Speakers at a conference of the Federation of All India Marunadan Malayalee Associations (FAIMA) stressed the need to work for the unity and welfare of the Malayalee community. They also emphasised the importance of learning the mother tongue.
The two-day conference of FAIMA, a socio-cultural organisation representing several Marunadan Malayalee Organisations, was inaugurated here on Saturday. Chief guest and Union Minister of State for Agriculture K.V. Thomas said representatives from different organisations should come together in times of crisis to pledge their support. He lauded the efforts of Malayalam-speaking people in recreating festivals such as Onam, Christmas and Eid away from their hometown. Mr. Thomas praised the efforts of associations in teaching Malayalam to the younger generation and upholding of .
M.P. Purushothaman, president, FAIMA, asked all organisations to support the work of the Federation. K.V.V. Mohan, general convenor, Celebration Committee, spoke of the journey of the Federation since its inception in 1995. He said many demands of the Marunadan Malayalees were addressed, including introduction of new train services to Kerala and the governments of Tamil Nadu and Karnataka declaring Thiru Onam as a holiday. Actor Devan and delegates from different States spoke.
A musical fusion by playback singers Unni Menon and Mano was the highlight of the cultural programme in the evening.
The second day would have a literary meet, with a lecture on ‘Issues of linguistic and cultural identities of Pravasi Malayalees'.
