KERALA
MONITOR-
- C.M.Najeeb, Indo Gulf Friendship Society Award Winning Malayali More
- Mohan, P.C
- Experienced Travel Business Executive
- Shibu Abraham, E-Commerce Executive
- Rajith Poyyara, UAE
- Kabir.V.V
- Jeddah
- System Engineer (Mobile teli Communication)
- Kerala Address: Irumbuzhi Malappuram akabeer@marhba.com
- .sa
- Jeddah
This page is devoted to talented Gulf Malayalis. Our intention is to expose all those hidden talents in you.. Watch this space regularly
Hari Menon, Singer, Muscat.
After completing three successful years of journalism in Muscat, Oman, C.L. Jose, the well known journalist, is moving out to the Gulf News, Dubai. There are only a very few Malayalee journalists who have made their presence felt in the Gulf region. C.L. Jose, a leading English journalist in the Gulf, is one such personality who has made a lot of contribution to media freedom and independent reporting in the Middle East.. Hailing from Trichur district, Jose has been recognised by many as a force to reckon with in Gulf journalism circles. Whether it is the big corporate houses, the ministry officials, central bank and , stock market authorities or virtually any influential businessmen in Oman, his name is very familiar. Same for the common readers who have seen a new life for creative journalism in the Arabian desert.
At a time when journalism was nothing more than doing public relation reports about powerful Arab and Indian businessmen, bureaucrats and the government, this Malayalee journalist has in fact made a major difference to that traditional press culture in Oman. During his three years of very tough working atmosphere-hostile approach of the government and bureaucrats, lack of respect for journalists and even the hostile climatic conditions in the desert---Jose has proved once again that the Pen is still mightier than the Sword!
Now everybody in the Gulf is talking about improving transparency and accountability. No journalist dared to talk about common men, investor rights and investor protection let alone criticise big companies or banks. On many occasions, Jose was at the receiving end of government machinery for writing critical reports. Same with big companies, some of which were giving scant regard for journalists. Two leading Omani banks even stopped advertisements to Times of Oman because this journalist reported some negative stories about their banks. But later on they realised the importance of media power and resumed advertisements.
It is well known that the Gulf countries ruled by royal families and monarchs do not give any importance to independent media. Irrespective of the public relation exercise made by the monarchies to show a liberal face, the media in the Gulf countries is highly controlled by the state machinery. More so in the case of Oman where independent journalism and freedom of expression are nothing but illusions. While this was the case a few years ago, things are gradually changing and the new trend started by a few journalists like Jose has contributed much to strengthen the cause of an independent media. Mr. Jose who joined the Times of Oman-- a leading independent English daily from Muscat-three years ago as a correspondent is now joining a more prestigious regional English newspaper, the Gulf News. Gulf News, the leading newspaper published from Dubai is said to be a liberal organisation by Middle East standards. The UAE government is giving more freedom for the media.
Before coming to the Arabian desert he had proved his reporting skills working for several leading business newspapers from Bombay. Jose is not new to journalism, especially business journalism. He had been working in the commercial capital of India for several years covering the Bombay stock market, banking system, and other business topics.
Before joining the Times of Oman, Jose was working in the Saudi Gazette, an English newspaper published from Jeddah Saudi Arabia is a Gulf country having the worst record in curtailing media freedom. He has worked for the Financial Express of the Indian Express group, the Business and Political Observer and the Business Standard. He was a senior business journalist in Bombay before going to the Gulf. Keralamonitor.com wishes Mr. Jose all the best for his new mission-which will be more challening. We hope that he will do well and contribute to the cause of independent reporting in the Gulf. Contact: amitjose@hotmail.com
Indo-Gulf Friendship Society's Excellent Gulf Malayali: C.M.Najeeb
Calicut: C.M.Najeeb is one of the successful Malayali executives in the Gulf who could reach the top position controlling a global shipping company operations in an important maritime hub. While Oman, especially its newly constructed Salalah port strategically located in the East-West Shipping Line, is trying to establish itself as a dominant maritime destination, Najeeb General Manager, Towell Barwill, Muscat has already established himself as a maritime expert who has been husbanding all major ships for the last two and half decades. While it is not difficult to find Malayali General Managers or Senior Executives in the Gulf, Najeeb has a unique status: he is the one and only Indian born General Manager of a Barwill Company in the Middle East. Barwill is a global shipping company present in 54 countries through 200 offices.
In recognition of his achievements and contribution to the cause of education the Indo Indo-Gulf Friendship Society, Calicut selected Najeeb for the Gulf Malayalee Excellence Award 2000. He has been honoured for his "outstanding achievements in shipping, the community services back in India and his support for the Non Resident Indian cause.
Starting from the Colonial era when controlling the sea was equivalent to controlling the world, the Norwegian company Barwill has a long history of 140 years in the shipping business. Due to his association with marine staff from different continents, Najeeb has mastered six languages . Even though he has been actively husbanding ships handling sophisticated cargo like natural gas from Oman to different parts of the world including India, Najeeb found enough time to participate in various educational and socio-cultural activities of the Indian community in the Gulf. Najeeb is the President of the Muslim Education Society (MES), Oman and a member of the Indian Economic Forum here. He is also a committee member of the Indian School, Al Ghubra and a committee member of Dayapuram College, Mukkam, and a Founder Member of the Malabar Central School, Green Hills, Mampuram, Thirurangadi. He is also associated with a number of educational and charitable trusts in his home town.
Like several other Gulf Malayalis who left Kerala in the early 1970s as part of a gold rush to the Persian Gulf, Najeeb has also carved out a niche for himself. Born to late T.V. Mohammed Koya and Cheriakath Beevi, Kuttichira village, Calicut Najeeb was first rank from the Himayatul Islam High School in the SSLC Examination. No doubt, Najeeb is a self made man now leading a happy life with his wife Thoppil Sainabi and three children. While his elder daughter Noora, a medical student of Calicut Medical College, is married to Dr.Shabeer, doing higher studies in UK, his son Nabeel and second daughter Naaz are students of Indian School Al Ghubra. Najeeb joined Barwil Damma, Saudi Arabai as a Claims Assistance in 1976 after working with the Land assessment and Taxes Department of the Government of Kerala for a short period. After shifting from land assessment to shipping management, Najeeb has covered quiet a long journey to around 50 countries.
Shibu Abraham from Kozhanherri doing E-commerce in the Gulf
Shibu Abraham is currently doing a bit of e-commerce and cyber business in the Gulf. As the Internet and computer use are growing very rapidly, traditional Arab business is adapting itself to the e-culture generating new demand for educated Indians. He is currently working for a new information technology company, which specialises in IT projects and Internet solutions. Before joining his current job as Business Development Manager of a the newly formed E-Commerce company, which is having a franchise arrangement with the Canadian company World Sites, he had been working as assistant manager, Future Management and Economic Consultancy.
Shibu did a couple of interesting project studies, some of which are being considered for implementation by the Government of Oman. An important work was a detailed financial feasibility Study for setting up a Heritage Village Project for Ministry of National Heritage & Culture in Oman as part of tourism promotion plans. He has also done an interesting status study for Garment Units in Oman. Other studies conducted by this Malayalee manager included a Compact Disk Manufacturing Project for the Middle East, and a mineral Water Project for Ministry of Awqaf & Religious Affairs, Government of Oman.
Shibu did all these with the help of business ideas gained from a Master of Business Administration (MBA) Degree (Pune University, India).. After obtaining a Bsc Degree from Mahatma Gandhi University, Kottayam Kerala through Kozhencherry St. Thomas College, he had worked in the marketing departments of a pharmaceutical firm, Farma Labs, Banglore. He started his career as a management trainee with DTDC, Bombay. Contact email: shibuk_2000@yahoo.com
Rejith Poyyara, Kodangalloore in KeralaP.C.Mohan, Operations Manager, Bahwan Travel Services, Muscat.
P.C. Mohan Operations Manager, Bahwan Travel Services, is another Malayali Executive who has completed 23 years of continuous service in Muscat serving the traveling public. Starting his career as an ordinary sales representative, he has come a long way to reach a senior position in one of the leading travel companies in the Middle East. Hailing from Ottappalam, Thrichur District, Mohan came to Muscat after working in a Madras based shipping company. After completing his school education at the NSS High School, Ottappalam, he joined NSS College for his pre-degree.
"I have spend more than half of my life in the Gulf as I came here at the young age of 25 years. I am very happy. I am used to this lifestyle now. I am very happy and doing very well," he says. Happily married with two daughters, he is most of the time occupied with office work. Whenever he gets spare him, his hobby is to watch cricket. His elder daughter Kavitha and Sandhya are students of Indian School, Darsait --both are good dancers. Mohan's brother is Assistant Manager, Construction Materials Division of Suhail and Saud Bahwans. Mohan is a member of the Indian Social Club, Muscat. Being in the Airline business, Mohan has traveled extensively. He is one of the several Gulf Malayalis who have succeeded in life.
(c) 2001 keralamonitor.com
