LCT co-creator Ashik Krishnan hosted a workshop on City Swaraj, part of the Vanchikulam Fest in Thrissur. The pond of Vanchikulam once connected waterways from Thrissur to Kodungallur and Kochi which served as a trade route until late 1950s. The historically significant Vanchikulam went mostly abandoned for decades until the Thrissur Municipal Corporation took efforts to revive the pond and convert the surrounding area into a public space. And part of the opening of the space, a 3-day fest was organised by INTACH (Indian National Trust for Arts, Culture and Heritage) Thrissur Chapter to celebrate the story of Vanchikulam and invite more people into using the space.
Nine youth from different Indian cities and towns of Kerala, Karnataka and Uttarakhand participated in the workshop on City Swaraj. The participants shared about their relationships with their own cities and towns, and the stories behind the same. We looked at what swaraj meant for each of us, swaraj in the forms of self-rule, self-governance, sovereignty, autonomy, freedom, etc. Further, we explored some of the value systems that could be facilitated within individuals and communities that helps us experience swaraj, and the ideals we could strive towards to make our cities and towns more inclusive and liveable.
Comments