Consulate General of India

Mr Shanavas Peter, Councillor, City of Armadale,
Mr Eipe Chundamannil, Chairman, School of Malayalam,
Dear students, teachers, volunteers, and committee members of the School of Malayalam in Perth,
Proud parents and members of the Malayalee community present here today,

Kaya, namaskaram, assalam alaikum, and a very good day.

At the very outset, I would like to acknowledge the Traditional Custodians of the land, the Whadjuk people of the Noongar nation, and pay my respects to their Elders - past, present, and emerging.

We are deeply thankful to be standing on this beautiful land that has been held sacred by its original people, and to be welcomed to live and thrive amongst all of you. We bring to this land industry, endeavour, harmony in diversity, honour, respect, and all the values that the people of both our proud nations cherish and uphold through our daily lives.

Community schools such as yours epitomize the passion in every expatriate people to hand over a holistic understanding of their native culture to the next generation. This understanding will act as a bedrock to anchor one’s identity in a changing and shifting world. It will also help younger generations to remain connected to the land of their ancestors as they seek to forge their destiny in far off shores.

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I congratulate the Chairman Eipe Chundamannil, Principal Vineetha Praveen, Secretary Sreekanth Nair and the entire team at the School of Malayalam on the opening of the new academic year, and for the introduction of your own curriculum and revised textbooks that have been introduced this year. It is also my pleasure to welcome the very first class of year 9 at the school; this shows that you are growing and I wish you all the very best for the future. I also hope that the establishment of free Kindy and Pre-primary classes will see the school grow from strength to strength. For someone who has always loved reading, I cannot commend you enough for putting together a library of 400 books. It would be a pleasure for the Indian Consulate to provide your library with more volumes if you can give us a list. I would also like to thank the Aspiri Primary School, Piara Waters for hosting the School of Malayalam at your premises. Your continued support means so much to the community.

Thank you.