New Samajam HQ opened

THE new Bahrain Keraleeya Samajam's (BKS) BD700,000 headquarters in Segaya was opened last night in a grand ceremony.

Overseas Indian Affairs Minister Vayalar Ravi and Bahrain Social Development Minister Dr Fatima Al Balooshi were the chief guests.

Also present were Kerala Water Resources Minister N K Premachandran, Indian Ambassador Balkrishna Shetty, Lulu Hypermarkets owner and EMKE Group managing director M A Yusuffali, Saudi-based Nasser Al Hajri Corporation managing director Ravi Pillai, UAE Exchange and Dubai-based New Medical Centre managing director and chief executive officer B R Shetty as well as renowned Indian actress-dancer Lakshmi Gopalaswami.

Representatives of various clubs and associations in Bahrain as well as businessmen from the UAE also attended.

The new BKS headquarters has a multi-purpose hall, three mini-conference halls, library and reading room, rooms for children's and ladies' wing activities, sports and games facilities, administrative offices and car parking facilities.

The opening ceremony began with an Indo-Western fusion dance conceived and directed by Bahrain-based actor and director Jaya Menon.

More than 40 artists participated in the mega stage show.

Celebrations will continue at 7.30pm today with a dance and musical recital by Ms Gopalaswami and playback singer Nishad.

New Samajam HQ set to open

OVERSEAS Indian Affairs Minister Vayalar Ravi and Kerala Water Resources Minister N K Premachandran arrived in Bahrain yesterday to attend the opening of the new Bahrain Keraleeya Samajam (BKS) headquarters. The inauguration of the club's new BD700,000 headquarters in Segaiya is today at 7.30pm and is open to all to attend. Bahrain's Social Development Minister Fatima Al Balooshi and Mr Ravi will be the chief guests. Guests of honour will be Mr Premachandran, Indian Ambassador Balkrishna Shetty, Lulu Hypermarkets owner and EMKE Group managing director M A Yusuffali, Saudi-based Nasser Al Hajri Corporation managing director Ravi Pillai, UAE Exchange and Dubai-based New Medical Centre managing director and chief executive officer B R Shetty as well as renowned Indian actress-dancer Lakshmi Gopalaswami. Other guests expected to attend are Al Fara'a Group UAE managing director J R Gangaramani, Southern Fried Chicken UAE managing director K Muraleedharan, Euro Emirates Group managing director Vijayan Thomas, Meta Schematics Bahrain managing director Michael Nevis and Delta Constructions Bahrain managing director U H Neelakanda. Representatives of various clubs and associations in Bahrain will also be present at the event. The new BKS headquarters has a multi-purpose hall, three mini-conference halls, library and reading room, rooms for children's and ladies' wing activities, sports and games facilities, administrative offices and car parking facilities. The opening ceremony will begin with an Indo-Western fusion dance conceived and directed by Bahrain-based actor and director Jaya Menon. More than 40 artists will participate in the mega stage show that is being choreographed by Jothi Raj and Ashokan Kunnamkulam. Special effects and lighting arrangements will be handled by Valson Koyilady. Celebrations will continue at 7.30pm tomorrow with a dance and musical recital by Ms Gopalaswami and playback singer Nishad. The BKS has chalked out a 60-day cultural extravaganza as part of its opening ceremony. It will begin on Thursday and will include Indian traditional folklore, contemporary dances, Indian classical dances and music. The Samajam's Manama building has been its home for the more than 20 years. It was occupied in 1986 when the club's membership strength was 300. Now the club has 1,400 registered members. Taking into account the members' families, the number of beneficiaries comes to more than 5,000. The BKS has been in the forefront of traditional, cultural and social activities during its 60 years of existence in Bahrain, said Samajam general secretary Madhu Madhavan. For more information contact Mr Madhavan on 36662215.

Samajam set for cultural fiesta

THE Bahrain Keraleeya Samajam (BKS) will mark the opening of its new premises in Segaiya with a two-day cultural extravaganza, starting at 7.30pm on Saturday. The opening ceremony will begin with an Indo-Western classical dance fusion conceived and directed by Bahrain-based actor and director Jaya Menon. More than 40 artists will participate in the mega stage show that is being choreographed by Jothi Raj and Ashokan Kunnamkulam. Special effects and lighting arrangements will be handled by Valson Koyilady. Chief guests at the event will be Overseas Indian and Parliamentary Affairs Minister Vayalar Ravi and Social Development Minister Dr Fatima Al Balooshi. Kerala's Water Resources Minister N K Premachandran and Indian Ambassador Balkrishna Shetty will also attend. Meanwhile, celebrations will continue at 7.30pm on August 31 with a dance and musical recital by Indian Bharatnatyam classical dancer and actress Lakshmi Gopalaswami and playback singer Nishad. Ms Gopalaswami received the Kerala state government award for best supporting artist last year for the film Thaniye and her debut Malayalam film Arayannangalude Veedu earned her the Kerala state award for the best supporting actress. She has been performing since the age of 12 and has performed live for television channels across the world. Meanwhile, Nishad has sung in 12 movies including Mambazhakalam, Boyfriend, Swapnam, Kondu, Tulabharam, Kanninum Kannadikkum and Sarkar Dada. He has performed in India and around the world with leading singers including Yesudas, KS Chitra, Sujatha, SPB, Sadhana and Sargham. The BKS has chalked out a 60-day cultural extravaganza as part of its opening ceremony. It will begin on September 4 and will include Indian traditional folklore, contemporary dances, Indian classical dances and music. The BKS will also mark the Onam harvest festival with a 10-day celebration ending with an Onasadhya feast. Registration for the Pookkalamalthsaram floral arrangement contest that will take place on September 5 at the new BKS is also continuing. Entry to all events is free. Contact, 39617735 for more information.

Historic day for Samajam

A CHAPTER in history closes tonight as the Bahrain Keraleeya Samajam (BKS) holds its last celebration in the Manama building that has been its home for more than 20 years.

The club's new BD700,000 headquarters in Segaiya is to be opened on August 30.

Tonight's event will feature various cultural programmes, a live orchestra, followed by dinner and is set to begin at 8pm.

The BKS has been in the forefront of traditional, cultural and social activities during its 60 years existence in Bahrain, said Samajam general secretary Madhu Madhavan.

"The Samajam's present premises are overflowing with fond memories for all our members especially the seniors," he said.

"We are inviting all the members and their families to attend the nostalgic function.

"We occupied the present building in 1986 and at that time the club's membership strength was around 300.

"But now we have 1,400 members and with their families that comes to around 5,000."

Overseas Indian Affairs Minister Vayalar Ravi will be the chief guest at the opening of the new headquarters, at 7.30pm, 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.

The new BKS headquarters has been described by Indian Ambassador Balkrishna Shetty as a great edifice of the Indian community.

The new building has a multi-purpose hall, three mini-conference halls, library and reading room, rooms for children's and ladies' wing activities, sports and games facilities, administrative offices and car parking facilities.

For more information contact Mr Madhavan on 36662215.

സമാജം ആസ്ഥാനമന്ദിരം ഉദ്ഘാടനം 30ന്‌

ബഹ്‌റൈന്‍ കേരളീയ സമാജം അംഗങ്ങള്‍ തങ്ങളുടെ ചിരകാല സ്വപ്നം പൂവണിഞ്ഞതിന്റെ നിര്‍വൃതിയിലാണ്. ഏഴു ലക്ഷം ദിനാര്‍ (എട്ടു കോടിരൂപ) ചെലവില്‍ സെഗയ്യയയില്‍ നിര്‍മ്മാണം പൂര്‍ത്തിയായ മന്ദിരം ഈ മാസം 30ന് (30.08.2008) കേന്ദ്ര പ്രവാസികാര്യ മന്ത്രി വയലാര്‍ രവി ഉദ്ഘാടനം ചെയ്യുമ്പോള്‍ ഗള്‍ഫ് മലയാളികള്‍ക്കുതന്നെ അഭിമാനമായി മാറും ഈ മന്ദിരം. ഇത്ര ബൃഹത്തായ ഒരു മന്ദിരം ഗള്‍ഫില്‍ത്തന്നെ മറ്റൊരു മലയാളി സംഘടനയ്ക്കുമില്ലെന്നാണ് തങ്ങളുടെ അറിവെന്ന് ഇതുമായി ബന്ധപ്പെട്ട് വിളിച്ചുചേര്‍ത്ത വാര്‍ത്താസമ്മേളനത്തില്‍ കെട്ടിടനിര്‍മ്മാണക്കമ്മിറ്റി ചെയര്‍മാന്‍ പി.വി. രാധാകൃഷ്ണപിള്ള പറഞ്ഞു. മുപ്പതാംതീയതി വൈകിട്ട് 7.30ന് സമാജം ഓഡിറ്റോറിയത്തില്‍ നടക്കുന്ന ചടങ്ങില്‍ വയലാര്‍ രവിയെക്കൂടാതെ ബഹ്‌റൈന്‍ സാമൂഹ്യവികസന വകുപ്പുമന്ത്രി ഡോ. ഫാത്തിമാ അല്‍ ബലൂഷി, കേരളത്തിലെ മന്ത്രിമാരായ എം.എ. ബേബി, എന്‍.കെ. പ്രേമചന്ദ്രന്‍ തുടങ്ങി ഒട്ടേറെ പ്രമുഖര്‍ പങ്കെടുക്കും.2005 ജൂണ്‍ 27നാണ് ഈ കെട്ടിടത്തിന് തറക്കല്ലിട്ടത്. 6,500 ചതുരശ്രമീറ്ററിലുള്ള സ്ഥലത്ത് 2,500 ചതുരശ്രമീറ്റര്‍ സ്ഥലത്താണ് കെട്ടിടം നിര്‍മ്മിച്ചിരിക്കുന്നത്. 200 കാറുകള്‍ പാര്‍ക്കു ചെയ്യാനുള്ള സൗകര്യമുണ്ട്. ഹാളിനകത്ത് 1800 പേര്‍ക്ക് ഇരിക്കാനാകും. ആറ് മിനി കോണ്‍ഫറന്‍സ് ഹാളുകളുണ്ട്. ഇതില്‍ നാലെണ്ണവും സമാജത്തിന് വിലമതിക്കാനാകാത്ത സംഭാവനകള്‍ നല്‍കിയ പ്രമുഖ വ്യവസായികളായ ഡോ.രവി പിള്ള, എം.എ. യൂസഫലി, ബി.ആര്‍. ഷെട്ടി, ദേവ്ജി എന്നിവരുടെ പേരുകളിലായിരിക്കും അറിയപ്പെടുക. മാസത്തിലൊരിക്കല്‍ സ്വദേശീയരുടെ ഏതെങ്കിലും ഒരു പരിപാടിക്ക് ഹാള്‍ സൗജന്യമായി നല്‍കും. എന്നാല്‍ ഇത് സ്ഥലം മുനിസിപ്പല്‍ കൗണ്‍സിലറുടെ കത്തുള്ളവര്‍ക്കു മാത്രമായിരിക്കും. 60 ദിവസത്തെ ആഘോഷപരിപാടികളില്‍ സാഹിത്യകാരന്‍ സഖറിയ, ഏഴാച്ചേരി രാമചന്ദ്രന്‍, ഡോ. കെ.എസ്. രവികുമാര്‍ തുടങ്ങിയ പ്രമുഖര്‍ പങ്കെടുക്കും. മലയാളികളും അല്ലാത്തവരുമായ നിരവധി വ്യവസായികള്‍ സമാജം കെട്ടിട നിര്‍മ്മാണഫണ്ടിലേക്ക് സംഭാവന നല്‍കിയിട്ടുണ്ട്. പ്രമുഖ വ്യവസായിയും സൗദി അറേബ്യ ആസ്ഥാനമായുള്ള അല്‍ ഹജ്‌രി ഗ്രൂപ്പ് മാനേജിങ് ഡയറക്ടറുമായ ഡോ. രവി പിള്ള 40,000 ദിനാറും ലുലു ഗ്രൂപ്പ് മാനേജിങ് ഡയറക്ടര്‍ എം.എ. യൂസഫലി 35,000 ദിനാറും യു.എ.ഇ. വ്യവസായി ബി.ആര്‍. ഷെട്ടി 25,000 ദിനാറും സംഭാവന ചെയ്തു. യു.എ.ഇ., ഒമാന്‍, കുവൈത്ത്, ഖത്തര്‍ തുടങ്ങിയ രാജ്യങ്ങളിലുള്ള നിരവധി വ്യവസായികളും സമാജം ഫണ്ടിലേക്ക് സംഭാവന ചെയ്തിട്ടുണ്ട്. 1947ല്‍ പ്രവര്‍ത്തനമാരംഭിച്ച സമാജത്തില്‍ ഇപ്പോള്‍ 1400 അംഗങ്ങളുണ്ട്. 4000 ത്തോളം പുസ്തകങ്ങളുള്ള ഇവിടത്തെ ലൈബ്രറി വളരെ പ്രശസ്തമാണ്. വാര്‍ത്താസമ്മേളനത്തില്‍ സമാജം ഭാരവാഹികളായ മധു മാധവന്‍, വര്‍ഗീസ് കാരക്കല്‍, പി.വി.മോഹന്‍കുമാര്‍, സി.സോമരാജന്‍ തുടങ്ങിയവരും പങ്കെടുത്തു.

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."