Doha, Jul 30 (Gulf Times): Indian ambassador to Qatar Deepa Gopalan Wadhwa has called on the global Malayali community to serve the communities in which they live and continue to earn goodwill by being good ambassadors. The ambassador was inaugurating the annual gathering of the World Malayali Council (WMC).

“I am happy at observations about the Malayali community by local rulers of the countries where I have had the fortune of serving over the years. The administrators of Qatar have also expressed their happiness at the contribution of community members to the development of the country,” she said.

Wadhwa said it was certainly a honour to Keralites that most Indians in this region are referred to as “Malabaris” by the region’s populace.

Wadhwa said she continued to be “150% Malayali” even though she is married to a Punjabi, and the envoy added that she was proud of her Malayali lineage. “However, I am unable to speak our language unlike most of you because of my upbringing outside the state,” said the envoy.

Chief guest Kerala minister of industries Elamarom Kareem said the expat community should serve as ambassadors. Complimenting the community for overcoming numerous challenges, the minister said it was a matter of immense satisfaction to their home state that many of its citizens had attained leading positions in the societies that they served.Earlier, former Indian parliamentarian Abdussamad Samadani warmed up the gathering with an inspiring speech.

Doha Bank CEO R Seetharaman, WMC global chairman Soman Baby and Lekha Srinivasan also spoke.
In a session ‘Globally competent and socially committed youth’ held as part of the meeting earlier, Kerala education minister M A Baby and former Indian diplomat T P Srinivasan called upon the students to wake up to growing challenges in an efficient manner.

As part of the conference, 25 students studying in various educational institutions in Kerala have been flown in by its chief patron and Padmashri recipient C K Menon.