World Malayalee Council felicitates Los Angeles City Councilor Nitya Raman

The largest Malayalee expatriate entity, professional network institution – World Malayalee Council (www.WMCAmerica.org) America Region organized a virtual meeting congratulating Hon. Mrs. Nitya Raman, who won a landmark victory at the Los Angeles city council District-4, General Elections defeating then incumbent councilor Mr. David Ryu, a Korean-American .

Mrs. Raman, an Ivy League alumna received her undergraduate education at Harvard University, before continuing on to graduate school at MIT. She holds a master's degree in urban planning from the latter, equipping her aptly for the chosen career of public service.

A proud Malayalee, born in Kerala Mrs. Raman, prudently invited her parents (Shrimathi Sudha & Shri. Venkit Raman) who are based in Boston, MA to join the meeting attended by WMC leaders who gathered ‘virtually’ from across the globe reaching-out the diaspora goodwill and appreciations.

The meeting was attended by WMC Global President Mr. Gopala Pillai; Global VP (Org.) Mr. P.C. Mathew; Global Vice Chair Dr. K.G. Vijayalakshmi along with America Regional leaders Mr. Sudhir Nambiar, AR President; Mr. Philip Thomas, AR Chairman; Mr. Pinto Kannampally, AR Gen. Secretary, Mr. Yeldho Peter, AR VP (Admin.); Mr. Johnson Thalachallore, AR V.P (Org.), Mr. Anil Augustine, WMC Public Relations Officio.

Representing the recently instituted WMC CA province Mr. Bejoy Vadakoot,  Charter President and Mr. Christo Thottathil, Founding VP (Admin) as well joined the meeting.

Mrs. Raman candidly acknowledged her joy by stating that WMC was the first diaspora organization to reach out to her congratulating her hard earned election success. In a city and at large the State, California is blessed with Many a Malayalees and Indian expats. Councilor expressed her gratitude to all who affirmatively supported her in extending time & a resource that she is blessed in representing all LosAngeleans!

Mr. Srinivas Iyer, Councilor Raman’s dad sincerely wondered where his daughter acquired her acumen to run for public office, concluded saying that her innate sisterly care and maternal heirloom Bharatheeya compassion towards fellow beings must have drawn her to public service. In fact one of the key issues Councilor addressed through her election bid was the intense homelessness and the unfortunately accumulated social crisis in LA, California.    

Raman was at ease in sharing her civic leadership journey by touching and elaborating her exposure and futuristic vision for LA, a city that has struggled to manifest even the most basic elements of urban infrastructure — smooth and useful sidewalks, a thriving tree canopy, new housing developments — it’s promising and beguiling that Raman, an urban planner with ivy league resources, ascended to office at this moment. But what Raman, who has worked as a consultant and started multiple nonprofits, thinks she brings to the table is actually a realistic assessment of how bureaucrats can work effectively with city departments. “As someone who has dealt with the machinery of urban government for so long, in so many roles, I have a deep understanding of their restrictions,” she said to the diaspora leaders expressing her plans for the city.

WMC Global President Mr. Gopala Pillai, while extending his congratulatory note expressed his hope ennobling Councilor Raman’s success at the public office will encourage fellow diaspora Sisters to come forward confidently into domestic politics.

Dr. K. G. Vijayalakshmi, Global Vice Chair, who attended the meeting from India, heartily conveyed congratulations as well expressed thanks for the encouraging word Mrs. Raman has for the fellow diaspora women to come forward to represent their own causes. On her request to mentor future expat leaders, Councilor extended her goodwill acceptance.

Mr. P.C. Mathew, Global VP (Org.) jubilantly noted that Ms. Raman together with Vice President Kamala Harris, broke the said barriers that were evilly built systemically by the systematic oppressors. Mr. P.C. Mathew who is deliberating an electoral bid at City Council Garland, TX solicited goodwill patronage and support, to which Hon. Mrs. Raman offered wholehearted support and requested to keep her posted, in due course.

Mr. Philip Thomas, AR Chairman while exalting congrats jovially stated that Councilor achieved success with our common goodwill prayers favoring the diaspora. Mr. Philip assertively with a faith-filled note invited Hon. Raman, to help address the diverse challenges her diaspora faces here in this adopted home of ours’ together with WMC.

America Region Vice Chairperson Mrs. Santha Pillai, echoed the congratulatory note on behalf of our institution and appealed Hon. Mrs. Raman to enable guidance to the younger generation into domestic US social service.

Mr. Sudhir Nambiar, AR President assertively mentioned across apprising Hon. Councilor the Civic advocacy initiative WMC organized by gathering 9 elected Kerala-American leaders promoting awareness on Census and Voter registration just before the General Elections ’20. WMC is the only Indian diaspora intuition partnered and endorsed by the US Census bureau, proudly denoting our President, which was appreciated by Hon. Councilor in return.  

Mr. Pinto C.K (Gen Sec) congratulated Hon. Mrs. Raman for her leadership success and requested her help in mentoring the newly inducted Province of the institution under the leadership of Mr. Bejoy Vadakoot (Province President) and Mr. Sodharan Varghese(CA Province Chairman).

Mr. Yeldho Peter, AR VP (Admin) extended appreciations and facilitated an overview of WMC institutional structure of the organization, highlighted the perspective that WMC is not a crowd but a vetted, by invitation only limited membership, representing Kerala's prudent heritage on Socio-Politico-Cultural-Hi Ed eminence criteria. This three tier organization has Province, Regional and Global tiers, wherein Memberships are held at the foundational provinces.  

Mr. Anil Augustine, WMC PR officio, who was instrumental in successfully connecting with Honorable Councilor, was gratefully acknowledged by Hon. Nitya Raman, herself.

On behalf of the diaspora, all leaders extended their hearty felicitations, support, well wishes and a prayer favoring Hon. Councilor succeeds in her assumed elected office.

The meeting concluded with valediction remarks by Mr. Johnson Thalachallore, AR VP (Org).

Instituted in the year 1995, by Late Dr. T. N. Seshan, - the iconic CEC of India, as WMC founding Chairman WMC is envisioned and committed to universal brotherhood of professional Malayalees. For more information please visit www.WorldMalayaleeCouncil.org and www.WMCAmerica.org