The seeds of modern Cochin were sown during the reign of Rama Varma XV, Maharaja of Cochin. Popularly called Rajarshi, and also the Abdicated Highness, he ruled Cochin from 1895-1914. He turned Cochin into one of the most progressive of Indian States of the time. Among the numerous reforms that he initiated was turning the vast ground in front of the Maharaja’s College and the old Secretariat stretching up to the present Broadway into three neatly designed parks. Soon the idea of an avenue with a canopy of trees, the parks on one side and the historic structures turned into a reality.
“What is today named as the Park Avenue was then Broadway that extended from the Huzur Jetty (present Rajendra Maidan) to Broadway. The open ground was converted into Irwin Park in honour of the Viceroy Lord Irwin. This later was renamed Subhash Bose Park. The Huzur Jetty, then the closest transit point for the Secretariat officials, became Rajendra Maidan. At the northern end of the road there were two other parks, one for children and the other for ladies. The Padiyath Canal that flowed right up to the Government Law College hostel separated Irwin Park from these two,” says V.N. Venugopal, local historian.
“The ladies park was located more or less opposite St. Teresa’s College. When the road was widened and took a deviation it actually cut through the ladies park. What remains of this is the small green patch, fenced and maintained by a public sector enterprise,” informs K.M. Hamsa Kunju, former Mayor of Cochin and a Corporation councillor for the past 47 years.
The park as it is today
Broadway with its parks, the lovely backwaters, the green canopy, the historic buildings, the shopping centre and theatre at its northern end, was certainly the pride of the city. “The children’s park had a band shed those days. Here the State band used to play twice a week, on Tuesdays and Thursdays if my memory serves me right. Earlier, the band used to play at the Durbar Hall Ground. It was a sight to see the musicians in their bright red coats, blue trousers, with their shining drums and clarinets proudly present popular English songs. Sankunni Menon was the band master,” remembers Venugopal.
The children’s park went through a massive renovation and was inaugurated in April 1971. Besides the usual recreational facilities for children it was converted into an educational theme park where children could learn road rules in a fun way.
The roads in the traffic park were named after the sponsors who helped this happen and the open spaces between the roads were divided into manicured plots for advertisers.
Originally the plan was to construct miniature buildings to scale so that the park would have an appearance of a small city.
In the traffic training park children were made aware of the potential dangers of road traffic and taught traffic laws. Road safety was taught as a game. For this road conditions were simulated to miniature with crossroads, one-way traffic, speed limits, automatic light signals, pedestrian crossings, pavements and road signs.
In this game the children had to drive pedal cars, scooters, cycles, while others walked, and they learned how to drive carefully, follow the signals and obey traffic laws. There were policemen to guide and advise.
The construction of the park was executed under the supervision of FEDO, the engineering division of FACT.
“It was the enthusiastic efforts of the then District Collector S. Krishnakumar that made this project a reality. The late A.C. Jose was the Mayor. The efforts of the Council for Child Welfare and the Cochin Corporation were also vital in its implementation,” says Hamsa Kunju.
Today, the park is called the Indira Priyadarshini Children's Traffic and National Renewable Energy Park. It houses a theatre, a toy train, and the regular rides and swings. It is no longer an exclusive theme park.
The park, now maintained by the District Council for Child Welfare (DCCW) with the District Collector as its Chairman, is set for a major renovation this year. “We are planning to introduce some new fun rides and games. When the whole project is complete the park will have Go Karting, roller skating, roller hockey, sky cycling, shooting, archery, bumper cars, net climbing, rope walking and more. Along with some of the existing facilities the park will surely be a much-sought after spot for children,” informs K.J. Tomy, Additional Development Commissioner and Secretary, DCCW.
