2017 Onam celeb of Mayyanad
Sangamam was held on 10th September at Hotel Regency, Manjalikulam in
Thiruvananthapuram.
After the initial half hour of
interaction among members the meeting started with a Prayer Song by Compeer
Nithu Manilal, followed by Welcome Speech by Secretary ER. Manilal
In his presidential address, D. Jayachandran when referring to the two
“columnists” on the stage, stressed on the need for Journalism to maintain
utmost responsibility, by bringing the true story to the people and
society. For example, he felt that the
stories on Doklam and the murder of Gauri Lankesh were not handled with
maturity. He felt certain Journalists shouldn’t have ‘celebrated’ the death of Gauri
Lankesh.
This was followed by the traditional lighting of lamp to inaugurate the sessions.
Our chief- guest, Khyrunnisa A.,
who graced the Onam Meeting, had all the goodness of a Maveli –cheerful, resplendent,
and radiant-looking, and has the most beautiful, warm and affectionate smile, with eyes eager and burning bright with Innocence, and bubbling
with the inquisitiveness of a child in the thrill of lives’ adventures. Her feel-at-home joyous-mingling -attitude
seemed infectious to the usually serious-looking- Mayyanadians. One could see them also responding equally
to the warmth the lady generated as though in the company of a bundle of
children. Only that they were all children in the evening of their life. The
lady was only more than willing and happy to grace this company. Only a person such
as her who has understood the truth can feel fearlessly comfortable in any
situation. Her talk more than confirmed
her understanding of the true nature of life- that is to be innocent like the children
in her stories. Even when they are full of pranks they end up successfully
resolving the conflicts, like a flight simulator!
She is a strong vocalist of sustaining
the age-old habit of reading good books. Books are one’s true friend. Once you
enter the world depicted in the book you begin to engage yourself in it, and if
it is a story book you go through the whole process of life depicted in it. You
will learn the complexity of life and will learn how to deal with them. That is
why reading, especially, story books is good for children and adults alike.
The greatness of her
understanding also reflected in the way she made it a point to mention that it
was the habit of reading good books that produced eminent personalities from
Mayyanad in the past. So it was the responsibility of the present generation to
pass the torch of the reading habit of their ancestors to the next generation,
she said in conclusion.
She is very well represented in
the Internet.
Dr. Shaji Prabhakaran in his
felicitation speech seemed a little confused about the use of the term
“columnist” in the Presidential Address of D. Jayachandran. Although he is now
a well- known Doctor of Neurology, at one time when he was still in college he started
by writing a column on astrology for an important Published News Magazine of
that time. Apart from many books that he wrote later, on Neuroscience and books
on history of Mayyanad etc. he has been writing the editorial for the Malayalam
Fortnightly ‘ARTHAKE’ for the last 15 years. As such his doubt was that whether
referring to him as a ‘columnist’, wasn’t ‘reductionist’. On the Chief Guest’s
idea of reading books, he expressed that he would like to differ with her on
her idea of reading books as a panacea for all our conflicts in life. He
concluded that he will take up the topic with her privately when there will be
more time!
-Introduction of new members
Now it was time for the Annual General
Body Meeting, to present the annual report and statement of expenditure, which were
passed unanimously by the members.
Entertainments started with a
round of tambola, with the chief guest winning the ‘full house’ to everyone’s
delight! This was followed by a superb ‘Cinematic’ dance by young Shwetha, and
the singing of melodious Onam songs by Aamina, Sunil, Nithu and Manilal. The
English song by Shwetha was just exemplary!
The meeting ended with the traditional Onam Sadya.
