MATSYAKANNIKA

                                                      Myself and Shri Bhat                                

Recently I had been to Thiruvananthpuram to attend a workshop.  During my stay, I visited Kochuveli, the traditional village of Kerala and Shankhumukham shore and Kovalam beach etc., with Sri P. S. Soorynarayana Bhat, Programme Executive of All India Radio, Manglaore.  The above statue, 'Matsyakannika' is  near Shankhumukham facing towards the sea.  The statue of the matsyakannika is, as if, just came out of the Sea to take Sun-bath lying on the petals of a lotus flower thinking that no earthly creatures are around her. The free and modest posture and gesture of the matsyakannika, which has appeared truly in the imagination of the artist,  gives a serene beauty to the whole beach-side. The  place, Shankhumukham  is named so because of the landscape.  Tourism Dept., of Kerala, though the traditionalists protested for the erection of the nude mural, has installed the matsyakannika's cement  statue which is one of the attractions of Shankumukham beach.