Thiruvananthapuram

Rare collectables from Mappilakala Academy

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Pravasa Jeevitham, an exhibition that is under way on the Public Library premises as part of the Loka Kerala Sabha, has collectables from the Mahakavi Moinkutty Vaidyar Mappilakala Akademi at Kondotty in Malappuram.

The objects are some of those collected by Moidu Kizhisseri during his travels to 45 countries. His vast collection is kept at the Academy after it was purchased following government sanction. The Academy is making arrangements to display the collection. Work is expected to be over by the end of March.

‘Chunnambupatram’ used to store lime for chewing betel leaves, containers for storing tea from West Asia, ink pots, pens from Germany, ‘suruma cheppu’ for storing suruma for lining eyes, ‘karpoorapathram’ used for lit camphor are among the objects at the expo here.

Hookah from Turkey used for smoking tobacco, ‘kuja’ used for storing wine, Korean kettles, wall torch stands, and currency notes from various countries such as the Philippines, France, Cyprus, Iran, Mexico, U.S., Germany, Myanmar, Japan, and the U.K. are also on display. One of the currency notes from Pakistan is one that was available to Haj pilgrims from there in Saudi Arabia, Academy executive member K.A. Jabbar said.

Meanwhile, at the Tourism office, arrangements have been made for the public to take selfies with passports of countries having Malayali diaspora forming the backdrop. The passports can be seen on an adjacent LED wall simultaneously.

Four students of RLV College of Music and Fine Arts, Tripunithura, are also on hand to do live sketches. BFA students Amal Paily and Pratheesh Nirichan and two MFA students sketch those coming to watch the displays as part of the Loka Kerala Sabha.

The duo said they had sketched five to six persons but hoped to get more practice with more people coming to take passport selfies.

Printable version | Jan 13, 2018 1:10:23 AM | http://www.thehindu.com/news/cities/Thiruvananthapuram/rare-collectables-from-mappilakala-academy/article22432295.ece