An anthem for a vanishing craft: Thazhappattu makes it to school curriculum
A traditional folk song about the vanishing craft of screwpine mat weaving has been included in the Kerala Plus One Malayalam textbook. The inclusion aims to preserve the linguistic and cultural heritage of the Onattukara region.
Why it matters
Integrating local folk arts into the formal education curriculum helps prevent the loss of traditional knowledge and regional cultural identity.
Relying entirely on traditional wisdom and natural resources, screwpine artisans possess a level of skill that modern machinery simply cannot replicate. They transform simple leaves into green, sustainable thazhappas (mats) — a craft that was once a thriving cottage industry in Thazhava but has slowly declined due to modern challenges. Now, this vanishing rural art has received a significant tribute. Thazhappattu , a song written by Ani Mank, who comes from a family of traditional artisans and had failed his tenth-grade exams, has been officially included in the Plus One Malayalam textbook in Kerala. The work features in the third chapter of the textbook under the section ‘Samskaravinimayam’ (Cultural Exchange), celebrating a rich heritage that refuses to be forgotten.
The article is a human-interest piece that highlights cultural preservation without political or social bias.
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