Toastmaster’s farewell to DTM Vijaya Monteiro

[email protected] (Media Release)
May 6, 2015

Doha: ICC one, ICC Advanced and ICC Eves Toastmaster clubs jointly organized a farewell party for DTM Vijaya Monteiro. The nostalgic event called ‘TEARS & CHEERS’ was graced by senior Toastmasters, Division & Area Officials and Club members.

The Presidents of the 3 ICC clubs, TM Venkat Sriram, TM  Asha Shiju & TM Abhijit Kuwalekar declared the meeting open. The Toastmasters of the day TM Latha Ramakrishnan & TM Abhijit Kuwalekar exuberantly anchored the day’s proceedings. The theme of the day as ‘TEARS & CHEERS’ truly reflected the mixed emotions of the day as a blend of the tears at the end of a journey and the cheers for the future. Timer TM Girija Chari & Media Representative TM Muneer Sheikh ably manned their duties.

The highlight of the meeting was the soul stirring farewell speeches of the dignitaries and club representatives. LGM DTM Saquib Raza Khan, representing the ICC ONE club, described DTM Vijaya as ‘the strongest personality he has ever come across’. He said that she was his personal mentor and was often called ‘Miss Perfect’ and ‘the Club Wikipedia’. TM Mou Bera, representing the ICC EVES club, described DTM Vijaya as a passionate and dedicated leader who had been a motivating force to many Toastmasters. DTM Malini, representing the ICC Advanced Club, described DTM Vijaya as a compassionate person and said that her best trait was her ‘never say die’ attitude. DTM Sonny Varghese, Founder member of Toastmasters Qatar fraternity, praised DTM Vijaya’s devotion and commitment and said that she would leave a vacuum that would be acutely felt by all. Finally, DTM M.I Farid, Founder of ICC Toastmaster clubs, depicted DTM Vijaya as a person with a ‘heart of gold’ and said that what he liked best was the awesome carry home messages in her speeches.  Members of the audience were invited to speak impromptu wherein TM Philip Cherian spoke of DTM Vijaya as an inspiration whose speeches always set the stage on fire and TM Shainy Kabeer described DTM Vijaya as a loyal club Mentor who had nurtured ICC EVES club as her own baby.

In her reply speech, DTM Vijaya thanked everyone for being a family to her. She said that though Qatar is a small place in the map, it will always have a big place in her heart because of all the love and support that Toastmasters has given her. Her husband Mr Baptiste also expressed his heartfelt gratitude.

DTM Vijaya, a post graduate in Sociology & Psychology and a B.Ed. in Special Education, has been actively involved in the Toastmasters movement since 2005. She achieved the coveted ‘Distinguished Toastmaster’ title in less than 3 years. She has adorned many leadership roles - Founder president of ICC EVES club and of ICC ADVANCED and President of FILCOM club. She was Area Governor of Area 43 in yr 2007-2008 and was voted the Best Area Governor in District 79. She has conducted numerous Speechcrafts, Youth Leadership programs, Judging and other educational programs. She represented Qatar in District International Speech Contest 2006.

Mother of a special needs child Vanessa, DTM Vijaya is currently building ‘PHULPAKHARU’ – a residential care facility for children with special needs in Mumbai which will facilitate the care of 225 children on completion. The first phase of the project is due for completion in April 2015. The project is funded by ‘The Tithlee Foundation’, a trust envisioned and initiated by the Monteiro Family. http://www.tithleefoundation.com/index.htm The ICC family of clubs contributed Indian Rupees ONE LAKH towards the Tithlee Foundation as a gesture of support to her humanitarian venture.

TM Mythili, Padmini and Viji presented a fusion of Classical and Bollywood songs which had the audience clapping and joining in with fervour. TM Kumar Naidu strummed his guitar and sang a beautiful farewell song. The last item was a beautiful keyboard recital by Gavelier Avinash Naidu.

The meeting ended with a cake cutting ceremony where everyone gathered to get a slice of a huge homemade cake personally baked by DTM Vijaya and was followed by a sumptuous dinner.

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Media Release
April 16,2020

Dammam: President of Indian Social Forum, Eastern Province Mr.Wasim Rabbani urged immediate intervention of Indian government to help Non Residential Indians who are in trouble due to corona pandemic in Saudi Arabia.

He said in a press rease that expatriate Indians are in concern  as number of corona infected people and  deaths are increasing in danger level.

Hea said, "the Saudi health minister's statement a few days ago indicates that the situation in Saudi needs to be taken more seriously with precautionary methods. There are concerns among expatriates because the number of people infected with the coronavirus and the number of deaths reported in various provinces are increasing at an alarming rate."

"Saudi Government and Health Ministry are taking excellent precautionary measures, however, in the coming days expect to see the number of cases to increase in Saudi Arabia. The Indian government needs to take diplomatic and immediate intervention to ensure the treatment of Indian expatriates considering the number of effected people increasing", He said.

He also urged that the Embassy and the Government of India should ensure qaurantiane faculty for Indian expatriates and arrange special low cost flights to bring back expatriates who would like to return home country.

" Government of India and Indian embassy need to intervene immediately to ensure that the quarantine system is in place for Indian expatriates as the facilities in the rooms where the residents are staying together are very limited. There should also be a mechanism to organize low-cost flight services for expatriates who are ready to go home. The government system should also be able to accommodate the expatriates in special quarantine areas in hometown as soon they arrive in India", he urged.

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Agencies
August 8,2020

Dubai, Aug 7: One may call it good luck, but for two Indian expats it was God who prevented them at the last minute from boarding the Air India Express plane that crashed in Kerala, killing at least 18 people on board.

According to India's Civil Aviation Ministry, the Boeing 737 aircraft on a flight from Dubai to Kozhikode overshot the runway at Kozhikode airport on Friday evening. There were 184 passengers including 10 infants, 2 pilots and four cabin crew onboard the aircraft.

Noufal Moin Vetten, an Ajman resident working as an office boy in a Sharjah school, was booked to travel on the flight and had checked in as per schedule.

Recounting his miraculous escape, Vetten, a resident of Malappuram, Thirunavaya, whose visa was cancelled a week ago, told Gulf News: “I was handed my boarding pass, but when I reached immigration, they told me I had to pay a fine of Dh 1,000 (Rs 20,430) for overstay. I had only Dh 500 (Rs10,215) with me.

"I called my school PRO and he told me to come back. He said they would follow protocols and pay the fines before sending me,“ he said.

Vetten was disappointed and called his family to let them know.

“When I heard about the crash, I was saddened for all the passengers. But I'm so relieved I missed it. God has been really merciful,” said Vetten.

Afsal Parrakodan, a resident of Abu Dhabi, had a similar stroke of luck.

“My work visa was cancelled about a week ago. After getting my boarding pass, I was told I had to pay a fine of Dh1,000 at the immigration counter, but I had only Dh500 on me.”

“I was very keen to board the flight and be with my family. So I called a friend who brought me the additional Dh500, but by then, my baggage had been offloaded and the flight's doors were closed,” said Parrakodan.

“I was feeling very sad and called my mother to tell her I had missed the flight. But a few hours later, when I learnt of the crash, I couldn’t help but feel relieved and thankful to God for saving my life,“ said an overwhelmed Parrakodan who plans to fly back next week. 

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January 28,2020

Riyadh, Jan 28: The celebration of the 71st Republic Day was held on January 26th by the Central Committee of the Indian Social Forum Riyadh at the Ramada Hotel Auditorium in Riyadh. People from different Indian states and different religious backgrounds were present during the event.

The program was inaugurated with the unity song, Saleem Moulavi– Regional committee member India Fraternity Forum/Riyadh inaugurated the program.

Social Forum Central Committee president Janab Harris Mangaluru chaired the program and welcomed the guests. In his presidential speech he described and uncovered stories of freedom struggle and participants of Indian Muslims for the freedom fight. He urged everyone to fight against unconstitutional Citizenship Amendment Bill which passed by Centre government. He said that the We will continue its agitation against the Citizenship Amendment Act (CAA) and the NRC and would not relent unless the Union government withdrew the Act.

Indian Social Forum Karnataka State Committee member Janab Mohammed Naveed delivered the Republic Day message. He said India was formed based on concept of ‘unity in diversity’ and it becomes every Indians’ responsibility to safeguard it. He expressed concern over CAA, NRC and NPR. Across India, students at other universities are against the Citizenship Amendment Act passed by Centre government.  The law offers amnesty to undocumented migrants from three neighboring Muslim-majority countries but only if they are non-Muslim. Critics say that by excluding Muslims, the law establishes a religious test for Indian citizenship, in violation of the secularism enshrined in India's constitution. The Indians, irrespective of caste, creed, religion and region have firmly resolved to oppose the draconian laws and fascist moves to debar the poor. Constitution granted to every person and citizen of India who are not ready to put them on a test of ideology of RSS and programs of BJP to implement the Brahmanist mind-set. He said that the police atrocities against CAA/NRC/NPR protesters had increased only in BJP-ruled States and  there were several loose ends in the police story about the incidents leading to the firing.

Eng Shahul Hameed – Coordinator of Tamil Nadu Islamic Federation, Dr. Jahangeer Ahmed - Assistant professor/King Saud university, Mohammed Rafi – Gen Secretary of India Fraternity Forum Regional Committee, Mr. Abdul jaleel– Vice President of Indian Islahi Center, Mr. Basha –Member of IFT Executive Council , Mr. Ajmal Hussain – Member of Pravasi Forum central Committee, Younus Wallan – President Humanity Forum Riyadh. All delivered the message on the eve.

Basheer Karandur, General Secretary of Social Forum Central Committee, welcomed the gathering and Social Forum Riyadh Tamilnadu State Committee President Jabir presented the vote of thanks. Abdul Basheer was master of ceremony.

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