The Kozhikode Corporation is planning to tie up with major institutions in the State and those at the national and international level to take forward works related to the Unesco ‘City of Literature’ project.
Mayor Beena Philip recently reached out to several institutions, inviting their cooperation for partnerships. These include the Sahitya Akademi, New Delhi, District Tourism Promotion Council, Kerala, Literature Festival organisers, Kerala Institute for Research Training and Development Studies of Scheduled Castes and Scheduled Tribes (KIRTADS), Calicut Chamber of Commerce and Industry, Indian Medical Association, University of Calicut, St. Joseph’s College, Devagiri, Malabar Christian College, and various media organisations. Kozhikode City was accorded the prestigious tag on October 31, 2023, and it is India’s first ‘Creative City’ to join the network of Literature in the Unesco Creative Cities Network (UCCN).
Fostering literary-excellence
In the letter, the Mayor said that institutions and organisations which share the passion to tap into the city’s creative potential and utilise the creative field of literature as a driving force for long-term sustainable development can join the initiative. “This partnership symbolises our collective commitment to fostering literary-excellence, recognising culture as a catalyst for sustainable development, and enhancing Kozhikode’s literary scene on a global scale,” the letter said.
Official sources said that the aim would be to showcase Kozhikode’s potential as a platform for the advancement of literature and culture among the 55 cities that were included in the UCCN in 2023. For example, they pointed out that no other city in the country had been hosting such a high number of literature festivals in recent times. Highlighting such developments would go a long way in enhancing Kozhikode’s brand. The involvement of institutions such as the Sahitya Akademi would be of help in this aspect, they added.
A.K. Sarita, nodal officer for the project, told The Hindu on Sunday that the corporation council would take a final call on the partnership project. “A ceremony will be held in the city thereafter where all the institutions that are willing to cooperate with us will sign a memorandum of understanding in the presence of the Mayor,” she added.
Published – December 01, 2024 08:35 pm IST
