A window to an enchanting past

Opening a window to Kerala’s rural and agrarian life in the last four centuries, the State’s largest exhibition of collectibles comprising both archives and artefacts began at the Ahalia Heritage Village at Kozhipara, near Walayar, here on Monday.

The exhibits include coins, currencies, household items, agricultural equipment, musical instruments and several other valuables of a bygone era, collected from across the State by seven heritage lovers.

They are on display in the upcoming museum building of the heritage village located inside the complex of the Ahalia Group of Educational Institutions.

3,000 on display

“There are over 3,000 artefacts on display. They are rare and unseen by most of the people thronging the exhibition. The exhibition is the first step in equipping the village with Kerala’s largest museum of collectibles,” said R.V.K. Varma, director of the village.

The major attraction of the exhibition is the section detailing the varied and unique music tradition of Kerala. Thiruvananthapuram-based collector Joseph V. Fernandez has displayed 425 exceptional music devices used by Keralites in the past.

“Though I have been collecting music-related equipment and artefacts for long, this is my major exhibition. Those who visiting my section would get a complete feel of the evolution of Kerala’s different music traditions,” said Mr. Joseph, who contributed a number of music equipment to the upcoming Palakkad Mani Iyer Memorial Museum for Music Equipment at Kalpathy.

Rasheed Chungathara, a Gulf returnee, has displayed the largest number of collections at the exhibition and they include coins, currencies, old household utensils and even early versions of most electronic equipment. He has special sections on early models of cameras, tape recorders, gramophones and household items.

“I had been regularly conducting exhibitions at schools and colleges. This is the first time that I am becoming part of a mega exhibition,” he said. Shaji Kakkasseri from Kodungalloor has exhibited a number of utensils throwing light on Kerala’s evolution in the last four centuries. The household items that form part of his collection are unique and rare. There is a special section on Stone Age weapons collected by V.P. Ali. K. Vijayan showcases various agricultural equipment. The exhibition will continue till April 11.

Summer camp

To coincide with the exhibition, a summer camp for schoolchildren has also started in the village under the leadership of noted musician Njeralath Hari Govindan.

Over 120 students are taking part in the camp from across the State.