Shri Pinarayi Vijayan, Hon’ble Chief Minister and the Malayali of the Year,
Shri M.T. Vasudevan Nair, Kerala’s most Celebrated Writer,
Shri Madhu, Veteran Actor,
Ms. P.U. Chitra, noted Athlete,
Smt. Surabhi Lakshmi, Well-known Artiste,
Shri M.A. Yousuf Ali, Noted Entrepreneur,
Shri Sabu Jacob, Noted Entrepreneur,
Sahodaree Sahodaranmaare,
Ellaavarkkum Ente Namaskaaram,
It gives me great joy to be in your midst to present the Malayalee of the Year Award and the Life time Achievement awards instituted by News 18- Kerala.
Let me at the outset, compliment News 18-Kerala for organizing this function to recognize the contribution of some of our eminent citizens to the socio cultural development of our beloved State. All of them have won nation-wide appreciation and elevated Kerala’s status in the World’s eyes. While acknowledging the contribution of such people, we are also inspiring thousands of others to strive harder to achieve perfection in their activities.
Though a relatively recent entrant to the media scenario in Kerala, News 18-Kerala was quick to establish its presence as one of the leading television channels by taking a unique position on many issues. As we have already moved into a parching, hot summer, one cannot ignore the campaign led by this channel last year, to save water. I also recall that this channel had highlighted the impact of the coastal zone regulation on our fisher-folk.
As we all know, seven eminent persons have been honored today and this meeting had the added charm of presenting the Malayalee of the Year Award to our Chief Minister Shri Pinarayi Vijayan. Though Kerala is a small State, the words and views of its Chief Minister are now watched and appreciated on a national and even global level, thanks to the human and intellectual development achieved by this State. As the Governor of the State and as one who has known Shri Pinarayi Vijayan's calm nature and mature approach to matters of governance and development of the State, I would cherish this as a precious moment in my tenure in Kerala. Let me congratulate him on receiving this well deserved award.
Awards are undoubtedly, tokens of appreciation for the different levels of success and excellence achieved by people. But, a Life-time Achievement Award rises above the usual tokens of appreciation. I also observe a common quality in both the persons on whom the Lifetime achievement awards have been conferred today. Both Shri M.T. Vasudevan Nair, who has won the Gyanpeeth Award and Shri Madhu, noted actor and Padma Sree Awardee have never rested on their laurels. Both of them have brightened the glory of Malayalam and continue to inspire upcoming people in their respective fields. Atthe age of 84, Shri M.T. Vasudevan Nair remains a vocal critic on social and political matters and Shri Madhu has been devoting his time and energy to social causes. I wish both of them a healthy life, blessed with creativity at its best.
Today, we have honoured four more eminent Malayalees who come from three different areas, that is, athletics, entertainment and business. It was only a couple of days ago, Ms. P.U. Chitra was honoured by another Channel in Kerala. In fact, every Malayali family sees her as its child. In her indomitable passion to surge ahead despite unfavourable conditions, we all see the athletic future of Kerala. While congratulating her, I also wish Ms P.U. Chitra more laurels in the years to come.
Ms. Surabhi Lakshmi, who was honoured today is also a household name for Malayalees thanks to the characters she has been portraying in theatre, films and on Television. Besides her performance, her ability to continue her higher education along with her career also deserves praise. I congratulate her and wish her laurels in academics as well as artistic performances.
Gandhiji has observed that the man who goes into business to do well, stays in it to do good. The awards presented to Shri Yusuff Ali andShri Sabu Jacob reflect Kerala's appreciation for the contribution of entrepreneurs in the development of the State. Shri Yusuff Ali's success also symbolizes the enterprising nature of the Malayali outside his homeland. What makes his contribution great is not in being one of the richest Indians, but in the way he has utilized a portion of his wealth for humanitarian activities both in India and abroad.
Coming to Shri Sabu Jacob, we see a growth story that has very few parallels in Kerala. A business man father training his son through all works hitherto considered menial, gives a message of social responsibility in business. And, when this social responsibility empowers an entire locality through a new model of development and governance, we see the emergence of a new business model based on social commitment.
I congratulate Shri Yusuff Ali and Shri Sabu Jacob on this well deserved honour and hope that their advice would help Kerala in improving its economy as well as its status in the Ease of Doing Business.
All the awards we have presented point to the elevated status of Kerala and the Malayali in today's world, be it in literature, arts, sports or entrepreneurship. There are many areas like Science, jurisprudence and technology where the Malayalees' contributions are substantial. We had a glimpse of this substantial contribution in the Loka Kerala Sabha convened recently by our Chief Minister. I hope such ventures would invite the participation of our people whose excellence is now benefiting other parts of the world. I hope media units like News 18-Kerala would concentrate on identifying such people who are spread across the world. Such a gesture would certainly be the fulfilment of a social obligation above the usual informational role of a mass medium. Moreover, as a medium operating in Kerala, the channel also has a responsibility to highlight the positive developments in the State.
I congratulate all the award winners and request them to be the brand ambassadors of a Kerala that surges ahead in the path of progress and development. I wish all awardees greater success in life.
I also compliment News 18 Kerala for conducting this function in a befitting manner.
Ellavarkkum Ente Aashamsakal
Nanni
Jai Hind
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