PALAKKAD: The book ‘Nellarayude Kayyoppu’, brought out by the Information and Public Relations Department to list the achievements of the LDF Government in the district, has interestingly adopted the sequences from O V Vijayan’s magnum opus Khazakinte Ithihasam and Malayatoor Ramakrishnan’s Ponni to highlight the development works undertaken in the district.
The book has blended the cultural heritage and development of the district with these masterpieces.
District Collector K V Mohan Kumar, who has written an introduction to the book, lists the development works undertaken by different departments in the district. For this, he has sought the aid of Ravi, the celebrated protagonist of Khazakinte Ithihasam.
The glossy booklet says that Ravi will have lost his way if he got down at Koomankavu in Thazrak today all because of the changes Koomankavu underwent during development.
The item goes on to state that the mention of Khazakinte Ithihasam in the booklet is a tribute to O V Vijayan on his fifth death anniversary. The booklet also contains sketches meant to recreate the scenes envisaged in Khazakinte Ithihasam.
It is also mentioned in the book that the Thazrak village has been included under the Heritage Village Scheme by the Tourism Department. The scheme envisages building a welcome arch to the Thazrak village at Thaneerpandal near Koomankaavu.
The ‘Mylanchi Patha’ (road) which Ravi took would be tarred. Along this road, there will the ‘Njattupura’ and the ‘Othupalli’ of Allapicha Molakka.
The book then explains the development projects undertaken to highlight the cultural heritage of the district. The plans of the District Tourism Promotion Council to include the Peruvembu village, where traditional musical instruments like tabla and mridangam are manufactured, in the scheme is described in the book. Central projects like the BEML unit in Kanjikode and the Railway coach factory has also been mentioned.
The developments in Attappadi is viewed through Malayatoor Ramakrishnan’s Ponni which has Attapadi as its backdrop.
The Karuvara Ooru of Ponni and the Chemmanur Ooru of her lover Maran have found a mention in the book citing the transformation that took place over the years. Over 2000 copies of the 80-page book has been published.
Unlike most of the booklets brought out by the Public Relations Department, this one is unique and uses these renowned literary works to highlight the developments.
