NAFO hosts global conclave and award ceremony
The presence of Venu Rajamony IFS, former Indian Ambassador to the Netherlands, as the chief guest lent immense grace and inspiration to the occasion. During the ceremony, NAFO Global conferred several of its most prestigious awards upon individuals who have demonstrated exceptional commitment, achievements, and service in their respective fields. The NAFO Lifetime Achievement Award, the organization's highest honor, was presented to Padma Shri Aswathi Thirunal Gowri Lakshmi Bayi in recognition of her distinguished literary legacy and tireless efforts in safeguarding India's timeless cultural heritage and historical morals.
The NAFO Ratna Award was awarded to Dr Ramesh Anandadas, honoring his entrepreneurial success and unwavering dedication to social upliftment. Murali S Nair received the NAFO Sree Award for his outstanding community engagement and philanthropic leadership, reflecting the organization's appreciation for exemplary service aligned with its mission.
The NAFO Titans Award was bestowed upon Rajan Menon, BS Pillai, Vijayan Karayil, and ON Nandakumar, applauding their transformative leadership in social domains. The NAFO Stalwart Award recognized the steadfast service and dedication of Vijayakumar Menon, Rajashekharan Nair, and Aravind Menon, whose long-term support has greatly strengthened NAFO's activities.
Furthering its commitment to education and youth development, the NAFO Edu Awards 2025 were presented to Vidya Vijayakumar and Avantika Mahesh, lauding their academic brilliance and promising futures. A key highlight of the meeting was the inspiring audio-visual presentation of NAFO's social welfare projects under the 'Snehasparsham' initiative, and Astronomy Lab at Cotton Hill Government Girls Higher Secondary School in Thiruvananthapuram—an initiative aimed at sparking scientific curiosity and promoting education among students.
The event was presided over by MS Nair, with C Krishnakumar extending a warm welcome to attendees. Felicitations were delivered by Vijaya Krishnan, Rajeev Menon, ON Suresh Kumar, Srini C Nair, Sunitha Vijay, and Hareesh Kumar. NAFO Patrons Vijay K Nambiar IFS and Justice (Retd.) MR Hariharan Nair, along with Vijayan Nair and Aneesh Nair, conveyed their warm wishes and continued support via video messages.
Naveen Chingoram introduced the chief guest and the awardees, and Treasurer PS Krishnakumar concluded the event with a vote of thanks, expressing deep gratitude to all participants, volunteers, and supporters. In the General Body meeting held alongside the event, elections were conducted for the Executive Committee for the 2025–2027 term. Vijayan Nair VR was elected as President, Murali S Nair as Secretary, and PS Krishnakumar as Treasurer. Other office-bearers include Vice President C Krishnakumar, Joint Secretary Vinayan Mangalasseri, and Joint Treasurer Pradeep Kumar TKV. A 14-member executive committee and a 7-member planning & advisory committee were also constituted to steer the organization forward. Justice (Retd.) MR Hariharan Nair, Vijay K Nambiar IFS, and Prince Adithya Varma will continue in their roles as patrons.
The successful conduct of the event was made possible through the tireless efforts of the organizing team, which included Rajeev Nair, ON Suresh Kumar, Sreekanth, Subbaraman AR, and Lakshmi Mahesh.
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Kuwait Times
3 days ago
- Kuwait Times
NAFO hosts global conclave and award ceremony
NAFO Global, a distinguished socio-cultural organization with an active presence in Kuwait, UAE and India held its annual general meeting and global conclave along with a prestigious awards ceremony on July 20, 2025, at Hotel Travancore Court, Ernakulam, India. The event brought together members, dignitaries, and well-wishers from across the world in a celebration of collective vision, values, and achievements. The presence of Venu Rajamony IFS, former Indian Ambassador to the Netherlands, as the chief guest lent immense grace and inspiration to the occasion. During the ceremony, NAFO Global conferred several of its most prestigious awards upon individuals who have demonstrated exceptional commitment, achievements, and service in their respective fields. The NAFO Lifetime Achievement Award, the organization's highest honor, was presented to Padma Shri Aswathi Thirunal Gowri Lakshmi Bayi in recognition of her distinguished literary legacy and tireless efforts in safeguarding India's timeless cultural heritage and historical morals. The NAFO Ratna Award was awarded to Dr Ramesh Anandadas, honoring his entrepreneurial success and unwavering dedication to social upliftment. Murali S Nair received the NAFO Sree Award for his outstanding community engagement and philanthropic leadership, reflecting the organization's appreciation for exemplary service aligned with its mission. The NAFO Titans Award was bestowed upon Rajan Menon, BS Pillai, Vijayan Karayil, and ON Nandakumar, applauding their transformative leadership in social domains. The NAFO Stalwart Award recognized the steadfast service and dedication of Vijayakumar Menon, Rajashekharan Nair, and Aravind Menon, whose long-term support has greatly strengthened NAFO's activities. Furthering its commitment to education and youth development, the NAFO Edu Awards 2025 were presented to Vidya Vijayakumar and Avantika Mahesh, lauding their academic brilliance and promising futures. A key highlight of the meeting was the inspiring audio-visual presentation of NAFO's social welfare projects under the 'Snehasparsham' initiative, and Astronomy Lab at Cotton Hill Government Girls Higher Secondary School in Thiruvananthapuram—an initiative aimed at sparking scientific curiosity and promoting education among students. The event was presided over by MS Nair, with C Krishnakumar extending a warm welcome to attendees. Felicitations were delivered by Vijaya Krishnan, Rajeev Menon, ON Suresh Kumar, Srini C Nair, Sunitha Vijay, and Hareesh Kumar. NAFO Patrons Vijay K Nambiar IFS and Justice (Retd.) MR Hariharan Nair, along with Vijayan Nair and Aneesh Nair, conveyed their warm wishes and continued support via video messages. Naveen Chingoram introduced the chief guest and the awardees, and Treasurer PS Krishnakumar concluded the event with a vote of thanks, expressing deep gratitude to all participants, volunteers, and supporters. In the General Body meeting held alongside the event, elections were conducted for the Executive Committee for the 2025–2027 term. Vijayan Nair VR was elected as President, Murali S Nair as Secretary, and PS Krishnakumar as Treasurer. Other office-bearers include Vice President C Krishnakumar, Joint Secretary Vinayan Mangalasseri, and Joint Treasurer Pradeep Kumar TKV. A 14-member executive committee and a 7-member planning & advisory committee were also constituted to steer the organization forward. Justice (Retd.) MR Hariharan Nair, Vijay K Nambiar IFS, and Prince Adithya Varma will continue in their roles as patrons. The successful conduct of the event was made possible through the tireless efforts of the organizing team, which included Rajeev Nair, ON Suresh Kumar, Sreekanth, Subbaraman AR, and Lakshmi Mahesh.
Arab Times
27-07-2025
- Arab Times
Crowd surge at temple in northern India leaves at least 6 dead
LUCKNOW, India, July 27, (AP): A crowd surge at a popular temple in northern India left at least six people dead and dozens injured, local authorities said Sunday. The incident in the pilgrimage city of Haridwar occurred after a high-voltage electric wire reportedly fell on a temple path, triggering panic among the large crowd. Vinay Shankar Pandey, a senior government official in Uttarakhand state where the incident happened, confirmed the deaths and said worshippers scrambled for safety following the incident. Some 29 people were injured, according to Haridwar city's senior police official Pramendra Singh Doval. Thousands had gathered at the Mansa Devi hilltop temple, which is a major site for devotees, especially on weekends and festival days, local officials said. Someone in the crowd shouted about an electric current on the pathway around 9 a.m. "Since the path is narrow and meant only for foot traffic, confusion and panic spread instantly,' said local priest Ujjwal Pandit. "A wall along the path is also suspected to have worsened the crowd bottleneck,' he added. Police and emergency services rushed to the scene and launched a rescue operation. The injured were transported to a nearby hospital, officials said. "The situation is now under control,' Pandey told the Associated Press by phone from Haridwar. "But the panic led to tragic consequences.' Authorities are investigating what caused the overhead wire to collapse, and whether proper crowd management protocols were in place. The town of Haridwar draws millions of visitors each year. The Mansa Devi temple, which is accessible by cable car or foot, is a major pilgrimage site that draws thousands of visitors daily during Shravan. Crowd surges at religious gatherings are not uncommon in India, where massive groups often congregate at temples or pilgrimage sites, sometimes overwhelming local infrastructure and security measures. Indian Prime Minister Narendra Modi offered his condolences to the victims and their families in a social media post and wished for a fast recovery for those who were injured.
Arab Times
20-07-2025
- Arab Times
‘Miracle' Air India survivor haunted by nightmares and guilt
LONDON, July 20: Vishwash Kumar Ramesh, the only survivor of the devastating Air India Flight AI171 crash, is struggling to cope with the psychological aftermath of the tragedy that claimed 241 lives, including that of his brother. His family says he suffers recurring nightmares in which he relives the moment of impact and sees 'everyone die.' Ramesh, 40, a British citizen seated in 11A during the ill-fated flight, escaped with cuts to his face and minor chest injuries. Despite the physical recovery, he remains deeply tormented, carrying what relatives describe as an overwhelming sense of survivor's guilt. Dubbed the 'miracle man' and 'God's child' by Indian media, Ramesh has become a symbol of hope. However, his recovery has been overshadowed by grief. His cousin Krunal Keshave, 24, from Leicester, shared: 'He sleeps but not properly. When he does, he dreams he's on the flight again—he saw everyone die in front of him.' The crash, which occurred when the Boeing 787 Dreamliner plummeted shortly after takeoff from Ahmedabad and burst into flames upon hitting a residential building, killed 241 of the 242 people on board, including 52 British nationals. Ramesh's brother, Ajay, 35, was among the victims. The brothers had been running a fishing business in Diu, India, returning to the UK during the off-season. Ramesh, still visibly shaken, told The Sun: 'It's a miracle I survived. I'm OK physically, but I feel terrible that I couldn't save Ajay.' The two had tried booking seats together but were forced to sit separately in row 11. 'If we had sat together, maybe we both would've survived,' Ramesh said. 'But I lost my brother right in front of my eyes. I keep thinking—why couldn't I save him?' Ramesh was seated near an emergency exit and managed to crawl through a gap in the wrecked fuselage. He even tried to re-enter the burning wreckage to save Ajay. Emergency responder Satinder Singh Sandhu recounted: 'He was disoriented and covered in blood. He kept telling us, 'My brother is in there, burning—I have to save him.'' Ramesh later carried his brother's coffin during the funeral in Gujarat, where he broke down in tears and had to be escorted away. One relative said, 'He feels guilty for being the only one who lived. That's a lot to carry.' Evaluation of the crash has since shifted focus to possible human error in the cockpit. A preliminary investigation suggests that Captain Sumeet Sabharwal, 56, may have inadvertently triggered engine failure by switching off two key fuel-related switches, despite his calm demeanor during the incident. First Officer Clive Kunder, 32, who was piloting the aircraft at the time, reportedly panicked as the engines lost power. According to sources familiar with the U.S. probe, the cockpit voice recorder captured a brief exchange in which one pilot questioned the other's actions regarding the switches, with both denying responsibility. The switches were flipped off a second apart, then reactivated ten seconds later—too late to avert disaster. Air India, in a statement, said it 'stands in solidarity with the families and those affected by the AI171 accident' and pledged full cooperation with the Air Accidents Investigation Branch (AAIB) and other authorities involved in the investigation. As the probe continues, Ramesh remains a living reminder of the human cost of the tragedy—a man burdened not only by survival but by the haunting loss of his brother and the lives of hundreds more.
