About MAGH
End months of 1986. Few years had already passed after the collapse of Kerala Cultural Association (KCA) in Houston. There was a vacuum of an organization where all Malayalees can come together beyond the religious divisions or denominations. Some people usually comes to the A& M Stores(Indian Groceries) in Alief area were asking each other what they were going to do to show the young generation about Kerala Culture. After a number of meetings and hotly contested debates and deliberations, they decided to form an ad-hoc committee for a secular organization called Malayalee Association of Greater Houston (MAGH). Mr. Madathilethu T Cherian was the General Convener and members were: K I Philips(Gipsen), Joshua George, Abraham Thomas, Mathews Abraham, KK Satyan, AO Augustine, Mathew Thomas, Peter Xavier, Philip Joseph(Kuttappan) and the author of this article, TN Samuel. Peter and Kuttappan quit the committee in early stage for various differences of opinion. Those two and Gipsen were departed eternally from us later on. Let us remember them and bow our heads to those souls who showed immense passion for the Malayalee Community. In the beginning of 1987 MAGH was registered in the State of Texas as a non profit cultural organization and in May 87 it is officially inaugurated by Dr. M Anirudhan, the then President of FOKANA.
Since then and till today, MAGH makes a great contribution to our society by giving ample opportunity to our kids to excel in their personal talents, such as dancing, singing, acting and all other artistic adventures. MAGH is celebrating ONAM with Sadya, X’mas/New Year, Republic Day, Independence Day, Mothers Day and other special occasions like annual picnic, that have been very dear to Malayalee community, without any interruption every year. Newsletters are mailed to each and every member families informing them the important upcoming events. For some years MAGH conducted Malayalam language classes in Kerala House for our children. MAGH continues to organize Financial seminars, Leadership conferences, Medical camps, Consular workshops, Talent searches and tournaments for Basket Ball and Volley Ball
In 1993, the constitution of MAGH was revised and modified as a better document. In 1996 MAGH constituted a Building Committee under the terrific Chairmanship of Mr. George Abraham (a renowned realtor in Houston) which raised enough fund to acquire a property without loan for MAGH in Stafford – our former Kerala House in Present Street. Perhaps this was the first in United States that a Malayalee Secular organization owns a property. In 2005 MAGH adopted few amendments for its constitution, making sure at least two (2) women and a youth will represent our community, in the Board of Directors every year. In 2007, MAGH sold the property in Present Street and bought a bigger property, which is 1415 Packer Ln, Stafford, TX 77477, hence a bigger Kerala House now. Many generous and passionate people in our community deserved credit for that. Any VIPs from Kerala visit Houston, used to visit Kerala House and MAGH has a VIP log book that they can sign on.
MAGH now has more than fifty (50) families as Patron members and about seven hundred fifty (750) families as Life members. Every year a number of people take membership in yearly basis also. Election of the Board of Directors became a very interesting aspect among members nowadays.
Following respected members served as President of MAGH during these years.
MT Cherian, Abraham Thomas, MA Abraham, Thomas Thayyil, George Thottam, Mathew Kuravackal, R Sugunan, Mary Thomas (Molly), Peter G Paulose, Joshua George, Mary Bedi, TN Samuel, Sasidharan Nair, Jose John, Joseph Olicken, SK Cherian, Tom Abraham, Mrs. Ponnu Pillai, Mathew Mathai, Abraham Eapen, Thomas Oliyamkunnel, John Kunnakkatt, George Mannickarottu and Baby Manakunnel. And many other outstanding individuals served our community by being in the Executive Board and coordinating many successful events. Unity and hard work of volunteers made this association a great success story in North America. Artists like Divya Unni, Sunanda Nair, Shingari Makkora, Jaimy Panickamuri and many others contributed their time and talent for MAGH. Youth was represented by Tina Bose, Rajeev Mathew, Ajay Thomas, Sheba George and Nisha Mathew in recent years.
One thing MAGH can be proud of that is, it did not let the deep division of FOKANA and FOMAA affected the unity and mutual respect among members. Let us keep the good work up for our one and only MAGH and remember in 2012, we should celebrate our Silver Jubilee.