Kozhikode In Kerala Earns UNESCO Tag Of India's First 'City Of Literature'
Kozhikode, also known as Calicut during British rule, served as the gateway to the coast for many foreigners, such as Persians, Arabs, Chinese, and eventually Europeans, centuries ago.
Kozhikode in north Kerala was on Sunday declared as India's first UNESCO 'City of Literature'. In October 2023, Kozhikode was listed under the 'Literature' category of the UNESCO Creative Cities Network (UCCN).
Over the next four years, Kozhikode will organise several cultural and literary activities to promote this new recognition. Iconic locations such as Tali, Mananchira, and Kuttichira are expected to be transformed into vibrant centres for hosting literary events, according to a TOI report.
At the official event held to declare Kozhikode's new status, State Local Self Government Department (LSGD) Minister, M B Rajesh, said the city has a soul that is characterised by humanity, harmony, a strong sense of justice and freedom of expression.
"These core values have given birth to the vibrant art of Kozhikode," he said. He said the city's corporation had played a significant role in its efficient functioning which led it to win this title.
The state government announced that in the future June 23 will be celebrated as 'City of Literature' Day of Kozhikode. Special awards under six categories will be announced, an official statement said.
About Kozhikode
This city is also known as Calicut and is recognised for its rich culture and historical significance. This is the first destination where Portuguese explorer Vasco da Gama arrived in India in 1498. It is also an ancient trading hub.
From natural beaches to traditional craftsmanship, this city has several delights to explore. It is also popular for its spices, seafood, and cuisine.
Kozhikode combines a rich historic past with ultra-modern developments. This city is home to several artists and has over 500 functioning libraries.
Gwalior and Kozhikode from India are among the 55 new cities which have joined the UCCN. The new list was published on its website on the World Cities Day, which falls on October 31.
These new cities were acknowledged for "their strong commitment to harnessing culture and creativity as part of their development strategies and displaying innovative practices in human-centred urban planning", the UN agency had said in a statement.
While Gwalior in Madhya Pradesh made it to the coveted list in the 'Music' category, Kozhikode earned the place in the 'Literature' category.
These cities join the list of places which received tags from UNESCO including Bukhara – Crafts and Folk Art, Casablanca – Media Arts, Chongqing – Design, Kathmandu – Film, Rio de Janeiro – Literature, and Ulaanbaatar – Crafts and Folk Art.
With the latest additions, the UCCN now counts 350 cities in more than a hundred countries, representing seven creative fields: Crafts and Folk Art, Design, Film, Gastronomy, Literature, Media Arts and Music.
The newly designated Creative Cities are invited to participate in the 2024 UCCN Annual Conference (July 1-5, 2024) in Braga, Portugal, under the theme 'Bringing Youth to the Table for the Next Decade', UNESCO had said in a statement.
(With PTI inputs)
