Honoring those exceling in their respective fields has been a way of encouraging the Non Resident Indians in the United States at the Indian American Kerala Cultural and Civic Center for a long time. This year, during the 13th annual awards dinner, attended by over 300 NRIs from across the United States, eight Indian Americans were felicitated for their outstanding achievements in their field of specialization and for their service to the society. The gala banquet was held at the Kerala Center in Elmont, Long Island, NY on Saturday, November 12th, 2005. 

The event began with the national anthems of India and the US sung by Rene Peters and Tara Mohan. A welcome dance by Helen Varghese to a popular Hindi film song was appreciate d by one and all. E.M. Stephen, Founder President of Kerala Center, led the guests to pay rich tributes to Dr. K.R. Narayanan, the former president of India. In his brief condolence message, Stephen shared with the guest, the former president’s close association with the NRI community in the US and how he was an inspiration to many to give back to the society in the best possible ways.

Neelam Deo, the Consul General of India, New York, who was the chief guest, at the event, paid rich tributes to the former president of India and said, “He was an inspiration to all of us to achieve greater things in life, in spite of the hardships and obstacles.” Describing the present times as “propitious moment” in the relationship between India and the United States, the Consul General said, “India and the strong NRI community in the US have come to receive the long overdue recognition for what we are.” Deo said, Kerala has a unique place in the history of India as it has played a very important role in India;s development. Doe was introduced by Gopalan Nair, Chairman of the Kerala Center Board of Directors.

Ashok Tomar, Deputy Consul General of India and Indian Ambassador Designate to Panama, was given a warm send off by the community. Dr. Thomas Abraham, Founding member of Kerala Center and a member of the Board of Directors, described Tomar as a “close friend” of the Kerala Center and wished him well in his new job as ambassador to Panama. Neelam Deo presented him with a plaque on behalf of the Malayalee community, expressing their appreciation and gratitude for his contributions to the growth of the Indian American community in the New York region. In his farewell address, Tomar lauded the achievements of the Kerala community, particularly in the field of education and research. As incharge of promoting trade and investment in India while in New York, he reminded the Malayalee community, “I feel sad that hardly any trade enquiries come to his desk for investment in Kerala.” He challenged the Malayalees to come forward to and encourage investment in the southern state of Kerala.

Sreedhar Menon, a founder grand patron of Kerala Center, while introducing Dr. Abraham George, Chairman of the The George Foundation, New Jersey and Bangalore, India, praised the commitment and good heart of George, received loud applause when he announced, “I am going to be part of his efforts in eradicating poverty from the villages of India.” Menon said, Dr. Abraham George has been a very successful businessman who sold his companies and has now become a social entrepreneur helping to uplift the poor in India through educational, developmental and community causes. 

In his keynote address, Dr. George shared with the audience the challenges he faced and the immense personal satisfaction he received in bringing hope and joy in the lives of thousands of people in the states of Tamil Nadu and Karnataka. Dr. George, while speaking on the “Opportunities for the Younger generation to participate in India’s development,” said, there are diverse openings for the young and the young-hearted to join in his noble task and bring hope to the children, youth, women, the elderly and the deprived sections of the Indian society. “Each one of us can make a difference in the lives of many,” he said, and appealed to the audience, “Give something to others in need and you can change somebody’s life for ever.”

Upendar Chivukula, who was elected to the New Jersey State Assembly for a third term, narrated his close proximity to the Malayalee community here in the US and back in Kerala. “Over the years, I have become very close to the Malayalee community and Kerala has become close to my heart.” While introducing the Assemblyman of Indian origin, Dr. Thomas Abraham praised him for his successes and described him as “soon to be the US Congressman.”

Honorees of the night included, Dr. Pulickel Ajayan, the Henry Burlage Professor of Engineering, Rensselaer Polytechnic Institute in Troy, NY. After introduction by Thampi Thalppillil, Sreedhar Menon presented him the award. Jayan Kalappurakal Cherian from Queens, NY, was introduced to the audience as poet of the future by M.T. Anthony. He received the award from Manohar Thomas. Dr. Lizzy Kappen from Boston, MA, received the award in the field of Health from Dr. Unni Moopan.

Dr. Thomas Kodenkandath of North Grafton, MA, an outstanding Scientist and gifted Cartoonist, was given a Special Recognition. Upendra Chivukula presented him with the award. Dr. Shree K. Nayar of New York, NY, the T. C. Chang Chaired Professor in the Department of Computer Science at Columbia University, received the award from Kerala Center Trustee G. Mathai. Prem Panicker, who was one of the group of five journalists who, along with Ajit Balakrishnan, founded Rediff.com, and is currently serving as the editor of India Abroad, was presented the award by Kerala Center Trustee Sanuj Stephen. 

Hari Sreenivasan, an anchor/correspondent for ABC News, and the founder of OMpower Media Inc., a firm providing media and communications services, received the award from E M Stephen. Anthony Thaliath from Atlanta, GA was recognized for his services to the community. Rajeshwar Prasad introduced him to the audience as a person who has been actively involved in the Indian American community activities for the last fifteen years. Kerala Center Trustee Dr. John Mathew presented him with the award. 

Earlier, in his welcome address, Jose Chummar, president of the Kerala Center, said, the Center was formed as a non profit organization in 1990. With three years of fund raising campaign, The Kerala Center bought a former YMCA building as its center, which is the only Civic and Community Center in U.S. for Indian American Malayalees. While describing some of the activities that are being regularly organized, he said, “There are Malayalam language, Music and Dance classes for children, SAT coahing for youngsters. Various seminars are conducted ranging from political to investment in addition to many Civic and Cultural activities taking place on a regular basis at the Kerala Center. The Center has also been providing platform for various political leaders for have Town Hall meetings with the Indian Community.”

Chummar also introduced a charitable project initiated by Kerala Center this year, to contribute money to marry off fifteen girls from poor families in Kerala. The audience were challenged to contribute to support this project to marry off poor women in Kerala, who stay unmarried for long for lack of money. 

With the enormous growth of the community in the U.S. and New York in particular, the Kerala community had long felt the need for a Community Center. Such a Center could serve to promote the civic, community and other social service activities among the Indian American community and also to serve as a focal point to coordinate the activities and services to the Kerala Community. “The Kerala Center has become a focal point to coordinate activities and services to the Kerala community Indian American Community,” Dr. Thomas Abraham said. 

The program concluded with a mega entertainment show by the Knanaya Social Club of New York.