In a tribute befitting Anoop Scaria, founder of Kashi Art Café, who passed away this week, a group of his friends planted an elanji sapling near the majestic banyan tree, Ammachiyal,( Mother Tree), at the edge of Parade Maidan in Fort Kochi. The middle-aged men and women, his peers, stood around the dug earth. As his ashes were scattered over the soil and the sapling lowered, they broke into a song that celebrates nature and life. “Mother Nature.. carry me back to the sea….”
Poignant
In its simple conduct, the poignant ceremony symbolised the distinctive way of life Anoop stood for.
As a founder of concept outfit Kashi that beautifully weaves its story around art, hospitality and travel, a first of its kind in Kerala, Anoop was the pioneer of several environmental and tourism-related initiatives that he will be remembered for. The Cochin Carnival and the umpteen tree planting events that are held periodically, in the city, owe their history to him.
In1982, fresh out of college (St Albert’s College), he set up, with Anand Felix, his older brother, and his friend, novelist George Thundaparambil, ‘Dimensions’, a lending library of books and music cassettes. Located at Chirattapalam, near Kokker’s theatre, it became a hub for youngsters.
Mobilising the youth with ideas and action was his strength. In 1984 the trio, along with many young men, many of who were present at the tree planting ceremony, began the Beach Festival that has morphed into the annual, landmark event, the Cochin Carnival that draws hordes of tourists.
Recalling the times Aby Abraham, Anoop’s childhood friend says, “We were all musicians, adventurists and nature lovers. We founded many clubs together, the band Whispering Fireflies in 1986 and we revelled in songs of nature. We set up Cochin City Hikers with the idea to see our country on bicycle. In fact Fort Kochi’s cycling culture too finds its roots with Anoop.”
Encouraged by his cousin Nirmal John, a range officer with the Forest Department, who initiated the idea of planting trees, Anoop along with his brother and their group of friends founded Flora n Fauna, roping in distinguished names to strengthen their goal. Capt RK Iyer, officer with the Cochin Port Trust was made the president. Funds for large scale planting were raised through a door-to-door collection drive. Flora n Fauna had members from Kumbalangi to Thoppumpady. Noted artiste Radha Gomathy and Anoop’s sisters Ajitha and Anuja were the first women members. Anoop took the lead and was particular about protecting the planted saplings. “He wanted to make the area stretching from Veli maidan to Fort Kochi, a tree garden,” says George.
Ahead of his times
The inaugural tree festival in 1990 was graced by Madhavi Kutty who draped a shawl around the Ammachiyaal.
The group planted nearly 10,000 trees in Fort Kochi, Willingdon Island and, after they were approached by clubs, in Ernakulam too.It became a movement of sorts, the vestiges of which can be seen today with many smaller outfits engaged in greening West Kochi.
Prakriti Chakra, another festival, planned by Anoop and his band of friends, was a massive children’s painting competition held on the beach, graced by artist T. Kaladharan. An art camp, one of the first of its kind, was held at Maharaja’s College. In 1993 Anoop co-founded Gajaraksha, an initiative for the protection of elephants, on its agenda was the call for an elephant corridor, an idea ahead of its times.
Lasting legacy
With the setting up of Kashi Art Café in 1997, with wife Dorrie, Anoop’s focus turned completely on the plight of local artists and their space. The duo changed the art scene, laying a foundation for the city to become a centre for contemporary arts. It was reason for the international art expo Kochi Muziris Biennale to begin here later.
This may perhaps be the biggest and the most lasting legacy of Anoop but he will be remembered for his little library, for tree planting drives, beach cleaning episodes, his progressive bands and as a promoter of local history and heritage.
“As a group we used to sing native Indian songs at the start of all our meets and events. The river is flowing ....Mother nature , carry me back to the sea. Anoop too would sing with us. He was well read, articulate and most of all a good human being,” says Aby of his childhood friend.