Hassan Cheruppa

Saudi Gazette

 

JEDDAH — The Gulf Madhyamam – Saudi Gazette combo offer was launched in Jeddah and Riyadh.



The subscription campaign called "Sahridaya" was launched in Jeddah in the presence of Saudi Gazette Editor-in-Chief Khaled Almaeena and Gulf Madhyamam Editor in Chief V.K Hamza Abbas at Seasons restaurant on Monday.



The Riyadh launch was held at Coco Palm Auditorium in Hara, Riyadh Sunday. In Jeddah, Abbas presided over the function in which Almaeena delivered the keynote address.



State Bank of India’s Operations Head Sanal Balakrishnan presented the combo offer coupon to Jabir Valiakath, CEO of Al Abeer Medical Group.



In his speech, Abbas said that it is a great honor for Gulf Madhyamam, the No. 1 Malayalam daily newspaper in the Middle East, to tie up with the leading Saudi English daily, Saudi Gazette.



The offer gives Keralite readers an opportunity to grab both the newspapers at a 50 percent discount for an annual subscription of SR550.



Apart from the big offer, the readers will also get at a mixer-grinder from Thambas Electronics and a newspaper box from Gulf Madhaymam. 



Explaining the circumstances that led to his daily's tie up with Saudi Gazette, Abbas attributed this to his close relationship with Almaeena, whom he described as "the internationally acclaimed Arab media doyen."



Going down memory lane, Abbas said: "I maintain strong personal relations with Almaeena ever since the launch of Gulf Madhyamam in 1999 as the first international Indian newspaper and we were together at several national and international forums, especially the Madrid Interfaith Dialogue Conference of 2008 where I saw Almaeena’s good rapport with several well-known international media figures and thinkers."



Abbas drew attention to the diminishing reading habit especially among the younger generation.



"One of the main objectives of our campaign is to encourage the younger generation to nurture the reading habit in English.



"Almost all Indian students in the Gulf attend English medium schools and hence we worked out a plan to boost this (reading habit) through making available of an English newspaper together with Gulf Madhyamam for the Keralite students," he said while noting that his daily’s tie up with Khaleej Times of UAE is has proved to be a resounding success in this respect.



Abbas also unveiled plans to bring out an abridged Arabic edition of Gulf Madhyamam in future.



In his speech, Almaeena, appreciated the remarkable role being played by the expatriate Indian community, especially Keralites, in the development march of Saudi Arabia.



"This country would not have been progressed to a great extent if your active involvement and dedication were not there," he said.



He lauded the positive role of Gulf Madhymam in serving this great nation in many respects. "I am extremely delighted to know that this newspaper is serving all people and humanity in general through upholding values. It is great for this newspaper to have such a gentleman at its helm of affairs," he said while commending the role of Abbas in making his daily the most popular among the expatriate Keralites.



The enterprising Keralites have won accolades from Almaeena. "They are very polite and hard-working. What impressed me most is their unity. I have discovered that Keralites are strange people in a good way. I have seen Keralites from many corners of the world where I noticed specially one thing: when one Keralite meets another, their eyes sparkle."



Almaeena shared his experience of meeting one of the first batches of Keralites who came to serve Saudi Arabia.



"They were nurses who worked at Saudi Aramco hospital in 1950s, and what I learned from them was that I could never learn what they were speaking.



"Later, one of my friends, who was a senior newspaper distribution official, was amazed to see a Keralite tea boy was trying to teach me the English fonts used in our linotype printing machine."



Almaeena also commended the natural beauty and high literacy rate of Kerala. "Many times I have visited India and most of these trips were to North India thanks to my knowledge of Urdu and Hindi. When I reached Kerala a few years ago, accompanied by my cousin, I was so charmed with the picturesque scenes, and thought for a while that it is Hawaii and not a part of India.



"I asked my guide what gifts should I had to give to the children I saw there, his reply was to present them some pens and pencils.



"I was amazed at this request, but not later when I was told of the almost 100 percent literacy rate of this spot of the world where there is no communal disharmony."



Abdul Majeed Othman, assistant general manager for business development, wished every success to the new venture, hoping that this would be a fruitful partnership between the two great newspapers. "It is a great pleasure to have this opportunity for Saudi Gazette to be associated with Gulf Madhaymam," he said.



K.P. Mohammaed Kutty, president of the Saudi national committee of Kerala Muslim Cultural Center and Chairman of the Kerala-state owned Overseas Development and Employment Promotion Consultants (ODEPC), and Jabir Valiakath also delivered felicitation speeches.



V.M Ibraheem, executive editor of Gulf Madhyamam, was the anchor. Earlier, Rashid Khan, marketing manager, Gulf Madhyamam-Saudi Arabia, welcomed the gathering while Moosa Kutty Vettikkattiri (Gulf Madhyamam- Jeddah) gave a vote of thanks.



Abid Husain recited verses from the Holy Qur'an. The function was also attended by V.M. Ibrahim, Mohammed Bava, C.K. Mohammed Najeeb, Abdul Shukoor Ali, Safarulla Mulloli, K.M. Abdul Kareem, Abdul Raheem, C.N.K. Abdul Naser, C.K. Moryur, Ibrahim Shamnad, and Abdurahman Thurakkal. In Riyadh, the combo offer coupon was presented by P. Nias Umar, member of the Managing Committee of Riyadh International Indian School, to T.M. Ahmed Koya, managing director of Fleeriya Group.



Addressing the gathering, Muhammad Alshoaibi of Saudi Gazette lauded the commendable role being played by Gulf Madhyamam to ensure active participation of expatriates in the growth and progress of Saudi Arabia.



"The tie up between Saudi Gazette and Gulf Madhyamam sets the ground to further augment the amalgamation of two big countries and cultures," he said. Hamza Abbas presided over the function in which Siddeeque Bin Jamal, secretary of Thanima Riyadh Zone, spoke on the occasion.



Rashid Khan delivered the welcome speech and Gulf Madhyamam Riyadh Regional Coordinator C.T. Muhammad Nizar gave a vote of thanks.



P.P. Abdullatief Omasheri recited verses from Qur’an. The function was controlled by Salim Mahi, Muhammad Rafeeq Hara, Ayman Saeed, Anup Haseeb, Rauf Malayil, Imthiyaz Parakkal and Misaab Parakkal.



It was attended by prominent figures, including community leaders, writers, media persons, academics and business leaders representing the Keralite community based in Jeddah and Riyadh.