SOURCE- THE HINDU
Corporation preparing proposal with the help of
University of Prague
Very few cities in Kerala can perhaps boast the legacy of
writers such as Vaikom Mohammed Basheer, Sanjayan, S.K. Pottekkatt, M.T.
Vasudevan Nair, N.N. Kakkad, and U.A. Khader. Adding to this is the presence of
literary publications such as the Mathrubhumi weekly, a vast
network of libraries, and annual literary events such as Kerala Literature
Festival.
So it was quite natural that Kozhikode was proposed by the
Kerala Institute of Local Administration (KILA) to be branded as a ‘City of
Literature’ with the help of UNESCO. It is among the six places
that the KILA plans to develop as ‘Creative Cities’. Thiruvananthapuram is
vying for the title ‘City of Peace’, Kollam ‘City of Biodiversity’, Kochi ‘City
of Design’, Thrissur ‘City of Learning’, and Kannur ‘City of Craft and Folk
Arts’.
Joy Elamon, Director General, KILA, told The Hindu that
the branding would help Kozhikode get a global reach. Innovative literary
events could be organised here showcasing writers from foreign countries. “The
credentials for this are being readied now so that the proposal can be
submitted in 2023,” he said.
The Kozhikode Corporation has already started preliminary
steps for the purpose. The civic body is preparing the proposal with the help
of the University of Prague in the Czech Republic. Prague got the tag in 2014.
Mayor Beena Philip and Deputy Mayor C.P. Musafar Ahammed recently had an online
interaction with some officials there.
Ludmila Kolouchova, a research student from the university,
is now in town to collect information about the literary traditions of
Kozhikode. She attended one of the sessions of the corporation council last
week and met the corporation authorities. Ms. Kolouchova said she would visit schools
and colleges in the city. “A comparative study between Kozhikode and Prague is
being done to help this city get the tag of City of Literature. My efforts will
serve as an inspiration,” she said. Ms. Kolouchova will be here till May.
According to an official website on Prague, a city
designated as ‘Creative City of Literature’ must have a sufficient number of
institutions taking care of its literary life. “The city should have the
ability and experience to organise different kinds of literary events, and an
appropriate level of literary education should be provided along with quality,
quantity and diversity of literary activities,” said the website.