KOZHIKODE AS " CITY OF LITERATURE"

Gwalior from Madhya Pradesh was also among the 55 new cities to join the network.

These cities have been handpicked to represent seven creative fields — crafts and folk arts, design, film, gastronomy, literature, media arts, and music. Kozhikode was included in the category of literature and Gwalior in the category of music.

2. Kozhikode as a Literature City

• The city of Kozhikode in North Kerala is renowned for its significant contributions to the literary and cultural landscape of the state.
• It is a hub for various prominent figures in the world of literature and culture. Kozhikode, where several leading media organizations have their headquarters, boasts numerous publishing houses and libraries that greatly enrich its literary heritage.
• Notably, Kozhikode holds the distinction of being the birthplace of the first Malayalam novel, "Kundalatha," written by Appu Nedungadi in 1887.
• The city has also been a nurturing ground for a plethora of illustrious writers, including S K Pottekkatt, Vaikom Muhammad Basheer, Uroob, Thikkodiyan, NN Kakkad, P Valsala, Akbar Kakkattil, Punathil Kunjabdulla, and MT Vasudevan Nair, who have earned acclaim for Kozhikode.
• Over the past half-century, Kozhikode has also witnessed the emergence of many talents in the fields of film and theatre.

3. What is the UNESCO Creative Cities Network (UCCN)?

• In 2004, the UCCN was established with the purpose of fostering collaboration among urban centers that recognize creativity as a vital element for sustainable urban growth. Currently, it comprises 350 cities spanning more than a hundred countries.
• The network's primary objective is to harness the potential of cultural industries in creative, social, and economic aspects.
• Its inception aligns with UNESCO's objectives of preserving cultural diversity and bolstering resilience against challenges like climate change, increasing inequality, and rapid urbanization. The UCCN also advocates for the integration of a creative ethos in urban planning and the development of innovative solutions for urban issues.

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3.1. Objectives of UNESCO Creative Cities Network (UCCN)

• The UNESCO Creative Cities Network enables member cities to recognize the importance of fostering creativity as a fundamental element of urban advancement, particularly through collaborative initiatives that involve both the public and private sectors, as well as civil society.
• The network's primary aim is to establish hubs of creativity and innovation, while simultaneously expanding opportunities for individuals within the cultural sector. These cities are firmly committed to achieving the United Nations' sustainable development goals.
• The network's objectives are put into action at both the city level and the international level, notably through the exchange of experiences, knowledge sharing, and the dissemination of best practices.
• This involves professional and artistic exchange programs, research initiatives, and assessments of the creative cities' experiences, among other activities.
• A significant feature of the network is the annual conference attended by mayors and other stakeholders from network cities, offering a unique opportunity to strengthen connections among creative cities worldwide.
• The primary purpose of the conference is to facilitate the exchange of practical information regarding city policies and initiatives, as well as to encourage collaboration between cities.
• The most recent conference was hosted in Santos, Brazil, and the preceding year's conference took place in Istanbul. The forthcoming conference is scheduled for July 2024 and will be held in Braga, Portugal.

 Every four years, member cities are required to submit a Membership Monitoring Report, with the aim of demonstrating their steadfast commitment towards the implementation of the UCCN Mission Statement. They present an action plan for the following four years, providing insights into their achievements and lessons learnt, as well as the impact of the designation.

Source: indianexpress