A POETIC VILLAGE

While posting this , I remember, poet and politician Late Shri Kadamanitta Ramakrishnan and the lavish sadya in the plantain leaf which he arranged specifically for me and my husband when we visited his place to write this article .

Pathanamthitta is the spiritual capital of God’s own country. This fast developing Southern district of Kerala with hillocks and valleys is rich in pilgrimage and rural tourism. Small waterfalls like white threads hanging between the huge black rocks are a breath taking scene. River Perumthenaruvi and its banks are gorgeous other than River Pamba, where the pilgrims to Sabarimala have a dip before entering the Ayyappa temple. “Vasthuvidya Gurukulam” a centre for consultancy and training in traditional architecture is another charm of this district.It’s a new ideal village sculptured in the harmony of nature and life and that is the Poetry and Sculpture Village of Kadamanitta. “Hey Traveller, stop for a minute here, tell me, do you recognize this approach?” These are the lines carved at the entrance of the village. It is not a scenic rural village, but a sculptural groove in Kadamanitta, the birthplace of the great Malayalam poet Kadamanitta Ramakrishnan. An idea, a word or an image is expressed as a sort of natural life of the inhabitants of Kadamanitta in his poems “Kadamanittayude Kavithakal” (poems of Kadamanitta). The ‘poet MLA’ as he is popularly known, sculptures the characteristic images of his poems into a village. When poet Kadamanitta Ramakrishnan’s poetry ensembled with the creative talent of Prof. K.P. Soman, the contemporary Delhi based sculptor who teaches sculpturing in various schools and colleges of fine arts and is the visiting professor of the renowned Fine Arts College of Baroda, a separate form of world-class art took shape and the result is the creation of this Poetry and Sculpture Village. Poetry transformed into sculpture testifies that when the talent of both the poet and sculptor come in to effect simultaneously, two forms of art, creations of different origins have become inseparable and intensive alike in a Sculpture Village. Rage, fear, dilemma, sorrow, happiness and serenity of life and its natural existence are the icons. As we step inside, we feel like playing hide and seek inside the hub of a typical civilization and culture. “Yes, it is the original life and nature of Kerala villages as a whole depicted in the form of sculptures” says the poet. The sculpture of Patayani, a ritual art of Kadmanitta village which is a celebration of ten days, depicts the unity and unanimity of the people of Kadamanitta. The approach to inherit poetry is something very new here, that is sculpturing of poetry in a village, as a village, and an open theatre. The anecdotes, a stanza or a verse carved near or on the statues are valuable and thought provoking literature which imparts a first hand knowledge of Kerala culture itself. Once we are in the middle of the sculptures, we will be in a frenzy to decide as to where to stand to photograph them lively with the themes and characters involved in each of the work. Each figure seems to be like the places, people and other inhabitants of earth we perceive in our day to day life as well. The Sculpture of a hen represents his poem “Kozhi” (Hen) where the agony of a cohabitant of man, even a bird, when it separates from its young one advises it ‘your life is your own business, you have to go away from me.’ The most judicious concept of independence is communicated through these verses. “Kurathi” is his poem characterized by the sculpture of a member of the downtrodden caste of Kerala. The ‘Kurathi’ as she is called here, voices the rage and sorrow of her community against their oppression by the upper class people. A youth holding a pen like a glowing torch looks towards the tiled roof of Kadamanitta Higher Secondary School, which is visible from the sculptural village. Perhaps it may be poet’s vision to inspire the youngsters to march forward for an educated life. Thus the sculpture village as a poetic icon is a novel and historic approach imparted as a heritage to the generations to come. These idols must inspire traveller cum travel writers who visit the place to carry with them messages of hope for a better future to the world. Sculpture of mating snakes, crippling children, flying birds, lagging old people etc. add to the naturalistic approach to the art. Travellers to Kerala will be at an irretrievable loss if they miss seeing this sculpture village – a novel and historic assimilation of culture and tradition of this state of India. A visit to the place is worth memorizing in recognition of a precious tribute from the great poet, artist, politician and activist, to the human race. Is poetry blooming in your mind and versed out from your lips as you step out of this village? ••.

Note:This is one of my articles published in a Tourism Magazine. There are several with me like this. Any takers?