District Pension Scheme - Funds reaches beneficiaries

The District Pension Scheme announced by the District Committee of Kerala Brahmana Sabha, Ernakulam was handed over to 6 beneficiaries selected from different Upasabhas of Ernakulam District. An amount of Rs. 1000/- will be given every month to the selected as pension. More than 45 deserving cases has been identified and as a beginning, 6 of them are selected. Poor and aged members of the community recommended by respective Upasabha will be eligible for this benefit. Noble minds who contribute liberally to this cause are the driving force behind this project. The amount was handed over by the District Office bearers visiting their respective Upasabhas on Tuesday, the 3rd December 2013.

Venkiteswara Vadhyar (Thripunithura) receiving Pension from V. Krishnaswami

Narayana Iyer K. G. (Thripunithura) receiving Pension from Mohandas S.

Sankaranarayana Iyer (Parur) receiving Pension from Navaneetha Krishnan V.

Alamelu Ammal (Parur) receiving Pension from K. R. Chandran

Harihara Iyer (Parur) receiving Pension from Mohandas S.

Lakshmi Ammal (Kalady) receiving Pension from V. Krishnaswami

Reception to State Office bearers by Ernakulam District Committee

The newly elected state office bearers and committee members were given a warm reception on behalf of Kerala Brahmana Sabha, Ernakulam District Committee on 27th of October 2013 at Gayathri Kalyana Mandapam, Edappilly. Members from 11 Upasabhas of Ernakulam District participated in the meeting presided by V. Krishnamswami, District President. Mohandas S., District Secretary welcomed the gathering and K. R. Chandran, District Vice President said the vote of thanks. Volunteers of Ernakulam District is occupying the State Office for the third term consecutively. Dr. V. Ramalingam (State President), Dr. P. S. Raman (State Vice President), P. Ananthasubramanian (General Secretary), K. G. V. Pathy (State Treasurer), N. R. Parameswaran (State Joint Secretary), Ganesh Venkitachalam (State Joint Secretary - Head Quarters), N. Ramachandran (State Joint Secretary - Head Quarters), N. Ranganathan (State Committee Member), Kala Narayanaswami (State Joint Secretary, Vanitha Vibhagam), T. V. Parvathy (State Committee Member, Vanitha Vibhagam) were given warm reception in the meeting. Navaneetha Krishnan V. (District Treasurer), K. Annalakshmi (District President, Vanitha Vibhagam), H. Vanchiswaran, (District President, Yuvajana Vibhagm) were also present on the occasion. C. G. Subramaniam (Aluva), C. S. Venkiteswaran (Edappilly), R. Ananthakrishnan (Ernakulam), V. R. V. Iyer (Kalady), H. Padmanabhan (Koovappady), Padmanabhan S. (Mattancherry), Krishnamoorthy S. (Muvattupuzha), G. Murali (Parur), K. Hari (Perumbavoor), Kannan S. Iyer (Thrikkariyoor) and S. Ramakrishnan (Thripunithura) felicitated.

DISTRICT PENSION SCHEME INAUGURATED

Dr. V. Ramalingam inaugurating District Pension Scheme

A Pension Scheme introduced by the District, to extend helping hands to the poor and aged among our community was inaugurated by Dr. V. Ramalingam, State President in the meeting. Nearly 45 deserving members has been identified in our district and 6 of them will receive Rs. 1000/- as monthly Pension. The Fund is mobilized from noble minds who are willing to support the community members.

Prizes to the winners of the District level Cultural Competitions held at Perumbavoor was also given away on the occasion. 

Reception to proposed Melsanthi of Sabarimala at Perumbavoor

Ceremonial welcome with Poornakumbham to Narayanan Namboothiri

A memento presented to Narayanan Namboothiri by V. Krishnaswami

Proposed Melsanthi of Sabarimala, P. N. Narayanan Namboothiri was given a Reception by Perumbavoor Upasabha & Vadarkutti Samooham at Perumbavoor on 20th of October 2013. Dr. V. Ramalingam, State President inaugurated the meeting. V. Krishnaswami (District President) draped Narayanan Namboothiri a Ponnada on behalf of District Committee. He was given a cerimonial welcome by the Vadarkutti Brahmana Samooham with Poornakumbham earlier. Dr. V. Ramalingam, Dr. P. S. Raman, Ganesh Venkitachalam, Mohandas S., N. R. Parameswaran, N.  Ranganathan, N. Ramachandran were also present on the occasion.

Educational Aid of Rs. 10,000/-

Rs. 10000/- was handed over to Sarada of Kalady for the Education of her boy who studies for MBA. The amount was handed over by Mohandas S., District Secretary in presence of N. Ramachandran (District Vice President), N. Sivaramakrishna Iyer (District Joint Secretary), S. Vaidyanathan (District Committee Member) and Prof. H. Padmanabhan (President, Kalady Upasabha).

Adv. A. K. Seshadri passed away

Former State President and former Mayor of Kochi, Adv. A. K. Seshadri passed away on Wednesday, 23rd October 2013 at Ernakulam. The District & State leaders attended the rituals and funeral and paid homage to the veteran leader of KBS. A meeting of the Sabha leaders was held to condole in the demise of Adv. A. K. Seshadri and a resolution presented by D. Moorthy, District Secretary of Kerala Brahmana Sabha, Thrissur was passed in this regard. Dr. V. Ramalingam, State President presided over the meeting. Dr. P. S. Raman (State Vice President), V. Krishnaswami (District President), P. Venkitarama Iyer (Former State President) and D. Moorthy spoke on the occasion. The Ernakulam District Committee also condoled on the demise of the leader Adv. A. K. Seshadri. 

Coimbatore-Rameswaram Express may be extended to Kochi - Brahmana Sabha

C. K. Venkiteswaran (74) passed away

C. K. Venkiteswaran (74) of Koovappady Upasabha who was a beneficiary of R S Mani Iyer Trust – free Rice & Saree Project, and who was receiving pension from Kinattumkara Samooham (sanctioned by request of KBS, Dist. Committee) passed away on 18th September 2013. 

Ramayanashree Award for T. S. Radhakrishnaji

Ramayanashree Award instituted by Manavaseva Samithy was presented to T. S. Radhakrishnaji by K. G. Jayan (Jaya/Vijaya) at Ernakulam in the presence of Balachandra Menon, eminent film maker. The prize money of the Award was handed over to a Kidney patient by the Radhakrishnaji in the meeting itself.

T. S. Radhakrishnan, popularly known as Radhakrishnaji is a composer and producer of devotional music and film music who has composed over 150 devotional albums.His albums have been collaborations with leading singers such as Dr. K J Yesudas, P. Leela, P. Susheela, S. Janaki, P Jayachandran, K.S. Chitra, Hariharan, Manjari, Unni Menon etc. Most of his songs were written by R. K. Damodaran, P. C. Aravindan and Chowallur Krishnankutty. He was trained in Carnatic music by Thripunithura K. C. Kalyanasundaram Bhagavathar, Tanjore Subramania Bhagavathar and Dr. S. Ramanathan. He composed his first album "Harisri Prasadam" with ten songs in 1980 collaborating with Malayalam lyricist R. K. Damodaran and singers P Jayachandran, Kanhagad Ramachandran, Kavalam Sreekumar, Junior Mehaboob and Usha Manoharan.His earliest collaborations with Dr. K J Yesudas were the albums "Ganga Theertham Vol 1" in 1989 and "Thulasi Theertham" in 1990, both produced by Yesudas under the banner Tharangini. In 1983, Radhakrishnan formed `Tyagabrahmmam,' and continuing - a nine-member group that has performed in almost all the temples and pilgrim centres of India, as well as the Middle East and Africa.

For eight years T.S. Radhakrishnan played the guitar for `Hijackers,' a popular Western band. He had also played the drums for `Stone Age,' a group he had formed along with his friend K.V. Prasad.

Rs. 6000/- as Medical Aid

A medical aid was handed over to Padmini Ganesh for Parvathy Subramaniam, Latha Bhavan, Koovappady on 1st September 2013 at Perumbavoor. 

State AGB at Kottayam on 29th October 2013

Oomman Chandy addressing the Delegates

The 43rd Annual General Body of Kerala Brahmana Sabha was held at Kottayam on Sunday, 28th of September 2013. Oomman Chandy (Chief Minister of Kerala), K. M. Mani (Minister for Finance), Thiruvanchoor Radhakrishnan (Minister for Home Affairs & Vigilance), K. Suresh Kurup (MLA), V. N. Vasavan (former MLA, Kottayam), Dr. J. Prameela Devi (Member, Women Commission) and other dignitaries blessed the occasion with their presence. Participation of the Delegates and Volunteers from the Upasabhas of Ernakulam District needs a special mention. The Delegate meet was held at Indraprastham Auditorium on Sunday, 29th and State Cultural Competitions were held at Kottayam Brahmana Samooham Hall on Saturday, the 28th of October 2013. The Delegate Meeting was inaugurated by Oomman Chandy, Chief Minister of Kerala and was presided by Dr. V. Ramalingam, State President. Elections to the State office were also held for the period of 2013-2015 and the following were elected unanimous from Ernakulam District. This is the third term for Ernakulam District in the State Office.

A view of the audience

State Committee: State President – Dr. V. Ramalingam (Mattancherry), State Vice President (Central Zone) – Dr. P. S. Raman (Thripunithura), State Committee Member – N. Ranganathan (Perumbavoor). Vanitha Vibhagam: State Joint Secretary (Central Zone) – Kala Narayanaswami (Ernakulam), State Committee Member – Parvathy T. V. (Ernakulam). P. Ananthasubramaniam (Edappally) was nominated as State General Secretary and K. G. V. Pathy (Aluva) as State Treasurer by Dr. V. Ramalingam. A. G. Ganesh Venkitachalam (Ernakulam) and N. Ramachandran (Perumbavoor) were also nominated as State Joint Secretaries - Head Quarters.

The following children from Ernakulam district won prizes in various competitions. 1st, 2nd & 3rd place winners received a Certificate and Cash Prize of Rs. 7,500/-, Rs. 5,000/- and 2,500/- respectively.

Dhanya C. V. (1st /Slokam Chanting/Group A), Shraddha G. (2nd /Slokam Chanting/Group A), Harsha (3rd /Slokam Chanting/Group B), B. Ve. Dhanush (1st /Manthram Chanting/Group A), Arun Parameswaran (3rd /Manthram Chanting/Group B), Dhanya C. V. & Party (2nd /Bhajana/Group A), Arun Parameswaran & Party (2nd /Bhajana/Group B), Anushree R. (1st /Kolam/Group A), Srinidhi K. V. (2nd /Kolam/Group A), Aiswarya Lakshmi (3rd /Kolam/Group B)

District Cultural Meet held at Perumbavoor

P. Ananthasubramaniam inaugurating the District Cultural Competitions

The District Cultural Meet was held at Perumbavoor on 1st of September 2013. Competitions were held in Slokam, Manthram, Bhajana and Kolam in two categories for the children under the age of 15 years. More than 300 people from all Upasabhas participated in the event. P. Ananthasubramaniam (State General Secretary) inaugurated the function and V. Krishnaswami, District President presided over the meeting. N. Ramachandran (District Vice President & President, Perumbavoor), Mohandas S. (District Secretary), K. Annalakshmi (District President, Vanitha Vibhagam), Kala Varadarajan (District Secretary, Vanitha Vibhagam), M. Vanchiswaran (District President, Yuvajana Vibhagam), A. Mahadevan (District Secretary, Yuvajana Vibhagam), N. R. Parameswaran (Secretary, Central Zone), N. Ranganathan (State Committee Member), H. Ramanathan (Vadarkutti Samooham), Lakshmi Hariharasubramania Iyer (Secretary, Vanitha VIbhagam, Perumbavoor), Narendra Bhatt (Sri Sringeri Mutt), N. Hariharasubramania Iyer (Secretary, Vadarkutti Samooham, Perumbavoor), Adv. H. Ramanathan (President, Yuvajana Vibhagam, Perumbavoor), R. Ramakrishnan (Convener, Cultural Competitions)were present on the occasion. 

Slokam Chanting

Manthram Chanting

Nearly 80 children participated in various competitions from different Upasabhas of Ernakulam District. The members from those Upasabhas who did not had any participants were also present on the occasion to witness the events indicated the strong bond of the members with activities of Sabha. 

Bhajana

Kolam

P. Ramesh (Ernakulam), S. Krishnamurthy, Muralidas S. (Muvattupuzha), Lakshmi Hariharasubramania Iyer, S. Ramachandran (Perumbavoor), K Hariharan (Thripunithura), Vaisakh Krishnamurthy, Akshay Muralidas, Arjun Muralidas (Muvattupuzha) managed the Stage. Those who won first 2 positions for individual events (only 2 for an event) & the team winning 1st position for Group events (only 1 team for an event) are qualified to participate in State level competitions to be held at Kottayam on 28th September 2013 in connection with State AGB. 

Dharmasreshta awarded to Brahmashree Nochur Ramachandra Sasthrikal

Dharmasresta Award, instituted by Kerala Brahmana Sabha was presented to Brahmashree Nochur Ramachandra Sasthrikal at Guruvayoor on 22nd of August 2013. Ramachandran Thekkedath, Vice Chancellor, CUSAT, Chief Guest of the function presented the Award to Sasthrikal. Dr. V. Ramalingam, Dr. P. S. Raman, D. Murthy and other leaders addressed the gathering. V. Krishnaswami, District President honoured Sasthrikal for Ernakulam District. M. Vanchiswaran, President of Yuvajana Vibhagam also honoured him on the occasion on behalf of Yuvajana Vibhagam.

M. S. Subbalakshmi fellowship to N. J. Nandini

The fellowship in the name of Bharath Ratna M. S. Subbalakshmi, instituted by Shanmughananda Sangeetha Sabha, Mumbai was presented to N. J. Nandini on 21st of September by Hon. Governer of West Bengal, M. K. Narayanan. This young talent has been groomed by dedicated teachers and supported by a music-loving family. She is already creating waves in the highly competitive world of Carnatic music. A B-grade artist of All India Radio, Nandini, a rank holder from her school during her Plus Two, says she wants to make a mark as a Carnatic vocalist. Nandini has already given numerous concerts all over Tamil Nadu and Kerala and sung in the hallowed precincts of the Music Academy and the Shanmughananda Hall in Mumbai. A winner of reality shows in Kerala and Tamil Nadu, Nandini's has released a CD, ‘Keshadi Padam,'. She lives in Thiruvananthapuram.

It is not true that one has to be in Chennai to be a successful Carnatic musician. There are discerning audiences in Kerala, especially in certain places like Palakkad, Thrissur, Tripunithura, Thiruvananthpuram, and so on where the listeners are veterans of classical music. They can compare, analyse and critically review any concert. That is of great benefit to a budding singer; she says.

District Vipra Vismayam held at FACT Udyogamandal Club

Dr. V. Ramalingam inaugurating District Vipra Vismayam

The Games and Sports competitions for the members of Sabha, known as Vipra Vismayam, conducted every alternate years was held at FACT Udyogamandal Club on 5th and 6th of May 2013. Vipra Vismayam was inaugurated by Dr. V. Ramalingam, State President. V. Krishnaswami, District President presided over the inaugural meeting. P. Ananthasubramaniam, N. R. Parameswaran, Mohandas S., N. Ramachandran, Ganesh Venkitachalam, K. Annalakshmi, H. Vanchiswaran and  P. Ramesh also spoke. Meritorious students who achieved top scores in different academic examinations were honoured. Also renowned personalities who had marked their presence in their fields were honoured by the District Committee of Kerala Brahmana Sabha in connection with the inaugural ceremony. Prof. Dr. S. Sitaraman of Aluva was honoured for his contributions as Environmentalist and Dr. M. N. Venkiteswaran of Parur was honoured for his contribution to the field of Pediatrics. 

Dr. V. Sriram honoured

Dr. V. Sriram, 2nd Rank Holder in Civil Service Examinations receiving memento

Dr. V. Sriram, who scored 2nd rank in Civil Service Examinations was the attraction of the day. He shared few moments with the gathering and said youngsters should be alert in their routines since life style deceases are grabbing the society so badly. He also had some time spending with the Cricket players who were on net practice.

The following meritorious students were also felicitated for their meritorious achievements mentioned in brackets in the inaugural meeting.

Ram Ganesh V., Thripunithura (Topper - NTSE, Kerala. Selected for National Talent Search Examination Scholarship Award 2012. He is son of R.Venkiteswaran, Deputy Manager FACT, Udyogamandal and Roja, BSNL).

Hari Ganesh V., Thripunithura (1st Rank - National Science Talent Search Examination (NSTSE) conducted by Unified Council, Hyderabad. He is son of R.Venkiteswaran, Deputy Manager FACT, Udyogamandal and Roja, BSNL and brother of Ram Ganesh V.)

T. S. Seetharaman, Ernakulam (5th Rank - B. Tech., Computer Science, M G University in 2012. Studied at  Adi Shankara Institute of Engineering and Technology, Kalady. He is son of CA. T. P. Sivaramakrishnan and  Radha Sivaramakrishnan.)

Vivek Shanker, Thripunithura (Best Student of the year 2012 in Mridangam by Music School of G. N. Swami Trust, Thripunithara. He is son of S. Shanker and Hema Shanker residing at Thripunithura)

H. Subbalakshmi, Thripunithara (2nd Rank - M. A. Music/Vocal, Kerala University. She is daughter of N. Hariharan and Thailambal Hariharan residing at Vennikulam)

Varsha Narayanan, Thripunithara (Cleared CA Final Examinations in November 2012.

Saraswathy V. (Cleared CA Final Examinations in November 2012. She is daughter of  Vancheeswaran M. (Secretary to CMD, FACT and Secretary, KBS, Ernakulam City Unit and Rani Vancheeswaran)

Subramanian C. Y., Perumbavoor (Cleared CA Final Examinations in November 2012. He is son of S. Yagneswaran and G. Vally Ammal)

Gayatri S. Iyer, Edappilli (Selected for National Talent Research Examination Scholarship Award 2012. She is daughter of Sivraramakrishna Iyer and Lalitha S.)

Hareesh H. Sharma, Aluva (Cleared CA Final Examinations in November 2012. He is son of N. S. Harihara Sharma, ESI, Ernakulam and Girija Sharma, FACT, Udyogamandal)

Arjun Sanker, Ernakulam (A+ in all subjects in 10th standard/Special School. He is son of Sanker and Vidya)

Shuttle Badminton, Cricket, Chess and Pallnkuzhi - the traditional board game played by women in tamil brahmin houses - were the items and players participated in two categories; junior and senior.

AGB of Ernakulam District held at Parur on 28th July 2013

Valsala Prasannakumar inaugurating the District AGB at Parur

The Annual General Body of Kerala Brahmana Sabha, Ernakulam District was held at Kannankulangara Samooham Hall, Parur on Sunday, 28th of July 2013. Valsala Prasannakumar, Chairperson of Parur Municipal Council inaugurated the meeting. N. Ramachandran, District Vice President presided over the meeting. Dr. V. Ramalingam, State President delivered the keynote address. The flag of Sabha was hoisted at the venue by Dr. P. S. Raman, State Vice President earlier. The state leaders of the Sabha, K. G. V. Pathy, N. R. Parameswaran, A. G. Ganesh Venkitachalam, K. R. Chandran and Mohandas S. addressed the gathering. 

Meritorious students who achieved high scores in different examinations were honoured on the occasion. Also the prizes were given away to the winners of the District level Vipra Vismayam held during May at FACT Campus.

Elections were held and the following are elected to the respective posts given in brackets for the period 2013-2015. District Committee: V. Krishnaswami (District President), K. R. Chandran, N. Ramachandran (Vice Presidents), Mohandas S. (District Secretary), V. Navaneeth Krishnan (District Treasurer), S. Ramachandran, Padmanabhan S. (Joint Secretaries), S. Naganathan, Sivaramakrishna Iyer N. (Organising Secretaries). Vanitha VIbhagam: K. Annalakshmi (President), Uma Raman, Lakshmi Hariharan (Vice Presidents), Kala Varadarajan (Secretary), Santhy Narayanaswami, Bhagyavathy Ammal (Joint Secretaries), Geetha Subramaniam (Treasurer). Yuvajana Vibhagam: H. Vancheeswaran (President), K. V. Praveen, S. Ranjith (Vice Presidents), A. Mahadevan (Secretary), S. Subramaniam, G. Sreenath (Joint Secretaries), Arjun Muralidas (Organising Secretary), R. Mahadevan (Treasurer).