Coconut Trees and Backwaters. Review on Thiruvananthapuram

Kerala, another southern most State of India, is famous for its Coconut Trees, Backwaters, Arya Vaidya Shala, Kathakali Dance, Mohini Attam Dance, Kovalam Beach, and of course the tasty tapioca-fish curry. It is also famous for its Temples and the Science Popularisation Movement carried through the Kerala Shastra Sahitya Parishad (KSSP). One may wonder as to which word in KSSP stands for Science. It is 'Shastra.' Malayalam, the language of Kerala, is highly Sanskritised. It is Kerala, which demonstrated to India and other Third World countries about the success of the Total Literacy Programme, by making Ernakulam the first totally Literate District in India. India's largest circulated newspaper, Malayala Manorama is another pride of Kerala. The popular weekly magazine The Week is published by the Manorama Group.

Thiruvananthapuram, formerly known as Trivandrum, is the Capital of Kerala. It is built over seven forested hills. It has a population of 854,000. Thiruvananthapuram, the City of the Sacred Serpent is small and relaxed compared with other State Capitals- though many travellers still find it a hot, noisy shock after a few days on the beaches of Kovalam or Varkala. Thiruvananthapuram has managed to retain some of the ambience characteristics of Kerala - red-tiled roofs, narrow winding lanes, intimate corner cafes and necessary business accomplished in a friendly manner with a relatively high degree of efficiency.

When political tensions between the various factions spread to the streets, the calm can quickly fade, and political slogans, emblems and flags - especially those of the Communist and Muslim parties - become a notable feature of the urban landscape.

There is little in the way of 'sights' in the city. The famous Sri Padmanabhaswamy Temple is only open to Hindus, so most travellers simply pass through the town on their way to or from Kovalam Beach, just 16km south.

The Palace Museum is adjacent to the Temple, and is housed in several wings of the Palace of the Maharajas of Travancore. The Museum is famous for its wonderful Keralan architecture, and offers a rare glimpse into the formal and private lives of one of India's most celebrated royal families.

The Zoo and a collection of museums are in a park in the north of the city. The Napier Museum displays an eclectic assortment of bronzes, historical and contemporary ornaments, temple carts, ivory carvings and life-size figures of Kathakali dancers in full costume. The Natural History Museum has a rudimentary ethnographic collection as well as an interesting replica of Nayar wooden house built in the Keralan style. There are the Sri Chitra Art Gallery, Zoological Gardens and the Science & Technology Museum and Planetarium, all worth visiting.

Oonam is the national festival of Kerala. Although it is a Hindu festival, people from all religions participate in it with equal zeal. The annual Boat Race at the time of Oonam is a thing to see. The pilgrimage to Sabarimalai is an annual event in which people from many parts of India join with a deep sense of devotion.

Kerala is now just one stretch of land. It is difficult to know where one town ends and the other begins. Kerala's affluence is due to the Gulf money earned and sent home by the non-resident Keralites. The Tea Shops are the centres of information and entertainment.

The Library Movement in Kerala is behind its success in Total Literacy Programme.

I have visited this wonderful State twice, once at the invitation of the University of Kerala to participate in a Science Popularisatiin Workshop. My friend Parameswaran was there to lead the Workshop. There I also met my very old friend Paul Karipurath.

Well, this is Thiruvananthapuram and this is Kerala, with its most charming women. The more you think about Kerala, the more you develop a desire to be here.