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Category: News Makers & Award Winners

Published: 24 March 2010

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NARAYANAN SATHYADEVAN

Mr. N. Sathyadevan is a prominent businessman. He is the Managing Director of two modern Printing Presses in Ajman:

1. Nabeel Printing Press LLC, Ajman, and
2. Al-Alef Printing Press LLC, Ajman.

A long-time resident of over four decades in the United Arab Emirates (UAE), he was in earlier times the Finance & Administration Manager of Ras Al-Khaimah Port Authority (Mina Saqr).

Sathyadevan is the Director of the Kerala Institute of Medical Sciences (KIMS) Trivandrum as well as the KIMS Holding Company WLL (Bahrain), The Lords Hospital Trivandrum, and the Sree Narayana Institute of Medical Science (SNIMS) in Ernakulam.

Sathyadevan is a Founder Patron of the Vidya Engineering College, Thrissur. He is a known philanthropist and isinvolved in many social and charitable activities in UAE and Kerala.

Personal Details:

• Place and Date of Birth :Kudassanad, 31.10.1947
• Father :U. Narayanan
• Mother : K. Gouri Amma
• Wife: Jaya Sathian
• Daughter :Dr. Julie Sathian, Senior Lecturer, Amrita Institute of Medical Sciences (AIMS), Kochi, Kerala
• Son-in-Law : Dr. Sudhir Sukumar, M.S. DNB (Urology) Urologist, Amrita Institute of Medical Sciences (AIMS), Kochi, Kerala
• Son : Jain Sathian, MBA, Business Development Manager, Nabeel Printing Press, Ajman
• Daughter-in-Law :Dimple Jain, B.Tech

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Category: News Makers & Award Winners

Published: 24 March 2010

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DR. BIJUKUMAR DAMODARAN

Dr. Bijukumar Damodaran, the dynamic Malayalam Film Director, has won many national and international awards in Le Festival de Cannes (The Cannes Film Festival) and Cairo International Film Festival (CIFF) for his film debut Saira (2005). Dr. Biju’s other film Raman (2008), like Saira, is also acclaimed as a work of genius.

Dr. Biju’s latest film is Veettilekkulla Vazhi (The Way Home): The film is all about terrorist organizations operating in India and how they recruit young Keralites; younger superstar Prithviraj plays the lead role. 

The filmmaker has got the inspiration for this movie from a report which appeared in a daily newspaper about Mujahdeens recruiting young people from Kerala.

SYNOPSIS
The film “Veettilekkulla Vazhi” describes the story of a doctor working at a Hospital in a Delhi Jail. The wife of the doctor and his five year old son were killed in a terrorist bomb blast in front of his eyes in a public market at Delhi.
The police captured a severely injured woman who is member in a banned terrorist organisation “Indian Jihadhi”. The doctor took responsibility for the treatment of this woman. He tried his best to save her life; but she was on the verge of death. The woman confided him the address of her friend in Kerala with whom her five year old son was living and requested the doctor to find him and hand over to the father of the child. She revealed the identity of her husband: “Abdul Suban Tharique”, who is the leader and master brain behind the banned “Indian Jihadhi’.  Upon the death of the woman, the doctor set out on a journey in search of this five year old boy.

The journey started from Delhi passed through Mumbai, Rajasthan, Kerala, Kashmir, Ladakh, etc. 
The police suspected the doctor’s sudden disappearance from the hospital and his further dubious movements and contacts. The police suspected that the doctor has some connections with the terrorist group. Facing various hurdles the doctor continued his journey to spot Tharique. Simultaneously the five year old boy accompanying him in search of his unknown father and his ancestral home gradually developed inner relationship, bringing them to father-son relationship.

At last the doctor was able to meet Tharique in a terrorist camp in Kashmir. He tried to convince him the pain of losing the relationship by giving back his son. 
 “Veettilekkulla Vazhi” is an adventurous drama highlighting human relationships. It emphasizes the path of love, survival, innocence and humanity, exploring a bloodstained facet of contemporary terrorism in India.

The film shows a kaleidoscopic view of varied heritage and people’s lives in Delhi, the God’s Own Country, that is Kerala, the slums of Mumbai, Sufi Holy Places in Ajmer, Pushkar in Rajasthan famous for its Brahma Temple, Lakes, Ghats, and Bazaars, Buddhist heritage in Ladakh, the mesmerizing beauty of Kashmir valley, the captivating desert in Jaisalmer, and so on.
Beautiful picturesque landscapes, varied Indian topography, mingled with diverse culture became the backdrop of the film. Not only the difference in people and their culture but also their languages and life surroundings are the highlights of this movie. There are some moments in life you will never forget in this eccentric film.   

EARLIER WORKS: SAIRA (2005) 
Saira tries to bring two intricate issues into the limelight, namely, the touching story about the relationship between a father and his daughter, and the evils of terrorism which affects even ordinary people. The story revolves around Saira, the daughter of the famous Ghazal Singer Ustad Ali Hussain. Although Saira is very fond of music, she decides not to follow in her father's footsteps, embarks on a career in the media and becomes a television news reporter. She endeavours to bring to light the dark truths about society, is undaunted by the challenges and the risks involved in the job, and is even willing to sacrifice her life to uphold values she holds dear to her heart. In her pursuit of a certain case, Saira mysteriously disappears. Her disappearance begins to haunt her father in his search for answers. The rest of the story is about the trials and tribulations of a father who is waiting for his daughter to return home. 

• Director : Dr. Biju Kumar
• Casts : Nedumudi Venu, Navya Nair, Rajesh Sharma, V.K. Baiju, Koodal Gopan, B.N. Radhakrishnan, Rajiv Venad, Somarajan Pillai, Thaleshan, Sruthi, Baby Safina, Master Mukundan, Master Devashambu, Baby Shahina, Baby Diana, Sahadevan
• Cinematography : M.J. Radhakrishnan
• Music :Ramesh Narayanan

 RAMAN (TRAVELOGUE OF INVASION, 2008) 

Raman is a dumb and a grown-up character with childlike innocence. He is least concerned with the ‘big’ issues that worries other people, but enjoys the childishness of walking around in his beautiful little village and playing with the children. But the sorrows that starts seeping into the lives of the villagers in forms of various social illness starts scaring Raman, even while the grownups views them thoughtlessly. Raman looks at terror with an ideological eye view. 

Parallel to the story of Raman the dumb, yet another story unfurls in the film, the story of investigations by a documentary filmmaker, Diya. Investigating on the topic of American hegemony, she finally reaches Iraq, the latest victim of American invasion. There she runs into the hands of American Army and gets arrested. 

• Direction & Screenplay : Dr. Biju
• Casts : Anoop Chandran, Avanthika Agarker, Thazhava Sahadeven, Seenath, S. Saji, Chayansarkar
• Cinematography : Kannan
• Editing : Vijayakumar
• Music : Ramesh Narayanan

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Category: News Makers & Award Winners

Published: 24 March 2010

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JOHNSON KEEPPALLIL

Johnson Keeppallil, born in Kudassanad Alleppey (Dist) Kerala, India. He started his business since 1993 in Al-Khobar Saudi Arabia.  Presently, he is the Divisional Manager of Sunrise Al-Khobar Trading Est. Al-Khobar, Saudi Arabia.  Who has his Business Expanding in Saudi Arabia, Dubai & Kerala.  He is also the Chairman & Managing Director of Sunshine International School (CBSE) Rakha, Al-Khobar, Saudi Arabia.  He is also a Manager of St.George Group of School in Pathanamthitta

EARLY LIFE
Born in Feb.14th 1962, Johnson Keeppallil is the youngest son of Late Mr.K.M.John and Late Mrs.Annamma John. Mr.K.M.John was a Business man and was the Founder of St.George Public School, Kaipattoor, Kerala and the former Chairman of St.George Group of School Pathanamthitta, Kerala.  His Mother Annamma John was God-fearing loving Mother.
 
PERSONAL LIFE
He is married to Vineetha Johnson in 1993 Dec. 29, who is the daughter of Retd. Deputy Collector Mr.K.P.Kurian and Mrs.Annamma Kurian, Kannoothra, Muttambalam, Devalokam, Kottayam.  Has two daughters Richin Anna Johnson and Rimin Anna Johnson.  Rimin Johnson; who has written a Novel “The Space Kids” Which was published in 2008.  Mrs. Vineetha Johnson worked as a Teacher in one of the International British School of Al-Khobar, Saudi Arabia.

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Category: News Makers & Award Winners

Published: 24 March 2010

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OTTALIL KOCHUKUNJU JOY

PERSONAL DETAILS 

• Born November 2^nd, 1943 in Kudassanad (Ottalil / Alappuzha District, Kerala, India)
• Father: Varughese Kochukunju
• Mother: Saramma, née Chacko (Edayanethu, Venmoney)
• Joy has been married to his wife, Annamma, née Poweth Varkey, since 1973.
• Children: Prince (*18^th June 1974) and Regina (*16^th August 1977)

EDUCATION

• Master of Arts (M.A.) in Political Science and Public Administration (Osmania University, Hyderabad, Andhra Pradesh)
• Bachelor of Arts (B.A.) in Political Science and Public Administration (Osmania University, Hyderabad)
• French Interpretership Course (School of Foreign Languages, Government of India, Ministry of Defence, New Delhi)
• Pre-University (University of North Bengal, Siliguri, West Bengal)
• Secondary School Leaving Certificate (SSLC) (N.S.S. High School for Boys’ Pandalam) held by the Board for Public Examinations, Department of Education, Kerala.

ARMY SERVICE 

• Joined the Army Ordnance Corps (AOC) immediately after graduating from High School in 1960. Served in various stations, beginning from Secunderabad, Jabalpur, Kirkee (Poona), Jammu, Dehu Road (Poona), Siliguri (West Bengal), New Delhi, Chennai (Madras) and Jodhpur.
• Commissioned in the Special List (SL) cadre as Battalion Quartermaster (BQM); Lieutenant, Armed Forces of India;

(The Indian Army is the world's second largest in terms of military personnel, and the largest in terms of active manpower. It is a completely voluntary service, the military draft having never been imposed in India. The
army has rich combat experience in diverse terrains, due to India's varied geography, and has a distinguished history of serving in UN Peacekeeping Operations.)

Underwent training at the Officers’ Training Academy at St. Thomas Mount in Madras. Last served as the Battalion Quartermaster of an ASC Battalion in Jodhpur

• Served the Army during (1) the Liberation of Goa (1961), (2) the great Chinese betrayal of invading an unprepared India on two fronts: In the west in Ladakh and in the east across the McMahon Line in the then North-East Frontier Agency (NEFA) on 20 October 1962, thus inflicting devastating humiliation on the psyche of India. In Operational Areas during (3) the Indo-Pak War (1965), and (4) Liberation of Bangladesh (1971).

Resigned commission in 1976 to join the family in Bonn, Germany

CAREER

October 2002 – November 2008

Internal Audit of the Church Development Service (Evangelischer Entwicklungsdienst - EED)

EED is an Association of the Protestant Churches in Germany. By means of financial contributions, personnel involvement, scholarships and consultancy services EED supports the development work of churches, Christian and secular organisations. In this worldwide partnership, EED is participating in establishing a just society. It takes and promotes action to arouse and enhance people's willingness to stand up to overcome need, poverty, persecution and violence.

May 1978 – September 1998

Office Manager, Environmental Law Centre of the International Union for the Conservation of Nature and Natural Resources (IUCN – The World Conservation Union) in Bonn.

IUCN is the world’s largest conservation-related organisation, bringing together more than 900 Non-Governmental Organisations (NGOs), States and Governmental Agencies as well as some 12,000 scientists and experts from over 130 countries.

During the same period assisted the International Council of Environmental Law (ICEL), an international non-profit organisation seeking to promote the exchange of information on legal, administrative and policy aspects of environmental conservation.

October 1998 – February 1999

Assistant to President and CEO, Maschinenbau Halberstadt in the State of Saxon-Anhalt (Sachsen-Anhalt) in the former German Democratic Republic (GDR)

Briefly, Sachsen-Anhalt is the home state of the great reformer Martin Luther. River Elbe flows on it at a length of more than 300 km and is characterised by the Harz low mountain range. Castles, stately homes, cathedrals and churches along the "Strasse der Romanik" (Romanesque Road Tourist Route) express the history of Saxony-Anhalt, surrounded by beautiful landscape.

June - October 1999

Assistant to Ambassador, Embassy of the Federal Democratic Republic of Ethiopia in Bonn: Liaised with Commissions of the German Federal Parliament, such as Human Rights Committee, German-African Parliamentary Group, Foreign Relations Committee, etc. as well as political parties, such as the Christian Democratic Union (CDU), the Social Democratic Party (SPD).

May – August 2001

Hospitant at the German Academic Exchange Service (Deutscher Adademischer Austausch Dienst – DAAD): one of the largest and most well known institutions for academic exchange and international scientific cooperation worldwide. DAAD promotes the technical and personal qualifications of outstanding German students, postgraduates and young scientists who are selected by independent scientific commissions out of a multiplicity of applicants.

Also worked at two Francophone African Embassies (Burundi and Togo) in the mid-seventies

HONOURS AND AWARDS

Samar Seva Star 1965, Raksha Medal 1965, Sangram Medal, Sainya Seva Medal with Clasp Jammu & Kashmir, 25th Independence Anniversary Medal and 9 Years Long Service Medal.

LANGUAGES

English, French, German, Hindi, Malayalam (Mother tongue).

MISCELLANEOUS

Travelled extensively in India, Europe, Egypt (Cairo), Hong Kong, Mexico City, Israel, Kuwait, United Arab Emirates (UAE), and the United States of America (USA).

Please visit his personal website www.kudassanad.com to read his interesting write-ups which include Events, Pilgrimages, Travelogues, as well as Personal anecdotes.

Read Joy’s Works: TRAVELOGUES, EVENTS and PILGRIMAGES.