Malayali Talents Online - Dr.Sreekumar Sharjah UAE
KM -When did you start painting and who encouraged to start creating works?
Answer: I started painting when I was barely 3 years old, my mother says even before i started talking properly I used to color, which included things arould us. My foremost encouragement was from my mohter, and of course from other close family members and friends. Special mention should be made of Her Highness Princess Lakshmi Bayi Thamburatti of Kaudiar Palace , who also happenes to be my mothers close friend.
KM -Where did u study - schools, colleges and medical college? Have you got any prizes during school/college days?
A : I studied in St.Aloysuis H.S Kollam, then Fathima Mata National College, Kollam for Pre degree and T.D.Medical College Alleppey for MBBS.
I was awarded the Kalaprathibha title for the kerala university youth festival of 1989-1990, I have woon prizes for painting, cartooning, clay modelling and such related events in the Kerala University youth festivals of the years 1989,1990,1991,1992 and 1993, and also prizes for the Inter medical youth festivals, and Cochin University- Talent time youth festivals, and the Law fest of law academy, and many other youth festivals during this 1989 to 1993 period. I had also won prizes at the competitions at school level which were conducted locally at kollam.
KM -When did you reach the UAE? Being a busy doctor, how do you find time to do paintings?
A: I came to UAE in 1997 October and had been working at Abudhabi- first at Ahalia Hospital and then French Hospital till 2003b November. Since December 2003 I am working for Marina Medical Center in Sharjah.
I dedicate about 1 to 2 hours daily for painting, somehow if i dont do that I feel terribly lost and the day is incomplete
KM - Do you think the working/living environment in the UAE is conducive to conduct creating work like paintings?
A : There ar a lot of limitations here, espescially the tight work schedule, which i find a main hindrance.
KM - What is the best painting that you have done so far? Have you conducted any art exhibitions (In India/UAE)?
A: My best painting so far is one of damayanti and the swan which is inspired by Ravi Varma,s work, but I have nmade it to my imagination.
I have conducted 5 exhibitions in Abudhabi, mainly at the Kerala Social Center there, then I had one exhibition at the Al Bustan Rotanna in Dubai on December 2003. On Jan 26th 2004, I had another exhibition cinducted at the Indian association Sharjah.
KM - Your family details..wife children etc.Your future plans to develop painting skills?
I am married to my childhood sweet heart Hema, who happens to be from my family itself, we have one son Arjun who is now 6 years and studying in Our own english school sharjah.
A: My parents-father Mr.padmanabhan was running his own business in kollam annd is now leading a retired life, my mother mrs. sushama is a housewife and is the daughter of the famous TV_STAGE_FILM personality late Mavelikara Ponnamma. I have one sister Dr.Lakshmi Bayi who is a Gyanecologist.
I would like to conduct more painting exhibitions at different parts of the world, ( but I am not sure how to accomplish thatKM - Any other comments about your paintings, career and life in the UAE?
A: I find UAE a home away from home, espesially with lot of our own people around.
Artists Display their Paintings at the exhibition Special Report R S Priya
President Gives away Computer Literacy Excelence Awards
The President Dr. A.P.J. Abdul Kalam has said that the education system should be able to inject creativity among school children so as to attract them to schools. He said that the aim of the education system should be to build character, human values, enhance the learning capacity through technology and build confidence among children to face the future. The President said that a three-pronged approach was essential to make distance education programme viable. The three components in this regard may be connectivity, tele-education system and quality content generation and deployment, he added. The President said this while giving away the 2nd Annual Computer Literacy Excellence Awards for Schools-2003 organised by the Department of Information Technology at a function here today. In all 50 Schools from different States/UTs both falling under the categories of “A” and “B” were given the State Awards. Besides, three National Consolation Awards and three National Level Awards were also presented.
Dr. Kalam made a special mention about the Azim Premji Foundation which in collaboration with State Governments and multilateral agencies, has started a child friendly school initiative which aims at ensuring all children come to school, learn during school time and complete five years of schooling. Dropouts are identified and brought to the School. The programme encompasses a series of interventions that strengthens practices in the classroom and provides support to educational administration and community empowerment to manage the education process. The President also had an interactive session with the School Children.
Earlier in his address, the Minister of Communications & IT, Shri Dayanidhi Maran said that Information Technology has given India a formidable brand equity in the global markets. He said that the breathtaking growth recorded in software exports, which have risen from a mere Rs. 250 core in 1991 to Rs. 59,500 crore in 2003-04, is a measure of the country’s capacity and potential, he added. The Minister said that the Department of Information Technology through the Computer Excellence Awards is trying to promote quality in IT education and competitiveness in spreading computer literacy among school students. He stated that the endeavour is to make India a major player in the global IT arena and use IT as a tool for raising the living standards of the common people of the country and enriching their lives.
The Secretary, Department of Information Technology, Shri K.K. Jaswal in his welcome address said that learning is an interactive experience and the Information Technology, has an enabling role to play towards expanding the horizon of knowledge. Shri S. Lakshminarayanan, Additional Secretary, DIT, was also present on the occasion.
To consolidate the position of India’s position as a major player in the global IT arena and encourage schools towards achieving excellence in computer literacy, the Department of Information Technology has instituted the annual “Computer Literacy Excellence Awards for Schools”. The award is open to all recognised schools in the country. It recognises the performance of schools in imparting computer literacy over the last three years, availability of IT infrastructure and trained faculty and participation in IT related events at State/National Level. While “A” Category includes Private and Government-aided Schools, Government and Municipal Schools come under the “B” Category.
Dalal Mott MacDonald has won a contract from India’s Goa State Infrastructure Development Corporation (GSIDC) to provide project management services for upgrading part of its road network.
The £1.3 million project involves improving 10 km of dual-lane carriageway from O’Coqueiro junction to Calangute beach in Goa. Various junction improvements and landscaping will also be carried out, together with the upgrading of 12 km of wildlife sanctuary roads. The aim of the project is to encourage tourism by developing the state’s infrastructure facilities.
Dalal Mott MacDonald’s role covers construction supervision services including finance control and quality assurance. It will also be involved in certifying contractor’s bills, quality management, inspection as well as putting forward solutions during the defect liability period. The consultant is also providing similar services for the GSIDC in upgrading 45 km of mining haulage roads. The project will be completed towards the middle of next year.
