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NORTH AMERICAN Newsline NOVEMBER 20, 2026 | The Indian Eye 28

The Kerala Center Presented The 2026

Annual Awards At A Glittering Ceremony

OUR BUREAU
New York, NY
ndian American Kerala Cultural and Civic
Center, Inc. (The Kerala Center) celebrated its
I34th Annual Awards Dinner at the Center’s au-
ditorium in Elmont, NY on Saturday, October 24,
2026. The Center honored nine individuals who
made notable contributions in their professions
and to the society with their selfless dedication.
This year’s honorees and their categories of
recognition are: Legislator Anant Nambiar – Polit-
ical Leadership and keynote speaker, Dr. Joe Ver-
ghese – Medicine, Dr. Beena S. Peters – Nursing
Leadership, Dr. Girish Kumar Panicker – Applied
Science, T. S. Nandakumar – Performing Arts, Sibi
David - Community Service, Prince Johnson – Ed-
ucation, Jose Cheripuram – Pravasi Malayalam
Literature and Shibu Madhu – Govt. and Public
Service.
The program commenced with introductory Kerala Center Awardees 2026, from l. to r.: Shibu Madhu, Sibi David, Dr. Girish Kumar Panicker; Dr. Beena S. Peters, T. S.
remarks and welcoming of the MC, Daisy Stephen Nandakumar, Prince Johnson, Dr. Joe Verghese and Jose Cheripuram.
Pallipparambil, by Jeswin Samuel, Board Member
and Program Convener. Following the remarks by
the MC, American National anthem was sung by
Bailey Stephen and Indian National Anthem by
Bincy Cherian. President Alex K. Esthappan wel-
comed everyone and provided a brief description
of the activities and goals of the Kerala Center.
Nassau County Legislator Carrie Solages and for-
mer Senator Kevin Thomas were the dignitaries
present to say felicitations and present awards.
After president’s welcome, Dr. Thomas Abra-
ham, Chairman of the Trustee Board and Award
Committee member made his remarks. The
Board and Award Committee Chairman Dr. Mad-
hu Bhaskaran explained the process of selecting
the awardees and introduced the keynote speaker
and awardee in the category of political leadership,
Legislator Anant Nambiar. Legislator Nambiar in
his speech encouraged the Indian American com-
munity to get involved in neighborhood communi-
ties and political process of this country instead of
simply treating this country as an ATM machine. Westchester County Legislator Anant Nambiar receiving award for political leadership from Kerala Center Trustee Varkey
Varkey Abraham, Grand Patron and Trustee Abraham. Other in the photo are: Kerala Center officials and former New York State Senator Kevin thomas (3rd from left) and
Board member of the Kerala Center, presented
the award. Mrs. Nambiar (5th from right)
The awardee for excellence in Medicine, Dr.
Joe Verghese is Chair and Distinguished Univer- third largest public health system in the USA. She al scientist, is a tenured professor of Plant and Soil
sity Professor of Neurology at Stony Brook Uni- is the Co-Founder and serves as the Chief Clin- Sciences and director of the USDA Conservation
versity. He is the coordinator of the NIH-funded ical Officer of HRTLY Inc., a health technology Research Center, at Alcorn State University, Mis-
‘Akkare’ study examining the effects of migration company advancing equitable access to high-qual- sissippi. He was introduced by Joharath Kutty, a
on cognition among Indian Kerala Americans. ity care through technology-enabled solutions. Dr. past awardee, and Dr. Unni Moopan, Trustee
He was introduced by Joel Thomas, youth forum Peters was introduced by Dr. Marilyn George, Board member, presented the award.
Treasurer of the Kerala Center, and Dr. Thomas Award Committee Member and Dr. Madu Bhas- The awardee for excellence in Performing Arts,
Abraham, Trustee Board Chairman, presented the karan, Board Chairman, presented the award. T. S. Nandakumar is a recipient of the Sangeet Na-
award. The awardee for excellence in Applied Sci- tak Akademi Award from the President of India
The awardee for excellence in Nursing Lead- ence, Dr. Panicker, is an authority on C-factor and numerous other honors. T. S. N. also known
ership, Dr. Beena S. Peters was the System Chief (cover and management) research on horticultural as Bombay Nandakumar is an internationally ac-
Nursing Executive at Cook County Health, the crops and an internationally renowned agricultur- Continued on next page... >>

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