The Indian community in Qatar recently bid farewell to Ramesh Mathew, a journalist at Gulf Times, who will be leaving the country soon, at an event organised at Doha Marriott Hotel.
Drago Lovric, Ambassador of Croatia, was the chief guest at the event. Dr Mohan Thomas, Founder Chairman of Birla Public School, presided over the event. The event was co-ordinated by G Girish Kumar, former President of Indian Cultural Centre (ICC), and John Gilbert, former President of INCAS.
The event was attended by notable personalities, including K T Chacko, Deputy Managing Editor at Gulf Times; Milan Arun, President of ICC; Davis Edakalathoor, President of Indian Community Benevolent Forum (ICBF); P N Baburajan, Vice President of ICBF; A P Manikantan, Vice President of ICC; and Juttas Paul, General Secretary of ICC, Nizar Kocheri along with others.
Speaking on the occasion, Lovric noted his association with Mathew and said, “I have known Ramesh Mathew right from my early days in Qatar and he has contributed in a big way to Qatar-Croatia relations. More than our professional interaction, I had great interactions with him and I appreciate his knowledge on several topics especially, sports.”
Dr Thomas highlighted his long association with Mathew and said, “We have known each other for a very long time and we have shared common ethos on several areas. Hailing from the same place in India, we have had a great association in Qatar and it has contributed in delivering several social and charity programmes, extending assistance to a number of needy people here in Qatar and back home in India.”
K T Chacko noted that Gulf Times will be missing a very knowledgeable journalist who has contributed to the organisation in a big way. “Mathew’s extensive knowledge and experience as well as his wide contacts helped the newspaper in highlighting several important issues in a prominent way. His ability to identify people and places very quickly and in great detail makes him stand apart from others,” he said.
Grish Kumar welcomed the gathering and highlighted the various achievements and accomplishments of Mathew as a journalist. Gilbert proposed a vote of thanks and pointed out the social and charity activities that Mathew had taken up during his stay in Qatar.
The community honoured Mathew by draping him with a golden shawl- a customary Indian practice, and presented him with a memento. Several individuals and Indian organisations also honoured him on the occasion. The programme was compered by Gulf Times’ journalist Joseph Varghese.
John Gilbert, Joseph Varghese, K T Chacko, Ramesh Mathew, Drago Lovric, Dr Mohan Thomas and Girish Kumar at the farewell programme.
