Bengaluru: Bangalore Christian Writers’ Forum presented A P Kunju Kunju Arattukulam Jeeva Karunya Award to M K Naushad for his outstanding contribution in social service and enormous literary contributions both in English and Malayalam.
Inaugurating the award-giving function on Sunday Dec 13, Celine Kunju Kunju, Patron, Bangalore Christian Writers’ Forum (BCWF) said every year the Forum presents the award to a person engaged in social and humanitarian services in Bangalore city. The deserving person is chosen from among the ones who help the vulnerable, defenseless, abandoned, forlorn and desolate ordinary people without considering any religions, caste, creed or language of the person. The organization appraises and evaluates the humanitarian issues the person undertakes and involved in before identifying the deserving individual.
Kunju Kunju, who was a high ranking official, said this time BCWF found M K Naushad, General Secretary, Kerala Muslim Cultural Centre (KMCC) as the right and deserving person for this honour. “We have seen him as the owner of a great heart and a generous mind which led him to do charitable and social works. Naushad who is a lover of human beings loves to help the needy fellow beings. He came up in life through student politics at a very young age. Today, he extends a helping hand to the needy with love and kindness. The needy could be the victims of accidents, unfortunate, hapless and wretched persons or those cases of unnatural deaths.
Naushad, a known business man and a religious-minded person sets apart his valuable time and wealth to serve selflessly all sections of people without expecting any return.
Born in Kannur district in 1969, he came to Bangalore in 1986 to help his elder brother in his ration shop. Later he began a provision store at Cottonpet. A service mind sprouted in him at that time itself while doing business to do something for suffering fellow-beings. Naushad who has two daughters began his social activities in 1989 being a member of Malabar Muslim Association (MMA). Metty Grace reading a citation said he was secretary of MMA for three years. Naushad became active in KMCC in 1997. He became known in a short time as an organizer and a great social worker.
Naushad started bakery and restaurant business besides being a tourism promoter. Despite his busy schedule in running a chain of business, his large heartedness made him find time to serve the needy. He also cooperated with other social service organizations. Ever since he became an office bearer of KMCC in 1997, his activities gave him recognition for his selfless service and leadership qualities and he continued to remain as the secretary from 2007. At present KMCC has 25 units in Bangalore city with more than 5000 team members. KMCC members reach the spot of mishap or catastrophe in no time to carry out the actions most required. They get information about calamities and disasters through social media such as whatsapp, sms, facebook and others.
Naushad has influence at top level from ministers to top police authorities which helps him to get things done faster particularly in situations of accident deaths or to save victims of anti-social elements. The presence of KMCC is seen at all places and for all people including hospital treatments. Even police first call KMCC secretary or other team members when they need assistance.
A lot of participants felicitated Naushad and lauded his yeoman selfless service to humanity. A V Balakrishnan, MD, Star of Koramangala, who knew Naushad for more than 25 years said he is a perfect example of social and humanitarian work. They had worked together. He said when he was a student in Kolkata, a group of students went out for social work among Bangladeshi refugees. Mother Teresa met them and asked them, “Children, you know what you are doing? You are bringing in smile, smile brings joy and when smile comes into your heart, God comes and you can see heaven.
Balakrishnan also quoted from Mahatma Gandhi’s Spirit of Service. My profession progressed satisfactorily, but that was far from satisfying me. The question of further simplifying life and doing some concrete act of service to my fellowmen had been constantly agitating me, when a leper came to my door. I had not that heart to dismiss him with a meal. So I offered him shelter, dressed his wounds….this work brought me some peace.
The speakers presented many situations, incidents and examples of Naushad’s work and activities. During the flood in Chennai, KMCC sent seven trucks with food and other relief materials required including ambulance and medical team and other members to distribute directly to the affected people. KVP Sulaiman, president MALA said the award was an approval of what he had been doing for years. A lot of young men are with him to face any situation and eventuality. He does not look at religion or language when he does service. Narrating an incident, Sulaiman said a person hanged herself in a BJP leader’s family. There were no party workers or anyone to help. The politician was at a loss on what to do. Naushad and team did all formalities and managed the situation to the full satisfaction of the family. Later, the party leader wrote a long letter appreciating what Naushad and team had done.
Another speaker said Naushad has no sleep and he is available 24 hours for any help. He is a model for all. His brain is tuned for social work. KMCC is spread out into countries outside India as well. They have branches in over 250 places. KMCC has planned to start a 10 crore project near NIMANS to help people coming for treatment. The construction of the building will start very soon which will help people coming from far to stay and to have treatment for cancer at Kidwai. The speakers showered praises on him. Many of them narrated the real stories that they know or experienced. KMCC also constructed houses for the needy.
In his response to the felicitation and award given by BCWF he said it is a team work. He has a lot workers who do the field work. His mother was his inspiration for his humanitarian work. Appreciating the award, he said the award was not for him but for his team. Naushad was calm and composed. He remained humble and seemed not at all boastful and did not pat himself on the back. Naushad said when his own mother was treated at Kidwai for cancer, he realized he was getting back many fold through doctors and nurses. He said the award was from God and he appreciated the gesture from Christian Writers’ Forum. He also said there is unity, cooperation in KMCC and it is a disciplined set up. He thanked the Arattukulam family for their thoughtfulness and generosity.
The guests of honour were Khader Hajii, General Secretary – MMA, KVP Sulaiman, president MALA and A V Balakrishnan.
Those who felicitated Naushad included Najeeb, Rajan Jacob, Kunjukannan, Nazer Neelasandra, Thomas Mulackal, T K Nazer, Wg Commander K J George and Abhimalek Joseph.
Earlier, T A Calistus, president, BCWF, welcomed all and spoke on the significance of the award and importance of social work which is helping fellow beings and to look after their welfare is biblical, he added. All the guests were welcomed with bouquets. Advocate K J Joseph initiated the function with prayer and prayer song. Teresa Philip sang songs and C D Gabriel, general secretary, coordinated the programme and delivered the vote of thanks to mark the close of the award-giving function.