Mr. Heinz Johannes Paul a.k.a. Prem Manasvi

It?s another example of those things that just happened, that is how Mr. Heinz Johannes Paul a.k.a. Prem Manasvi would like to put his relationship with Kerala. A native of Germany, and a teacher by profession, Prem Manasvi?s tryst with India happened through the Osho Commune in Pune. And in 1992 following the invitation of a Malayalee friend he visited Kerala for the first time.

Manasvi felt an attachment to Kerala, which according to him was something that cannot be explained as in the case of a love story. During his first visit, he says ?We came by train and the moment we entered Kerala, I was attracted by the landscape; the lush paddy fields interspersed by the coconut groves, the roofs of the traditional laterite built houses, downwards sloping almost to the ground, the majestic flow of the Bharatapuzha?..?

And finally it took a second visit to Kerala for Prem Manasvi to fortify his love for Kerala. And he did so by making his own a traditional ancestral house of a Brahmin family- a Mana, located at Perumpilissery in Thrissur District of Kerala. The house attracted Manasvi due to its unique architecture and the application of Vasthu Sasthra (traditional architectural science). In his words ?I just felt it like having come across a jewel buried under a heap of dust.? About the architecture of the Mana, Prem Manasvi is very much appreciative of the inbuilt wisdom of facing the climatic conditions of a tropical country like cross ventilation and sloping roofs, the local materials used, the subtle art work that he discovered slowly and the kind of energy the people who had been living in his house had left behind.

To a question whether it is the people or the land that makes Kerala appealing to him, Manasvi said that it is a combination of both. The people are warm-hearted, friendly and helpful. On his general interest in Kerala, Manasvi says, ?It is to study the wealth of the cultural traditions in Kerala and to understand the people through understanding their history, culture, architecture and art forms.?

But his special love definitely goes to the art forms of Kerala. And in that Manasvi finds Tholpava Koothu, Mizhavu Thyambaka, Nangiar Koothu, Kutiyattam, Theyyam to name a few that has fascinated him the most. Being the most attracted by the Sanskrit theatre still existing in Kerala, Prem Manasvi is very much interested in staging performance of Nangiar Koothu, and Chakiyar Koothu. Other art forms that share his special stage are forms of puppetry like Pavakathakali and Tholpava Koothu. Carnatic and Hindustani music concerts also form part of the performances at his Mana. While staging them, Manasvi says that it would be also an exercise to focus on presenting those art forms of Kerala that have started losing a dominant role in the present cultural set up of the region. Manasvi co-ordinates all these with his own financial resources, which is basically his pension as a senior graduate secondary school teacher.

Now his place of dwelling, the Mana has gradually become a performance stage for visitors who comprised mostly art lovers, who invariably find the whole ambience very inviting and enjoyable. And to share his intimate impressions on the art forms of Kerala, Manasvi has started casting the same on the Internet. He has already got a website http://invitation.manasvi.com, which has details of culture and art related activities undertaken by Manasvi and those about to take place in future.

Prem Manasvi?s new found home in Kerala has not only elated the spirits of this native of Germany, but also art lovers of Kerala, who now has a reason to smile when they think about Prem Manasvi and his Alakkattu Mana in Thrissur.

Address
Mr. Prem Manasvi
(Prem Manasvi Heinz J. Paul)
Nalukettu, former Alakkattu Mana
P.O. Pootharakkal, Cherpu
Thrissur District
Tel: +91- 487- 2343991. Mob: 944 700 2540
Email: manasvipaul@dataone.in