Spotting the images of palanquin-bearers, horse carts, and elephants, adorning the compound walls of the century-old Kanakakunnu palace can prove to be a difficult task.
A line of large flex boards, installed by the organisers of the ongoing fest at the Sooryakanthi exhibition grounds in the palace, has made the purpose of the wall paintings redundant. These hoardings, mounted a few metres apart, announce various events held on the premises. This time, the paintings have been hidden by the huge hoardings in green, screaming a family entertainment exhibition-cum-sale.
The hoardings also block the view of the palace, an erstwhile durbar and banquet hall of the Travancore royal family, and a landmark of the capital. “The paintings are head-turners. But the flex boards next to them are an eyesore,” says Thansla N., an LLB student from Kollam.
Stretching across the palace gates to the walls of Jawahar Balbhavan, the wall paintings portray the history and legacy of the erstwhile Travancore kingdom. “If you stand back and observe, you will understand how these pictures portray our heritage and tradition,” says Sajeevan A.T., a traffic warden on duty in front of the palace.
The work, completed by the end of March this year as part of the second phase of the beautification project ‘Arteria,’ was a joint venture of the District Tourism Promotion Council (DTPC) and the Department of Tourism.
Main purpose
Ironically, the main purpose of the project was to keep the city clean by ensuring that the city walls remain free of posters, bills, and graffiti.
“It seems the government authorities are confused. They say they want flex boards removed, but they continue using them in their events,” says Raju M.C., a watchman at the palace gate. Interestingly, as part of its green protocol policy, the city Corporation is considering a ban on flex boards. “A proper system should be in place to remove illegal flex boards and posters from public places in the city,” adds Mr. Sajeevan.
