By Asha P Nair, Express News Service - THIRUVANANTHAPURAM
Published: 05th July 2012 10:48 AM
Last Updated: 05th July 2012 10:48 AM
Resul Pookutty’s adventurous journey to the Oscar stage had begun from a nondescript village at Anchal in Kollam. But what more is Anchal’s claim to fame? In six months, we would know.
For the students of a modest school in this small town has kickstarted an innovative attempt to prepare a folklore encyclopaedia on Anchal, which will be released in the web soon.
The project has the blessings of Kerala IT@School Project and the Malayalam Wikimedia, the computer-savvy group behind the Malayalam version of wikipedia.
The aim of the project is to create at least 50 or more leafs (‘thalu’) or documents on the topic which could be of global interest.
The students of Anchal West Higher Secondary School, who have undertaken the task, will upload it in the School Wiki at the same time it is released to the web. “It is a pilot project which we are attempting. There might be many things about the place which is known to local people but unknown to the world. A forgotten landmark, a hidden cave which dates back to pre-historic times, a traditional practitioner unknown to the world or a ritual which holds the key to an ancient heritage. It is the first time we are collaborating with such a project which is technology-driven, though it has a flavour of local history,” said IT@School Project Executive Director Abdul Nasar Kaipancherry.
The Malayalam Wikimedians are equally enthralled with the idea.
The excellence shown by the Anchal West HSS in Malayalam computing and related projects is the reason why the project was kicked off here.
“Anchal is home to ‘kakarishi nadakam’. We hope to collect its script which has been handed down to generations via word of mouth. Then there are ‘kani’ tribal groups here, who are known for their folk songs. We plan either to audio record the songs or to write down its lyrics,” said Kannan Shanmugham, a Malayalam wikimedian associated with programme.
The students belonging to the Wiki club in the school will make use of their free hours to collect remnants of Anchal’s past.
For the students of a modest school in this small town has kickstarted an innovative attempt to prepare a folklore encyclopaedia on Anchal, which will be released in the web soon.
The project has the blessings of Kerala IT@School Project and the Malayalam Wikimedia, the computer-savvy group behind the Malayalam version of wikipedia.
The aim of the project is to create at least 50 or more leafs (‘thalu’) or documents on the topic which could be of global interest.
The students of Anchal West Higher Secondary School, who have undertaken the task, will upload it in the School Wiki at the same time it is released to the web. “It is a pilot project which we are attempting. There might be many things about the place which is known to local people but unknown to the world. A forgotten landmark, a hidden cave which dates back to pre-historic times, a traditional practitioner unknown to the world or a ritual which holds the key to an ancient heritage. It is the first time we are collaborating with such a project which is technology-driven, though it has a flavour of local history,” said IT@School Project Executive Director Abdul Nasar Kaipancherry.
The Malayalam Wikimedians are equally enthralled with the idea.
The excellence shown by the Anchal West HSS in Malayalam computing and related projects is the reason why the project was kicked off here.
“Anchal is home to ‘kakarishi nadakam’. We hope to collect its script which has been handed down to generations via word of mouth. Then there are ‘kani’ tribal groups here, who are known for their folk songs. We plan either to audio record the songs or to write down its lyrics,” said Kannan Shanmugham, a Malayalam wikimedian associated with programme.
The students belonging to the Wiki club in the school will make use of their free hours to collect remnants of Anchal’s past.
And by December, the project might come to a fruitful end. The students plan to bring out a CD of their compilation and hand it over to the Anchal gramapanchayat.
