Prof. Jancy James and Prof. Paula RichmanLaunch of Central University of Kerala – Public Interface Programme (CUK-PIP)
The Central University of Kerala (CUK) launched its First Public Interface Programme with the inauguration of the Katha series of public lectures and events based on the theme of ‘Narrative,’ planned by the Department of Comparative Literature, School of Languages and Comparative Literature.
Katha I: Ramayana and Other Stories, was inaugurated by our honourable Vice-Chancellor, Prof. Jancy James on 22nd January 2010.. The inaugural session featured well-known scholar and writer, Prof. Paula Richman, (William H Danforth Professor of South Asian Religions, Oberlin College, Ohio, USA). Prof. Richman delivered a public lecture (Katha Lecture Series – I) on “The Unique Ramayana Traditions of South India.” This talk was based on Prof. Richman’s most recent work, Ramayana Stories in Modern South India: An Anthology.
During the post-lunch session, Prof. MN Karassery delivered a lecture on “Literary Traditions of North Malabar.” Professor Karassery’s talk acted as a prelude to the cultural evening that began with readings from the Mappila Ramayanam (original and translation) by Prof. MN Karassery and Prof. Paula Richman. (Mapplia Ramayanam is an Islamic Ramayanam, in the Muslim dialect of Northern Malabar, which was popularised by Hassankutty (“the Mad”) who wandered about singing it aloud)
Katha I celebrated the vital role of ‘story’ (katha) in moulding societies and cultures. Stressing the comparative nature of the programme, we brought together various narratives – oratory, poetry, photography, docu-film, puppetry – into the single frame of Katha I. This celebration of the narratives included a a docu-film (20 minutes) on Cockfight (a favourite sport of warrior tribes and people living in the coastal Tulunadu region, that has its mention in the literature of the Sangham Age, and is acknowledged as one of the sixty-four arts); Photography Exhibition on Kambala or Buffalo Race (played to show gratitude to the gods, who protect the crops from destruction); and the staging of Yakshagana Bombeyattam (puppetry in the style of Yakshagana, an audio-visual folk art popular in the southern parts of coastal Karnataka and northern Kerala) featuring the story of “Narakasura Vadham” from the Bhagavatha.
The Central University of Kerala (CUK) launched its First Public Interface Programme with the inauguration of the Katha series of public lectures and events based on the theme of ‘Narrative,’ planned by the Department of Comparative Literature, School of Languages and Comparative Literature.
Katha I: Ramayana and Other Stories, was inaugurated by our honourable Vice-Chancellor, Prof. Jancy James on 22nd January 2010.. The inaugural session featured well-known scholar and writer, Prof. Paula Richman, (William H Danforth Professor of South Asian Religions, Oberlin College, Ohio, USA). Prof. Richman delivered a public lecture (Katha Lecture Series – I) on “The Unique Ramayana Traditions of South India.” This talk was based on Prof. Richman’s most recent work, Ramayana Stories in Modern South India: An Anthology.
During the post-lunch session, Prof. MN Karassery delivered a lecture on “Literary Traditions of North Malabar.” Professor Karassery’s talk acted as a prelude to the cultural evening that began with readings from the Mappila Ramayanam (original and translation) by Prof. MN Karassery and Prof. Paula Richman. (Mapplia Ramayanam is an Islamic Ramayanam, in the Muslim dialect of Northern Malabar, which was popularised by Hassankutty (“the Mad”) who wandered about singing it aloud)
Katha I celebrated the vital role of ‘story’ (katha) in moulding societies and cultures. Stressing the comparative nature of the programme, we brought together various narratives – oratory, poetry, photography, docu-film, puppetry – into the single frame of Katha I. This celebration of the narratives included a a docu-film (20 minutes) on Cockfight (a favourite sport of warrior tribes and people living in the coastal Tulunadu region, that has its mention in the literature of the Sangham Age, and is acknowledged as one of the sixty-four arts); Photography Exhibition on Kambala or Buffalo Race (played to show gratitude to the gods, who protect the crops from destruction); and the staging of Yakshagana Bombeyattam (puppetry in the style of Yakshagana, an audio-visual folk art popular in the southern parts of coastal Karnataka and northern Kerala) featuring the story of “Narakasura Vadham” from the Bhagavatha.
See the story in The Hindu
