New Samajam HQ on the way

THE new BD700,000 headquarters of the Bahrain Keraleeya Samajam (BKS) in Segaiya is to be opened later this month. Overseas Indian Affairs Minister Vayalar Ravi will be the chief guest at the ceremony, scheduled to start at 7.30pm on August 30. Ministers from Bahrain and Kerala and leading Indian businessmen from the Gulf will attend the high-profile inaugural ceremony. From Kerala, Education Minister M A Baby and Water Resources Minister N K Premachandran are scheduled to attend. Samajam officials yesterday paid tribute to the donors from various Gulf countries and Indian Ambassador Balkrishna Shetty, who supported the fund-raising campaign over the past two years. Mr Shetty earlier described the new BKS headquarters as a great edifice of the Indian community. "The Indian community can now conduct all major functions in the new hall, and avoid the trouble of going to the Isa Town area for such events," he added. "The presence of an Indian Cabinet Minister at the opening ceremony sends a signal to the Indian community that the government cares for their welfare." The initial construction budget was BD300,000, but it had to be reviewed following the changes in designs and increase in the cost of construction," said samajam president G K Nair. "According to the current market value, the building construction cost will come to more than BD1 million. "Established in 1947 , the BKS represents all Keralites in Bahrain whose number is expected to reach more than 200,000." The prestigious complex, named BKS Diamond Jubilee Hall, will enhance the profile and the pride of the Indian community, said building committee chairman P V Radhakrishna Pillai. The new building has the facility of a multi-purpose hall, three mini-conference halls, library and reading room, rooms for childrens' and ladies' wing activities, sports and games facilities, administrative offices, and ample car parking facilities, he told a Press conference at the new headquarters yesterday. The mini-conference halls will be named after three major donors - Dr Ravi Pillai, M A Yusuffali and Dr B R Shetty. Another mini-hall will ba named Devji Jewellers. The BKS has been in the forefront to lead all the traditional, cultural and social activities during its 60 years long existence on the island, said Samajam general secretary Madhu Madhavan. "As part of the inaugural ceremony we have planned a 60-day-long cultural extravaganza staring from September 4," he revealed. "The programmes will include Indian traditional folklore, contemporary dances, Indian classical dances and music . "We are inviting many legendary artistes from various parts of India to make this inaugural ceremony most memorable."