Folklore Academy fellowships announced

By Our Special Correspondent

THIRUVANANTHAPURAM, AUG. 11. The first fellowships of the Kerala Folklore Akademy goes to Kodakkadu Kannapperuvannan and Mariamma John, the Minister for Fisheries and Culture, Mr. T. K. Ramakrishnan, announced here on Friday.

Each of the fellowships carries Rs. 10000, a statuette designed by C. N. Karunakaran, and a citation.

The Minister said Kannapperuvannan was chosen for the award considering his contributions to the folk art of Theyyam. He had presented Theyyams more than 12,000 times and had won several awards and distinctions. He was also an expert in making costumes for Theyyams.

Mariamma John, who was born in the Sambava community, was one of the few exponents of the folklore of the Sambava community. She works as a sweeper in the S. B. College, Changanassery. She is one of the rarest persons who has also taken classes for the M. A. (Malayalam) students of the college in folklore while serving as sweeper. She has published a collection folk songs.

Mr. Ramakrishnan also announced awards for excellence in various branches of folklore to 15 persons. Each of these awards carry Rs. 5000 besides a statuette and citation. Winners are the following with their area of contribution in brackets.

T. S. Sankaran Nambiar (Theeyattu), Kottangal Ramakrishna Panicker (Padayani), Dwaraka Krishnan (Kanyar Kali), Chundeli (Gaddhika), K. P. Chanthu Panicker (Kothammooripattu), V. P. Raman (Thira), V. Bhanu Asan (Folk Dance), P. Gopala Pillai (Kakkarissi drama), Poonthala Moyin (Mappilappattu), Ambalappuzha Parameswara Kurup (Kalamezhuthu), Maingidiyan Kannan Gurukal (Thudi), K. K. Samuel (Margamkali), Mayyicha P. Govindan (Poorakkali), K. Vidhya Sagar (writing -- for the book 'Anushtanam, Puravritham, Porul') and Dr. M. V. Vishnu Namboodiri (writing).

The chairman of the Akademy, Prof. M. V. Kannan, and secretary, Mr. Kaviyoor Rajagopalan, told presspersons that the awards were instituted after sub-categorising the folklore which could be broadly divided into ritualistic and non-ritualistic. The winners in writing were chosen by a three-member judging committee (Mr. P. Govinda Pillai, Mr. K. K. N. Kurup and Mr. Raghavan Payyanad) while the others were chosen by the executive committee of the Akademy. The awards would be presented at a function in Kannur in October.

Prof. Kannan said the Akademy laid stress on the protection of folk arts, welfare of artists and extension of scholastic knowledge on folklore. It also aimed at revival and documentation of folklore that were becoming extinct for want of practitioners. With a view to creating awareness among students about folklore, it was organising performances by a travelling group of artists. The assistance of the South Zone Cultural Centre was expected for this programme.

The Akademy, he said, also had plans to honour old artists and give medical assistance to them. A publication on folklore was also planned. August 22 would be observed as folklore day. Seminars, classes, and performances would be held in this connection. The official organ of the Akademy, Janakala, would also be released on the occasion.

He said the Akademy would organise a workshop in use of folk instruments this year. It was already providing stipend to students learning folk arts from asans. However, there was little scope for employment in this area.

Prof. Kannan said the Akademy was trying to build a headquarters for it. However, this might take some time as funds would have to raised.

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