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Showing posts from 2012

Emerging Kerala logo - why steal it?

The beautiful Emerging Kerala  logo is illustrated by Gina Mikel  who is based in Missouri, USA. But the creative agency supporting Kerala government's path breaking initiative , stole the design and only chose to pay when questioned by her. It's not the first time that Kerala government is mired in such issues. Please check my earlier post on Kerala Tourism campaign . Illustration of bird flying  -  http://www.scientificillustrator.com/illustration/bird/bird.html Note by illustrator - Note regarding the Emerging Kerala controversy: I've been receiving quite a bit of correspondence about this. In summary, I was contacted in April 2012 by someone who let me know that the image (to the left) was being used by the Emerging Kerala organizers. I then contacted the organizers through their website to express my concern (that I had not been notified in advance of the usage, had not been paid for usage, etc.) They forwarded my contact information to their design fir

Ranjith, the reformer in Malayalam film industry

Ranjith made a unique space for him and his audience with movies like Pranchiyettan, Indian Rupee and Spirit. Malayalam film industry is jubilant watching this director's movies becoming successful. I've enjoyed all these movies. I am writing this to appreciate a unique pattern that I've noticed in his movies. Like in any society around the world, we have our own social ills. These are not evident for us as it became part of our culture. They come in many forms having their own impact on the society's future. Honour killing in north india, cash for vote in tamil, corruption across india, manual scavenging in parts of india, disposal of human excreta from trains, dowry, classification of Muslims as terrorists across the world, displacement or removal of an ecosystem for development, parents not cared by children and many many more. Movies have always been a powerful media dealing these issues. In Kerala 3 of such social ills are - the belief that reputation an

10 challenges before Kerala

Kerala is facing 10 challenges today. These are social and economic challenges. We need to overcome each one of these challenges as they are issues critical for every one of us. We do not have absolute solution for all these. But we need to find a solution. 1) Waste Management and Disposal Rapid urbanisation has brought with it the most urgent challenge to us - Management and disposal of waste generated by households and industries. It is now common across Kerala to see piles of waste by the roadside. An NRK will return to his piece of property in Kerala to find a pile of waste there. The issue is affecting tourism sector badly. Suggested Solution: Wealth out of waste 2) Migrant Labourers Human resources from Kerala are toiling across the world and we are looking for people from other parts of India as skilled and unskilled labourers. They are there in every sector, in small and big establishments and even as farm labourers. Unlawful activities and petty public issues f

Infertility, a big business in Kerala

On the highways of Kerala, one cannot miss hoardings of one or another clinic that offers treatment for infertility. News papers have front page advertisements and magazines have special supplements (feature marketing). Infertility is a concern that affects a growing number of population across the world and Kerala is not different. Couples would require counselling, assisted conception and even medical intervention which is provided by doctors. But, as in any other medical field, there is lack of good medical practice affecting infertility treatments. This is highlighted in this article . People seeking infertility treatments should be aware and careful. You may check more links below. Kerala is the new infertility treatment hub `Infertility clinics must be regulated` Importance of Infertility Bill

Malayala Manorama wakes up to Times of India

Malayala Manorama, who was in a deep slumber finally wakes up to Times of India. Manorama, the daily, is being re-designed by the Spanish design journalist Javier Errea . The re-designing is happening after 7 years and coincides with the entry of Times of India to Kerala. Manorama accepted Mathrubhumi as their only competitor. That is going to change now. Even though Manorama puts advertisements to suggest youth as their readers, I do not see anybody less than 25 years reading Manorama voraciously with out missing it every day. Manorama lost them long back. It is not that Manorama didn't put their efforts. It is just that youth are not inclined to read any Malayalam daily or rather their parents are not instilling that habit in next generation. Parents prefer their kids to read English dailies and moreover the number of kids able to read Malayalam comfortably is reducing at a fast pace. Manorama understands this well more than me or anybody else in this world. There is mo