Bhavans Kuwait Malayalam Toastmasters Club Inauguration

Monday, July 13, 2020

"If you talk to a man in a language he understands, that goes to his head. If you talk to him in his language, that goes to his heart". The landmark inaugural meeting of Bhavans Kuwait Malayalam Toastmaster Club, which took place in zoom media on 10th July 2020, was the living embodiment of this quote by Nelson Mandela.

When TM Santhosh Pathrose, the SAA opened the event by explaining the basic rules and TMI Motto in the Malayalam language, the audience was becoming part and parcel of an epoch-making event in the history of Kuwait Toastmasters. The long-cherished wish of Keralites living in Kuwait was blooming by this grand launching of a Toastmasters club in "Malayalam," a language that is not only their legacy but also their identity. The President DTM Premugh Bose welcomed everyone warmly to the auspicious function and added that the club formed to cater to the needs of Malayalam speaking Toastmasters. The felicitations followed it by the dignitaries from District 20. DTM Mohamed Saleem, The District 20 Director, expressed his immense happiness to see the birth of the first club in District 20 in the new Toastmaster year. He also added that he would try his level best to include Malayalam speech contests in DTAC. DTM Wafa Salman, IPDD, explained her joy and added that profound literacy in the mother tongue is an essential component in everyone's life by quoting an anecdote from her life. Then the club witnessed felicitations by the vast array of dignitaries like DTM Alifiya Lakadawala, PQD, DTM Alka Kumra, IPCGD, DTM Christy Kulathooran, IP Finance Manager and DTM Murali Manohar, Division E IPD. The cherry on the cake was the congratulatory note by DTM Deepak Menon, International President of TMI for 2019-20, an offspring of God's own country Kerala. The felicitation and the mellifluous rendering of a Malayalam poem written by the Chief Guest, Prof. V. Madhusoodhanan Nair, by TM Suresh V. Balakrishnan, the Charter member of Bhavans TMC made the event profound and melodic. TM Suresh expressed his mirth for getting the golden opportunity to recite the poem in the presence of the poet who wrote it. TM Mahesh Iyer, the nightingale of Bhavans TMC, melodiously sang a Malayalam song. He also described the beauty of Kerala and Malayalam language. That was a real tribute to Kerala and Keralites living across the globe. DTM Premugh then handed over the baton to the Toastmaster of the Day, TM Sheeba.

TM Sheeba Premugh, Area 19 Director, The Toastmaster of the Day, the poetess of Bhavans Toastmaster Club, took the meeting forward in all the pomp and pride way. The meticulously chosen vocabulary, the rhythmic rendering, the prefect prosody all added beauty to her role as TMOD. TM Sheeba then explained the theme of the day, "The endlessly pouring rain," in a poetic way. The TMOD summoned the role players, and they, in turn, explained their respective roles. TM Bijo P. Babu took the role of Grammarian and briefed the word of the day, "The Milestone," and encouraged everyone to use it while speaking on the virtual podium. DTM Sunil Thomas was the moderator. TM Binoy Sebastian took the role of the General Evaluator to verify the overall performance of the event. TM Jiju Ramankulath took the role of the Timer, TM Manoj Mathew the Ah counter, and TM Anu Chandran, the photographer.

The presence of the great poet of Malayalam, Prof. V. Madhusoodhanan Nair, made the meeting stellar. At the outset itself, Madhu sir expressed his heartfelt joy on seeing his favorite students DTM Premugh and TM Sheeba, at least in a virtual way. He expressed his gratitude in welcoming him as the Chief Guest for the chartering of the first Malayalam club in Kuwait. The keynote speech by Prof. V. Madhusoodhanan Nair gave the audience a charismatic effect of a kaleidoscopic spectrum of diction. It was so appealing that even a non -Keralite could understand the imagery and symbolism used by him. Prof. V.Madhusoodhanan Nair then urged everyone to go deep to the fathom of each one's mind and chisel out the magnanimity of the power of each one. He expressed the joy over chartering a club to foster and nourish the lingua franca of a state, which is the embodiment of ancient civilizations.

Madhu sir added that the online learnings are mere shadow works as they can't provide long-lasting wisdom. He firmly rebuked the audience from being mere creepers. Instead, they should be powerful leaders who can stand alone and work for the wellness of themselves and society. Madhu sir quoted the examples of Lord Budha, Jesus Christ and Mahatma Gandhi as they were the incarnation of their inner strength. Madhu sir exhorted everyone not to use language as a tool. He stated that language is s a legacy, strength, rhythm, and even the life of a society. Sir added if some one's language is not helping him in his real life, that man is a mere waste. Sir also urged everyone to stop slavery of other languages and be the owner of one's mother tongue. Prof. V. Madhusoodhanan Nair then shared an anecdote, which in turn helped sir to coincide with the theme of the Bhavan's Club meeting. Sir started a school mainly to teach Malayalam to the non Malayalam speaking Malayalees, and Sri.MT Vasudevan Nair, the great wordsmith of Malayalam literature, once visited there. At the request of Madhu sir and students, Sri. MT wrote a few lines that became the word of honor for the Malayalam language.

When Madhu sir rendered those lines, the audience were felt ecstatic. The lines were as follows: "My language is my home, my sky, the star which I see, the cool breeze which embraces me, the water which quenches my thirst, the pampering and the discipline of my mother. Wherever I'm in this world, I dream in my mother tongue. MY LANGUAGE IS ME." The audience became spellbound as they were traveling through the verses of Malayalam poetry. When Madhu Sir declared, the Government of Kerala is going to take this as the language oath; all felt overwhelmed. He explained every language is the asset of that land. When one travels through his mother tongue, he can feel the flow of the universal sound of music. Every word has magnificent power. Just like the sky, there is neither racism nor discrimination for any language. Prof. V. Madhusoodhanan Nair winded up his speech by urging everyone to be the sun of tomorrow, let every mind be the cradle of civilization, the citadel of delightful words, which will give birth to eloquence. When the epic poet, vigorously enunciated these congenial words, the audience felt they were in a golden Millenium.

It was followed by the question and answer session, and TMs from far and wide got a golden opportunity to converse with the great poet. When Madhu sir recited his poem, "Naranathu Bhrandan," the audience felt goosebumps.

The keynote speech was followed by the publication of e-Magazine in all its pomp and show by the chief guest.

The next part of the meeting was the prepared speech by DTM Sindumol Thomas, which was later evaluated by TM Anand Pillai. Through her speech, DTM Sindumol gave everyone a vivid description of the rural variety of her native place. The speech triggered the nostalgia of every spectator as it was the mixture blender of love, sadness, loss, and privilege of every expatriate.

TMOD then handed over the virtual podium to the General Evaluator, TM Binoy Sebastian. The GE expressed his happiness on the perfect execution of an organized meeting. The Grammarian, TM Bijo Babu, expressed his mirth on the perfect usages of language and the WOD, "The Milestone." The Ah Counter TM Manoj and the Timer TM Jiju gave a foolproof account of their allocated roles.

The TMOD winded up her role by expressing her gratitude to everyone as the meeting was clear evidence of the spirit of inculcating the responsibilities and shouldering up tasks for the betterment of each member and the club. TM Sheeba handed over the virtual podium to DTM Premugh, the President.

The club then witnessed a significant event that became the milestone in the history of the Bhavans Kuwait Malayalam Toastmasters club. It was the installation ceremony of the Executive Committee for the year 2020-2021, which implemented through the perfect hands of TM Xavier Yesudas, the Division E Director. The officers are as follows:- President - DTM Premugh Bose, Vice President Education – DTM Sindumol Thomas, Vice President Membership -TM Manoj Mathew, Vice President Public Relations – TM Santhosh Pathrose, Secretary – TM Beetha Johnson, Treasurer -TM Jiju Ramankulath, and the Sergeant At Arms - TM Anu Chandran. The installation officer, TM Xavier, expressed his hope that the newly charted club will achieve greater heights in the TMI year 2020-2021 within no time.
DTM Premugh Bose, the first president of BKTMC, thanked everyone who attended the meeting and the installation ceremony. The guests who joined from India and the Middle East shared their experience in the meeting. The president introduced the club mentors, TM Satish Kumar and TM Beetha Johnson. DTM Premugh Bose expressed his joy for the perfect execution of teamwork, which raised the meeting to an elated heights. The meeting offered such a scintillating mood that happiness was depicted in the visages of all the members and attendees.

Toastmaster International is a non-profit worldwide organization, which engages in promoting public speaking and leadership skills of its members across the world. Bhavan's Kuwait Malayalam Toastmasters Club is a Malayalam Language Toastmaster Club, which formed to train and develop the members in public speaking in Malayalam and foster their leadership qualities.

For membership enquires in Bhavan's Kuwait Malayalam Toastmasters Club, please contact
Manoj Mathew - Mobile 6608 7125
Premugh Bose – Mobile 990 24673

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