The beautiful Yakshi of Malampuzha Garden
So after the introductory part, I am getting into the attractions of Palakkad. I will start with Malampuzha. Malampuzha means river from mountains ( mala = mountain & puzha = river) unless someone with impish brain ( yeah you guessed it right, like that of mine) break the words and make it sound a river of shit (malam= shit & puzha = river).
I think I visited Malampuzha for the first time when i was a kid of 4-5 years with my dad. He used to own a Lambretta scooter then. I remember being to the aquarium, walking through the hanging bridge, visiting the beautiful awe inspiring Yakshi.. Let me take you through some information about Malampuzha
Malampuzha dam was a project of building a water reservoir in the malampuzha river. The project started in the year 1949 and got completed in 1955. Record time of 6 years. Wikipidea says that Malampuzha is the largest reservoir of Kerala. The dam has a holding capacity of 8000 meter cubes. The dam is an awesome view with the Sahya Mountains in the background of the huge reservoir full of clear water.
One interesting thing about Malampuzha dam is that, when the project was started it was under the government of Madras State as Palakkad was then part of Malabar District in the state of Madras State. A Malayalam speaking place inside a Tamil speaking state. The project of Malampuzha dam was completed before the current Kerala state was formed on 1st November 1956. So basically we can say that the Dam is a gift from our neighbours.
Apart from the dam the main attraction is the garden which is beautifully landscaped and possess some attractions like Japanese garden, toy train etc. The main attraction inside the garden is Yakshi, 30 feet tall statue of nude voluptuous demi goddess in sitting posture with unlocked hair. Built by Kanayi Kunjiraman 50 years ago..
Each time that I am before Yakshi, I have always got awestruck by the the way in which the statue is made. It always give you a sense of beauty. You won't feel any vulgarity or sensuality looking at the beautiful and nude demi goddess or Yakshi. For me an associated memory is the walk through the hanging bridge across the canal coming out of dam opening to see the Yakshi. It was an awesome and slightly scary experience for a 5-6 year old, but when I went again during my teen ages, it was an awesome experience. If you stand on the dam and look you will have the reservoir bordered with Sahya mountains on one side and the beautiful Malampuzha gardens on the other side.
Coming back to Yakshi, story states that when Kanayi Kunhiraman was hired, ( he was a young sculptor who has just returned after doing advanced course in arts from Slade School of Fine Arts in England) by irrigation department, to make a statue to add on to the beauty of the garden, he was having a huge Nandi in his mind. But the beauty of Sahya Mountains and the dam made him change his mind and he build the Yakshi instead.
Most of the Palakkadans and people of Kerala have forgotten the story of construction of Yakshi. And I am damn sure that a majority don't even know the story. So let me share some of them as I see Yakshi not only as a sculpture of nude woman. For me apart from the beautiful sculpture it's also an example of a 30 year old sculptor's passion and devotion.
As I said the statue was built in 1968-69, statue of a nude women was violation of all the prevailing social norms and modesty. So during the construction period number of protests and oppositions happened for demolishing the statue or clothing the statue. Protests were organized with women in forefront. Several cases were filed to stop the work. (I really thank our judiciary for their way of working due to which no order was passed during the construction time.) The issues became so big that Kanayi Kunjiraman was once dragged out of the bus in which he was returning to his lodge after work and was beaten up. Physically and emotionally injured Kanayi spent the night at the guest building in the garden as the last bus has gone. But he continued working.
Due to the mounting public pressure, the irrigation department decided to seize the work by stopping supplies to the work as a contract was already in place. Finally the statue was incomplete when the contract period got over and Kanayi has to return without completing the statue. He was called again after some months to complete the work and this time he worked as a labour. He was paid like a cement worker and during end phase of the project he worked with out getting his daily wages spending his own money for his daily expenses. One interesting incident that happened during construction period is that a meeting was called to find a solution to the issue of nude Yakshi. The Collector has said that Yakshi will be draped with a sari and the sari has been ordered. Upon this assurance the protest got over and the work was completed. But Yakshi was inaugurated without the sari and is sitting there nude since then.
Now its 50 years since all these have passed. What we see is only the beautiful Yakshi sitting there completely nude with half closed eyes spreading her hair and waiting for more admirers. I will end my description about Yakshi with some one else's words which I come across in another blog. Reproducing it as such. " Her unlocked hair symbolizes rain drops and she wears sky as clothing and shooting stars as ornaments. She looks straight into the eyes of glowing sun with confidence. The woman statue truly represents so many things, such as injustice and social discrimination towards women. She also talks about women freedom to the society."
Time to take a break.... I think anything that I will write in this blog will be dwarfed by the Yakshi. When I started writing this blog, I was having malampuzha in my mind and Yakshi was only a part of that, but when I started writing about her, she just grabbed the blog.
So will write more about Malampuzha and its other attractions in my next blog. And you can use this time to research upon the beautiful Yakshi and can even plan a trip to meet her...
Honoring the wish of a very special person who is the only commentor, I am adding some pictures of the Dam, Garden, Hanging bridge and Yakshi
I think I visited Malampuzha for the first time when i was a kid of 4-5 years with my dad. He used to own a Lambretta scooter then. I remember being to the aquarium, walking through the hanging bridge, visiting the beautiful awe inspiring Yakshi.. Let me take you through some information about Malampuzha
Malampuzha dam was a project of building a water reservoir in the malampuzha river. The project started in the year 1949 and got completed in 1955. Record time of 6 years. Wikipidea says that Malampuzha is the largest reservoir of Kerala. The dam has a holding capacity of 8000 meter cubes. The dam is an awesome view with the Sahya Mountains in the background of the huge reservoir full of clear water.
One interesting thing about Malampuzha dam is that, when the project was started it was under the government of Madras State as Palakkad was then part of Malabar District in the state of Madras State. A Malayalam speaking place inside a Tamil speaking state. The project of Malampuzha dam was completed before the current Kerala state was formed on 1st November 1956. So basically we can say that the Dam is a gift from our neighbours.
Apart from the dam the main attraction is the garden which is beautifully landscaped and possess some attractions like Japanese garden, toy train etc. The main attraction inside the garden is Yakshi, 30 feet tall statue of nude voluptuous demi goddess in sitting posture with unlocked hair. Built by Kanayi Kunjiraman 50 years ago..
Each time that I am before Yakshi, I have always got awestruck by the the way in which the statue is made. It always give you a sense of beauty. You won't feel any vulgarity or sensuality looking at the beautiful and nude demi goddess or Yakshi. For me an associated memory is the walk through the hanging bridge across the canal coming out of dam opening to see the Yakshi. It was an awesome and slightly scary experience for a 5-6 year old, but when I went again during my teen ages, it was an awesome experience. If you stand on the dam and look you will have the reservoir bordered with Sahya mountains on one side and the beautiful Malampuzha gardens on the other side.
Coming back to Yakshi, story states that when Kanayi Kunhiraman was hired, ( he was a young sculptor who has just returned after doing advanced course in arts from Slade School of Fine Arts in England) by irrigation department, to make a statue to add on to the beauty of the garden, he was having a huge Nandi in his mind. But the beauty of Sahya Mountains and the dam made him change his mind and he build the Yakshi instead.
Most of the Palakkadans and people of Kerala have forgotten the story of construction of Yakshi. And I am damn sure that a majority don't even know the story. So let me share some of them as I see Yakshi not only as a sculpture of nude woman. For me apart from the beautiful sculpture it's also an example of a 30 year old sculptor's passion and devotion.
As I said the statue was built in 1968-69, statue of a nude women was violation of all the prevailing social norms and modesty. So during the construction period number of protests and oppositions happened for demolishing the statue or clothing the statue. Protests were organized with women in forefront. Several cases were filed to stop the work. (I really thank our judiciary for their way of working due to which no order was passed during the construction time.) The issues became so big that Kanayi Kunjiraman was once dragged out of the bus in which he was returning to his lodge after work and was beaten up. Physically and emotionally injured Kanayi spent the night at the guest building in the garden as the last bus has gone. But he continued working.
Due to the mounting public pressure, the irrigation department decided to seize the work by stopping supplies to the work as a contract was already in place. Finally the statue was incomplete when the contract period got over and Kanayi has to return without completing the statue. He was called again after some months to complete the work and this time he worked as a labour. He was paid like a cement worker and during end phase of the project he worked with out getting his daily wages spending his own money for his daily expenses. One interesting incident that happened during construction period is that a meeting was called to find a solution to the issue of nude Yakshi. The Collector has said that Yakshi will be draped with a sari and the sari has been ordered. Upon this assurance the protest got over and the work was completed. But Yakshi was inaugurated without the sari and is sitting there nude since then.
Now its 50 years since all these have passed. What we see is only the beautiful Yakshi sitting there completely nude with half closed eyes spreading her hair and waiting for more admirers. I will end my description about Yakshi with some one else's words which I come across in another blog. Reproducing it as such. " Her unlocked hair symbolizes rain drops and she wears sky as clothing and shooting stars as ornaments. She looks straight into the eyes of glowing sun with confidence. The woman statue truly represents so many things, such as injustice and social discrimination towards women. She also talks about women freedom to the society."
Time to take a break.... I think anything that I will write in this blog will be dwarfed by the Yakshi. When I started writing this blog, I was having malampuzha in my mind and Yakshi was only a part of that, but when I started writing about her, she just grabbed the blog.
So will write more about Malampuzha and its other attractions in my next blog. And you can use this time to research upon the beautiful Yakshi and can even plan a trip to meet her...
Honoring the wish of a very special person who is the only commentor, I am adding some pictures of the Dam, Garden, Hanging bridge and Yakshi
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| The Dam |
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| Garden a view from the top of Dam |
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| Hanging bridge a view during monsoon |
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| Another view of hanging bridge |
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| Dam a view from rope way |
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| Yakshi |
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| Yakshi... |
Fantastic articulation, Arun! I could imagine the place through your eyes. Keep writing....... �� Any possibility of including some photographs as well? This way the readers can also get exposure of the photographer inside you !!!!
ReplyDeleteThanks a lot for the encouragement Sir. I don't have photos taken by me... But I will include some photos
DeleteNice da😎🤗
DeleteNice, Arun. Informative. Keep it up !
ReplyDelete