Tuesday 4 October 2011

Sweet Memories About Kerala Kalasamithi

By A.C. Guptan 

{Mr.Guptan has been a founder member and an active worker of the Kerala Kalasamithi throughout the past three decades. He has also served the Samithi in various capacities including Presidentship. We all look upto the guidance of Shri.Guptan in view of his sincere dedication, enthusiastic support and wide experience in organisational matters. He is in fact much like an elder family member for all of us.} 


I would like to narrate my sweet memories about Kerala Kalasamithi. I joined this Institute as an Apprentice in the Mechanical Engineering Department in January 1965.

As you know it was decided that Onam will be celebrated as the National festival of Kerala by the first Communist Ministry headed by our late Com. E M S Namboodiripad. (Kerala State was formed on 1st November 1956) In 1966, the staff and students of Kerala, working at IIT Madras, decided to celebrate Onam festival in a grand manner. A "Onam Agosha Committee" was form under the chairmanship of Prof. P.C. Varghese in 1966 and the festival was celebrated with a "Ona Sadhya" at Cauvery Hostel and a 16 mm Malayalam film show. In 1967, "Ona Sadhya" was arranged at the Ladies Club with cultural programmes. Till the birth of Kerala Kalasamithi, Onam was celebrated every year under the chairmanship of Prof. P.C. Varghese, Prof. K.A.V. Pandalai, Prof. V. Radhakrishnan, Prof. J.C. Kuriakose, Prof. C.N. Pillai and Prof. P.K. Aravindan. Kerala KalaSamithi was borne in the year of 1973-1974. Dr. J.C. Kuriakose was the first president, followed by Sri. A.C. Guptan, Prof. C. N. Pillai, Prof Unnikrishnan, Prof. N.G. Nai, Prof. P. Achuthan, Prof. M.S. Gopinathan, Prof. C.K. Narayanaswamy, Prof. P.K. Philip, Prof. M.A. Parameswaran, Prof. P.K. Aravindan and Prof. P. Kesavan Nair.

Since the Kerala Kalasamithis birth, we celebrated not only Onam, but also Vishu, Easter and Christmas. We have staged dramas, dances, Kaikottikali, Kummi, Kolattam, Light Music, fancy dress competitions and literary competitions. Many of these functions were held at the OAT. Staff, their families and students participated in these functions. Some of the outstanding dramas were "Mukthi", "Bharana Kakshi MLA" written and directed by a former secretary Sri. N. Natesan(Vattiyurkkavu). The following members have done yeoman service for our Samithi: M/s N.A. Somasundaram, T.A. Sivaraman, K.N. Govindhan, George Mathew, V. Sahadevan, P. Narayana Kurup, P.K. Gopi, V. Ramachandran, M.N. Harifin, Bhaskaran K, Balakrishnan, Chellapan and late Dinesan.

The activities of the Samithi were guided by Sri A.S. Satheesan, Sri R Santhanakrishnan, Sr. V.K. Vidyasagar, James Muricken, Dr. Balachandra Pillai, Dr. Job Kurian. From the students side, Mr. Andrews, Mr. Parameswaran, Mr. Vijayan, Mr. Kartha, Mr. Dilsha, Mr. Anil, Mr. Bhaskaran Nai, gave tremendous support. The campus ladies- Smt. Leela Vidyasagar, Smt Padmavathy Pillai, Smt. Rathy C.N. Kutty, Smt. Kuriacose, Smt. Sridevi Antharjanam, Smt. Sindhu B. Pillai, Smt. Shantha Somasundaram, Smt. Natesan, Smt. Roja Devi, Smt. Shoba Nair, Smt, Prema AnathaSubramaniam have contributed enormously for the success of the Samithi functions. We also acknowledge our thanks to Sri. N. A Radha, brother of Sri N. A. Somasundaram, Seva stage for helping make-up and stage setup.


We have conducted Malayalam classes for interested persons in the Campus. We have donated an amount to Vanavani Matriculation Higher Secondary School for Malayalam scholarship. This amount was collected through the sponsored programme 'Santhosh Melodies' held at OAT.

We have participated not only in cultural activities but also in social activities. We have collected old clothes and have distributed them as well as food to the flood affected people at Gandhi Mandapam We have received appreciation letters from the Institute, Guild of Service, Rotary Club and the Governor of Tamil Nadu. We have participated in drama competitions held by the Madras Kerala Samajam. We have also conducted annual picnics to various picnic spots like Sathanur dam, Ginji fort, Pondicherry, Mahabalipuram, Thiruvannamalai, etc. The picnics were a tremendous success with good participation from our family members and students. An unforgettable Yoga demonstration was conducted by our former secretary Sri K. Velayudhan at OAT. Kerala Kalasamithi has also collected a good amount to help the bereaved families of late Sri Dinesan and Madhavan.


In recent years, on the eve of Onam, skits like Mahabali, Havala, written, acted and directed by our former President Prof. M.S. Gopinathan were tremendous successes. We were also able to screen movies like Chemmeen, Ragam, Vadakkan Veera Gatha, Utharayanam, Niralyam, Vathsalyam, Kilukam and almost all the Manjilar movies through Mr. Andres, a former Research scholar in the Department of Chemistry.



We had maximum membership during the years 1968 to 1974; about 168 staff members, out of while 68 were from Mechanical Engineering Department itself (Thanks to Prof R G Narayanamoorthy, then the head of Mechanical Engineering Dept. and former Director). But today it has come down to about 80 staff members due to retirement/demise etc. Since 1986 till today, I am afraid that we have recruited among the faculty, class IV, III, II and I only about 14 persons.
Today I am proud that we are able to bring out a Souvenir on the eve of the Silver Jubilee of the Samithi. This has been made possible only due to the tireless efforts of the President and all the members.

If I have omitted anybody, kindly excuse me. It is not intentional - but due to age!

With best wishes,
A.C. Guptan 

(Blogger's Note : this article was reproduced from here)

Thursday 22 September 2011

സ്ത്രീപക്ഷ സാഹിത്യത്തിന്റെ വളര്‍ച്ചയും, ഇന്നിന്റെ ആശങ്കകളും - സംവാദം

പരമ്പരാഗതമായ പുരുഷാധിപധ്യ വ്യവസ്ഥിതിയില്‍, "പെണ്ണെഴുത്ത്‌" അതിജീവിച്ച വെല്ലുവിളികളെക്കുറിച്ചും, ഇന്നത്തെ കാലഘട്ടത്തില്‍ സ്ത്രീപക്ഷ സാഹിത്യം നേരിടുന്ന ആശങ്കകളെ സംബന്ധിച്ചുള്ള ഒരു ചര്‍ച്ചക്ക് കേരള കലാസമിതി വേദിയൊരുക്കുന്നു. സപ്തംബര്‍ 24 ശനിയാഴ്ച 2:30 മണിക്ക് HSB 356-ല്‍ (Humanities department) വെച്ചാണ് പ്രസ്തുത പരിപാടി നടക്കുന്നത്. ഇന്ത്യാ ടുഡെയില്‍ ജേര്‍ണലിസ്റ്റ് ആയ നയന്‍താര എന്‍. ജി. ആണ് ഈ ചര്‍ച്ചക്ക് നേതൃത്വം നല്‍കുന്നത്. എല്ലാ മലയാളി സുഹൃത്തുക്കളെയും സാദരം ക്ഷണിച്ചു കൊള്ളുന്നു.

Friday 16 September 2011

മേക്കപ്പ് മാൻ - സിനിമ പ്രദർശനം



This saturday's malayalam movie at 8:00PM in OAT is : "Make up man"
Director - Shafi; Music - Vidyasagar; Cast - Jayaram, Sheela,Suraj Venjarammoodu
Review can be found at:
http://www.sify.com/movies/malayalam/review.php?id=14962761&ctid=5&cid=2428

-Murthy, President, Film Club, IIT Madras.

Thursday 15 September 2011

സാഹിത്യ സംവാദം - സമകാലികമായ എഴുത്തു രീതികൾ

സമകാലികമായ എഴുത്തു രീതികളെക്കുറിച്ചും, സാഹിത്യരംഗത്ത് പുതുതായി വന്നിട്ടുള്ള മാറ്റങ്ങളെക്കുറിച്ചുമൊക്കെയുള്ള ഒരു സംവാദത്തിന് കേരള കലാ സമിതി വേദിയൊരുക്കുന്നു. മലയാളത്തിലെ യുവനോവലിസ്റ്റും, പ്രശസ്ത ബ്ലോഗ്ഗറും ആയ വി എം ദേവദാസ് നയിക്കുന്ന സാഹിത്യ സംവാദം 17th സെപ്റ്റമ്പര്‍ 2011, ശനിയാഴ്ച ഉച്ച തിരിഞ്ഞ് 2.30 മണിക്ക്, Ocean Engineering department-ലെ seminar hall-ല്‍ വെച്ച് നടത്തുന്നു. ഏവരെയും സാദരം ക്ഷണിച്ചു കൊള്ളുന്നു.

Tuesday 6 September 2011

Why Kerala Kala Samithi?

Prof. Dr. P. Achuthan, Formerly Prof. & Head, Dept. of Mathematics, IIT Madras
{Prof. Achuthan has been one of the leading lights of Kerala Kalasamithi since its inception and has also served as the President of the Samithi. He continues to take interest and guides us even after his retirement from IIT.}


Just a few moments of attention of all concerned would like to be earnestly invited to the above question, the answer to which is worth careful examining. Having been associated with the birth, growth and the forthcoming varied directions of progress of the IIT, Madras, I wish to inform and plead with everyone interested in the well-being of our brothers and sisters all over, how vital it is to have an entity like the Kerala Kalasamithi ( KKS) here around. Yes, for several apt reasons, we ought to encourage and support the genuine efforts of friends and well-wishers in nurturing the cultural activities in a spirited, united and effective manner. The KKS, amply fills up a significant gap in making the campus life more mutually conducive and colorful.

The human being does not live and for mere material comforts alone, although these are certainly very necessary and important. Indeed, more crucial than satisfying the day-to-day needs of man, there is an inner urge to take oneself far beyond and properly into the intellectual, social and spiritual realms as well. For achieving the fulfillment in such spheres of life, thereby enabling to raise oneself up as a noble soul, it is quite essential to be creative as also truly considerate with compassion to our fellow men. To gracefully give something good to others is the best that we can crave for. But to do so, we must have made it for ourselves to begin with. Unless we strain our ever nerve to excel in whatever we perform, we cannot reach up to that required level of ability and capacity to deliver.

Only in an atmosphere, fragrant with civilized thoughts and mature minds, rooted in the eternal faith to deserve and serve, such a potential can exist. An organized body as the KKS, situated in this nice city of Chennai can and should accomplish this. It is imperative that we wholeheartedly welcome and appreciate its selfless work for the benefit of all.

Decades ago, the KKS was initiated. Thanks to the participation of generations of students, faculty and staff of the institute, the Samithi has grown. It will have to continue to go forward, this meeting a purposeful, healthy cause of promoting the affectionate ties between the people from Kerala and others. We can meaningfully educate everyone willing to learn in a variety of ways in a number of fields of knowledge, art, culture, literature, etc., bearing on the rich history, customs and traditions of the land. The precious legacies, powerful aspects of language, poetry. Drama, dance, Mohiniattam, Kathakali and so on chiefly based in Kerala, are really fascinating. Undoubtedly, it will be of immense individual and collective advantage to arrange for sharing the experience and insights of the population from one region with those of the neighbours, structured on a sober platform of long-cherished ethics and ideals. This goal is being approached through man, steps and methods for which a proper venue and appropriate occasion have been made available by KKS in such a beautiful setup and surroundings. I am sure all of us will render every possible.

While we may be anxious to score high concrete points in proclaiming our worldly wants, a well-balanced personality of everlasting value and vitality can be gained only via working with organization similar to the KKS. It is my deep-felt sincere hope and prayer that KKS will be still ever by strengthened. All those who contribute in this grand endeavor shall attain great success and loving happiness in a prosperous and peaceful nation of our dreams.

Prof. Dr. P. Achuthan

Formerly Prof. & Head,

Dept. of Mathematics, IIT Madras

Thursday 14 April 2011

ആഗസ്റ്റ്‌ 15 - സിനിമ പ്രദർശനം

Kerala Kala Samithi (KKS) invites you for a malayalam movie to be screened today {April 15th (Friday)} at 8.00 clock in OAT.

Movie Name; August 15 (2011)
Screen Play: S. N. Swamy
Cast: Madhu, Mammootty, Meghna Raj, Shweta Menon, Nedumudi Venu etc.
Director: Shaji Kailas



Mammootty is playing an investigative cop Perumal in Shaji Kailas directed August 15, a sort of sequel to Mammootty’s super hit August 1 (1988).

KKS executive committee