Latest news with #HortusMalabaricus
The Hindu
19 hours ago
- Science
- The Hindu
Revisiting Katou-Indel in 17th-century botanical treatise Hortus Malabaricus yields new finds for researchers
A palm originally described in the monumental 17th-century botanical treatise Hortus Malabaricus continues to fascinate botanists more than three centuries later, leading to the discovery of a new species and the reclassification of existing ones. Recent studies on the palm, named Katou-Indel in the Hortus Malabaricus, Hendrik van Rheede's work on the flora of the Malabar coast, have led researchers to conclude that the trees found in Kerala and Sri Lanka and elsewhere in India and neighbouring Bangladesh and Pakistan are two distinct species of the genus Phoenix. A team from the Jawaharlal Nehru Tropical Botanic Garden and Research Institute (JNTBGRI) at Palode in Thiruvananthapuram and the Botanical Survey of India (BSI), Kolkata, has confirmed that van Rheede's Katou-Indel is indeed Phoenix sylvestris, native to Kerala and Sri Lanka. In doing so, they have also reclassified three other Phoenix species as Phoenix sylvestris. A major development is the identification of the palm found on India's eastern coast and Bangladesh, Gujarat, Rajasthan and Pakistan as a new species. The researchers have named it Phoenix roxburghii after William Roxburgh, considered the father of Indian Botany. Growing 12 to 16 metres tall, Phoenix roxburghii shares morphological similarities with Phoenix sylvestris, but differs by its taller solitary trunk, larger leaves and leaflets, musty-scented staminate flowers and larger, obovoid orange-yellow fruits, according to a paper on the findings titled 'Revisiting Rheede's 'Katou-Indel' and the discovery of a new species of Phoenix (family Arecaceae) from India,' published in the scientific journal Phytotaxa. What prompted the JNTBGRI and BSI researchers to take a closer look at Katou-Indel was an observation made by the 19th-century Botanist William Griffith that, 'the fruits figured in Hortus Malabaricus (3: t 22–25) is very much smaller and of a different shape than it is in Bengal, at least in uninjured trees,' E.S. Santhosh Kumar of the JNTBGRI, one of the authors of the paper, told The Hindu. Hendrik van Rheede, the Governor of Dutch Malabar, compiled the medicinal properties of the flora of Malabar coast in Hortus Malabaricus with the assistance of the physician Itty Achudan. The work in 12 volumes was translated into English by K.S. Manilal, who devoted 35 years to researching the work, more than three centuries later. Over the years, Katou-Indel – a name which has its origins in Malayalam – has been subjected to many classifications. It was Roxburgh who coined 'Phoenix sylvestris' in the 19th century. In their paper, the JNTBGRI-BSI research team have confirmed it as such. They have also reclassified three different Phoenix species – P. pusilla, and P. zeylanica – as the same as Phoenix sylvestris, a short palm that grows 3.5 metres to 5.5 metres tall. The other authors include Joemon Jacob, N. Mohanan, K.C. Kariyappa and S. Suresh from the JNTBGRI and S.S. Hameed from the BSI.
Time of India
a day ago
- Time of India
Sailing Through Time: History on Screens
Scholars combine tech, archives and field trips to explore 150 years of Dutch rule For most of us, history is more than reading stories and documents—it is stepping back into time. When I boarded 'Vega', the Kerala water transport boat from Fort Kochi to Varapuzha, what caught my attention wasn't the scenic backwaters or green landscapes dotted with Chinese fishing nets. Instead, it was the screens glowing in passengers' hands—phones, tablets and laptops tracking our journey. But these were not like the Google Maps we use every day. The displays showed our real-time location on pages that looked like they had emerged from the past: Light brown, pastel-tinged maps with names in old-world fonts. The 'country' was MALABAAR, and towns along the coast read Cape Commery, Colan, Calocolan, Porca, Megiere, Couchin. Couchin—modern-day Cochin—blinked with a live indicator. I realized we were navigating through history on a high-tech map. Had I stepped back into the future? The passengers—mostly young scholars—were on a voyage to trace the missing pages of Kerala's history during 150 years of Dutch rule in Malabar. Their conversations and research are opening new chapters that go far beyond the limited knowledge we have of Dutch trade and the architectural evidence they left behind in documents, thalayolas, poems, oral histories and the famous Hortus Malabaricus. The journey began in 2022 with Cosmos Malabaricus, a project born from an MoU between the University of Leiden, the Netherlands and the Kerala Council for Historical Research (KCHR). 'Four of our students are studying modern and early modern Dutch to understand various documents in various Netherlands archives. Their Masters in Colonial and Global History is part of this MoU. Already, knowledge is flowing through discussions at the summer school we organized for young researchers,' said Prof. Dinesan V, KCHR director. The summer school fosters scholarly exchange, archival engagement and field-based learning. By integrating history, cartography, paleography, heritage studies and digital humanities, the project is reopening questions about colonial governance, indigenous agency and socio-economic transformations in Dutch-era Malabar. 'My work focuses on slavery and caste, particularly the Mukkuvan (fisher) community. The lower strata were bonded to upper-caste families or farms. When the Dutch arrived, they didn't need to look for slaves—they relied on existing bonded labor communities,' said Lija Joseph, one of the Leiden students. 'We can now read Dutch and, with our professors' help, understand many things that contribute to our knowledge of those times,' explained Anjana Aby, another student. 'The main challenge is reading old documents because the old Dutch script doesn't use full stops—sentences run for several lines and their meaning can differ from what we initially understand.' Technological advances in preservation and digitization are proving invaluable to these history students. 'Most documents are digitized and can be transcribed. We are also mapping old names to modern Kerala geography,' said Manjusha Kuruppath, postdoctoral team lead on the Globalise Project in the Netherlands (2022–2026), which looks at the complex historical interactions of the Dutch East India Company using multilingual archival materials and early maps. Working with data engineer Leon van Wissen, Kuruppath made it possible for students to access old Malabar maps from archival documents as digitized, real-time maps. 'We used the Allmaps platform and integrated the historical data to create these maps.' Using these digital maps researchers from Kerala and the Netherlands sailed on the Vega from Fort Kochi to Vypeen. Their first stop was Our Lady of Hope Church. Their guide was historian and former KCHR chairman Prof Michael Tharakan, who during his student years discovered a vast, underexplored repository of Dutch records in the National Archives of the Netherlands. What Tharakan envisioned then became reality when Venu Rajamony, the former ambassador to the Netherlands, took chief minister Pinarayi Vijayan to visit the national archives there. 'I proposed this idea to Prof. Jos Gommans of the University of Leiden and Cosmos Malabaricus was born,' said Rajamony, one of the project's architects. 'The state govt was keen to follow through, and the results are amazing when we hear about the students' work.' The boat then moved to Bolgatty Palace, which originated during the Dutch period before being taken over by the English. Much has changed at the palace. 'If I were to see it from the boat, I would get a feel for Dutch architecture,' observed Prof Lennart Baes, who has been teaching the Cosmos students. 'But as we came inside, the only thing I could recognize as Dutch were the huge glass windows.' The final stop was Varapuzha church and the tomb of Fr Mathaeus (Pedro Foglia), where his remains are still preserved. For Prof. Jos Gommans, one of the architects of this programme, the Dutch documents—daily company reports—are windows into trade, disputes, and local life, albeit from a colonial perspective. 'Scholars must piece together fragments from multiple archives to reconstruct the historical narrative,' he said. As the four students near the end of their course, the project faces uncertainty due to lack of state funding. Meenu Rebecca is pursuing a PhD at Leiden, while Lija, Anjana, and Shailaja M plan doctoral research. Cosmos Malabaricus may be closing, but it has opened doors for future scholars to journey into history, retracing the hidden chapters of Dutch Malabar. Facebook Twitter Linkedin Email Disclaimer Views expressed above are the author's own.
The Hindu
09-08-2025
- Science
- The Hindu
International workshop on research potential of Hortus Malabaricus begins in Thrissur
The Hortus Malabaricus Botanical Garden and Research Institute (HMBGRI) inaugurated a two-day international workshop titled 'The Research Potential of Hortus Malabaricus' at its campus in Nedumpura, Cheruthuruthi on Saturday. The event brings together a global gathering of researchers, academicians, students, policymakers, and conservationists to discuss the historical, ethnobotanical, and scientific relevance of Hortus Malabaricus — the seminal 17th-century botanical work compiled under the direction of Dutch Governor Hendrik van Rheede. The text, brought into wider academic use through the monumental translation by Professor K.S. Manilal, remains a cornerstone for botanical studies and traditional knowledge systems in India. The workshop features expert-led sessions focusing on research opportunities in taxonomy, ethnomedicine, genomics, sustainable resource use, and conservation policy. Particular attention is given to the bioactive compounds and sustainable extraction methods related to medicinal plants listed in Hortus Malabaricus. Speaking at the inaugural session, Anne Cremers, Deputy Consul General of the Kingdom of The Netherlands, said: 'The Netherlands deeply values its international partnerships, and one of our most significant collaborators in the field of sustainable biodiversity is India. The immense research potential of the Hortus Malabaricus has brought us together for this important conference, and we commend the efforts being made to explore its botanical richness.' Dr. Anil Kumar, Chairman of the Kerala State Biodiversity Board (KSBB), emphasised the urgency of conservation efforts: 'The establishment of the Hortus Malabaricus Botanical Garden as a living repository sets a powerful example of how to honour a centuries-old botanical legacy while creating pathways for genomic research, community benefit, and long-term resilience. In this context, I would like to draw attention to the urgent need for genomic conservation of wild spice relatives that are endemic to the Malabar Centre of the Western Ghats, a landscape rich in ecological, cultural, and historical significance,' he said. Sam Santhosh, founder and trustee of SciGenom Research Foundation (SGRF) and visionary behind HMBGRI, said: ' Originally launched as a conservation project by SGRF in 2015, HMBGRI now serves as a hub for taxonomy, ecology, and sustainable use of native plant resources of the Western Ghats.' Anoop P. Balan, organising secretary, noted that the workshop is a critical step toward recontextualising the Hortus Malabaricus within modern science. The workshop will continue through August 10, with expert panels, interactive discussions, and field visits aimed at fostering collaborative initiatives and promoting Kerala's botanical heritage on a global platform.
The Hindu
06-08-2025
- Science
- The Hindu
Global workshop on research potential of Hortus Malabaricus from Aug. 9
The Hortus Malabaricus Botanical Garden and Research Institute (HMBGRI), a centre for the conservation and study of Kerala's plant heritage, will host a two-day international workshop titled 'The Research Potential of Hortus Malabaricus: Unravelling the Botanical Mysteries and Exploring Prospects for Future Research' on August 9 and 10 on its campus in Cheruthuruthi in Thrissur district. The workshop will bring together researchers, academicians, and policymakers to explore the historical, ethnobotanical, and scientific relevance of the plants documented in Hortus Malabaricus, the monumental 17th Century botanical treatise. The text, translated and interpreted for modern audiences through the ground-breaking work of K.S. Manilal, remains a vital reference in Indian botanical science. Main themes Key themes of the workshop include: historical and botanical insights into Hortus Malabaricus; ethnobotanical uses of native flora and future-facing scientific studies including molecular phylogenetics, phytochemistry, soil microbiome and sustainable bioprospecting. 'The sessions are designed to stimulate collaborative thinking and recommend pathways for research, conservation, and policy initiatives related to the Western Ghats flora. Special attention will be given to bioactive compounds and sustainable extraction methods from medicinal plants mentioned in the original Hortus Malabaricus volumes,' said Sam Santhosh, Founder & Trustee of SciGenom Research Foundation, the promoter of the Hortus Malabaricus Botanica Garden. Research scholars interested in participating can request to register at
Fashion Value Chain
09-05-2025
- Entertainment
- Fashion Value Chain
Push 360's 'Where Legends Meet Across Time' Campaign Earns Global Spotlight in Luerzer's Archive
Where Legends Meet Across Time print campaign has been recognized by Luerzers Archive as the top campaign, marking a significant achievement for the Kerala-based branding agency Push 360. 'Where Legends Meet Across Time' – A Compelling Campaign by Push 360 Agency for the Malayala Manorama Hortus Art and Literature Festival The captivating campaign was meticulously crafted for Hortus, the art and literature festival launched in 2024 by the prominent media house, Malayala Manorama. The artwork, crafted by Push 360s Chief Creative Director, Jayaprakash (JePi), imagines a surreal meeting of cultural legends – Vincent van Gogh and Vaikom Muhammad Basheer on the shores of Kozhikode, echoing the festival's spirit of timeless creative dialogue. Luerzers Archive, a leading global authority on advertising creativity, praised the campaign for its artistic merit, communication impact, and conceptual innovation. V. A. Shrikumar, CMD of Push 360, stated, 'The most important thing in communication is to hear what isn't being said. I'm truly happy about the recognition our work has received, it speaks volumes through its visual narrative. At Push 360, every campaign is born from a deep process of strategic thinking and creative ideation – crafted to elevate and transform brands with purpose and meaningful differentiation.' Jayaprakash, Chief Creative Director, explained the campaigns concept, 'The central idea was to create a visual metaphor for the Hortus event, as a unique intersection of brilliance, where legacies could symbolically interact. We wanted to pay homage to the rich heritage of the Hortus Malabaricus while highlighting its enduring relevance and reinterpret that legacy through a modern creative lens aligned with the festival's identity.' About Push 360 Push 360 is a premier branding and public relations agency based in Palakkad, Kerala, India, leveraging a distinguished 33-year history of crafting impactful and memorable campaigns that effectively connect across diverse languages and cultures. The agency has built a strong reputation for its strategic branding, impactful advertising, cutting-edge digital solutions, and effective public relations strategies. About Malayala Manorama – Hortus Launched in 2024, Malayala Manorama Hortus is designed to foster intellectual exchange and artistic expression. Inspired by the 17th-century botanical treatise Hortus Malabaricus commissioned by Hendrik van Rheede, the festival celebrates creativity across disciplines like art, literature, and culture, while engaging a wide audience.
