DAMMAM — The World Malyalee Day was celebrated with enthusiasm and gaiety here recently where members of the community celebrated the day with cultural events, traditional music, songs, pantomime and quiz contest. The event was inaugurated by the Chief Guest Gopinath Menon, Principal of Al-Khozama International School, Al-Khobar along with the guest of honor Sajid Arattupuzha, a famous writer and Representative of Media-One Channel. The function was organized by the Saudi chapter of World Malyali Council which also released a souvenir named "ILACHARTHU" by Arattupuzha in the presence of host of guests including Joseph Mathew, Chairman of WMC-Middle East and Moosa Koya, Chief Editor. Edathody K. Bhaskaran, President, WMC-Dammam, delivered a speech on WMC's formation and about its aim toward nurturing the Malayali culture, especially promoting the youth of Kerala to make them globally competent and socially committed. World Malayalee Council was formed on July 3, 1995 on the World Malayalee Convention held in New Jersey, USA. WMC is a non-sectarian, non-political community organization which provides a global connectivity fostering friendship and fellowship among Malayalees worldwide while providing several platforms for training , empowerment, service, support etc. Bhaskaran said WMC's Objectives include providing a meeting point for interested Malayalees all over the World to open up new possibilities for their economic, political and social growth and better understanding by extrapolating their inherited rich culture and economic, political and social values. Also to facilitate a dynamic link between the Malayalee experience, expertise and entrepreneurship in the developing and the developed countries for the invigoration of the Malayalee Community at large, and the Kerala State in particular; seek out and recognize Malayalee talents, skills and intelligence on a global level and mobilize them for the enhancement of professional development, career advancement, technological breakthrough; and to organize an international network of Malayalees of different age groups to constantly communicate, share and update their knowledge base. WMC has their wings spread in more than 40 Countries and WMC's regional committee based in Dammam was formed during 2005 and they are part of promoting all the above objectives. They induct new committee every two years; and a new committee for 2014-2016 has been formed with the officials below during June last year. They are as follows Moosa Koya, Global Vice-President (Admin); Joseph Mathew, Chairman, Middle East WMC Committee; Dickson Fernandes, Chairman of WMC Dammam Province; Anil Kumar, General Secretary; Dr. Sindhu Binu, President of Women's Forum of WMC Dammam Province; also addressed the audience and emphasized on WMC's various workmanship they have been serving the community. The event was made lively by Sandra Dickson and Nazia Naufal as anchors who kept the atmosphere lively with their humor and pun. The main attraction of the evening was the cultural program that was punctuated by some very popular songs sung by Shamsudheen, Dilhara Gafoor, Sandra Dickson, Shabana, Riyaz, Kalyani, Adarsh, Joel, Shinoj and Haris. But it was the classical dance that stole the show. It will be unfair to name one or two dancers. It was the entire troupe consisting of Pranathi J. Menon, Stephy Paul, Pavithra Vinay, Navya, Athulya Mohan, Manasa Madhusoodhanan, Gopika, Sreelekshmi, Nadain Naufal, Nazmin Ayesha, Sreeklekha Kevin, Jugal, Ben, Siya and Kessya Alan Paul, and Brian Biju on keyboard charged the atmosphere with appropriate music. Abdul Gafoor, vice president of WMC Dammam region, proposed vote of thanks.
