55 new cities were added to the list of UNESCO’s Creative Cities Network. These include Kozhikode in Kerala. A new jewel has been added to the crown of this Indian city. Kerala’s Kozhikode city was officially designated as a UNESCO ‘City of Literature’ on 31st October.
Prime Minister Narendra Modi congratulated the citizens of Kozhikode being entitled as Cities of Literature by UNESCO.
•Global network for creative cities
A Press release by UNESCO stated , “they were trying to trace the cultural heritage of ancient and modern cities. Our aim is to highlight their creativity in development.”
UNESCO Director-General Audrey Azoulay officially honored Kozhikode Corporation as the city added the lists of 55 newly selected creative cities.
The UNESCO Creative Cities Network includes cities around the world that are recognized for their strong commitment to commencing culture and creativity as an integral part of their development stratagem. These cities stand out for their innovative contemplations in human-centered urban planning. Kozhikode, a city of South Kerala has made its mark on global platform after gaining the title ‘ City of literature.’
the global network now surrounds 350 cities in over one hundred countries, spanning seven creative fields: Crafts and Folk Art, Design, Film, Gastronomy, Literature, Media Arts, and Music.
Veena Philip, Kozhikode Corporation Mayor, expressed her enthusiasm for the achievement,the title of “City of Literature” is a tremendous recognition of the city’s excellence in the field of literature and media. He attributed this success to the collective efforts of many individuals and the sustained efforts of the corporation over the past two years.
• Journey behind the Achievement
•Kozhikode is home to many notable personalities of the kerala’s literary and cultural world.The city has also produced many theatre and films in the last half a century.The first Malayalam novel Kundalatha was born in Kozhikode .many celebrated writers like S K Pottekkatt, Uroob, Thikkodiyan, NN Kakkad, P Valsala, Akbar Kakkattil, Punathil Kunjabdulla and MT Vasudevan Nair have brought prestige for Kozhikode.
Kozhikode is not a newcomer when it comes to promoting literature. Rich in literature and culture, Kerala is known for hosting various literary gatherings including the Literature Festival. The city stands out as a staunch supporter of creative talents from literature to craft for future generations.
Behind this achievement and recognition, contribution of the Kerala Institute of Local Administration in indefeasible .
This journey began in 2022. The idea was suggested by the Kerala Institute of Local Administration. Prague was the first city to receive the title of City of Literature in 2014.
Prague was an inspiration for them. So the Kozhikode Corporation sprang into action. They reached out to the university of prague for assistance in the preparation process.
the Kerala Institute of Local Administration contacted with the University of Prague in for support in paperwork .
• Ludmila Kolochova’s contribution behind the title of Kozhikode
Ludmila Kolochova is a research student at the University of Prague. She visited Kozhikode and conducted a comparative study, drawing parallels between Kozhikode and Prague. Her research showed that Kozhikode boasted over 500 libraries and over 70 publishers. It provided a solid base for implementation.
•Most of the requirements for the UNESCO tag were met by the city , Kozhikode including a significant number of businesses dedicated to the advancement of its literary culture .
•Contribution of NIT-C students
Academic projects by students and faculty members of the Department of Architecture and Planning, National Institute of Technology, Calicut helped Kozhikode earn the title of ‘City of Literature’. The team members were Pramiti Mallick, Athira Ashokan, Bharat Reddy, Nimil Hussain and P.K. Lavanya. Faculty members including Shyni Anil Kumar and research scholar Susan Syriak provided guidance. They completed the documentation by conducting interviews with people from all walks of life including writers, doctors, common people, working women and homemakers.
The industrious group started the study in July 2022. The document was submitted to UNESCO in June 2023. They collect details and literary documents, showcasing the city as home to numerous famous writers. Their research uncovers the literary history of 14th century Kozhikode.
•Reaction of India’s leaders
“India’s cultural vibrancy now shines even brighter on the world stage with the addition of Kozhikode’s rich literary legacy”,said by Modi.
Union Minister G Kishan Reddy remarked on social media , “This is a moment of great pride for India. Kozhikode in Kerala has been designated as a UNESCO ‘City of Literature’.
Kerala’s Chief Minister, Pinarayi Vijayan, exclaimed with joy that The UNESCO City of Literature designation is a monumental achievement that celebrates the depth of Kozhikode’s literary history.
•Future initiative
Recognition as ‘City of Literature’ will not only enhance the reputation of the city but also pave the way for more innovative initiatives. The city will maintain its status and continue its legacy as a center of literature. As a newly designated creative city, Kozhikode, along with Gwalior, is invited to participate in the UCCN annual conference scheduled for 2024 in Braga, Portugal. The theme of the conference, ‘Bringing Youth to the Table for the Next Decade,’ emphasizes the role of young people in shaping the future of creative cities. Here Kozhikode can present an excellent opportunity to share its experiences, exchange ideas and contribute to the global creative community.
