Category Archives: Leaders

‘Neera man’ Jose steps down after an eventful term

Agriculture, Business & Economy, Leaders, Nature
T.K. Jose
T.K. Jose

Jose helped set up new coconut farmer producer companies, besides turning around old ones

‘Neera man’ T.K. Jose, who helped bring the sweet drink made from coconut flowers out of the shackles of the Abkari Act to unleash its commercial potential, steps down as Chairman of the Coconut Development Board this week after an eventful tenure.

Over the last more than five years, Mr. Jose helped create new coconut farmer producer companies and turn around the old ones. He was instrumental in forming an army of coconut technicians, including Neera tappers, and tree climbers. He also laid down a roadmap for the growth of the business through value addition.

“The credit for pursuing the cause of Neera must go to the outgoing Chairman,” said V.K. Raju, former Associate Director of Research, Kerala Agricultural University, and an expert in Neera tapping.

Mr. Jose, an IAS officer of the Kerala cadre, joined the Coconut Development Board in May 2011 and immediately set about reviving the three-tier system of coconut farmers’ organisations. The outgoing Chairman also worked hard to bring Neera out of the Kerala Abkari Act.

source: http://www.thehindu.com / The Hindu / Home> News> Cities> Kochi / by Special Correspondent / Kochi – May 19th, 2016

Helmsman, who turned around a port, takes a bow

Business & Economy, Leaders
Paul Antony leaves the Cochin Port Trust with an operating surplus of Rs.70 crore in 2015-16.
Paul Antony leaves the Cochin Port Trust with an operating surplus of Rs.70 crore in 2015-16.

Paul Antony, who steered the course of the Cochin Port Trust through a phase of great financial troubles, completed his tenure at the helm on Monday.

The government is yet to appoint a new chairman though unconfirmed reports said a senior IAS cadre officer in the State was tipped to take over.

The outgoing chairman will join the government of Kerala at the end of May as Additional Chief Secretary after the new government takes over, sources said.

Crucial period

Mr. Antony, who was in-charge of the Port Trust for more than five years, assumed office at the crucial period immediately after the inauguration of the International Container Transshipment Terminal in February 2011.

The outgoing chairman thanked his former colleagues for the work they had done together even as he pointed out that the port itself had gone through a transformation internally with ERP being firmly established in all areas of the port’s operations.

Austerity measures

He recalled that the port had gone through a period of “tough austerity measures” with even benefits to employees and pensioners being restricted for a few months. “But we have come out stronger, with the whole-hearted cooperation of the employees and their unions”, he said.

He added that all the arrears to the employees had been paid.

Mr. Antony leaves the Port Trust with an operating surplus of Rs.70 crore in 2015-16, the highest since 1979-80. The port authority’s marketing initiatives under Mr. Antony also saw the ICTT crossing the four-lakh TEU-mark in 2015-16. The facility has come under fire for not achieving the target set for the first phase.

The period also saw the port authority beginning work on the Rs. 970-crore international ship repair facility jointly with the Cochin Shipyard using the Mattancherry wharf.

Work on the Rs. 240-crore multi-user-liquid terminal with a capacity to handle 4.1 million metric tonnes per annum in conjunction with IOC on Puthuvypeen island is underway.

source: http://www.thehindu.com / The Hindu / Home> News> Cities> Kochi / by Special Correspondent / Kochi – May 18th, 2016

Royce Victor ordained first CSI bishop Malabar

Arts,Culture & Entertainment, Leaders, Records, All

Kozhikode:

Rev Royce Manoj Victor was ordained as the first bishop of the newly formed Diocese of Malabar of the Church of South India (CSI) at a function held here on Tuesday.

CSI moderator Rev G Dyvasirvadam led the ordination ceremony held at the CSI Cathedral Church at Mananchira by handing over the Bible, crosier and ring to the newly ordained Bishop.

The ordination ceremony started at 10am with a procession from the BEM School. CSI deputy moderator Rev Thomas K Oommen, general secretary of CSI, Rev Daniel Ratnakar Sadananda, CSI bishops, priests and parishioners attended the ceremony.

A felicitation meeting was held in honour of the new bishop which was attended by Kozhikode MP, M K Raghavan, A Pradeep Kumar MLA among others.

source: http://www.timesofindia.indiatimes.com / The Times of India / News Home> City> Kozhikode / TNN / May 18th, 2016

Documentary on K R Gowri released

Leaders, Records, All

Alappuzha:

CPM state secretary Kodiyeri Balakrishnan released the documentary titled-Kaalam Maayikkatha Ormakal (Memories that time did not erase) – on the life of veteran politician K R Gowri at a public function held in Alappuzha on Friday.

The function was presided over by MLA T M Thomas Isaac. The CD of the documentary was received by Gowri’s political secretary Sangeeth as she could not attend the function due to health issues.

source: http://www.timesofindia.indiatimes.com / The Times of India / News Home> City> Kozhikode / TNN / May 14th, 2016

Rich tributes to Krishna Menon in U.K. on his 120th birth anniversary

Amazing Feats, Historical Links, Pre-Independence, Inspiration/ Positive News and Features, Leaders, Records, All, World Opinion
Despite his prodigious intellect, Indian statesman V.K. Krishna Menon was no armchair intellectual and threw himself into local British politics and life. / The Hindu Photo Archives
Despite his prodigious intellect, Indian statesman V.K. Krishna Menon was no armchair intellectual and threw himself into local British politics and life.
/ The Hindu Photo Archives

“To describe Mr. Menon was like trying to contain the Niagra in a flask,” former civil servant P.N. Haksar famously said of him.

The life and multi-faceted contributions of the Indian statesman V.K. Krishna Menon (1896-1974), especially the less-known phase of his life in Britain, were remembered at a meeting organised by the V.K. Krishna Menon Research Institute at the Nehru Centre in London.

Speakers at the meeting included Cyriac Maprayil, Director of the Krishna Menon Institute; Virendar Paul, Deputy High Commissioner of India; Sir Peter Lloyd, former Minister of State for the Home office; and Chaya Ray, a lawyer who offered interesting reflections on Mr. Menon who she knew as a child in London.

“To describe Mr. Menon was like trying to contain the Niagra in a flask,” said Mr. Maprayil, quoting the former civil servant P.N. Haksar.

Prodigious intellect

Despite his prodigious intellect, Mr. Menon was no armchair intellectual and threw himself into local British politics and life. He an elected Councillor for Camden Town for four terms and was conferred the Freedom of the Borough for his public services.

As a member of the library committee, he wanted to see “as many libraries as pubs” in the area, Mr. Maprayil noted. His interest in promoting reading led him to set up Penguin paperbacks in 1935 with Sir Allen Lane. For a time during the war, he even acted as an air raid warden for his area.

Indian League role

Better known and documented are his activities in the India League, which he founded in 1929 and which canvassed support in Britain for Indian independence.

His contacts were wide and influential and included Bertrand Russell, J.B.S. Haldane, Michael Foote, Aneurin Bevan, E.M.Forster and Marie Seton.

1962 war defeat ‘hard on him’

Sir Peter Lloyd noted how Mr. Menon was invariably “right, but at the wrong time.” India’s defeat in the Indo-China’s war was “hard on him”, Mr. Lloyd said, “not the kind of payback he was looking for from the Chinese.” But on non-alignment, “his timing was right,” as it made the two power blocks take note of newly independent nations, even as it gave the latter a “sense of autonomy as equals rather than as players with client status.”

source: http://www.thehindu.com / The Hindu / Home> News / by Parvathi Menon / London – May 04th, 2016

Set for New Innings

Business & Economy, Leaders, Science & Technology, World Opinion

DrAugustineKERALA 03may2016

Thiruvananthapuram  :

Dr Philip Augustine needs no introduction. For the people of Ernakulam, he was the man who put Koothattukulam Deva Matha Hospital on the map of world health services, when the gastroenterology department he set up there reported some of the rarest diseases in the world. Going forward, Dr Augustine helmed the campaigns to bring changes in the healthcare sector in the state. One of them was the setting up of the Lakeshore Hospital in Kochi in 2005, bringing together some of the brightest doctors in different fields.

Augustine has recently relinquished his post as the Director of Lakeshore Hospital and is all set enter a new phase of his career.

“I think I have reached a point in my life and career where I should focus on broadening my area of activity. As someone who has done a lot for the gastroenterology sector in Kerala, I wish to strengthen the field and inspire the younger generation of doctors to know more about it,” said the doctor.

He has launched Philip Augustine Associates, a firm set up to see his dream through. A subsidiary organization, Kochi Gastroentorology Group, has also been set up to bring together the knowledge of different branches of the field.

“I had three goals to fulfill in my career – setting up a good and world class healthcare facility, ensuring that top notch education facilities are made available for the medical students to learn and creating good research facilities for the advancement of the science. I have done a worthy share in the first two goals and now it is time to focus on the third,” he adds.

Augustine’s achievements

  • Helmed campaigns to bring changes in the healthcare sector in the state
  • Put Koothattukulam Deva Matha Hospital on the map of world health services, when the gastroenterology department he set up there reported some of the rarest diseases in the world
  • Set up Lakeshore Hospital in 2005

Dr Augustine also feels that the rampant corporatisation of healthcare might not bode well for the sector. Even while lauding the innovations corporate hospitals have brought about, he thinks hospitals run purely with a profit motive is not a good idea.

”I am not against corporate hospitals, but I wish there is more space for small and medium hospitals to thrive alongside. That will be good for the public and the healthcare sector in general,” he adds.

Recently, Dr Augustine decided to take up  charge of running the PVS Hospital in Kochi and contribute to the gastroentorology department at the hospital, where he will be a consultant.

I think I have reached a point in my life and career where I should focus on broadening my area of activity. As someone who has done a lot for the gastroenterology sector in Kerala, I wish to strengthen the field and inspire the younger generation of doctors to know more about it 

-Philip Augustine

source: http://www.thenewindianexpress.com / The New Indian Express / Home> Cities> Thiruvananthapuram / by Express Features / May 03rd, 2016

In Kerala village, MGR’s childhood home in ruins

Arts,Culture & Entertainment, Leaders, Records, All, Travel
Children playing in front of the house of MGR at Vadavannur in Palakkad.
Children playing in front of the house of MGR at Vadavannur in Palakkad.

Though AIADMK leaders make the occasional pilgrimage, it is in a neglected state

While the All India Anna Dravida Munnetra Kazhagam (AIADMK) continues to invoke M.G. Ramachandran’s popularity to boost its prospects every elections, the ancestral home of his mother in this village in Kerala, which the idol was emotionally attached to during his lifetime, is languishing in neglect.

The house, where MGR spent his childhood after relocating from his birthplace Kandy in Sri Lanka, now serves as an Anganwadi centre under the Kerala Social Welfare Department.

The small tiled house, which MGR frequently visited even when he was the Chief Minister of Tamil Nadu, still retains an old-world charm.

Located barely 12 km from Palakkad town, it was occupied by relatives of MGR’s mother Sathyabhama until a few years ago, and once they decided to shift to Palakkad, they leased it to the Anganwadi, citing the icon’s affection for children.

“The house is in ruins due to lack of repair. Though AIADMK leaders from Tamil Nadu make the occasional pilgrimage, it is in a neglected state. As it happens to be a private property, the Kerala Government too faces limitations in converting it into an MGR memorial,” said M. Pushpalatha, a part-time teacher at the Anganwadi centre.

Apart from an old image of MGR, pictures of Dravidian leader C.N. Annadurai and AIADMK chief J. Jayalalithaa adorns its walls, as does an AIADMK calendar carrying messages from the Tamil Nadu Minister S.P. Velumani.

“MGR’s father Maruthur Gopala Menon, who hailed from the nearby Nalleppilly village, moved to Vadavannur after he retired as a magistrate in Kandy and stayed for some time in this house. After he died, MGR and his brother M.G. Chakrapani were taken by their mother to Kumbakonam, where the father’s elder brother lived. It was while living in Kumbakonam that both the brothers entered films,” said N. Mayil Swamy, the AIADMK candidate from Chittur constituency.

source: http://www.thehindu.com / The Hindu / Home> National / by K.A. Shaji / Vadavannur (Palakkad) – May 01st, 2016

Documentary on Pinarayi Vijayan

Arts,Culture & Entertainment, Leaders, Records, All

PinarayiKERALA29apr2016

Kochi :

Writer and critic M K Sanu will release a documentary on CPM PolitBuro member Pinarayi Vijayan at the Children’s Park Theatre here on Thursday. Film personalities Renjith, Renji Panicker and the documentary’s director K R Subhash will attend the function scheduled for 12pm.

Pinarayi Vijayan will also attend various programmes in the district on Thursday in  connection with the campaign programmes of the various LDF candidates.  He will attend meetings at Kalamassery at 10 am, Perumbavoor  at 4 pm, Kunnathunad at 5 pm and Aluva at 6pm.
source: http://www.newindianexpress.com / The New Indian Express / Home> Cities> Kochi / by Express News Service / April 28th, 2016

When Baker was given a RAW deal

Arts,Culture & Entertainment, Leaders, Records, All, World Opinion

Kochi:

More than a meeting to commemorate the famous British-born Indian architect, it was an emotional gathering of those who were close to late Laurie Baker, who pioneered the concept of low-cost housing in the state.

Baker came to be known for his cost-effective, energy-efficient architecture and design with a striking aesthetic sensibility, married to tradition.

German architect Dr Klaus Peter Gast, the guest speaker at the meeting organized by Lifelong Learning Foundation on Friday, said that Baker explored the culture and tradition of the society through his architectural designs.

“But Baker’s ‘language’ has only been taken forward by very few architects. Some abused his design, others misinterpreted it. Kerala has to develop its own architectural language,” he pointed out.

Jaigopal Rao and Latha Raman, disciples of Baker, shared their memories of being with the ‘hilarious human being’. Baker was a rebel who fought the ‘establishment’ not with aggression, but humour.

Jaigopal spoke of how Baker had come under the observation of Research Analysis Wing (RAW) during the Indira Gandhi regime.

“It was astonishing to know that a separate file on Baker was kept by RAW. This came to light, when K R Narayanan, the then president of India and a friend of Baker, showed him the file. What provoked the Indira Gandhi regime to go after Baker were his cartoons, which he occasionally drew and published in some magazines. He used to draw a ‘foreign hand’ to denote certain things. The Indira Gandhi-led regime suspected this to be something against them,” he said.

When Baker was asked by his friends what made India his favourite place, he said it was the landscape or ‘the less-known geography of Himalayas’.

source: http://www.timesofindia.indiatimes.com / The Times of India / News Home> City> Kochi / TNN / April 02nd, 2016

First touchdown by son of the soil

Business & Economy, Leaders, Records, All
 AirMarshalNambiarKERALA 02mar2016

A native of Kannur happened to be the pilot of the first aircraft that landed on the new runway of the Kannur International Airport coming up here Monday. Commissioned in 1981 as a pilot in the IAF, Air Marshal R. Nambiar, a native of Kadachira near the district headquarters, is now serving in the Air Force Training Command. A qualified test pilot, he has the experience of flying over 30 different types of aircraft, including Mirage.

Addressing the public function, Air Marshal Nambiar said that he was very proud of flying the test flight at the airport here. Members of his family here joined him at the venue of the public function at the airport site here in the morning. — Special Correspondent

source: http://www.thehindu.com / The Hindu / Home> National> Kerala / by Special Correspondent / Mattanur – March 01st, 2016