OSLO (NORWAY):
The Garshom International Awards 2019 instituted by the Garshom foundation to honour non-resident Keralites were presented in a function held at Oslo in Norway on August 24. Norway Notodden City Mayor Gry Bløchlinger and Norway Parliament member Himanshu Gulathi distributed the awards to the winners.
The event hosted by Norwegian Malayali Association (NANMA) was held at Scandic Solli hotel at the Norwegian capital of Oslo. The awards were given under various categories including social service, business, young prodigy, and the best Malayali association.
V.A. Hassan (Dubai), Dr. Laly Samuel (New Zealand), Dr. Ramkumar Nair (Sweden), Babu Varghese (USA), Tibi Kuruvila (Japan), Swaroop Rajan Mayilvahanam (Kuwait), and Biju P. Varghese (India) were the awardees under various categories. ‘Ente Keralam Australia’ was selected for the best Malayalee association in foreign country and the award was jointly received by its president Jose Sebastian and secretary Alfred Mathew.
Amar Jeet, director of cultural wing with the Indian Embassy in Norway, the award committee chairman and Karnataka ex-MLA Ivan Nigli, former Garshom awardee Abdullah Koya, Dr. Bindu Sara Varghese, Professor Arctic university of Norway, Jostine Min, Jaijo Joseph, and Jins Paul, President, Garshom Foundation, spoke at the event.
Garshom Awards employed by the Garshom Foundation incorporated in Bengaluru as a non-profit organisation, have been instituted to honour Non-Resident Keralites who have been successful in their respective areas of entrepreneurship since 2002. Garshom Awards pay tribute to the real spirit, enthusiasm, and philanthropy of Keralites worldwide.
The award committee included Ivan Nigli, Dr. Bindu Sara Varghese, Dr. Anwar Abdulla (Assistant professor Malayalam University Kerala), and Jins Paul.
