The eighth book of Ashwathi Thirunal Gouri Lakshmi Bayi, Glimpses of Kerala Culture , was released here on Friday by Governor Surjit Singh Barnala.
Speaking at the launch, Member of Parliament, Kanimozhi, said both Kerala and Tamil Nadu share many similarities when it comes to culture and tradition. “They are interwoven. This book is an encyclopaedia of art, tradition and culture of Kerala and an interesting read,” she said.
It took the author five years to write the book, which has three parts – Dravidian or non-Vedic stream, Vedic or Aryan stream and the colours of united stream, where both the streams mingle.
Ms. Lakshmi Bayi recalled the time when UNESCO in 2001 appointed a team to identify some of the “Masterpieces of the Oral and Intangible Heritage of Humanity.” “Of the 19 masterpieces from the world, only one was identified from India and that is Koodiyattam of Kerala,” she said, adding that the last few chapters of the book also talk about the art forms prevalent in Islam and Christianity.
K.P.R. Nair, Managing Director of Konark Books, the publisher, spoke.
