Pre-Marital Guidance and Counseling at Thiruvananthapuram

The state committee of Vanitha Vibhagam, Kerala Brahmana Sabha conducted a one-day orientation in pre-marital guidance and counseling for the office bearers of all District Vanitha Vibhagam and Yuvajana Vibhagam on 14 November 2010 at the Thaliyal B. S. Mandiram at Thiruvananthapuram. Representatives from five districts and people from the hosting district participated in this programme. Dr. Amar S. Fettle and Dr. Koshi Philip handled the sessions.

Dr. Amar S. Fettle is a pediatrician at the General Hospital, Thiruvananthapuram who is also the Nodal Officer for H1N1, Govt. of Kerala. He led the morning session on ‘Sex and Sexuality in marriage’. He stressed the importance of guiding children through various phases of life with openness. According to him, there is nothing to be ashamed of in seeking pre-marital guidance since it is only a coaching for marriage. Dr Fettle’s session covered topics like hygiene, puberty, healthy habits, gender differences and reproductive health.

The afternoon session was more on pre-marital guidance and counseling. Dr. Koshi Philip from Medical College, Thiruvananthapuram opined that the counseling should start quite early in life, which he divided it into 3 stages. Stage 1: During the school – for girls aged 13 and above and for boys, 15 and above. Stage 2: Counseling before marriage which covers topics like personality development, tips for choosing the right partner, maturity for a family life (physical, mental and emotional) and the importance of family budget. Stage 3: Post-marital counseling: to be done by a professional or a well-wisher, occasionally for checking whether things are well and to iron out differences, if any, before they get out of control. His suggestion that the couple should be made to sign a 10-point agreement at the time of marriage was at once amusing and thought-provoking. Both Dr Fettle and Dr Philip reiterated the importance of including the parents also in such programmes.

The State Vanitha Vibhagam also honoured three women achievers, Parassala B. Ponnammal, N. J. Nandini and Udyalakshmi on the day. The meeting was chaired by Dr. Latha Ramakrishnan, State President, Vanitha Vibhagam. Parassala B. Ponnammal and N. J. Nandini were honoured for their achievements in the field of music and Udayalakshmi who is also the Organizing Secretary of the District Vanitha Vibhag, Thiruvananthapuram, for elected as Corporation Councillor from the Fort Ward. Krishnamoorthy, Regional Officer of Indian Council for Cultural Relations felicitated the dignitaries on the occasion. Sreemathy Ramaswamy, State Secretary fof Vanitha Vibhagam introduced the guests and Meena Sankaranarayanan, State Treasurer proposed the vote of thanks.

Facilities for Sabarimala pilgrims at Kottayam

The Sabarimala pilgrims are offered grand facilities at Brahmana Samooha Madom at Kottayam, as the city is having a strategic importance for the pilgrims. Rooms, Dormitories (a/c & non-a/c), food, toilets, travel arrangements etc. are offered here irrespective of religion, caste at the Samooha Madom located at Srinivasa Iyer Road. It is to be noted that the services offered here are purely voluntary and without any profit motive.  Those who wish to utilize the facilities may contact any one of the following in the cell phone numbers given in brackets. Ramanathan/Ramji (0 94473 62569), S. Sankar/Devan (0 93495 27765),  Umamaheswaran/ Mahesh (0 93878 84646, 0 93880 19898), Ajay Sankar (0 93884 44458), Venkidesh K. (0 98954 36680, 097463 22922). Addres: Brahmana Samooha Madom, Srinivasa Iyer Road, beside Thirunakkara Temple, Kottayam – 686 001. Phone: 0481 – 2566 926

V. Ramalingam and P. S. Raman conferred Honorary Doctorate

V. Ramalingam (State President) and P. S. Raman (State Vice President) of Kerala Brahmana Sabha were conferred Doctorate (Honorary) degree at Colombo, Sri Lanka by the Open International University for Complimentary Medicines, during the 48th World Congress of Integrated Medicines.

V. Ramalingam and P. S. Raman were bestowed with this international honour on Sunday, 14th November 2010 at Colombo for the outstanding service delivered by them in Philanthropic, Social and Spiritual segments. Both, with their better halves were at Colombo for the Convocation and returned to Kerala as Dr. V. Ramalingam and Dr. P. S. Raman. Chairman and Chancellor of Open International University for Complimentary Medicines, Prof. Dr. Gitanjan Mendis conferred the Doctorate. The ceremony took place at Taj Samudra Hotel, Colombo. Inaugural Session on Friday, 12th November was blessed by P. Dayaratne and C. B. Rathnayake, Central Ministers of Government of Sri Lanka. Around 1100 members from all over the World attended the Congress. Dr. V. Ramalingam and Dr. P. S. Raman expressed their sincere thanks to Dr.T. K. Raman, Chairman, TILT, Kochi for the initiative and guidance, who is also the Promoter & Guide for the Doctorate Candidates of the University.

CNN Hero of the Year - Vote for Narayanan Krishnan

Narayanan Krishnan, all of 29 years old now, does what he was professionally trained to do as a chef. Feed people. Only Krishnan does not do this in the swanky confines of a 5-star hotel. Every day, he wakes up at 4.00 a. m., cooks a simple hot meal and then, along with his team, loads it in a van and travels about 200 k. m. feeding the homeless in Madurai, Tamil Nadu.

Krishnan feeds, often with his hands, almost 400 destitute people every day. And for those who need it, he provides a free haircut too.

According to CNN, eight years ago, this award-winning chef with a five-star hotel chain was all set to go to Switzerland for a high-profile posting. On a visit to a Madurai temple, he came across a homeless, old man eating his own human waste. That stark sight changed Krishnan's life.

Much to the dismay of his parents, CNN says, Krishnan abandoned his career plans and decided to spend his life and his professional training in looking after those who could not care for themselves. He has provided more than 1.2 million hot meals through his nonprofit organization Akshaya Trust, and now hopes to extend this to shelter for the homeless too.

Krishnan is the only Indian in a list of 10 heroes that CNN has picked worldwide to honour. One of them will be chosen CNN Hero of the Year, selected by the public through an online poll. If many Indians get together to vote for this inspiring man, he can win by a long mile.

If Krishnan wins he will get $100,000 in addition to the $25,000 that he gets for being shortlisted for the Top 10. Akshaya Trust needs all the monetary support it can get to build on Krishnan's dream. Let's help him get there.
Vote for Krishnan here. http://edition.cnn.com/SPECIALS/cnn.heroes/index.html

The poll continues through 2010 November 18 at 6.00 a.m. ET.

R. Venugopal elected as Municipal Chairman of Thripunithura

R. Venugopal of Thripunithura accepted his office as Chairman of Thripunithura Municipality. He was elected from Kannankulangara Ward in the Thripunithura Municipality in the recently held elections to the local bodies. He was the opposition leader of Thripunithura Municipality for more than 25 years. Venugopal is son of Ramaswami Iyer and Gokulambal and married to Radhamony H. He is blessed with two children – Rajeev and Rekha, both students.

District Youth Wing office bearers elected at Kozhikode

The meeting of Youth Wing members of Kerala Brahmana Sabha, Kozhikode District was held on Sunday, 7th November 2010 presided by T. S. Venkidadri, District President. The following were elected to the posts given in brackets; V. Krishnakumar (President), P. K. Harikumar (Vice President), G. Krishnan (Secretary), P. K. Rajesh (Joint Secretary), R. Ananthapadmanabhan (Treasurer).

V. Krishnakumar, District President

G. Krishnan, District Secretary

C. G. Kiran, representing State Committee of Kerala Brahmana Sabha, Youth Wing welcomed the gathering. K. B. Sivanandan (District Secretary) highlighted the Youth Wing committee about the pivotal points listed in the Manual (guidelines) prepared for Youth Wing by the State body of Kerala Brahmana Sabha. T. V. Krishna Iyer (District Vice President) gave an inspiring talk on the role of Youth in the Brahmin Society. State Committee Member C. S. Gopalakrishnan briefed the statewide activities that Kerala Brahmana Sabha has undertaken, and how the youth can contribute towards the same. Newly elected President, V. Krishnakumar in his acceptance speech mentioned the need of unity of Youth in present social scenario. He added that the committee will work for the upliftment of the Brahmin community. G. Krishnan (Secretary) said the vote of thanks.

Top Exporter of Whole Spices Award for V. Ramalingam

V. Ramalingam, Managing Partner of G. R. K. & Company and State President of Kerala Brahmana Sabha won the award for Top Exporter of Whole Spices 2009-2010 instituted by the Indian Chamber of Commerce and Industries, Kochi. The award was presented to V. Ramalingam by Madhavan Nayar, I. R. S., Chief Commissioner, Income Tax, Kochi.