Dube has established himself as one of the most destructive middle-order batters in the IPL, scoring 350 runs at a 170-plus strike rate
cricket7 hours ago
There was a time when the very mention of Fort Kochi brought to mind the neighbourhood's Chinese fishing nets framed gracefully against a golden dusk. And why not? It is the image that graces every other picture postcard of the city.
But nowadays, Fort Kochi offers a lot much more than silhouetted talking points.
The most remarkable of these is the Kochi Muziris Biennale, which saw its second edition earlier this year.
The first arts biennale shone the spotlight on Muziris - speculated to have been located a little north of Kochi - a prosperous port that saw widespread trade with other countries from the 1st century CE, before being mysteriously swallowed up by the sea in the 14th century. But it is not just Muziris; Kochi itself has been a prime trading centre for centuries, attracting explorers and traders from all over the world with its heady aroma of spices and the soft rustle of silks.
Fort Kochi's affair began with the Portuguese in the beginning of the 16th century, with the Dutch taking over a century later, and then the British. The region continued to flourish under all these masters, with each of them leaving their signatures behind, all of which define the essence of Fort Kochi today, along with its unique homegrown flavours.
I find it all extremely charming, centuries of history and culture squeezed tight within a few square kilometres of narrow lanes all leading to the sea.
A 'resting place' & Chinese nets
Walking into St. Francis church one morning, I see a tour guide escort a group of British visitors to a flight of low steps so they can sit and comfortably remove their shoes. This is one of the oldest European churches in India, along with the Santa Cruz cathedral basilica around the corner, dating back to the early Portuguese days here.
At the entrance, I stand for a few minutes eavesdropping on the guide's spiel about the church. "This is where the famous Vasco da Gama was buried," he says with a flourish. It is true that the Portuguese explorer died on his third visit to India and was initially buried in the same church which he had helped build. However, his remains were soon shipped off to Lisbon and today, St. Francis Church contains only his empty burial vault.
On entering the church, I can hear the soft murmur of voices from a kid's choir practice session, which soon convulses into a giggling fit when someone suddenly sings out of tune. On another side, there is the steady din of renovation work, but despite that, there is a quiet dignity in the high wooden ceilings and brilliant stained glass windows.
At the waterfront promenade of Vasco da Gama Square (he remains a popular figure here even today), I get my first glimpse of the Chinese fishing nets operated by crafty local fishermen. These picturesque nets work on a simple cantilever system introduced by the first visitors from the court of Kublai Khan in the early 15th century. Today, they are used in Fort Kochi as much to trap fish as to attract tourists.
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