KERALA MONITOR
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Prominent Gulf Malayali
Indo-Gulf Friendship Society's Excellent Gulf Malayali: C.M.Najeeb
Muscat--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.
P.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.
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