Latest news with #MuzirisHeritageProject
The Hindu
13-06-2025
- Climate
- The Hindu
Roof of Jewish synagogue in Mala collapses in rain
The roof at the historic Mala Synagogue has collapsed in the recent rain. The central portion of the roof collapsed on Wednesday night, just days after structural vulnerabilities were reported. Steps were being planned by the Muziris Heritage Project to fix these issues. The synagogue, an attractive tourist destination, came under the care of the Muziris Heritage Project in 2017. Members of the Jewish community regularly visit the synagogue and the adjacent cemetery. It was renovated at ₹75.5 lakh one and a half years ago. Occurred at night According to local people, the roof was in unstable condition for a while. As there is a wooden ceiling under the roof, the damage cannot be seen from inside the synagogue, they said. They complained that despite writing several letters, the authorities did not take any swift action, leading to the collapse of the roof. The incident occurred at night, averting major tragedy. It is considered one of the oldest synagogues in the State and is the remnant of the once-thriving Jewish community in Mala. As an emergency measure, the Muziris Heritage Project authorities have begun covering the damaged roof with tarpaulin sheets to prevent rainwater from entering the structure. Restoration efforts Officials from the Archaeology department are expected to visit the site soon to assess the damage and chart out further action. Based on these assessments, restoration efforts will be initiated. MLA V.R. Sunil Kumar, who visited the site, directed the Muziris authorities to take urgent steps.
The Hindu
26-04-2025
- Politics
- The Hindu
MGS a key force behind the Muziris project, says Satheesan
Notwithstanding his strong disagreements with the identification of the Pattanam archaeological site as the ancient port of Muziris, historian M.G.S. Narayanan played a pivotal role in shaping the Muziris Heritage Project, recalls V.D. Satheesan, Leader of the Opposition and legislator from the Paravur constituency. 'I vividly remember his spirited arguments with fellow historians during the initial seminar on Muziris, held at North Paravur. He openly voiced his apprehensions, firmly stating that there was insufficient archaeological evidence to claim Pattanam as the ancient Muziris port,' Mr. Satheesan recalls. M.G.S. Narayanan consistently argued that Pattanam was not Muziris, and criticised the Kerala Council for Historical Research (KCHR) for what he believed were historical inaccuracies in their identification. He advocated for the use of 'Mahodaya'—a historically grounded name , instead of the Eurocentric 'Muziris.' According to him, it was Kodungalloor, the harbour town ruled by the Cheraman chiefs of ancient Tamizhakam, with their political center located inland at Karur, near modern-day Tiruchi, that truly held the identity of ancient Muziris. Yet, despite his theoretical differences, M.G.S. Narayanan never allowed his opposition to cloud his commitment to the Muziris Heritage Project. 'He was convinced of the existence of a thriving ancient port at Pattanam, which had trade links with over 34 countries. He recognised the evidence of a vibrant port culture in the region, unearthed during excavations,' Mr. Satheesan said. 'It was this conviction that led him to participate in the seminar on Muziris, even as he used the platform to publicly air his objections. As the organiser, I had to navigate between divergent scholarly opinions, but he respected my position too,' Mr. Satheesan added. He also recalled M.G.S. Narayanan's deep concern over the slow progress of the Muziris Heritage Project in the past decade. 'That indeed highlighted the historian's dedication to preserving Kerala's rich historical legacy,' noted
