Category Archives: Inspiration/ Positive News and Features

Women on Board Take ‘Firm’ Control

Business & Economy, Inspiration/ Positive News and Features, Leaders

Kochi :

Last week saw a mad rush by Indian-listed companies to appoint at least one woman director on their board before the deadline set by the Securities and Exchange Board of India (Sebi) expires on March 31, 2015, and Kerala companies were no exception.

SebiGlassCeilingKERALA30mar2015

Some of the noted Kerala-based companies which appointed women directors in recent days include AVT Natural Products, Kitex Garments, Manappuram Finance, Dhanlaxmi Bank, GTN Textiles, Accel Transmatic, Nitta Gelatin and Inditrade Capital (formerly JRG Securities).

The capital markets regulator Sebi had earlier asked all listed companies in India to appoint at least one woman director on their board before October 1, 2014, which was later extended to March 31. Some of the other Kerala companies which used the period to appoint woman directors include Muthoot Finance (November 11, 2014), South Indian Bank (October 1, 2014) and Muthoot Capital (July 28, 2014).

Interestingly, public sector Fertilizers & Chemicals Travancore Ltd (FACT) is the only major Kerala-based listed company that have no woman on its board. Though not made official, various reports have suggested that the companies which fail to adhere to the Sebi rule may face a penalty of Rs 25 crore. This would be the last straw for FACT, which is hoping for a financial dole from the Centre to revive its fortunes.

Pamela Anna Mathew, managing director of the Kochi-headquartered OEN India, is the most sought-after woman director for Kerala-based companies. She was appointed on board of Muthoot Finance and GTN Textiles (March 17).

Dhanlaxmi Bank appointed Susobhan Sinha, general manager, RBI, Bengaluru, while Nitta Gelattin complied with the Sebi rules when Kerala State Industrial Development Corporation (KSIDC), one of the promoters, replaced its board nominee T P Thomaskutty with Dr M Beena, IAS. Inditrade Capital brought Debanshi Basu on board on March 26 while Kitex Garments appointed Sindhu Chandrasekhar as whole-time director on March 12. Manappuram Finance appointed Amla Samanta, who is MD of the Mumbai-based Synermed Biologicals. The Thrissur-based South Indian Bank appointed Ranjana S Salgaocar, a former director of Syndicate Bank.

The board with most number of women (two) among Kerala companies are Geojit BNP Paribas Financial Services (Franciska Decuypere, nominee of BNP Paribas and Dr M Beena, representing KSIDC), Aluva-based Federal Bank (Shubhalakshmi Panse, an independent director, and Grace Elizabeth Koshie, a director) and Kochouseph Chittilappilly-promoted V-Guard Industries (Joshna Mithun, wife of MD Mithun K Chittilappilly, and Jayasree K, company secretary). AVT Natural Products appointed Shanthi Thomas on March 23. Pamela Anna Mathew, of OEN India, which was a listed company until 2007, said she wished the one-woman rule was introduced at least 15 years ago.

“Had it been, we would have seen many more corporates emerging to create wealth for the nation and for the people behind the initiative. The late introduction of the rule, which is an acceptance and acknowledgement of the capabilities and effectiveness of women in the corporate world, is certainly appreciated,” she told ‘Express’, in an earlier interaction.

source: http://www.newindianexpress.com / The New Indian Express / Home> Business> News / by Rajesh Abraham / March 30th, 2015

O V Vijayan’s Historic ‘Njattupura’ Dedicated to Nation

Arts,Culture & Entertainment, Inspiration/ Positive News and Features, Records, All, Travel

Cultural Affairs Minister K C Joseph dedicating the renovated ‘Njattupura’ in Thazrak village to the nation in Kodumbu panchayat in Palakkad on Sunday. District Collector P Marykutty Isaac is also seen
Cultural Affairs Minister K C Joseph dedicating the renovated ‘Njattupura’ in Thazrak village to the nation in Kodumbu panchayat in Palakkad on Sunday. District Collector P Marykutty Isaac is also seen

Palakkad :

The state government has decided to sanction another `50 lakh for the O V Vijayan cultural complex being set up in Thazrak village in Kodumbu panchayat in the district, said Cultural Affairs Minister K C Joseph.

He was speaking after dedicating the renovated ‘Njattupura’ to the nation at Thazrak village here on Sunday.

Joseph said that the classic work of O V Vijayan, Khazakinte Ithihasam, is deeply ingrained in the literature and culture of the state. The land which formed the backdrop of the novel, the lifestyle and customs of its inhabitants should be preserved for posterity.

O V Vijayan has immortalised Thazrak village and its native people through his novel.

The Minister said that the O V Vijayan Memorial Committee had received `1 crore in the last four years.

The renovated ‘Njattupura’ is now part of history. The real life counterparts of characters in ‘Khazakinte Ithihasam’, Mymoona and Kittu, were honoured on the occasion by the Minister.

The Minister handed over the keys of renovated ‘Njattupura’ to District Collector P Marykutty at the function.

Prizes were awarded to Subhash V R of University College, Thiruvananthapuram, Soumya P R of Maharaja’s College, Ernakulam and Neetha P M of NSS College, Ottappalam as part of the paper presentation contest organised by O V Vijayan Memorial Committee.

Committee president K Sasikumar presided over the meet. Kodumbu panchayat member K. Janaki spoke.

Memorial committee secretary Azeez Master welcomed the gathering and committee member P Mohana Kumar proposed a vote of thanks.

Legislative Assembly members K Achuthan and Shafi Parambil were among the present.

source: http://www.newindianexpress.com / The New Indian Express / Home> States> Kerala / by  Express News Service / March 30th, 2015

A treasure trove of books to Kichangani from Kochi

Arts,Culture & Entertainment, Education, Inspiration/ Positive News and Features, Uncategorized

Kochi :

In less than a month Panchatantra, Aesop’s fables, Gulliver’s Travels and Oliver Twist will reach the remote village of Kichangani in Tanzania, thanks to Somy Solomon and her social media friends. Hartal or no hartal, her team of 50 is busy categorizing the 7,000 odd books -collected from all over India and abroad- at SH School of Communication on Saturday. Around 50 volunteers from the college and Cusat turned up to categorize the books before shipping. The sorting works will be completed by Sunday and the books will be shipped before March 22.

Kichangani Library, which received social media attention since October 2014, is not just a library, but a learning centre for the villagers. “Such a learning centre came to my mind after I reached Tanzania in 2012 after my marriage. Education is a luxury that most people cannot afford. And for the same reason, they are exploited and most kids go for domestic work at a young age. I feel a learning centre would be the first step to help them,” said Solomon, mother of two-year old Pachu. The envisaged centre will also have a reading room, a video room and computer training centre.

While the space for the centre was provided by the Kichangani village chairman, books were donated by people across India, Singapore, Sharjah, Dubai, Germany and the US. The cost of packing and shipment was sponsored by an IT firm based in Kochi and the transportation is being done with the help of a non-resident Malayali based in Tanzania.

The contributions were books and CDs in English and Swahili, including language and literature, general knowledge, biographies and diaries, dictionaries, atlases, geography and history texts, art books etc.

The learning centre, which Solomon hopes to extend to other villages, will have a drinking water facility. “Water scarcity is one of the major problems here. We hope to set up a drinking water facility at the centre for which the people have to pay as per the law of the land. The money collected will be used to run the library,” she said.

Solomon has begun a non-profit organization named ‘Ubuntu Reads’ to get government recognition for the library project. Twelve kids from the village will be given training to run the library. “This is to ensure that even if I leave the place, the movement will still go on,” she said.

source: http://www.timesofindia.indiatimes.com / The Times of India / Home> City> Kochi / TNN / March 15th, 2015

A thousand kilos of curry

Arts,Culture & Entertainment, Inspiration/ Positive News and Features, Records, All, Travel, World Opinion

BLESSED FOOD The origin of the feast is associated with a legend and preparations involve the entire village folk. Photo: Thulasi Kakkat
BLESSED FOOD The origin of the feast is associated with a legend and preparations involve the entire village folk. Photo: Thulasi Kakkat

The annual feast of St. Joseph in Kanamally is a century-old tradition that sees the entire village come together to prepare a meal for over one lakh people

Year after year, for the last 110 years, all roads, from far and wide, wind their way to Kannamaly on March 19. On this day the scenic village, hemmed in by backwaters on the east and the sea on the west, finds itself in the throes of a celebration that is both spiritual and communal. The annual feast of St. Joseph held at the village church, St. Antony’s, feeds on the day almost a lakh and fifty thousand, with a meal, a sadya, prepared by the village community and volunteers who come from different parts of the State to participate in the activity.

The origins of this communal cooking and feasting began in 1905 when the area was supposedly hit by a tsunami. It led to water logging and a subsequent cholera epidemic. Parish priest Fr. Joseph Kadanattuthara says that stories of the time are about rotting dead bodies lying around and of the hungry and the sick in each household.

It was then that a group of doomed men came to the church to prepare for impending death. The priest is said to have placated them informing that the next day was the death anniversary of Joseph, father of Jesus, and they should prepare for death for the next day. He cooked a sparse meal and shared it with the group, asking them to offer some to the dying in their homes. This food is supposed to have cured them all. From that day, March 19, 1905 the feast of St Joseph began.

In the early days the villagers cooked food at home and brought it to the church for sharing. This grew into communal cooking over the years with people joining from different places as volunteers. Many partake in chopping of vegetables, grinding spices, cleaning the premises, arranging firewood, making pickles and winding up after the feast. “There are people who grow vegetables to be used for this feast; a family brings 2,000 kilos of yam every year,” says Fr. Joseph adding that they plant yam only for this occasion. “Similarly people bring coconuts, rice and other provisions.”

The meal that consists of ulli curry, two vegetables, sambar and rice is prepared on firewood in very big vessels. Members of the 1,500 families that form the congregation of the church help in the preparations that begin a month before.

Provisions like sacks of rice, sugar for payasam, mounds of vegetables, oil, ghee and such begin to be stocked in the school in the church yard. Closer to the date women from nearby houses begin arriving to chop and prepare.

A day before, the fires are lit and cooking is done all night long. Maria Xavier, 50, a former teacher who now runs a ladies store says that the preparations for this large scale cooking are planned and undertaken by the ‘kalavara’ committee.

It begins on March 12 with women peeling up to 1,000 kilos of onions and storing them to be used in the curries. Nearly 500 kilos of bitter gourd and 800 kilos of mangoes are peeled, cut and stored.

Two days later the only work in the ad-hoc kitchen is grating and grinding coconut- thenga peera- and roasting it with chopped shallots, vazhathu. The next day the onion curry, and mango pickle are made and stored. On March 16 bitter gourd is cut and prepared. The following day is a No Work Day. On the night before the feast the fires are lit and rice is prepared in almost 20 vessels. The main mixed curry too is prepared. Cooking is halted at eight in the morning.

“As soon as the morning mass is over, at eight, the meals are served,” says Jaison Ezhuthaikkal, event coordinator, who has put up a 1, 20,000 sq ft canopy to accommodate the diners.

“In the olden days people sat on the floor and ate on banana leaves but now with increasing numbers arriving arrangements have changed. The ela sadya has given way in the last two years to a buffet,” says Maria. A relatively new addition is bottled payasam, sold at Rs. 50. This is done by a group from Tripunithura.

Antony Peko, 78, is a known name in the area. He heads a team of 10 assistants to cook, having mastered the art from his father. Sisters Barbara and Baby Pullamaserry, in their 70s, too have been associated with the food preparations for the last many decades.

Thettamma is another respected cook known for her skill at cooking huge quantities. Tom Edward whose family has been associated with the activity since its inception and is a patron of the church, remembers a year when it poured heavily, but the area around the church, where the feast was being cooked, served and savoured remained dry. Another hearsay story is of rice remaining fresh in a pit where it was buried as leftover.

“It is generally believed that the meal is blessed and that is the reason that draws people in hordes from distant places. It’s faith that brings them,” says Maria whose house becomes an open house. Last year she had 45 people staying at her house, not all known to her. Her neighbours too open their homes to strangers. “Balconies and verandas of every house in this area hosts visitors who come in groups. This is tradition,” she affirms.

In its century-old history food has never run short. It is cooked manually right through the day and night. By early evening if the curries begin to get over, fresh parippu curry is prepared. This goes on late into midnight, “by which time everyone is tired.”

“But we wake up fresh next morning satisfied that so many people ate a blessed meal,” says Maria.

source: http://www.thehindu.com / The Hindu / Home> Features> MetroPlus / by Priyadershini S / Kochi – March 18th, 2015

For women, by women

Arts,Culture & Entertainment, Education, Inspiration/ Positive News and Features, Records, All

Some of the young residents of S.M.S.S. Hindu Mahila Mandiram Photo: Nita Sathyendran / The Hindu
Some of the young residents of S.M.S.S. Hindu Mahila Mandiram Photo: Nita Sathyendran / The Hindu

Women of all ages get a new lease of life at the S.M.S.S. Hindu Mahila Mandiram, which kicks off preparations for its centenary celebrations on Saturday

School’s over for the day, but Aparna and Shilpa, both of them students of class nine of Chinnamma Memorial Girls High School and long-time residents of S.M.S.S. Hindu Mahila Mandiram at Poojapura, which runs the school, have a lot of revising to do for an upcoming maths exam. Oblivious to the ruckus, as happy youngsters in this 95-year-old home for indigent girls and women make the most of play time, the duo are bent over their notebooks, working out complex geometry equations, helped by a couple of home tutors.

“We want to be computer engineers and we are determined to work hard for it,” says Aparna, brimming with confidence. Sprightly Aishwarya, meanwhile, a student of class 11 and one of the home’s star pupils, wants to become an architect. She is busy prepping for her role as the compere for an upcoming event at the Mandiram. Like these three precocious youngsters, every one of the 96 girls, ages ranging five to 19, who call the Mahila Mandiram their home, want to make something of themselves. Guiding their dreams to fruition is M. Sreekumari, the organisation’s long-time honorary secretary, and her merry band of dedicated volunteers and staff members.

Mahila Mandiram was established in 1918 and registered as a charitable organisation in 1920 by K. Chinnamma and centres its activities on the ‘care, education, empowerment and rehabilitation’ of orphans and women and children from impoverished backgrounds. “We’ve tried to carry forward the legacy and social commitment of our founder. Our aim is not only to bring the girls up well and get them married off, but to also make each one of them stand on their own two feet, be empowered, self-sufficient and, above all, have self-respect,” says 71-year-old Sreekumari, who has been running the organisation for some 34 years now.

M. Sreekumari, honorary secretary (left), and Radha Lakshmi, president, SMSS Hindu Mahila Mandiram Photo: Nita Sathyendran / The Hindu
M. Sreekumari, honorary secretary (left), and Radha Lakshmi, president, SMSS Hindu Mahila Mandiram Photo: Nita Sathyendran / The Hindu

“Social work is in my very genes; I come from a family which has always been into social work. I am in awe of Chinnamma who thought so far ahead for women and children of the land, at a time when they were relegated to being second class citizens. Chinnamma hailed from an ordinary family in Attingal but was determined to get an education. Encouraged by her kunjamma [maternal aunt] who worked at the palace, she was one of the first female students of the Fort High School. She completed graduation after marriage and rose to become an inspector of schools in erstwhile Travancore and became a pioneer in social work. Chinnamma died at 47, 12 years after she established the organisation, the seeds for which must have been sown in her early teens itself,” adds Sreekumari, as she shows us around the well-kept home that includes spacious living quarters and a library, among other facilities.

“We are all one big family here,” she says, responding with a smile or a small wave as the youngsters call out greetings – in near reverence – to their ‘Amma.’

Apart from the home and the high school, Mahila Mandiram runs a Government-aided lower primary school, a working women’s hostel, an old age home for impoverished women at Azhoor, Chirayinkeezh, Panchavadi, ‘a holistic community development project, benefitting both children and the elderly’ at Vellanad, and a vocational training centre, the Mahima complex (currently under renovation).

They started out by giving young women training in handloom weaving and changed to “more feasible trades” as times changed.

Today Mahima complex houses a stitching and embroidery unit, a book binding unit, an offset press, and a computer centre that not only trains young women from the locality but provides employment opportunities too. In fact, for its efforts, the organisation won the national award for child welfare in 2013.

“Apart from fundraising, one challenge is actually finding committed personnel to help run the organisation. Because we can’t afford to pay exorbitant salaries, most of those who come for work here view it as a stop-gap arrangement. This also means that we are not savvy enough to attract the kind of corporate sponsorship that is available nowadays. Then again, the biggest challenge is raising the children – two at home is difficult, imagine a 100!

“Each child is a challenge, more so when the child in question has come to us after suffering emotional/physical trauma. We try to give them as much individual care as possible but it’s not always easy and we’ll never measure up to their mothers, who they would have left behind. The key is to persevere come what may and get them on the path to success,” says Sreekumari.

For a cause

On Saturday, March 21, 5 p.m., the organisation kicks off the first event in its master plan for its centenary celebrations – a fundraising event for Puthen Mandiram, the old age home at Azhoor, established in 2002. “We want to celebrate our centenary by bringing more women and children under our umbrella,” says Radha Lakshmi, president of the organisation. Having started functioning with just four residents, Puthen Mandiram [the land and heritage home was donated by one of the organisation’s member T. Madhavi Amma] now accommodates 15 women. “The present accommodation falls short of the comforts the residents require. By 2020 we want to expand the facility to a two-storey building to accommodate at least 25 elderly women, and make it more age-friendly, besides starting several outreach programmes such as a day care centre, assisted living facilities and an ambulance service,” adds Sreekumari. Contact: 0471 2351243

source: http://www.thehindu.com / The Hindu / Home> Features> MetroPlus / by Nita Sathyendran  / Thiruvananthapuram – March 19th, 2015

Kerala students steam up world’s longest puttu

Arts,Culture & Entertainment, Education, Inspiration/ Positive News and Features, Records, All, Uncategorized, World Opinion

The twelve final year students of Oriental School of Hotel Management in Kerala who made the longest puttu.
The twelve final year students of Oriental School of Hotel Management in Kerala who made the longest puttu.

A world record was achieved by making the longest puttu in the world of 18.2 feet, by twelve final year students of Oriental School of Hotel Management, Lakkidi, Wayanad, Kerala. It was held on March 16th, 2015 at 3.00 pm in the campus of the institution. The longest puttuwas made as per the guidelines and specifications of the Guinness World Records.

Students standing next to their creation, the longest puttu in the history of puttu in Kerala.
Students standing next to their creation, the longest puttu in the history of puttu in Kerala.

The twelve final year students who etched their names in the World Record attempt are Ms. Syama. M, Ms. Kavya Varghese, Mr. Akhil. B, Mr. Sivajith. S, Mr. Akshay Jain, Mr. Nithin George, Mr. Yadav Gurunathan, Mr. Jobu Ebin, Mr. Ebin Albert, Mr. Umesh. R. Nair, Mr. Jishnu. P. R and Mr. Mohammed Saif, all final year Hospitality Management students under the able guidance of Mr. K. C. Robbins, Principal of Oriental School of Hotel Management.

Puttu is an authentic Kerala breakfast dish of steamed cylinders of ground rice layered and blended with grated coconut. The ingredients for making the longest Puttu were 20 kg of ground rice flour, 15 grated coconuts, 15lts of water, salt, and a special equipment mould of aluminum was meticulously designed by the institution to prepare the longest puttu for the record breaking event. The longest puttu weighted 31.87kg.

Twelve final year students of Oriental School of Hotel Management in Kerala have managed to set a new Guinness World Record by steaming up the longest puttu.
Twelve final year students of Oriental School of Hotel Management in Kerala have managed to set a new Guinness World Record by steaming up the longest puttu.

 The students took an hour and 15 minutes to prepare the world’s longest puttu and this is the result of days of relentless hard work and detailed planning. The Oriental School of Hotel Management is managed and owned by Malabar Hotel Management and Catering Promotion Trust—a charitable Institution founded by the visionary and social icon—Dr. N. K. Mohammed, the guiding force and inspiration behind the challenging event.

Earlier in 2006, the students of this institution had made a ten feet long puttu by using 10 coconuts and 26 kg of powdered rice in a specially designed 12-foot-long aluminum mould which took one-and-a-half hours to be cooked. (Refer: Wikipedia- http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Puttu).

The world's longest puttu being examined at the Oriental School of Hotel Management in Kerala.
The world’s longest puttu being examined at the Oriental School of Hotel Management in Kerala.

The world record attempt by the students of the institution has surpassed their own previous record, and will be appropriately certified and documented by the Guinness World Records. All the documents and supporting evidence have been sent to the Guinness World Records for appropriate verification and certification.

source: http://www.food.manoramaonline.com / On Manorama / by Correspondent, On Manorama / Home> Food> Foodie / Monday – March 16th, 2015

A role model for rural women

Agriculture, Green Initiatives & Environment, Inspiration/ Positive News and Features

Beena Sahadevan in her organic vegetable garden.
Beena Sahadevan in her organic vegetable garden.

Nirupama, the much acclaimed character portrayed by actor Manju Warrier in her comeback movieHow Old Are You , has been an inspiration for many women. Here is a real life heroine, who has proved that with hard work and willpower one can face any difficult challenge.

On International Women’s Day, the Krishi Vigyan Kendra-Thrissur (KVK), with the support of Mathilakom panchayat will honour Beena Sahadevan, who has become a role model for rural women.

Beena is being honoured for her efforts and determination with which she has beaten numerous odds in her life and reaped success in farming.

She took up farming five years ago after her husband, who was working in the Middle East, fell sick. The family had no source of income. She started growing organic vegetables in her 33-cent plot, in addition to homesteads of five neighbours. She has now three cows, about 50 goats, more than 150 poultry birds, including 50 ducks and fishes in three ponds of neighbours.

Now, she makes enough income to take care of her husband and for other expenses, including the education of her daughters. She also makes garments besides taking up occasional catering assignments.

Officials of the Agriculture Department and the Thrissur Krishi Vigyan Kendra have supported her efforts. She also got training in seedling production, quality seed production and other planting material production from Dr. Jalaja S. Menon of Krishi Vigyan Kendra.

The programme to be held at Mathilakam block panchayat auditorium will be inaugurated by V.S. Sunilkumar, MLA. More than 300 women, who are involved in farming in the nearby panchayats, will attend the function.

source: http://www.thehindu.com / The Hindu / Home> News> National> Kerala / by Mini Muringatheri / Thrissur – March 08th, 2015

She Autos an instant hit in Pathanamthitta

Arts,Culture & Entertainment, Business & Economy, Inspiration/ Positive News and Features, Records, All, Travel

Many takers:Municipal chairman A. Sureshkumar with She Auto drivers in Pathanamthitta town.— Photo: Leju Kamal
Many takers:Municipal chairman A. Sureshkumar with She Auto drivers in Pathanamthitta town.— Photo: Leju Kamal

Five pink autorickshaws ply on Pathanamthitta roads

Pathanamthitta is becoming a model in gender support, with the Pathanamthitta municipality pioneering She Auto service in the town limits.

Taking a cue from the Shetaxi scheme of the Social Welfare Department, the civic body here has introduced the State’s maiden She Auto scheme a month ago. Painted in pink, the She Autos are fast getting popular in the town, says A. Sureshkumar, municipal chairman, who is the brain behind the women empowerment programme.

The municipality has sanctioned 12 She Autos and the first allotment of five autorikshaws hit the road a month ago. The other seven beneficiaries are undergoing driving classes and vehicles will be allotted to them as soon as they qualify the driving test, says the civic body chief.

The municipality has provided subsidy to the tune of Rs.60,000 each to the beneficiaries belonging to Scheduled Castes sections and Rs.40,000 to those in the general category. The civic body has also arranged vehicle loan to all the 12 beneficiaries through UCO Bank.

“A majority of our customers are women and we earn a profit of Rs.650 to Rs.750 a day,” say Sindhu, Lonamma and Sathi Muraleedharan, She Auto drivers. Suchitra and Rajalakshmi are the other two She Auto drivers in the town.

However, the autorickshaw drivers at the autorickshaw stand near the private bus stand are up in arms against allotting a separate stand for She Autos in front of the private bus stand. District Collector S. Harikishore has intervened in the issue and an amicable settlement is expected soon, says Mr. Sureshkumar.

source: http://www.thehindu.com / The Hindu / Home> News> National> Kerala / by Radhakrishnan Kuttoor / Pathanamthitta – March 09th, 2015

A spirited girl who fought the odds

Education, Inspiration/ Positive News and Features

Mary Shahina receives a modified scooter from Chief Minister Oommen Chandy on Friday.— Photo: Thulasi Kakkat
Mary Shahina receives a modified scooter from Chief Minister Oommen Chandy on Friday.— Photo: Thulasi Kakkat

Fate always tried its best to shatter her spirit; but failed every time.

Restricted to the bed with a body paralysed from the waist down since birth, Mary Shahina hailing from Maradu made it a habit to fight the odds and kept her spirits up writing poems.

That determination shone through in the smile the 25-year-old had on her face when she received a modified gearless scooter from Chief Minister Oommen Chandy at the district revenue adalat held in the city on Friday.

The vehicle is nothing but a godsend to her. Having passed her SSLC examinations 10 years ago and despite being good at academics, Shahina had to stop studying due to restricted movement. But never one to say never, the youngster cleared the Plus Two studying from home a couple of years ago.

The scooter will now help her pursue B.Com at a private college at Kumbalam. “I want to secure a bank job after completing my graduation,” she said looking at her prized possession.

source: http://www.thehindu.com / The Hindu / Home> News> Cities> Kochi / by M.P. Praveen / Kochi – February 28th, 2015

Supermom Adds Honey to the Rowers’ Victory

Inspiration/ Positive News and Features, Sports

Alappuzha :

The long tradition of oarsmanship inherited from her father Antony Joseph, has made 20-year-old Honey Joseph the glittering mom in the Kerala rowing team. A day after she helped the state to a gold in the 2000-metre coxless fours event at the Vembanad Lake for the National Games, Honey, the mother of two-year-old Ayin, has staked claimed for further acclaim after the hosts moved into the semifinals of the 500m coxless pairs and coxless fours events on Tuesday.

Antony, an oarsman with UBC Kainakari the prestigious boat club which won the Nehru Trophy Boat race several times, is the true inspiration behind Honey.

Honey Joseph with her daughter Ayin | Suresh Nampoothiri
Honey Joseph with her daughter Ayin | Suresh Nampoothiri

 For Honey, Vembanad lake is a familiar turf ever since her childhood. “My father had participated in the Nehru Trophy boat race 14 times and the team had lifted the coveted  trophy nine times. That inspired me to join the rowing team at the age of 14,” she said.

A gold medalist in various state and national competitions, Honey had to take a break from her sporting career in 2010 after she entered into wedlock with Vishnu Prasad who runs houseboat business in Alappuzha.

After giving birth of Ayin, she again evinced interest to join the rowing team. In 2014 Incheon Asian Games, she was back with a bang clinching silver in the coxless pair category and three bronze medals for the nation.

The Sports Authority of India Rowing Centre at Punnamada here has helped her to groom again. In the 2,000-metre rowing her team included Nithya Joseph, Chippy Kurian and M T Nimmy won gold in coxless fours category. In coxless pairs category, the team comprising Honey and Nimmy won silver.“The sad part is that though my daughter fetched many gold and silver for the state and nation, she is yet to get a placement in the government service,” Antony said.

source: http://www.newindianexpress.com / The New Indian Express / Home> States> Kerala / by Biju E. Paul / February 04th, 2015