Manama : The inauguration ceremony of Bharathi Association’s new premises at Um Al Hassam was celebrated in a grand and memorable manner.
The Chief Guest of the evening was His Excellency Vinod K. Jacob, the Indian Ambassador to the Kingdom of Bahrain.

The Guest of Honour was Chevalier Dr. V.G. Santhosam, a legendary entrepreneur, Chairman of the VGP Group, and founder of the World Tamil Sangam. Renowned for his philanthropy and passion for Tamil literature, Dr. Santhosam has generously donated 183 statues of the great Tamil poet Thiruvalluvar across the world.

The inauguration commenced with a ribbon-cutting ceremony by His Excellency the Ambassador, alongside Dr. V.G. Santhosam.
The program began with a Tamil invocation song sung by Anees Fathima. RJ Rathi served as the Master of Ceremonies.

Mr. Abdul Qaiyum, General Secretary of Bharathi Association, delivered a poetic and heartfelt welcome address. The Presidential Address was given by Mr. Vallam Basheer, President of the Association, who acknowledged the generous contributions of members that made the new premises possible and highligted the accomplishment of this new community under his leadership.

His Excellency Vinod K. Jacob delivered a brief yet meaningful speech, highlighting the richness of the Tamil language and the significance of inaugurating the new premises, especially during a time when the Embassy is a focal point of community engagement.

In his address, Dr. V.G. Santhosam emphasized the timeless wisdom of poet Thiruvalluvar, reciting several of his couplets. Notably, he had arrived in Bahrain directly from the United Kingdom, where he had delivered a lecture on Tamil literature at Oxford University.
In recognition of his life time achievement he was presented with a precious award “KURAL NERI CHELVAR “ for promoting Tiruvalluvar’s poetic works all around the globe.

The evening featured a series of classical dance performances showcasing the culture and traditions of Tamil Nadu, followed by a delightful light music segment by members.
Contributors and supporters of the Association were recognized and honoured during the event.
Dr. Santhosam presented a miniature statue of Thiruvalluvar to the Indian Embassy and another to the Bharathi Association.

He also donated a collection of books to the Association’s library, which were received by event coordinator Mr. Muthuvel Murugan.
The Vote of Thanks was delivered by Mr. Ilaiya Raja, Literary Secretary, followed by Mr. Sheik Mansoor, Treasurer of the Association.