Newsletter Alappuzha Batch 26 & 27
We had a most enjoyable 24 hours at the beautiful Varkala Beach on August 11 and 12 2012. Thanks for the hard work done by the organizers! Thank you Longi and Thank you all who made the time and effort to get together and share memories and renew friendships! see you all again in Ernakulam in September 2013.
I thought it will be useful to gather some data on the attendees and so I took some notes. It was hard to keep the focus amidst all that laughter! I never knew we had so much talent hidden among us!
Here is a synopsis of what I heard about our classmates *(even though Some of us preferred the term "Body Mates") The formalin in the dissection hall must have affected our memories.
Please excuse any errors that I have made and please send me sheila.maliekel@gmail.com any factual corrections or additional informations. Thank you!
1.Cecily Abraham 345 9450435 (H) 345 9163183 ( cell) 9645581848 kerala 9645581848. asha@candw.ky.Cecily lives in the beautiful Caribbean island of Grand Cayman very close to United States. She is a Pediatrician and hoped to treat only patients shorter than herself! Cecily was so excited about this reunion as she missed the previous one in Alleppey. We heard that she had been shopping for Shoes and Sarees for almost an year for this event. She looked fabulous! Her husband is a Certified Public Accountant. Both her children followed his footsteps. Cecily was the unofficial judge grading the foreign accents for AKSHARASUDHI! Cecily and her husband Avarchan made a special effort to come for the August reunion even though they are coming to Ernakulam again in November for the wedding reception of their daughter Asha. It will be at the Holiday Inn Ernakulam on November 10th 6-10 pm. Avrachan and cecily hopes that some of us will use that occasion to have an interim get together in November. If you can attend please let them know at asha@candw.ky
2.Abraham Philip mobile- 984 7453260 04712447453 drphilip56@hotmail.com Abraham Phillip works as a Physician in Trivandrum since 2005 after returning from Qatar. He came with Susan his wife who is an Ophthalmologist At TVM Medical college. Susan graduated from Kottayam. They have 2 sons. One graduated from NIT Trichy Engg and works in Hyderabad. I think he is getting married on November 12th in TVM. So any of you are free to attend a wedding Gala call Abraham Philip. His second son is a Final MBBS student at Kottayam. Syamala NK was nostalgic about the stage dance he performed with a few girls and he readily admitted his participation as a folly of “Chila Nerangalil Chila Manithar”
3.Alex Cyriac 944 6021697, Home- 484278 5577 -renee.alex11@gmail.com. Alex took the train from Ernakulam and arrived in Varkala fresh and unfatigued! He came with an armful of Wedding invitations! The reception for his daughter Anjana and Paul is on Wednesday 12th September 2012 4.00 pm to 8.00 pm At Center Hotel, Avenue Center, Panampilly Nagar Cochin. Hope a few of you will make it to the reception and can meet Alex and Renee again. He is a General Medicine MD Physician at Devi Hospital Tripunithura.
4.Aleyamma Varghese drelsymathew@gmail.com ( Elsy Mathew) USA 909-626-9790, 9099647829 Came with her husband Mathew from sunny California. She emigrated to USA in 1980s and did PG in Psychiatry. She is a Psychiatrist and lives near Los Angeles. Any visitors to Hollywood or nearby locations are cordially invited to stay with Aleyamma and undergo complementary Psychiatric evaluations. When visiting Kerala they stay at their flat near Kakkanad. They have three daughters, Maureen working full time in Youth Ministry, Maxine dentistry, Merrill graduated from College this year. Look up Aleyamma in Facebook for Photos and more information. Her FB id is Elsy Mathew
5. Amin Sait. Amin sait arrived on the morning of Sunday while we were having breakfast and stayed for the rest of the day. Unfortunately I did not get a chance to get his phone number and information. Any one who has his contact info Please fill me in or write me a line so I can include it in the next e-letter. Thanks.
6.Antony C.L 9846158829 clantony57@gmail.com Clantony is retired professor Ophthalmology at Medical College Thrissur. They have two children, the older one is a BDS gra and the younger one is a Plus 2 student. Clantony arrived to the reunion with Philosophical thoughts and a thumb drive full of nostalgic photographs from 1974-1979! He shared his memories of our friend the Late Nandakumar and Leon. He brought beautiful family portraits of Nandakumar and Leon. He also brought photos from Men's Hostel - A vivid example of Mens Fashions from the eighties... flared bell bottoms and wide belts...and most interesting hairstyles! What happened to all that Hair? ( It is alleged that the cause of Male pattern baldness is an abundance of testosterone- a comforting thought.) and Thank you Clantony for the trip through memory lane! We had a blast identifying all the characters from the final MBBS portrait. After Clantony’s entertaining philosophical talk, I gained insight into the “ ARTHA-KAMA-DHARMA-MOKSHA” concepts and the indebtedness of our life to the supreme GOD. Remember Clantony’s shoulder shaking laugh? Still the same!
7.Asoke Chakkalackal Mathew dr.asoke.mathew@gmail.com 8122609926. Asoke is based in Chennai at present. His wife could not attend the reunion as she was caring for their elderly mother who lives with them. Asoke trained as an ENT Surgeon and had worked in the middle east as well as in Maldives. After a successful career in ENT, Asoke had a life changing experience caring for the very sick and terminal patients and he trained himself as a Palliative Care Physician and has dedicated all his time and energy for that cause. See Asoke on Facebook!
8. Ajith. N. drajith.n@gmail.com 9447657336 I was either so distracted and entertained by Raju’s conversation that I missed everything that Ajith said at the introduction, So somebody please fill in !!!
9. Balji- P.K. Balakrishnan 9447030053, carewellhos@gmail.com. Balji is the ever so dignified gentleman. He runs the Carewell hospital in Ramanattukara,. Balji was our Hindi linguist thanks to the time he spent in Bihar prior to Medical College. at the reunion he shared a very inspiring anecdote about his early struggles in getting to Medical college. Thanks Balji!
10.Chacko P.M chackopmdr@gmail.com 9400916390 or mobile 9746085144. Chackochan and his wife Rosamma holds the titles of The “Most fertile family “and the Parents of the youngest Child at the oldest age. Haridas and Longi tried to get the secret out of Rosamma and Chackochan to no avail. They are the proud parents of 3 daughters and son who looks like the most handsome version of a very young Chacko. The older two girls are married, the youngest daughter is in Plus2 and the son in high school. Most of you will remember them all from our last reunion in Alappuzha. Rosamma is an accomplished vocalist and once again sang to our delight. Chackochan and family is settled near Vazhoor. Chacko is on Facebook.
Damu came with his wife Usha, daughter, grandchild and brother in Law. As many of you already know he owns a Scanning center in Ernakulam, Damu will take the lead along with Alex Cyriac to organize the 2013 reunion for our batch in Ernakulam, most likely date is September 14 2012.
12.Henry P.Y mobile- 9447309547 henrypy@live.in Henry had a very successful career in Pediatric surgery and foetal reconstructive surgery earning a name for himself. He too has retired and at present working as a consultant with Concentration in foetal surgery.
13.Hamza M.K. 9847057124 .Despite the Ramzan Noyambu Hamza made the long trip to visit with old friends. His Address is Hamza M. K, EMKAYE Mansion, Nattika PO TCR Dist, 9847057124. He is not practising medicine, but is managing His Family Business in Garment Industry based in Tirupur.. His wife Dr. Suhrya was diagnosed with Pituitary Adenoma, which required multiple surgeries including Partial Adrenalectomy and is Debilitated and is on Hormone replacements. Between caring for his wife and managing the Export business Hamza is keeping very busy.They have three daughters, Shemina, Shefna and Shabna. All based in Dubai.
14.Haridas Kannath 9447062390. haridaskannath@yahoo.com Haridas arrived with wife Anitha and daughter Neeha. Haridas had been very active in the Kerala medical organisations in Leadership positions. He Co hosted the activities of the reunion along with Radhakrishna. Haridas sang a beautiful Malayalam film song . Haidas is also on Facebook , so please browse his profile site for photographs of his gorgeous family. Daughter Neeha Das and son Nihijith Das.
15.Jacob Chacko ( Jimmy )971 50 856 65 68 jckuttickal@hotmail.com Jimmy works as a cardiologist in Al FAtima Medical center in Dubai and came to meet us all, even though his family could not attend. Jimmy too sang on stage for us. Jimmy’s son Jonathan graduated with an Engg degree from USA and a younger daughter in Medicine.
16.Leena & KR Thankappan 91-471-2524231, Cell 9447072171 kavumpurathu@yahoo.com Leena and Syamala works in Anesthesia at the same hospital. She retired from Service as a Directer and now in Private consults. Leena is a Grandmother and enjoys spending time with her children and grandchildren. Thankappan is the Professor and Head of Public health at Achutha Menon Centre for Health Science Studies
Sree Chitra Tirunal Institute for Medical Sciences and Technology. In that capacity Thankappan comes to USA several times to present papers and has visited Sheila, Valsamma, Mukkada etc in the past. Few years ago we met at Valsamma’s house for a mini reunion, I hope to see Leena in USA again soon.
(M) +61 431923343 (M)Cherian +61 439958494 Lizzy is married to Thampikutty ( Cheriyan from Kottayam Medical College) her high school sweetheart, She has been working in three continents, Asia, Africa and Australia over the past 33 years and at present settled in Brisbane Australia and is doing general practise. Lizzy has two daughters, both are married, Lizzy has one grandchild. Call her at home and you can hear the baby in the background! Lizzy and Thampikutty were so excited about this reunion and came from Australia exclusively for this event. ( Our own Annamma Eapen is her neighbour and relative in Brisbane. Annamma was unable to come for this reunion,because she had just returned from kerala recently after a prolonged leave to care for her mother who developed Pulmonary Embolism.)
18.Mathew M.P.9387610200. Mathew came from PALA where he practises ortho. You will remember Celin his wife from our junior batch. Mathew, Premachandran, Chackochan, Zacharia etc seems to get together often.
19. Moorthy, Moorthy came from TVM whee he is a consultant in Physical medicine and at present works for the indian Military Services. I did not recognise moorthy when he arrived in a brand new BMW and looked lean losing all that baby fat from his cheeks. I Did not get his email or phone number, so friends who has it please e-mail me!
20.Murali Thylothu 9449523983 muralithyloth@gmail.com . Murali Lives in Bangalore and volunteers his time in Kerala. If I start to write all the titles Murali holds, I will need a few more pages. Murali perhaps has the most “Google search hits” for his name. I have searched for his name and got exhausted trying to read all the articles and publications. Here is a sample of his latest Titles, Dr. T. Murali, MD, DPM , NIMHANS) President WAPR , Congress President WAPR World Congress 2009 Bangalore Professor of Psychiatry Sree Siddhartha Medical College, Tumkur. Consultant in Psychiatry and Rehabilitation. After retirement from NIMHANS Murali is serving as President ( the first and only Non white, non caucasian, non european) of the World Association for Psychosocial rehabilitation. He volunteers at various institutions in Wayanad and PALA to serve the underprivileged psychiatry patients. Hats off to Murali for his involvement with the mentally ill, I look forward to meeting him in USA on his next trip there. In spite of all the credentials he has accumulated, he still is our good old “Krimani”. Murali is married to Brunda - a Psychologist from Karnataka and they have two kids 24 year old daughter who is doing a project on Snow Leopards of Ladak, and a son who is doing BBA in Bangalore.
21.Padmanabhan 971506120379 or 97124450984 deepthi@eim.ae Pappu lives and works in Abudhabi. His lovely wife Radha came with him to Varkala. Pappu made this trip expressly for the reunion and returned to Abudhabi the next day. It also happened that Radha’s birthday was on sunday and so we all had the opportunity to celebrate with them with a cake and birthday wishes. Radha is a great singer and so she sang a beautiful song on stage. It was a wonderful event and thank you Pappu for coming all the way! Pappu somehow lost all that luxurious curls from his scalp- ( CLANTONy’s old photos reminded us that Pappy actually had hair!). You may want to remember the medical correlation between MAle pattern Baldness and Testosterone. Pappu keeps in touch with Philip K Issac + 971559281006 who is also in Abu dhabi. ( remember his all white outfits?) I hope to stop by on Abu Dhabi on my next trip to Kerala ( I usually fly Etihad from Chicago-Abu Dhabi-Kochi and now that I met Radha and Pappu I know where to stay. ) PAppu has two daughters, one in Bangalore and the other in New York, USA
22.Premachandran 9447599959 Anikuttan or Ani. Contact him at Dr. G. Premachandran
Marian Medical Center Pala - 686 574 Tel: 04822 - 324576 Mob: 9447599959. Ani is also on Facebook.
E-mail: prem99959@gmail.com Ani did Ortho MS and worked at Kottayam Medical college for a while then went to Muscat for a while. Now he works at Marian Medical center Pala as a Orthopedician. had a lot of funny memories about several of our classmates and kept on grabbing the Mike to share those very funny memories. Ani’ has a daughter is a med student at Pushpagiri and his Son is an MBA doing business in Kottayam. Ani’s wife is a lecturer at NSS college.
23.Radhamany-9745028373. radhamanyk@aims.amrita.edu Radhamany and her husband Remanan who were a constant presence and resource for the past reunions were unable to attend the second day. Both arrived at VArkala in the evening and we were happily socialising prior to our walk to the Varkala beach when radhamony got the sad news about her Sister’s premature demise. Both left the reunion immediately to reach her sister’s house in Quilon. We all share deeply in Radhamony’s great loss. We hope to See her and Remanan again soon. Radhamony is a leading Gynecologist at Amrita, She retired from Alappuzha Medical College and was an examiner for several of our own children!
24.Radhakrishnan ( Longi) 9447162977 nairdrprk@yahoo.com Thank you Radhakrishnan for the lead that you took for this reunion. I was so afraid of him and never called him Longi in his presence during our college years! Now he has become the most endearing host and friend and enthusiastically introduces himself as Longi. he was accompanied by his dear wife Jayasree and daughter in law Indu. Longi owns an operates a very successful hospital and infertility center in Attingal- Amar Hospital. Longi is well known in Local social and political circles. He even provided entertainment for our gathering by inviting a very young talented teenage Artist whose birth he himself attended a few years ago. we Thank you, your family, and your Manager Rahul. Both Longi and his wife Jayasree are on Facebook. We hope that all the professional photographs that were taken by Radhakrishnan’s Studio artist will soon make its way to facebook.
25.Raju K.A: Professor Pathology Cochin Medical College 9446331278. Karathanathu,Kanakari PO, Kottayam. 686632 Raju shared a lot of hilarious memories about Ist MBBS ragging days, Never knew Raju has a funny bone in him! Se sang a few songs and even suggested a prescription for “sundhareemanikal” to become even more beautiful..
26. S.K Raveendranathan KalaNilayam,Nedunganda PO TVM 9846400060. Ravi came with his wife and daughter and son in law. Both are Masters ophthalmology and very accomplished. You may remember his younger son who was with him at our Alappuzha reunion. Ravi shared very heartfelt experiences about raising a child with disabilities and how it had dictated every decision he makes in his life. We hope that medicine and Science will soon find a way to provide adequate treatment for Autism and Autism spectrum disorders as well as find a means to prevent this illness in children. Thank you Ravi for your inspiring words. We hope that you and your family find strength and courage in your journey with your son.
27.Sathyavathi-479 2449475 Lives in KAYAMKULAM, after retiring from health Service. She does not have any children. Her husband Mohan is unwell with early Parkinson's and diabetes. Inspite of that Sathyavathi came with her niece. She looks the same as from our dissection and unit postings. Syamala and I were her “Body mates and we were so very glad to see her. The three of us and Sheila Bhaskar 9495511145shared a limb in Anatomy and Sathyavathy was our Mature elder sister when the three of us always got into trouble. By the way Sheila Bhaskar is in Trivandrum- Ophthalmologist, she is a colleague of Abraham Philip’s wife Susan. Susan gave us Sheila Bhaskar's Cell phone and we called her on her mobile and the four of us “Limb mate had a pleasant chat.
28.Sheila Maliekel cell 847-207-7787 home 847-816-0741 USA. sheila.maliekel@gmail.com I came to USA in January 1980 and worked for 32 years. I did PG in General Medicine followed by Critical Care medicine worked as an Intensivist and Academic Medicine teaching PG students. It was really fun and I had a great time. I retired to enjoy life and do better things. Now I am more free to follow the paths I choose. I am a ameteur Farmer/Gardener. I Volunteer at my church, teach catechism, Teach scripture and generally live a happy life. My Husband Kunjumon is still working and our children are all employed, Son Joe is an MBA and Daughter Rose is a Lawyer. I come to Kerala quite regularly at least twice a year-Both Mothers are still alive and we have two brothers each on either side of the family living in PALA-Bharananganam. Visits to home in Pala is a greatly happy occasion for us, enjoying the hills and streams and birds and flowers and clean air. We are in Nattumpuram...remote from the buzz of the big towns!! I have a sister who lives in Jawahar Nagar (Gynecologist at PVS Kochi) so I may spend a few days there in the future. Hope to see Kochi and nearby friends next time I come home.
29.Sudheendran 9447749500 or 04872381495 tmsudheendran@gmail.com with an alternate e-mailjaideepts@rediffmail.com . Sudheendran and the late Soman were my other limb mates! Sudhy came with his wife Meera. They live at “ Arunima” Thrikkumaramkudam, Ayyanthole, Thrissur 68003. They have three children, Balu, Jaideep, and Pinky. Sudhy entertained us with tales from classrooms with impeccable dry humor!
30. Syamala N.K 4712371800, 9633589678 drsyamalank@gmail.com Syamala was my room mate and dissection mate. So it was particularly delightful to meet her again. Syam and I had kept up our contacts in the past also. She and her husband Radhakrishnan ( Retired Engg) lives in Trivandrum. Like Leena, Syam also retired from Service and is now working as an Anesthesiologist at ananthapuri Hospital, Puthenpura, TVM. Her daughter is a pediatrician and son is an engg at ISRO. They have a grandson 10 months old. Syamala was my co-conspirator in a number of pranks in college and hostel!
31.Thomas Zacharia 0481-2494655- or 9447745400 Zacharia had the most number of doubts and questions for the group and we all enjoyed his flaming enthusiasm. He is an avid supporter of Annual get together and even suggested future venues. zacharia and his wife Jessy lives in Chingavanam
32.Vasudevan Karuvath V 9446878195 or 04924262363 vasudevankaruvath@gmail.com orushavasudevan@gmail.com Vasu made a lightning visit on Saturday afternoon and mingled with everyone, but disappeared to return to Palghat at night! His wife Usha was surprised to see him return so early in the morning! So I called Vasudevan to get some information on him and his family. VAsudevan and his wife Usha (Deputy Director of Agriculture) lives at his home “Panchami” Bheemanad PO, Palakkad Dist. They have three children. Ashwini Menon BDS is married to Sandeep-a cardiologist and gave them two grandchildren. Anand K.V. MBBS is preparing for PG entrance exams in Thrissur. The youngest Arathy Menon is doing MBBS at Alappuzha. Vasudevan has contacts with UMAR, Mehroof 9747000353 and Velayudhan Pilla. I tried Velayudhan Pillai number 9495668184 several times but did not get connected.
Other Friends who could not make it to the reunion:
- Elizabeth Samuel( Usha) 479 2314314or 9495034619 or 9446118782
- Kamrudeen 9447719373. Taluk Hospital Vaikom, Lives with his wife in Cherthala, Has 3 sons, eldest is Doing DLO in Bangalore, second boy is a mechanical Engineer in Bahrain and the youngest is final MBBS in Periyaram Med college
- Kusumam Thomas ( Suma) +971557822185 Abudhabi
- Janet Joseph 9645867733 Haripad
- Jos Anto Nellisserry 9447419812 or 04802732540
- Joseph Muthalakodan Kottiyam 9633932447
- Mehroof 9747000253 medical director of a Medical college in Malabar
- Mohammed KT 91 9895010414 Moimmedka has been in Patambi for the past 30 years. He was in Govt service, retired and now in private practice. he has two Boys, older one is married software engg and the younger one is an MBA working for a US based MNC in Bangalore. he was planning to copme for the reunion but there was a last minute cancellation. Even though we did not meet this time, I ws abe to talk to him for a while and hope to see next time. he said Umar retired from ortho Surgery Calicut Medical college, But did not have a contact information
- Omana Jacob 9447013674 or 4792325874. Husband Joykutty
- Paul Antony 586 945 5012 USA General Practise Michigan
- Phillip K Issac + 971559281006 Abudhabi
- Razack Abdul 440-933-7900 USA Gastro enterology, Cleveland USA
- Rekha Pillai Pillair27@gmail.com H 901-753-2797C 901-289-4078 USA Neurologist, Tennessee USA
- Romola Mary Remola. drromola@gmail.com 479 696 9692 Romola came to US a few years ago to visit her children and I made contact with her. She is on Facebook.
- Sarada and George Tharayil 0487-2440671 or 9495227533 She is on Facebook, Saradha and George could not attend the reunion as George’s Mother passed away on Saturday. Our deepest sympathies on the family’s great loss. Hope to see you next time!
- Thankamma Jose- 0481-2576171 or mobile 09446066171
- Thomas Antony+967 2 375782 Mobile: +967 711 353661 ENT Yemen
- Thomas Mukkada641-682-2509 Anesthesia Iowa USA
- Valsamma George 440-646-9519 Infectious Disease Cleveland USA
- Vasantha Krishna Pai 4842511450 pediatrics Kochi
- Velayudhan Pillai drvelayudhan@gmail.com 0487 -2553411, M-9495668184
- Vijayamma & Tom Ephrem 0484-2838322 vijayammathomas50@gmail.com I was able to meet up with Vijayamma a few days after the reunion and we went to stay in Munnar. Vijayam lives in “Krupa” Choondi Aluva. Both Vijayam (Pediatrics )and Tom ( ortho) retired from health Service. Both are consultants for ESI ernakulam and Works 20 hours a week near North Rlwy Station. It is a short commute from Aluva to their work. Daughter Thankam was married last year and now has a child Toby. Their younger son Jino and Tom’s elderly mother lives with them. recently Vijayam and Tom went on a pilgrimage to Holy Land. See them on Facebook.
- Vimala Isabel 9486633883 or 04652278363 lives in Nagercoil and works at Bensam Hospital, I was able to talk to her this week, she hopes to attend the next reunion in Ernakulam next year.
Our class mates who left us for Eternity:
- Babu C.C 2012 metastatic Brain CAncer, Presumed primary Lung. Chackochan and Radhakrishnan Shared memories.
- Nandakumar 2011 Septicemia, DIC Dengue Fever? Clantony shared memories and Photographs
- Leon 21 years ago
- Ravindran Pillai
- Soman
- Prasad
- Babuji
- Ammini Menon Ovarian Cancer
- Jose
- Ouseppachan
Finally: We have some information on 32+23+10 =65 of our old classmates. Our original class size was only 80, but we count transfers in and out of the batch there must be at least 25 others who are missing from this List. I can think of RadhikaRani, Parvathy, Aysha,Jameela, Remany, Devi, Santhakumari, Varghese ( Sunny). we heard about K.P Chandrasekharan who is very ill with hep C, but I do not have the contact address. I do not know who else I am missing. If anyone has any more contacts please let me know. please encourage all to come for the next reunion in Ernakulam September second weekend 2013. Damu and Alex cyriac will be the contacts for thhat, however we hope all and everyone will call and contact each other and encourage a perfect get together.
All the best!
In shopping malls, we are careful that there is no Arab woman in the background. 