My Letters - Khaleej Times - Your Picture

My Letters - Khaleej Times - Your Picture

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My Letters - Gulf Today - Vivid memories

My Letters - Gulf Today - Vivid memories

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My Letters - Khaleej Times - The story of forgotten post box

My Letters - Khaleej Times - The story of forgotten post box

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On the importance of College Alumni associations amongst modern youth

On the importance of College Alumni associations amongst modern youth

Congratulations to Kerala Commune on Face Book

Congratulations to Kerala Commune on Face Book.

10000+ members and marching ahead. Let creativity and harmony prosper.

God bless you all.

Good wishes from members of:

Talent Share

Passionate Photographers group on Face Book

Team 1 blogs

and Ramesh Menon & family/Abu Dhabi

21 Dec 2009

My Letters - Gulf Today - Success Tools

My Letters - Gulf Today - Success Tools

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My Letters - Khaleej Times - Raining in Abu Dhabi

My Letters - Khaleej Times - Raining in Abu Dhabi

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My Letters - GULF NEWS - Pictures of cars decorated for National Day

My Letters - GULF NEWS - Pictures of cars decorated for National Day

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My Letters - GULF NEWS - Pictures of cars decorated for National Day

My Letters - GULF NEWS - Pictures of cars decorated for National Day

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My Letters - THE NATIONAL - Road safety needs specific measures

My Letters - THE NATIONAL - Road safety needs specific measures


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Sri P R Lonappan sir - Cycling his way 38000 ft above to the oasis of his Past Pupils

Sri P R Lonappan sir - Cycling his way 38000 ft above to the oasis of his Past Pupils

Franson Michael Edakulathur welcoming all for the evening.

Sri P R Lonappan Sir and his wife Mary teacher.

A traditional Kerala style welcome to Sir.


Representatives from various batches waitinf for the cermonial lighting of the lamp

Inauguration of the function and ceremonial lighting of the lamp by Mrs. Mary Lonappan

The senior most past pupil present Sunny Manath who studied in the school during the period 1964 lighting the lamp.


Lighting of the lamp continues..



Lighting of the lamp continues..



Lighting of the lamp continues..



Lighting of the lamp continues..





Memento presentation - a written message from Ranjith Thampan and message of thanks from 81 batch




Memento presentation - all present.

A memento - remembering the good old school days, during (and even now) Lonappan sir with his favorite cycle.





Remembering late Sri A J Varghese sir. A memento for the school staff room.




Sri P R Lonappan master

Student of Don Bosco High School Irinjalakuda 1968 batch (1st English batch that passed out from the school)

- worked as Physics and Mathematics teacher for the same school for 31 years.
- Unassuming, non-controversial, simple, humble, god fearing, very dedicated to his profession and family.

Many more to add. We were lucky enough to have him here with his wife to rekindle the fond memories of our school days.

Short visits to India many times after I left cycle and came abroad. I never really got a chance to see him after. It was during my recent visit, I saw him with his trademark cycle in the town centre of Irinajakuda. I was driving, and the road was busy and unfortunately, could not capturing him through my lenses (as my usual self). But the memories captured well that time itself. After coming back here, I checked with my friends and found that despite of his poor eye sight he still uses his cycle to move around. I never knew that time that an occassion will be due very soon to portray him in a natural way.

There is also another story behind this picture. I had promised Franson that I will try and do a carricature of Lonappan sir (after this memory of seeing him with his cycle) for giving it as a surprise present during his visit. However, till thursday around 4:00 pm, I did not get time or did not have a clue as to how I do this job - between my main jobs. It was then my colleague, Souheila brought to me a piece of white paper with a picture of a beach, sun and a boat drawn by her son Wassil (he is a regular participant of Talent Share). She told me that this was drawn by Wassil (4 yrs old) during his visit to her office previous evening using marker pen and yellow and blue highlighters on her desk. It was like an apple hitting Newtons head for me. While all the time I was complicating thigs to portray him, here is a simple solution and the result was that I was able to keep my commitment to Franson. Children many time teach us things in an entirely different way.

I submit this as a pranam to all my gurus.

Date: 11 December 2009
Event: Dynamix of 80s
Venue: Sheraton Hotel Deira Dubai





His speech. Sri Lonappan master addressing his students at the function. He was truly his self during the evening. Recollecting his past memories, as a student and as a teacher of the same school, he conveyed special thanks to the batch of 81 or remembering him even after the school days and then giving his the greatest honor of his first ever foreign trip with his family. He was recolleciting the friendly atmosphere prevailed in the staff room. He also recollected the gratitude of meeting several of his students at various stages of their post school life and their continued affection to him. Finally, how can he conclude without a word or two of guidance. He emphasised the importance of honesty in profession and commitment to the family. He also stressed his students to lead a non-alcoholic life.

In a light manner, he finally mentioned, while coming to Dubai his Emirates flights was showing that it was flying at an altitude of 38000 ft above the land. He felt as if his students honoured him him to reach 38000 ft above.

Mrs. Mary Lonappan speaking at the function.

A teacher by profession in a different school and due to officially retire in March 2010, she mentioned the prestigious role of the Don Bosco students in her life. The affection shown to her husband was nothing new to her as she was literally married into a family of Don Bosco students. Even now both of them cherishes the reception organised by the 81 batch students after their marriage. It continued from then on. She emphasises two important things during her speech. The importance of a continuous communication process between husband and wife, which happened in her life due to which she was able to identify each of his students as he discussed about them and their progress at home. Also, she precised on the success tool for marital harmony. "Any differences between the husband and wife should happen within the sunrise to sunset period. It should not extend beyond that and get carried over to another sunrise.". Concluding her speech and on behalf of both of them, she said "Indian teachers get national awards, but this is truly greater than an International Award".

No wonder. Now we know the secret of remaining happily married to a husband totally devoted to his profession, no time for holidays, movies and other worldly pleasures that she and her children get to see around. Good wishes to her from all of us for these golden words of wisdom. Probably as a reminder to many.

A photographer in the making - a big group and a great job to start with at a young age. Well done my dear for your enthusiasm.

Celebrating a joyous evening.

And the mood was really playful - back to the school days, the band, the orchestra, the play ground, even the rain was favoring the occassion. As a special welcome, it rained in UAE for the first time yesterday evening. The rain falling while the sun shining took our memories further back to the school days, the walk towards the school during the rainy mornings.

There were also special attractions by way of recorded video speech by the current Principal and Vice Principal of the school. Mementos and thoughtful words by past pupils Ranjit Thampan and his students.

A great evening, a theory has been proved once again. Teaching is a noble profession, irrespective of what the monetar benefit involved. A good teacher is always remembered by a student. Let this be a beginning. Let this be an inspiration for other alumnis, past pupils organisation to remember their teachers, arrange a venue to reunite the spirit of the school days.

More photos and updates will follow upon receipt.

A word of special thanks to the organisers Franson, Suresh, Sunil, Sundar and all others who made this event possible. Thanks also goes to the members and families who took time out to come and participate.

Best wishes to all.

Ramesh Menon
12 December 2009

My Letters - Gulf News - Encouraging Factor

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My Letters - Gulf News - Opinion - People hide behind prejudices against them to avoid uncomfortable choices

My Letters - Gulf News - Opinion - People hide behind prejudices against them to avoid uncomfortable choices





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My Letters - THE NATIONAL - Lower prices for Bus Tour

My Letters - THE NATIONAL - Lower prices for Bus Tour

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1st Birthday of Team 1 UAE Blog

Dear Friends,

Silently one year passed, without me even noticing. Team 1 UAE has covered 365 days of thoughtful postings, many of which are communicative journalistic posts for the benefit of the society here and back home in India. I thank all my readers for their interest and keep continuing your visit. I thank also THE NATIONAL, GULF NEWS, Khaleej Times, Gulf Today, Malayala Manorama and Mathrubhumi for taking my letters which I prominently updated here. Indeed, they have been growing in numbers over the period of time, so much so that, I just realised about a possible milestone , only today, when I looked at the counts for each one of them displayed as follows:

Gulf News - 19
Gulf Today - 21
Khaleej Times - 11
Mathrubhumi - 1
The National - 35
(some of them were not listed here due to time constraints). In all 370 posts. Numbers doesn't count or mater, but the content does speaks for - in each one of them. If there is an item affecting the society to be commented in favour or against, I will make sure to. There are several interesting topics carefully carried out regularly through this initiative, which is aimed at promoting a positive thinking environment around. . Each day of visit here is an inspiration to do a useful activity or two.

Praying almighty god to give me opportunity to sustain this momentum in the coming year too.

Sincere regards,

Ramesh Menon

News telecast about Don Bosco Past Pupils meet on 11th December in Asianet News

News telecast about Don Bosco Past Pupils meet on 11th December in Asianet News

My Letters - Khaleej Times - Hop on the BUS

My Letters - Khaleej Times - Hop on the BUS




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Kala Abu Dhabi presents Thayampaka and Kathakali at ISCC Abu Dhabi

Kala Abu Dhabi presents Thayampaka and Kathakali at ISCC Abu Dhabi

Roadstone Tyres Kalanjali 2009 was inaugurated by Padmashree Kalamandalam Gopi on 30th November 2009 at ISCC Abu Dhabi.

Mattannoor Udayan Nampoothiri and his troupe performed Tayampaka at the ISC Abu Dhabi on 30th November 2009.

It was followed by a Kathakali performance by Padmashree Kalamandalam Gopi and his troupe. They performed the story "Karna Shapatham".

The event was organised by KALA Abu Dhabi as part of the inaugural function of Roadstone Tyres Kalanjali 2009.

My Letters - Khaleej Times - All for the National Day

My Letters - Khaleej Times - All for the National Day

There is a bit of Dhoni's principle in this picture. the shopkeepers in this photo are three Iranian brothers whom I have known for many years and to whom I take my car regularly for any minor modification or tint works. The advantage plus I get from them is they stick to basic, do not do anything extra than what is asked and take good care of the vehicle while doing the job and give a real nice finish. This article is a tribute to one of them who is leaving back to his country soon after many years of work in the UAE.

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My Letters - GULF NEWS - A road that is best avoided

My Letters - GULF NEWS - A road that is best avoided

To read this report in original, please click here to visit GULF NEWS online section.


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My Letters - Khaleej Times - Teachers Role

My Letters - Khaleej Times - Teachers Role



This is in reply to the following letter pulished in Khaleej Times by a reader.

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My Letters - Gulf News - Be Careful

My Letters - Gulf News - Be Careful




This is a letter published in reply to one of my letters. I am happy that this letter served my purpose of highlighting a safety issue, without me crying about it.

Thank you to Gulf News and to the writer who wrote it.

The original letter published can be read by visiting this link:

http://team1uae.blogspot.com/2009/11/my-letters-gulf-news-first-steps.html

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DynaMix of 80's - Don Bosco Irinjalakuda past pupils gather to honour Sri P R Lonappan Master

DynaMix of 80's - Don Bosco Irinjalakuda past pupils gather to honour Sri P R Lonappan Master



Don Bosco Past Pupils Irinjalakuda, India, Middle East Chapter is organising DynaMix of 80’s to honour Sri P. R. Lonappan Master, a veteran teacher of the school, who studied and served his entire career as teacher with the institution till he retired recently.

The event will be held on Friday, 11th December 2009 at Sheraton Deira from 5:00 pm onwards.

All patrons and past-pupils of Don Bosco School Irinjalakuda are kindly requested to contact Mr. Franson Michael (Ph: 050 875 13 16) for participating in this event and make it a success.