THIRUVANANTHAPURAM: ‘Malayalam Pallikkoodam’, the brainchild of poet V Madhusoodhanan Nair to initiate children in the age group of 4 to 6 years into the learning of Malayalam, will be launched on Chingam 1 of the Malayalam calendar year 1190.
At Malayalam Pallikkoodam, children will be taught Malayalam by making them to write on sand without having to use paper or pen. The Malayalam Pallikkoodam is providing an opportunity for children to learn nature in its innate beauty. Familiarising the flora and fauna and the animal world would bring them close to nature.
“Our mother tongue gets neglected and struggles to hold its place in the schools under the dominance of English. We have become a mute witness to this situation. It is high time we took some efforts to help sustain our heritage,” Madhusoodhanan Nair told a news conference here.
He pointed out that Malayalam language was rich in proverbs, myths and grandmother tales which could open the doors to the world of imagination for children. He said if children lose such a world of imagination linked to our culture and heritage, we cannot expect anything from such a generation.
Nair said Malayalam Pallikkoodam would be an attempt to help sustain our culture and heritage through children.
“Here, children will be able to live the life with Malayalam. They will be taught how to make balls with palm leaves as well as paper boats. They will be made to sing songs and tell tales. Myths and grandmother tales will expand their horizons of imagination,” Madhusoodhanan Nair, who is the chairman of the Centre for Cultural Studies, under which the project is being launched, said.
He pointed out that when children are given a chance to make toys on their own, it will be adding an impetus to their creative energy and imagination.
The novel venture would be aimed at imparting knowledge about the social subjects with a bend on the traditional values. There will be opportunity for the children to learn directly from well-known and prominent personalities. Children will get an opportunity to tell folk stories and sing folk songs.
Coordinators Jessy Narayanan, artist Narayana Bhattathiri, Fr Geevarghese Mekkatt and advisory committee member C Rahim attended the news conference.