Kerala Association of Washington
The Kerala Association of Washington (KAW) is a
non-profit, non-political, non-religious cultural organization working towards the
betterment of the social lifestyle of the Malayalees in the Pacific Northwest, especially
in the state of Washington. We -- Malayalees -- come from Kerala, the place also
known as the God's own country. Kerala is geographically located in the southern
tip of India and is one of the most beautiful places on the face of earth. Its always
a great pleasure to find one among us in a place very far from home. So we try to
bring in the tradition and culture through our activities and the events we conduct
as a part of activities of Kerala Association of Washington and this enables us
to get nostalgically immersed in those wonderful thoughts of our days back at home.
Kerala Association of Washington provides a forum for its members to meet and exchange views and to foster friendship, goodwill, and understanding among its members. The Association also provides opportunities for literary, cultural, and entertainment activities of its members. KAW encourages its members to participate and take leadership in all activities of the Association. KAW also co-operates with other like-minded organizations to conduct/organize programs of common interest. KAW aims at creating a spirit of fraternity among the members by providing occasions and platform for the members to meet together and exchange ideas, views, and opinion in this otherwise busy world.
Kerala Association of Washington provides a forum for its members to meet and exchange views and to foster friendship, goodwill, and understanding among its members. The Association also provides opportunities for literary, cultural, and entertainment activities of its members. KAW encourages its members to participate and take leadership in all activities of the Association. KAW also co-operates with other like-minded organizations to conduct/organize programs of common interest. KAW aims at creating a spirit of fraternity among the members by providing occasions and platform for the members to meet together and exchange ideas, views, and opinion in this otherwise busy world.
A brief histrory of KAW
(Written by John Koshy Kuzhinapurathu)
It was the great ambition of Keralites in Seattle to have an association with the main objective to preserve and maintain Kerala culture with an aim to create a "home away from home" environment for those who originate from Kerala. With the above intention, Mr. Krishnan C. Nambudiripad, Mr. Babu Parayil, Mr. Sreenivansan, Mr. Thomas Mathew, Mr. John Kunthara, Mr. K. K. John, Mr. Philip Thomas, and Mrs. Aleykutty Thomas contacted the Keralite families in Seattle and surrounding areas and were able to conduct the first planning meeting on Saturday, August 4th 1990 at the John Bastyr College of Naturopathic Medicine. 55 persons from 31 families were present and the proceeding started with a silent prayer. Dr. K. V. Ramanathan took the leadership of the proceedings. Formation of an organization of the people from Kerala and of those who maintain some affinity towards the Keralite culture and/or Malayalam language was discussed. The name of the organization has been selected as "Kerala Association of Washington". A steering committee consisting of the following persons were selected.
Thomas Mathew extended vote of thanks and the meeting adjourned at 7:30 PM.
The steering committee conducted meetings on August 9th, 21st, 31st, and on September 8th 1990. The first event of the association, the Onam celebration was conducted on September 2nd 1990 at the St. Thomas Moore School auditorium located at 6511 176th S.W, Lynnwood and it was a great success.
A constitution for the association was drafted by the steering committee and was approved at the general body meeting held at John Basteyr College, Seattle on September 16th, 1990. With the approval of constitution, the steering committee was declared dissolved. The following were elected to the first respective offices:
The members of the Association are proud of the achievements and progress. We were able to conduct a large number of cultural shows and festival celebrations during the past years.
It was the great ambition of Keralites in Seattle to have an association with the main objective to preserve and maintain Kerala culture with an aim to create a "home away from home" environment for those who originate from Kerala. With the above intention, Mr. Krishnan C. Nambudiripad, Mr. Babu Parayil, Mr. Sreenivansan, Mr. Thomas Mathew, Mr. John Kunthara, Mr. K. K. John, Mr. Philip Thomas, and Mrs. Aleykutty Thomas contacted the Keralite families in Seattle and surrounding areas and were able to conduct the first planning meeting on Saturday, August 4th 1990 at the John Bastyr College of Naturopathic Medicine. 55 persons from 31 families were present and the proceeding started with a silent prayer. Dr. K. V. Ramanathan took the leadership of the proceedings. Formation of an organization of the people from Kerala and of those who maintain some affinity towards the Keralite culture and/or Malayalam language was discussed. The name of the organization has been selected as "Kerala Association of Washington". A steering committee consisting of the following persons were selected.
| Krishnan C. Nambudiripad | President |
| Thomas Mathew | Secretary |
| O. C. Koshy | Treasurer |
| John Kunthara | Member |
| Joy Thykoottathil | Member |
| Aleykutty Thomas | Member |
| Philip Thomas | Member |
Thomas Mathew extended vote of thanks and the meeting adjourned at 7:30 PM.
The steering committee conducted meetings on August 9th, 21st, 31st, and on September 8th 1990. The first event of the association, the Onam celebration was conducted on September 2nd 1990 at the St. Thomas Moore School auditorium located at 6511 176th S.W, Lynnwood and it was a great success.
A constitution for the association was drafted by the steering committee and was approved at the general body meeting held at John Basteyr College, Seattle on September 16th, 1990. With the approval of constitution, the steering committee was declared dissolved. The following were elected to the first respective offices:
| Krishnan C. Nambudiripad | President |
| Aleykutty Thomas | Vice President |
| Thomas Mathew | Secretary |
| O. C. Koshy | Treasurer |
| Toms John | Member at Large |
| John Kunthara | Member at Large |
| Babu Parayil | Member at Large |
| Mathew Joseph | Member at Large |
| Philip Thomas | Member at Large |
The members of the Association are proud of the achievements and progress. We were able to conduct a large number of cultural shows and festival celebrations during the past years.