Kerala Center, NY holds 32nd Awards dinner in Elmont, NY

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The Indian American Kerala Cultural and Civic Center, Inc. (The Kerala Center) celebrated its 32nd Annual Awards Dinner at the Center’s auditorium in Elmont, NY on Saturday, October 19, 2024.

The Center honored eight individuals who made notable contributions in their professions and to society with their selfless dedication.

The program started with American and Indian national anthems by Riya Alexander.

The program commenced with introductory remarks by Raju Thomas, General Secretary of the Kerala Center. Daisy Stephen Pallipparambil was the emcee for the program.

President Alex K. Esthappan welcomed everyone and provided a brief description of the   activities and goals of the Kerala Center. New York Senator Kevin Thomas and Assemblywoman Michaelle Solages were the dignitaries present to felicitate honorees and present the awards.

Also present were Ragini Srivastava, North Hempstead Town Clerk, and John Isaac, candidate for NY State Assembly from Yonkers.

Dr. Thomas Abraham, chairman of the Trustee Board and Award Committee member explained the process of selecting the awardees and introduced keynote speaker and one of the awardees, Wesley Mathews.  Mathews praised Kerala Center’s activities promoting the culture and raising awareness about civic duties. Sen. Thomas, a prior awardee himself, praised the Kerala Center for honoring the 8 individuals.

Assemblywoman Solages was so impressed by the ceremony that she declared herself a Malayalee for the evening.  Sen. Thomas, Assemblywoman Solages and Town Clerk Srivastava presented proclamations honoring the awardees.

This year’s honorees were: Johnson Samuel (Long Island, NY), Humanitarian and Social Service; Suja Thomas (Albany, NY), Nursing Leadership; Wesley Mathews (Trenton, NJ), Public Service; Dr. Sunanda Nair (Houston, TX), Performing Arts; Hashim Mooppan (Washington, DC), Legal Services; Samcy Kodumon (L.I., NY), Pravasi Malayalam Literature; Sibu Nair (Buffalo, NY), Community Service; and Varkey Abraham (Long Island, NY), Business Leadership.

Mathews, president & CEO of Choose New Jersey, the State’s leading nonprofit business attraction organization, was a career diplomat in the U.S. Foreign Service. He served as a federal executive to the New Jersey Economic Development Authority, and is Chair of the New Jersey-India Commission. He serves on several boards, including the New Jersey Innovation Institute and the FIFA World Cup 26 New York New Jersey Host Committee. Mathews was introduced by Dr. Thomas Abraham and Sen. Thomas presented the award.

Varkey Abraham is the founding director of Hanover Bank U.S.A. He is also the CEO of the A and S Leather Company, V A Smith Shoe Company International, Chairman of the Pravasi television channel, a member of Loka Kerala Sabha (Invitee), a former president of Indo-American Malayalee Chamber of Commerce and is well known in the South Indian community as a philanthropist. Abraham was introduced by Samuel Joseph, Secretary of Kerala Center Youth Forum, and Sen. Thomas presented the award.

Kodumon, who has published several books of Short Stories and Novels, is actively involved with LANA (Literary Association of North America) and KCANA (Kerala Cultural Association of North America). He founded the literary forum known as Vicharavedi NY. Kodumon was introduced by Manohar Thomas, coordinator of Sargavedi at the Kerala Center. Abraham Philip, CPA presented the award.

Nair, a distinguished Mohiniattam dancer, teacher, and choreographer, is recognized as the “Global Ambassador of Mohiniattam,” and promotes its nuances and practices through her dance school, SPARC, and with numerous performances on national and international stages. She is an A-grade artist for Mumbai Doordarshan and has performed at prestigious venues such as Carnegie Hall in New York and the Bolshoi Theatre in Moscow. She has received the Kerala Sangeetha Natak Akademi Award in 2010 and the ‘Kala Ratnam’ Award by Kerala Kalamandalam in 2016.  Nair was introduced by Dr. Benzy Thomas, founder patron of the Kerala Center, and Asha Ramesh, CEO of Sabinsa Corporation, presented the award.

Samuel (Sam/Reggie) is the founder of Life and Limb, an organization established in 2013, dedicated to serving the needs of amputees throughout Kerala, by providing the highest quality of prosthetic limbs to them. Johnson was introduced by Annie Lachhander, youth forum member of Kerala Center, and G. Mathai, Kerala Center Trustee, presented the award.

The ceremony was attended by leaders of many community organizations including FOMAA, FOKANA, Pioneer Club, KCANA, and SACSS.

A souvenir was released by the Souvenir Committee, that consisted of P. T. Paulose, G. Mathai and Mary Philip. A copy was ceremonially presented to Gemini Thomas, president of Staten Island Malayalee Association.

Entertainment for the evening was provided by students of Noopura Dance School directed by  Chandrika Kurup.

During the event, Kairali TV’s short film competition winners were presented prizes. The Best Short Film was Oasis and the award was presented to its director Sreelekha Haridass by Paulose Palatti; the Best Actor Award went to Josekutty Valiyakallunkal, presented by Jose Kadapuram; and the Best Actress Award was presented to Deepa Menon of Oasis by Daisy Stephen, vice president of the Kerala Center.