Expatriates in Bahrain mourn Indian political maestro Oommen Chandy
Agencies | New Delhi
The Daily Tribune – www.newsofbahrain.com
The death of former Kerala Chief Minister Oommen Chandy has sparked widespread mourning among expats in Bahrain. The current president of the Bahrain-based Overseas Indian Cultural Congress (OICC), Binu Kunnanthanam, former president Raju Kallumpuram, and other members Bobby Parayil and Salmanul Faris said they have been in constant contact with political leaders in India since learning of his passing. Soman Baby, a well-known Indian journalist residing in Bahrain, had a solid personal relationship with him as well.
The senior Congress leader passed away at Chinmaya Hospital in south India's Bengaluru at 4.25 am today. He was 79 and had been undergoing treatment for cancer.
In June 2013, Mr. Chandy received the United Nations Global Award for Public Service from UN Undersecretary General Wu Hongbo at a glittering ceremony in Bahrain’s National Theatre, attended by representatives from various countries.
While he was being escorted to the reception venue, the Bahrain National Theatre, all traffic signals were turned off the way he was passing, as per the protocol of the heads of state.
While in Bahrain, Chandy participated in 35 programmes in three days. His popularity was evident when he attended the award ceremony, which he could not even enter due to the crowd of people who came to see him.
Leaders and senior officials from over 80 countries participated in the convention. A total of 600 entries were received by the UN from various countries for innovative reforms carried out in the field of governance.
The UN had acknowledged that Chandy’s mass contact programmes played a huge role in strengthening democracy and lauded them as a model for the world to emulate.
At the 2013 event, Bahrain Deputy Prime Minister Shaikh Mohammad bin Mubarak Al Khalifa was the chief guest. Bahrain’s former Transport Minister, Kamal bin Ahmed Mohammed, also received the UN award.
He returned to Bahrain in 2017.
Meanwhile, Bahrain resident Raju Kallumpuram remembers Oommen Chandy as a leader who would pick up his call at any hour to try and intervene to solve the problems of expatriates in Bahrain. Mr. Kallumpuram recalls a particular incident when Mr. Chandy's shoe ripped while he was walking during a visit to Bahrain. Immediately, an onlooker offered to purchase a new pair of shoes from a nearby store. However, Mr. Chandy said that the shoe would be good to go if it was sewn. This incident alone suffices to prove his modest lifestyle, added Mr. Kallumpuram.
Oommen Chandy represented the Puthupally constituency in Kerala's Kottayam district for more than 50 years. He was the Member of the Legislative Assembly (MLA) from Puthupally.
Chandy first represented Puthupally in 1970, when he was the Youth Congress president. He became a minister for the first time in the K. Karunakaran cabinet in 1977. He was appointed Chief Minister twice. He had handled the financial portfolio for the state. He had also been the Leader of the opposition.
Chandy was a leader who was always reachable for his people. His programme "Janasambarka Paripady," which was launched to hear people's complaints when he was the Chief Minister, was very popular.
Following his sickness, he had been undergoing treatment in the US, and then he continued his treatment in Bengaluru.
Oommen Chandy is survived by his wife Mariamma and children Maria Oommen, Chandy Oommen, and Achu Oommen.
Oommen Chandy along with HE Shaikh Khallfa bin Daij Al Khalifa, when he was the President of the Court of HRH the Crown Prince Prince Salman bin Hamad Al Khalifa and Dr. Varghese Kurian, chairman of VKL Holdings and Al Namal Group of Companies.
Related Posts