VAYALAR REMEMBERED

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. 

CGOA has celebrated Easter, Vishu and Eid  on 20th  April 2024. The main highlight of the colorful cultural programme was a delightful tholpavakkoothu (shadow puppetry) presented by Sri Rajeev Pulavar and his team.  S/Sri Sebastian De Silva and Lijjin Kamal, along with Sri P Jayasankar and Smt Anita Shenoy enthralled the audience with their song numbers

The meeting, which started at 1700 hrs and ended at 0900 hrs, was followed by a sumptuous dinner.

Kum. Ashrita, daughter of Dr Jeyya Jeyanti , MC Member, CGOA presenting a dance performance

Master Naresh, son  of Dr Jeyya Jeyanti,  MC Member, CGOA presenting a dance performance

Dr P Jayasankar, Member MC, CGOA  Singing 

Sri Lijjit J Kamal, new member of CGOA  Singing  

Sri Sebastian De Silva  new member of CGOA  Singing  

Smt Anita Shenoy, Member CGOA singing

  A ‘tholpavakkoothu’ performance by the famous artiste Mr. Rajeev Pulavar was the main attraction of Vishu-Easter-Ramzan celebrations-2024. Mr Rajeev Pulavar, son of Padmasree Ramachandra Pulavar of Palakkad, briefing the audience on the origins and practice of this art-form “ Tholpavakoothu” 

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