Santhosh Chandran
DOHA
Members of the Indian community in Qatar are mourning the demise of one of the most popular former ambassadors of India to Qatar Dr George Joseph, who breathed his last in his homeland Kerala in India on Thursday.
Various organisations and leaders of the Indian community expressed their condolences over the death and decided to hold public gatherings in memory of him in the coming days.
Kizhakkethottathil George Joseph (68) from Poonjar in Kottayam district, Kerala, joined the Indian Foreign Service in 1976.
He served the Indian missions in Turkmenistan, Bahrain and Qatar. He was also the consular-general of India in Saudi Arabia and the United Arab Emirates. He retired from service in 2010 after his assignment in Bahrain.
During his term (2005 - 2009) in Qatar, he made the Indian embassy more accessible to all the Indian expatriates, regardless of their social status. The embassy's monthly 'Open House' offered an opportunity for all the Indian expats, especially labourers and house helps, to find a solution to their grievances.
His initiative 'Meet the Labour' provided a platform for the Indians workers to meet ministers and other officials from India, helping them sort out problems.
He used to visit the labour camps of Indian workers and camps of the fishermen as well as the deportation centre in Qatar at regular intervals to ensure the wellbeing of the inhabitants.
Dr George Joseph was laid to rest at St John the Baptist Forane Church at Nedumkunnam in Kottayam on Saturday. He is survived by his wife Rani Joseph and daughter Renu.
Indian Cultural Center (ICC), the umbrella organisation of more than 100 socio-cultural organisations of the Indian community, will hold a condolence meeting on its premises on Monday. Indian Ambassador to Qatar HE P Kumaran and prominent Indian community leaders will attend the meeting.
HOPE Qatar centre for special needs condoled the demise of Dr George Joseph.
"Dr George Joseph had maintained a deep relationship with the students and the management of HOPE. As its patron, he was a source of inspiration, support and guidance," said Dr Rajeev Thomas, founder and advisory board member of HOPE.
DOHA
Members of the Indian community in Qatar are mourning the demise of one of the most popular former ambassadors of India to Qatar Dr George Joseph, who breathed his last in his homeland Kerala in India on Thursday.
Various organisations and leaders of the Indian community expressed their condolences over the death and decided to hold public gatherings in memory of him in the coming days.
Kizhakkethottathil George Joseph (68) from Poonjar in Kottayam district, Kerala, joined the Indian Foreign Service in 1976.
He served the Indian missions in Turkmenistan, Bahrain and Qatar. He was also the consular-general of India in Saudi Arabia and the United Arab Emirates. He retired from service in 2010 after his assignment in Bahrain.
During his term (2005 - 2009) in Qatar, he made the Indian embassy more accessible to all the Indian expatriates, regardless of their social status. The embassy's monthly 'Open House' offered an opportunity for all the Indian expats, especially labourers and house helps, to find a solution to their grievances.
His initiative 'Meet the Labour' provided a platform for the Indians workers to meet ministers and other officials from India, helping them sort out problems.
He used to visit the labour camps of Indian workers and camps of the fishermen as well as the deportation centre in Qatar at regular intervals to ensure the wellbeing of the inhabitants.
Dr George Joseph was laid to rest at St John the Baptist Forane Church at Nedumkunnam in Kottayam on Saturday. He is survived by his wife Rani Joseph and daughter Renu.
Indian Cultural Center (ICC), the umbrella organisation of more than 100 socio-cultural organisations of the Indian community, will hold a condolence meeting on its premises on Monday. Indian Ambassador to Qatar HE P Kumaran and prominent Indian community leaders will attend the meeting.
HOPE Qatar centre for special needs condoled the demise of Dr George Joseph.
"Dr George Joseph had maintained a deep relationship with the students and the management of HOPE. As its patron, he was a source of inspiration, support and guidance," said Dr Rajeev Thomas, founder and advisory board member of HOPE.