NEW YEAR

The Xmas & New Year celebrations  of CGOA was held on 10 January 2026. Mr K N Raghavan, (pic above), Former Chief  Commissioner, CGST & Customs,  and accredited Cricket umpire,  was the chief guest. He complimented the CGOA for its multitude of activities in the past year and wished it more achievements in the Ruby Jubilee year.

  Mr Raghavan  released a Malayalam book  Bharatiya Sasthra Sambhavanakal authored by Shri ARS Menon, Member. CGOA. TP Salim Kumar, Chairman,  Sports sub-committee, CGOA   gave a brief account of the forthcoming 'CGOA Run 26  scheduled for 22nd March. 

Obituary references were made on environmental scientist Dr Madhav Gadgil and actor Srinivasan by Sri TP Rajesh, ex-AIR Kochi FM .A minute's silence was observed in memory of the departed souls. 

This major highlight of the programme was the New Year Ganamela by CGOA  team. The fresh voices were those of Shaji  (MPEDA), and Govind S Menon, (S/o ARS Menon).  Mr and Mrs P Jayasankar, Nirmala, and Salimkumar, etc also rendered songs.

Govinds S Menon sings

Sri TP Rajesh making obituary references on Prof Gadgil and Sreenivasan

Shaji, Member CGOA sings

R PJayasankar and Mrs Rita Jayasankar singing

CGOA Conducted an Ayyappa Bhakthi Ganamela at Atulya Senior Citizens Home in connection with Makara Sankranthi on Monday 12 th JAN 2026. About 16 popular songs were rendered by 8 of our singers including Nirmala ,Geetha, Girija, Salim,Sebi, L Krishnan, P Jayasankar, SBI Mohan among others. The inmates expressed their profuse appreciation to CGOA Members for  their concern to the inmates. Geetha sang a song composed by one of the inmates too.

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A free medical check up camp was organised forr the members of CGOA on Sunday 21 December 2025. More than 25 members took the benefit from the camp, organized at the CGOA auditorium. Doctors and other medical professionals  from the Lakshmi Hospital, Ernakulam  rendered their services. A variety of medical tests including Bone density and  Blood pressure were done at the camp.  

 The  camp was inaugurated by Mr Abraham Tharian, former ED of South Indian Bank.  Arunkumar, physiotherapist  was the camp coordinator.  Dr Anil Balachandran, cardiologist, Dr Prathap Kumar, Ortho  specialist , Aiswarya G Kumar,  Neuro specialist  and Dr Raghu Warrier, General Physicisian spoke on the occasion. 

Sri T P Salim Kumar, Treasurer, CGOA proposing a vote of thanks during the inaugural session. Also seen in the picture (sitting from left)  Dr K K C Nair, Vice President CGOA, Mr Abraham Therian  former  ED, South Indian Bank,  Sri Ananthanarayanan, President, CGOA, Dr Anil Balachandran, and Dr Dr Rghu Warrier

 Dr Prathap Kumar, Ortho  specialist examining Sri Ananthanarayanan, President CGOA

Dr Raghu Warrier, Specialist General Medicine, examining Sri Ahmed Kunju,  MC member CGOA 

Dr Aiswarya G Kumar, Neuro specialist  examining Rathnamma, wife of Somasekharan  Nair. Member CGOA

Dr Anil Balachandran,  Cardiologist,  examining Dr N GK  Pillai, MC member CGOA 

This happens to be the highest ever single charity contribution made  by the CGOA.

Abhaya Bhavan also accepted a request made by Dr KJ Mathew, a senior member of CGOA, to accommodate a destitute recommended by him in Abhaya Bhavan 

Bethlehem Abhaya Bhavan Poor Home in Koovappady is an establishment housing 400 inmates, nearly 40 of them bedridden. 

It was started two decades ago with the willingness and determination  of one lady- Ms Mary who passed away recently. The Abhaya Bhavan approached CGOA recently  for financial assistance. Touched by the plight of inmates there, CGOA initiated a fund- raising drive among its members for a specific cause, namely construction of an MI room in Abhaya Bhavan. The drive evoked an overwhelming response from the members and  donations started  pouring in. Within a short time, more  than  60 members contributed  Rs 222222/-  to the noble cause.

The amount was handed over to a team from the destitute home on Saturday 13th December 2025. 

Ms Nisha Esthapan,  President of Abhaya Bhavan received the amount during a function organized at the CGOA auditorium, attended by the members who contributed. 

The CGOA has organized an event to remember Vayalar Rama Varma, the beloved poet and lyricist of Kerala on the occasion of his 50th death anniversary

Thanks to the singers and poetry enthusiasts of CGOA, the evening blossomed into a symphony of sweetness and poetic harmony, where melodies danced upon the air, weaving a tapestry of joy and shared delight.

Pics:  Parvathy Mohan &  Salim Kumar singing (top left) Jayasankar & Nirmala (top right),  Geetha & Krishnan (bottom left) and Vinodini & Sebi (bottom right)

TNT Nair  (top left) and Sugunan (top right) reciting Vayalar's poems. Geetha Santhosh and Ananthanarayanan  anchoring the show l(bottom left)  Anita Shenoy singing  (bottom middle) and a section of the audience  (bottom right).

Nirmala (top left), Vijayalakshmi (top right), Sebastian D'silva (bottom left) Madhu (bottom right)

Justice Devan Ramachandran inaugutated Prathyasha-25 and made an inspiring speech that  motivated all participants including the stroke survivors and their care givers.  Often citing his own experience, he underscored the need for a value-based approach while providing care to the stroke patients and survivors.

Dr Anand Kumar explained the causes of strokes and the need to modify our lifestyle, particularly by calming our thoughts and mind by practicing  yoga and meditation. He went on to demonstrate an easy yet effective breathing regimen called belly-breathing.  

The interactive session was ably handled by the knowledgeable Dr. Sreeram Prasad.

The need for counselling was emphasised by Dr. Ethel Sarah both from the survivors' and the caregivers' angle.

The physiotherapists, who play a significant role in  bringiing back a stroke survivor to normal or near- normal state, also did share their experience with us.

Overall, it was a personally enriching experience for me.

Thank you, Shri Anantha narayanan for the great initiative and all others who assisted you in making the function a grand success🙏

The need for counselling was emphasised by Dr. Ethel Sarah (picture above)

Dr. Sreeram Prasad.speaking at the interactice session

   It was. quite informative to listen to some of the stroke survivors who recounted their experience of the affliction, the treatment and the care they received.

The interactive session was ably handled by the knowledgeable Dr. Sreeram Prasad.

The physiotherapists, who play a significant role in  bringiing back a stroke survivor to normal or near- normal state, also did share their experience.

 Dr Arun Kumar, President of the Indian Association of physiotherapists receiving Justice Devan Ramachandran,  Chief Guest. Sri K S Sashikumar, Secretary CGOA is also seen in the picture (left)

  CGOA celebrated Onam on 13th September 2025 with usual gaiety and fanfare.

Pookkalam, songs, quiz, poetry recital and honoring the seniors were the main highlights of the event that witnessed a record participation by the members and their families.  Representatives of Abhayabhavan Koovapady also graced the occasion by their presence.

Prof P.K Raveendran,  former Professor of Chemistry, Maharaja's College Ernakulam and former Deputy Director, Collegiate Education Govt of Kerala  was the Chief Guest of the Day and he  inaugurated the celebrations and complimented  CGOA for its yeoman's services (pic 1).

Pic 2. Prof. Raveendran addressing the audience

Pic 3. Onam message by Sri Ananthanarayanan, President CGOA

Pic 4. Giving memento to Prof. Raveendran 

The colorful Onam  pogramme of CGOA started off at 10 AM.with an 

invocation song by Geetha Ananth.  

Dr.K.K.C Nair welcomed the members of CGOA family & guests present on the occasion and introduced the Chief guest, Prof.P.K. Raveendran to the audience

Pookkalam was the main attraction of the event. 

It was  laid by the team led by  K K C Nair,  K.Ravinath, Sashi Kumar,, Treasa Sashi, Geetha Santhosh with support from Jeyya Jeyanthi and T.A.Jose.

Picture shows some of the  the architects of pookkalam-2025

.Sri Ananthanarayanan, President CGOA was felicitated on the occasion for the release of his book on Bhupen Hazarika

Sri Ananthanaryayan's book, a translation of  the biography of Bharat Ratna Bhupen Hazarika was displayed.  He was congratulated by all   on the occasion. The book  was a part of the Assam Govt's project to translate the work into 24 Indian Languages. The book was released by the Hon'ble Prime Minister of India in Guwahati on 13/09/2025,

Honoring the elders is a tradition in CGOA

 During this Onam-2025  CGOA felicitated 9 of its senior memberss who attained the age of 75+

Seniors being felicitated (from left to right

Top 

1.Sri  O T S Nambiar honored by  Adv Kuriakose

2. Smt Rajeswari by Geetha Santhosh

3. Sri C Jose by V Unnikrishnan  

Bottom

4. Dr E V Radhakrishnan by Vasanth Shenoy

5. Dr P Joshy by CSG Nair

6. Dr Laxminarayana by T P Salim Kumar 

Five Endowment Awards,   three CGOA Merit Awards and ten S. Gopalakrishnan Memorial Merit Awards were distributed during the function. 

The picture shows Prof.Sherin Antony,of BMC,Thrikakara,  felicitating the awrd winners during  at Awards function.

Susan Paul, First Rank holder, BSc Zoology from M.G. University. Susan, who passed out from 

 Bharat Mata College, Thrikkakara receives the Award from Dr K J Mathew

Kajal.S, the top scorer in   M Sc (Marine Biology, Biochemistry) and Microbiology), Cochin University of Science and Technology (CUSAT), receiving the award from Dr N Chandramohanakumar,  Former Registrar of CUSAT

.Ms Gopika Mohan

1st Rank holder in B F Sc Exam Kerala University of Fisheries and Ocean Studies (KUFOS) receiving the award from Dr N Chandramohanakumar

Aparna Ajesh, Topper in M Sc Zoology, Maharajas College Ernakulum, who bagged this years' award receiving it from Dr P Jayasankar

 Siva Darsana, the topper in CBSE XII Exam from K.V Kadavanthra receiving the award from Dr Jayasankar

Renuka Ravinath won the CGOA Merit Award for getting 

Ph.D in Biotechnology from REVA University, Bengaluru. 

The picture shows Renuka's parents, Sri Ravinath and Nirmala Ravinath receiving the award 

  Sangeeth Santhosh became eligible for  CGOA meit award for obtaining 

M.S in C.S from Arizona State University,U.S

The award being eceived by his mother Geetha Santhosh

   Dr.P.e Jeyya Jeyanthi receives CGOA merit Award for getting Prize in  ICAR All India sports meet and Masters Athletic Meet

    A total of ten S. Gopalakrishnan Memorial Merit Awards were distributed during the function. The family members of the late S Gopalakrishnan handed over the prizes to the winners or their parents. 

One of the artistes demonstrating how puppet shows are performed 

After briefing the audience on the origin and practice of this art-form  Tholpavakkoothu, he made a small demonstration of pavakkoothu (puppetry) in open. Then his team went on to give the performance of ’shadow puppetry’ to enthrall the audience 

A live demo of puppet show

Showing how puppets dance

Rajeev explaining the props of tholpavakkoothu to the President, CGOA

Inside the screen. These  traditional lamps are used to create shadows