16. Mayyanad Sangamam Meeting on 8-5-2016

Kudumbasangamam on 8-5-2016

The Mayyanad Sangamam held its next KUDUMBASANGAMAM on 8th May, 2016 at Hotel Regency, Manjalikulam, Thampanoor. The meeting started with a soulful prayer song by compere Nithu Manilal. She then  read out the programme for the day, and  invited the guests to the dais to start the function. As usual Er. Manilal welcomed the audience.

The event was inaugurated by Dr. Shaji Prabhakaran, founder patron. In his speech the Doctor dwelt on the aspects of Prayer. He pointed out that a Prayer can  be  

• solemn request for help or expression of thanks addressed to God or another deity.

• a religious service, especially a regular one, at which people gather in order to pray together.

•   an earnest hope or wish for oneself.

But a true prayer is the 'Unconditional" prayer that says; "Lokasamasthya sukhivino bhavanthu". Yet the Doctor believed in 'heard' prayer rather than 'silent' prayer which he associated with funeral rites. Being a Neurologist one only wished that he had made a neurological inquiry into the concept of prayer.

President Sri.D.Jayachandran in his address briefly dealt on the activities of the Sangamam and invoked the members to visit PakalVeedu at Mayyanad when time permits. Being the tenth year of the Sangamam's founding, he also invited opinions from members, to celebrate in a grand manner the Tenth Anniversary Meeting in coming October.

The chief guest of the day was Prof. Peter Pradeep, director of 'Help Foundation'. He made an informative and very interesting power point presentation of the activities of the Help

Foundation in Mayyanad. He stressed that HELP Foundation's sole intention is to work towards a better society, so as to be able to bring in positive change by uniting people who share the common vision of a developed India, and pay back to the society through supporting groups, communities and organization that have similar intent & need. One can read about all their activities in detail in their website. 
   The Prof. was deeply disappointed to see an audience that represented  the 'evening' of life. He came prepared to meet and motivate the 'young' descendants of a past era that stood for the good of humanity. What the Prof. didn't realize was that the people who were gathered there may be above the age of 50 years, but that they are all highly skilled professionals who are doctors, engineers, professors and government officials who  are all highly motivated, and are waiting for the proper ambiance that will enable them to make the desired move to save the land where their forefathers sleep. For the present, these 'Elders' can serve as  torch bearers for the 'young' sheep that graze in foreign lands. 

The meeting also witnessed an hour-long enchanting dance performance presented by students of the Dhwani Dance Kalamandalam, Sreekaryam, run by Syam Sen and Seema Sen, both members of Mayyanad Sangamam.

The meeting wound up with a buffet lunch.

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15. Pakalveedu launch at Mayyanad- 4-4-2016

 Mayyanad Sangamam - Pakalveedu

Mayyanad Sangamam Tvm Chapter, in association with NGOs of Mayyanad viz., Elders Forum, Janshakti and Help Foundation started a Pakalveedu at Elders Forum premises on 4-4-2016.

The land for Elders Forum was donated by Dr. Shaji Prabhakaran, and the building was constructed through contributions received from well-wishers of Mayyanad.

Picture shows the founder of  Elders Forum ; the TV was donated by Mayyanad Sangamam

The bed sheets were also donated by Mayyanad Sangamam

The inmates of Pakalveedu in  a Yoga section

Mayyanad Sangamam members at lunch with  the inmates

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Mayyanad Sangamam gave away the Scholarships instituted for the students of Vellamanal HSS, at a grand function arranged by the School on 1.6.2016

Children of Mayyanad Govt High School waiting to receive the members and new-comers on New School Year opening day(1-6-2016)

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14. Reception and Study class to Panchayat members-6-2-2016

Lecture Class and Reception at Mayyanad

Mayyanad Sangam Tvm Chapter organized a Lecture Class and Reception for the newly elected Panchayat members at Mayyanad on February 6, 2016. The programme had the logistic support of the Mayyanad NGOs - Elders' Forum, Janasakthi, Help Foundation- for making the necessary arrangements at the newly constructed roof-top auditorium at Elders' Forum Building.

In persuance of its aim to bring progress to Mayyanad, the Sangam was  proud to take up this one-of-its-kind-venture to arrange a lecture class for the newly elected members on Panchayant Governing System. The class was conducted by the State Institute of Rural Development Director  V. Ajayakumar and his colleague. For nearly two hours he explained with utmost dedication the intricacies and principles to be followed by the elected members for efficient service of the people who voted them to power. The lecture was followed by an open discussion in which all the members took part enthusiastically clearing their doubts without inhibition.

The function was also graced by the presence of the State Election Commissioner K. Sasidharan Nair who explained in detail the rules and regulations to be maintained by panchayat members for smooth governance.

 The Civic Reception was inaugurated by Justice (Rtd) Siri Jagan, and the meeting was presided over by Sangam President D.Jayachandran. Eighteen of the Twenty-Three newly elected members, and  about One-Hundred locals attended the function which was followed by a high-tea.

The Panchayat Members standing up to the request of the Election Commisioner

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13. Report of 6-9-2015 meeting

Ninth Annual Meeting and Onam Celeb

Mayyanad Sangamam's 9th Annual Meeting was held on 6th September, 2015 at Hotel Nadanam Park from 10.00 am. After a four month hiatus it felt like we were seeing one another after a long time; although the usual lack of inertia that follows  a hectic week long Onam holidays when everyone is busy being with their  near and dear ones was much evident on this day too. Marked by low presence, the members seemed  lackluster and  a bit tired perhaps. Secretary Er.Manilal welcomed the gathering.

The meeting  began with the lighting of lamp and the invocation song.

The chief guest of the day was George Onakkoor, who has a good presence in the internet and hence needs no introduction, said the President D. Jayachandran in his inaugural address, He also divulged how at the executive meeting the members chose to have 'Onakkoor for Onam' as the chief guest.He then briefly spoke on the activities of the Club and also invoked the members to come out with fresh ideas to make the activities of the Club further useful to the people of Mayyanad. He noted with a bit of concern that we should make our presence felt in Mayyanad in a way that the following generation too would be remembered like the illustrious generation of C.Kesavan.

Our  compere Ms.Neethu Lal then read out a good introduction of the Chief guest and requested him to proceed to address the audience.  

The chief guest in his speech revealed why he was happy to be here. He too originated from a place that produced many known personalities who influenced and shaped his future life. When he left Moovattupuzha  and came to Trivandrum to continue his studies he was further drawn deeply into the company of men like K.Sukumaran, K.Balakrishnan, K.Damodaran- who were all at that time highly engaged in the troubled  social and political situations prevalent in Kerala  and were in the forefront of the revolt for change. The young George Onakkoor was naturally inspired and drawn into this group. He remembered with gratitude how  Kerala Kaumudi made him into a well-known writer  by publishing his writings. Hence for him being here was like walking down that nostalgic alleys of Mayyanad! He also pacified the President by telling him that the reason that we no longer can see people like those of our past generation is because we stopped writing. In the past we had men and women who wrote passionately and was able to fire the imagination of the people for a good cause. Today thinks have changed totally  with the traditional family system that held people together having disappeared. He ended by emphasizing that there is no going back but to flow with the tide.

The next speaker Dr. Shaji Prabhakaran, Neurologist, in his felicitation speech took up from where George Onakkoor left and led the discussion to its logical conclusion, He declared that change is inevitable and that change is the only truth. Even man as a single person is the some total of changes in his life. In this changing evolution of life one reaches a stage where one learns to take every change in his stride and  moves toward that inevitable end with a peace that totes one to a good sleep only to be awakened fresh again for the next chain of change. In fact the sleep is also part of the change. In this emotionally charged speech twice he sought the opinion of Dr. Gopi Mani, the Genetist, who seemed like in a thoughtful mood. The Neurologist doctor was so preoccupied   with the existential idea of life that he went on to praise the invocation song sung by Ms.Sony, saying that the song had an unusual religiosity that was again a refreshing change from the ones that are usually sung by others.

A surprise new-entrant to the Club was Dr.Sudhakaran. In his introductory speech he made a good impression by his enthusiasm to be part of the meeting. He spoke briefly about the numerous social activities that he is involved in and expressed his willingness to contribute to the activities of the Club. He introduced his family members, consisting of all doctors, by fate.

Amina now looking prettier enthralled the audience with her carefully chosen melodious songs. The new entrant singer reminded one of Amina in her younger days. One wished that we had found time to include a few onam songs that reminds one of Maveli, the valloms, kaikottikali, etc. Or atleast some kind of kali! Of course the Onam sadya did the honour.

Vice President, Dr.Rajan K. Ramesh gave the vote of thanks.

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12. Report of 5.4.2015 Meeting

Mayyanad Sangamam 2015 April meeting

The meeting began with an invocation song by Ms. Nitu Manilal. The gathering also observed a minute of silence in memory of members -Peter Gonsalves, K.V.Anandam and  P.Sabarinad -who passed away after the last meeting.

The Secretary, Er. Manilal welcomed the Ninth New Year (Vishu) gathering of Mayyanidians, living in Thiruvananthapuram.  He expressed his happiness at the enthusiastic presence of its old and new members who made the event houseful.

Briefly referring to the query, with a hint of humour, by the chief guest earlier, when they went to invite her, whether Dr.Gopimani is the same person who writes letters to the editor of Mathrubhumi (at the drop of a hat!), President Sri.D.Jayachandran in his address pointed out the difference between ‘honest’ intentions and ‘diplomatic’ intentions by giving the oft quoted definition of a Diplomat: “A Diplomat is an honest person who lies abroad for the sake of his country”.  All done with honest intentions in defense of Dr. Gopimani and his socially-concerned activist writings.

After the function of Lighting of Lamp, the compeer of the meeting Ms. Nitumanilal next introduced the chief guest of the day, Smt. Vimala Menon, the noted writer and social activist. Smt.Vimala Menon has about 38 books published to her credit. The theme of innocence is very strong in her writings. In 1990 she received the Kerala State Literary Award in the category of best Children’s Literature for her work “Orazhcha” (One Week), for her sensitive depiction of the experiences of a group of children during a summer vacation to their ancestral home.  She is also the recipient of the 2004 SBT Award for her book ‘Mandakini Parayunnathu’ (Thus spoke Mandakini).  It paints the life of adolescents and the difficulties they face while growing up. In 2013 her book ‘Njangalkku Ithrayokke Mathiyo?’ was released by Sugathakumari, her mentor. The book portrays differently-abled children, and of the need to create a disabled-friendly atmosphere for them. Her concern is to make life all-inclusive in which the so-called marginalised members of society can also live a normal life like others, a desire she nurtured during her many years spent at the Balabhavan as teacher. At present she serves as Secretary of the Cheshire Home at Thiruvananthapuram.

Inaugural address:

Smt. Vimala Menon made an inspiring speech keeping in view that she was addressing a gathering of people who were desirous of connecting with their traditional roots. Speaking softly and with the ease of an imaginative and sensitive creative writer she quickly empathized with the audience and took them through a journey of their old memories by delving into memories of her own experiences in her ancestral home in Vadakkan Paravoor. The contours of the experiences were no different. In the ancestral home people of all ages lived together under one roof, sharing joys and sorrows, supporting each other in the true spirit of co-existence with Nature. Twenty and thirty people slept peacefully in one open space of the courtyard under the vast sky and never felt uncomfortable; though it had none of the luxuries of the modern day life. Settling in the city she realized how much of the sky she missed. It is fear everywhere, the fear of the unknown, and the consequent increase in unnatural dependence on Faith and the resorting to practices of charity. People live inside tightly closed doors even when they have neighbours all around. In the ancestral home a closed front door was seen as a bad omen. She exhorted the audience to follow the path of the ancestral life as that alone indicates that all is not lost. After your mother, the first memory will always be of your first teacher who held your hands and walked you into the ways of life. By the time Vimala Menon ended her speech she had the audience completely mesmerized, so that the next speaker Dr.Gopimani was speechless for a moment.

Felicitation speech:  Quickly restoring his self, Dr. Gopimani fell into his natural grace as a seasoned speaker. He expressed his gladness at knowing that people do take note of his writings. From the space of the ancestral home that Vimala Menon had led us to,  he took the audience further back in time into the vast open space of the Universe from where we could have originated some   500 crore  years ago, perhaps our ‘real’ ancestral home! With reference to his recently released book, ‘Utharaathunika Saastram’, he clearly took the side of creationist-evolutionist view and denounced the rationalists and the ‘chance’ theorists. A program has to have a programmer after all!

An invitee speaker of the day was Prof.G. Raju, who recently compiled a comprehensive literature of the history of the Ezhavas of Mayyanad. With reference to the Illams of Mayyanad, he emphasized the need to   research the concept of ‘Illam’, as he believed that the evidences collected will show that the history of Mayyanad dates further back in time than as is recorded now.

Ms.Sheena, Joint Secretary, proposed the Vote of Thanks.

While the new members got introduced and the members got busy in chit-chats some new singers crooned in for entertainment, although we missed the melodious voice of Aamina.

The meeting concluded with a grand buffet-lunch.

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