Where art & culture an immortal passion
The Changampuzha Samskarika Kendram (CSK), a haven of true lovers of art and culture in the ever growing Edappally is located in a one acre and fifty five cents public park, named after Kerala’s greatest romantic poet, the late Changampuzha Krishna Pillai. The park serves as a living monument to the evergreen memory of the late poet who had spent most of his creative years in the area.
CSK has over the years emerged as one of the most vibrant cultural hubs within the Greater Cochin area. The beautifully laid-out Changampuzha park is popular among children, elderly persons and others. It serves as an ideal venue for several art and cultural programmes of importance.
Genesis and Objectives
The genesis of this Kendra dates back to 1997, thanks to the zeal and commitment of some true lovers of art and culture. CSK’s avowed objective is promotion of the unique cultural heritage of the country in general and Kerala in particular. Started with a few members at the beginning, CSK has more than 3000 life members, 17 institutional members, and three organisational members on its rolls.
While fostering all art forms special emphasis is given to revival and development of Kerala’s glorious heritage in literature, music, kathakali, dance, painting, sculpture etc without any commercial motive.
CSK is registered under the Charitable and Cultural Societies Act and is governed by a 32-member executive committee elected for a three-year term. The committee is composed of prominent personalities from various walks of life. Mr. P. Prakash is the President, Mr. T. G. Ravikumar Secretary and Mr. Jose Pettah Treasurer., M. P. of Ernakulam constituency, M.L.A. of Thrikkakara costituency, District Collector, Kochi Mayor, Chairperson and Secretary of G.C.D.A. are permanent invitees to the committee.
Functioning and Activities
The executive committee of CSK is basically responsible for getting many of the functions carried out through various sector-wise units formed under its auspices. It lays down policy guidelines, coordinates activities of different wings, and extends financial assistance and advice whereever necessary. Apart from this, the committee has an enviable track record of organising several commemorative meetings, honouring men of letters and instituting endowments in memory of eminent artistes.
Some of the sector-wise units under the umbrella of CSK are registered separately and have their own managing committees. Prominent among these are Edappally Kathakali Aswadaka Sadas, Edappally Sangeetha Sadas, Edappally Senior Citizens Forum and Edappally Nruthaswadaka Sadas. These units are the brain children of the founder president Mr. K. Balachandran, Ex-Cochin Mayor and Ex-GCDA Chairman who shaped the centre as a park of culture.
The vibrant activities of these constituents have earned CSK a pride of place in the art-and-cultural map of Kerala.
An average of 300 engagements of assorted nature – kathakali, dance and music recitals, dramas, award presentations, memorial meetings etc. make CSK busy round the year. Meetings of poets (Kavyamoola), monthly discussion on literary works (Pusthakavichaaram), Aksharaslokasadas, Naam theatre group for kids are regular engagements here.
No rental is charged from any of the parties either for the stages ( One open air and the other with roof), lighting arrangements or sound systems. CSK even allows free use of its nearly thousand chairs and other facilities including generator.
These impeccable facilities available to conduct programmes even in foul weather and an assured receptive audience always make CSK the preferred destination of art lovers and event managers far and wide.
Art Gallery
Attached to the CSK an art gallery is functioning. It displays photos of eminent artists, poets and men of letters of Old and paintings by veteran artists like M. V. Devan, Namboothiri etc.
Butterfly Garden
A new venture is the butterfly garden. The flowers in the garden attract butterflies all the time and is a feast for eyes for the visitors especially children.
Children’s Park
An area is earmarked for small children. A toy elephant and play equipments like slides and swings are arranged for the entertainment of tiny tots.
The Fountain
A fountain with colour lights in the middle of a square pond is an attractive spot in the park.
Walkways
A brick laden walkway encircling the park attracts people for morning and evening strolls.
Play booths
Two play booths are provided inside the park for indoor games like chess and carroms.
The park is open from 5 am to 9 am and 4 pm to 9 pm on all days.
A Few Landmark Events
- Viswa Kala Sangamam: A three week long workshop of veteran artists in diverse streams of art organised in 2001 witnessed the live participation of artists from Canada, Japan, South Korea, Finland and India. Some of the fascinating figures created by the sculptors continue to adorn the lawns of CSK.
- Children’s Art Workshop: A Three week long cultural extravaganza with special emphasis on children’s participation was held in 2001. Distinguished artists and painters like Namboodiri, M.V.Devan, and C.N.Karunakaran guided the budding artists.
- National School of Drama Festival: A Nine day drama festival in honour of Kavalam Narayana Panicker, the doyen of Malayalam stage, on his 80th birthday was held in 2008. This was in co operation with Ernakulam Press Club which celebrated its 40th anniversary then.
- Recognition by Kerala Kalamandalam: It was a recognition by Kerala Kalamandalam when they chose CSK as the venue to inaugurate their much acclaimed : Noorarang” programme (100 kathakali performances) in 2008.
Azhchavattom
In order to facilitate free expression of the artistic and other abilities of the senior citizens and thus help them unwind themselves while providing entertainment to others, the Senior Citizens’ Forum holds an Azhchavattom programme at 5.30 p.m. every Tuesday. Over the years this programme has become very popular. Here members are free to sing, tell stories, narrate anecdotes or discuss anything of topical interest including matters of health and ailments.
Kavyamoola
This is a programme meant to give budding poets opportunities to present their creations before friends and well-wishers. They can hear fair criticism or appreciation and they are also at liberty to reply. The idea is to give talented writers ample exposure so that they can grow and flower in a conducive environment. Kavyamoola is held at 4 p.m. on the second Sunday of every month. Many writers and young poets do present their works at the Kavyamoola forum and the animated discussions that follow make the affair lively and interesting.
Akshara Sloka Sadas
In the good old days of leisure and recreation it was customary for literary pundits and poets to gather for a virtual matching of their wits and scholarship at what was known as Akshara Sloka Sadas. They usually sat in a circle for the event. The senior-most member of the group would start off the evening programme by reciting a sloka. The person next to him would then recite a sloka starting with the first letter of the third line of sloka just finished by his predecessor. The third person similarly would take his cue from the first letter of the third line of the sloka delivered by the second participant. This process could go on for hours until one by one everybody got stumped and withdrew leaving one man who became the winner of the evening
The Edappally Akshara Sloka Sadas was established a few years ago to keep alive this form of traditional intellectual amusement. It has found new adherents. The Sadas is held in the Park at 2 p.m. on the fourth Sunday of every month and it conducts its anniversary celebrations during the Onam festival.
Naam
It is a drama outfit of children for children by children, set up for providing them training in acting, directing and staging plays. Naam drama camps for children.
Natakolsavam
The availability of two rent-free well-equipped modern stages along with essential paraphernalia, like lighting gear for special effects, stand-by generator, good sound systems, enough chairs and adequate space to accommodate a large audience and above all presence of an ample crowd of epicureans keen about the art make Changampuzha Samskarika Kendram the natural choice of drama groups in this part of Kerala. It is no accident, therefore, CSK becomes the venue for a number of stage presentations including natakolsavams every year.
Sargotsavam
This is a festival of students from schools in and around Edappally. The schools take great care to showcase those students who are talented in one or the other field. This platform enables to rope in all neighbourhood schools and through them a large number of students in the activities of Changampuzha Samskarika Kendram. It could eventually acquire a new dimension and grow into a robust, symbiotic relationship to mutual advantage.
Office Bearers
P. Prakash
President
T. G. Ravikumar
Secretary
Jose Petta
Treasurer
- P. Prakash – President
- Adv. P. A. Azeez – Vice President
- Sherly Somasundaran – Vice President
- T. G. Ravikumar – Secretary
- Mallika Varma – Jt. Secretary
- K. G. Hariharan – Jt. Secretary
- Jose Pettah – Treasurer
- K. V. Sathyadevan – Member
- K. Radhakrishnan – Member
- C. S. Nair – Member
- T. S. Sasikumar – Member
- M. K. Muraleedharan – Member
- E. K. Hassankutty – Member
- P. V. Krishnan Kuroor – Member
- Adv. K. N. G. Menon – Member
- M. P. Gopinathan Nair – Member
- N. Suresh – Member
- Chandrasekharan. K. R. – Member
- Akbar. P. H. – Member
- M. D. James – Member
- Narayanan. K. S. – Member
- K. M. Babu – Member
- Ramachandran. V. N. – Member
- R. Sreekumar – Member
- M. K. Murali – Member