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.