by Sucheth P R
03 April 2013
Thalassery: The Thalassery Carnival launched over three decades ago with a mission to wean away youngsters from bloody political clashes and engage them in cultural activities, fails to arouse the attention of townsfolk of late. Envisaged by then Sub-Collector of Thalassery Amitabh Kanth the carnival was introduced as a grand cultural extravaganza in 1982 after a series of political murders in 1981 threw normal life of the region out of gear. The visionary Sub-Collector whom the town always revere had the idea that a grand cultural event would heal the wounds in the minds of warring political activists and bring much needed prosperity to the heritage town. As the Carnival now entered the 31st year it has moved far from its initial objectives, lost charm and reduced to a mere venue for orchestra and dance troupes. People of the region who are now after commercially and professionally organised events in adjoining villages, shopping malls and beaches show little enthusiasm in turning up for the carnival.
The event which was interrupted for a few years at the dawn of the new millennium was revived during the term of Kodiyeri Balakrishnan as Tourism Minister. Kodiyeri had announced that the event would be included in the tourism calendar of the state and revived in an elaborate manner. Though it was also declared that the event would be conducted in January every year, this time it has been postponed to March-April. The founders of the carnival had decided to conduct it between November and January as it was found that the political violence used to reach its zentih during these months.
Till the late 1990s the carnival was conducted with the wholehearted participation of business establishments, schools, colleges, NCC and arts and sports clubs in the region. The entire town used to get decorated in novel ways which used to charam travellers. Historical monuments of the town, including the Thalassery Fort and the dark caverns in it were opened for public during day and night. A grand food festival offering the unique items of Thalassery was another attraction of the carnival.
Artist K K Marar said that it was the success of the Thalassery Carnival in the 1980s which later prompted Amitabh Kanth to introduce Malabar Fest in Kozhikode when he was appointed Collector there. He said that the people of Thalassery have been fed up with the mere repetition of substandard mimicries and orchestras being presented in carnival venues recently.
The New Indian Express
03 April 2013
Thalassery: The Thalassery Carnival launched over three decades ago with a mission to wean away youngsters from bloody political clashes and engage them in cultural activities, fails to arouse the attention of townsfolk of late. Envisaged by then Sub-Collector of Thalassery Amitabh Kanth the carnival was introduced as a grand cultural extravaganza in 1982 after a series of political murders in 1981 threw normal life of the region out of gear. The visionary Sub-Collector whom the town always revere had the idea that a grand cultural event would heal the wounds in the minds of warring political activists and bring much needed prosperity to the heritage town. As the Carnival now entered the 31st year it has moved far from its initial objectives, lost charm and reduced to a mere venue for orchestra and dance troupes. People of the region who are now after commercially and professionally organised events in adjoining villages, shopping malls and beaches show little enthusiasm in turning up for the carnival.
The event which was interrupted for a few years at the dawn of the new millennium was revived during the term of Kodiyeri Balakrishnan as Tourism Minister. Kodiyeri had announced that the event would be included in the tourism calendar of the state and revived in an elaborate manner. Though it was also declared that the event would be conducted in January every year, this time it has been postponed to March-April. The founders of the carnival had decided to conduct it between November and January as it was found that the political violence used to reach its zentih during these months.
Till the late 1990s the carnival was conducted with the wholehearted participation of business establishments, schools, colleges, NCC and arts and sports clubs in the region. The entire town used to get decorated in novel ways which used to charam travellers. Historical monuments of the town, including the Thalassery Fort and the dark caverns in it were opened for public during day and night. A grand food festival offering the unique items of Thalassery was another attraction of the carnival.
Artist K K Marar said that it was the success of the Thalassery Carnival in the 1980s which later prompted Amitabh Kanth to introduce Malabar Fest in Kozhikode when he was appointed Collector there. He said that the people of Thalassery have been fed up with the mere repetition of substandard mimicries and orchestras being presented in carnival venues recently.
“The carnival organisers should respect the aesthetic sense of the people. Lack of variety in programmes and the absence of innovative cultural events have dampened the spirit of a great idea. The art forms from various parts of India should be staged in the carnival. The Tourism Department has the responsibility, in ensuring quality of programmes beyond sponsoring the event” he added.Literary critic M P Radhakrishnan said that a festive context like the carnival must have its intellectual content which is noticeably missing in Thalassery.
“The carnival has been reduced to an event of self indulgence on the part of television heroines and mimicry artists. Those who mastermind this drama do not go beyond its commercial texture. Central to this farce is a void which is suggestive of our intellectual bankruptcy,” he added.
The New Indian Express
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