr A P J Abdul Kalam, The President of India at a
function in Pune.
Vidya Poshini Grandalayam has also emerged as
outstanding Youth Club at State level for the year 2006.
Office bearers of the Vidyaposhini Grandalayam
receives award from A.P.J Abdul Kalam, the President
of India.
Admission Festival
Amidst joy and anxiety, thousands of children enter
into the world of learning as the new academic year
commenced on 4th of June. The Education
Department conducted admission festivals
(praveshanotsavam) in primary schools all over Kerala
with the help of local bodies. The State level function
was inaugurated by the Education Minister M.A. Baby
at Aazhchavattom Higher Secondary School,
Kozhikode.
Kids by tasting sweets and singing songs with
broken words enjoyed the feast arranged for them.
The admission festival started with a cultural procession.
While inaugurating the function the Minister said
that it was for the fist time that a State level admission
festival is being conducted outside the Capital. The
admission festivals were celebrated in district levels also.
Prominent leaders including Ministers attended the
functions.
Nurturing
prosperity
Legend is that there existed a ‘chekkithottam (ixora garden)
in Kavarathi, Capital of Lakshadweep. Ixora, an environmental
organisation, which stands for the revival of that legendary
garden, has sent a gift to our Chief Minister through Greens,
its counterpart in the state Secretariat, as a gesture of their
solidarity with his green crusades, in a programme ‘Ecomeet’
held at Kavarathi. The gift was a coconut sapling of
Pathinettampatta, a special variety of coconut palm. The name
means that the palm will start bearing after its 18th leaf comes
out. The duration, i.e., one and a half year, synchronises with a
newborn baby’s first hair removal ceremony. The baby is given
the first tender coconut to eat and drink. It is a symbol of
anything that gives positive result earlier. And, the Chief
Minister planted it in the right front of the Durbar Hall of
Secretariat.
June 2007
KERALA CALLING 47
 Tender hands to
render greenery
Keeping in tune with the Kerala Government’s deep
commitment to preserve the environment and utilising the
State’s natural recourses in a sustainable manner, the
Government initiated the ‘Ente Maram Padhathi’ (My Tree
Project) in schools, which was jointly organised by Education
and Forest Departments. Around 22 lakh students of standards
V to IX planted tree saplings in their house premises on June
5, the World Environment Day as part of the project. A diary
bearing poems of ONV Kurup, Sugathakumari and Vyloppilly
Sreedhara Menon and tips for environmental conservation
was given to the students. Being the largest school forestry
project in the world, the programme is meant to create
environmental awareness among students.
The participation of renowned environmentalist Medha Patkar
who planted the first sapling at the inaugural function brought
‘My Tree project’ to national and international attention.
PRAKASH, I&PRD

This programme is especially relevant in the context of rampant

deforestation, mindless exploitation of nature etc. and is a
positive step towards a better earth and a better tomorrow.
- Subin Mananthavady

LIFE & LINE P.V. Krishnan

48 KERALA CALLING June 2007

 Tender hands to
render greenery
Keeping in tune with the Kerala Government’s deep
commitment to preserve the environment and utilising the
State’s natural recourses in a sustainable manner, the
Government initiated the ‘Ente Maram Padhathi’ (My Tree
Project) in schools, which was jointly organised by Education
and Forest Departments. Around 22 lakh students of standards
V to IX planted tree saplings in their house premises on June
5, the World Environment Day as part of the project. A diary
bearing poems of ONV Kurup, Sugathakumari and Vyloppilly
Sreedhara Menon and tips for environmental conservation
was given to the students. Being the largest school forestry
project in the world, the programme is meant to create
environmental awareness among students.
The participation of renowned environmentalist Medha Patkar
who planted the first sapling at the inaugural function brought
‘My Tree project’ to national and international attention.
PRAKASH, I&PRD

This programme is especially relevant in the context of rampant

deforestation, mindless exploitation of nature etc. and is a
positive step towards a better earth and a better tomorrow.
- Subin Mananthavady

LIFE & LINE P.V. Krishnan

48 KERALA CALLING June 2007