Page 26 - Keralite Magazine _2020

KERALITE  APRIL 20 20 35
New Year’s Eve celebration at Chettan’s house was
an annual event we all loved to attend. I fondly
remember the occasions I played cards with
Chettan, even in his nineties. His mind was sharp.
Human life is not eternal. We all have to go when
called. Chettan’s demise has left a void in our lives.
I do not think anybody else can replace the role
Chettan played in my life. We will miss him dearly
and forever.”
Kurien Pothen (Lalan): “When I think
about Madhavan Chettan, the first
thing that comes to my mind is his big
smile. This smile always put me at
ease to discuss with him anything I
wanted. At the end of our discussions, Chettan used
to raise his right hand with a 'mudra' touching his
index finger and thumb saying ‘Haa.’ This was his
stamp of approval for anything I discussed with
him and at no time did he show anger or total
disagreement with me. He truly was my Chettan!”
Babu Kurian: “Dr. Madhavan, fondly
called ‘Chettan’ among friends, was
truly an older brother for all of us. He
led the Kerala Club as the first
president and paved the way for all of
us to be part of the club. Madhavan Chettan
encouraged us to work for the well-being of our
community and maintain our culture and heritage in
this new land. As much as he was a leader, he was
also a great educator and a wonderful humanitarian.
He participated in many of our community’s charity
and cultural activities and treated everyone with
dignity and empathy. His vast knowledge in
Malayalam literature and poetry as well as passion
for card games were an unparalleled and true
motivation for players like me. He will be deeply
missed. May his soul rest in peace.”
Gopi Nair: “Dr. Madhavan was a pillar
in the Metro Detroit Kerala
community.
“He along with his wife Indira, helped
several newly arriving Malayalees in
Metro Detroit to get settled and made them feel at
home. When we first came to the metro Detroit
area, Dr. Madhavan and Indira welcomed us and
made us feel at home and introduced us to many
other members of the Malayalee community. It was
no wonder that he was the first president of the
Kerala Club. He was instrumental in the formation of
the Kerala Bhajan group and regularly attended all
the bhajans. He has left a huge vacuum in the Kerala
community as he was one of the individuals many
of us would go to for support and advice. He will be
sorely missed by his family and the Malayalee
community of Metro Detroit.”
Sunil Ninan: “When I think of
Madhavan Chettan, the first thing
that comes to my mind is his innocent
smile. He was one of the most
humble, genuine, down to earth
people I have had the privilege of knowing in
Detroit. As a leader in the Malayalee community of
Detroit, Chettan was a true inspiration and a great
role model to the old as well as new members of the
large Kerala Club family. Whether it was the hosting
of the annual 56 cards tournament at his house
through the years, or being the first one standing in
line at a park at 5:00 a.m. for securing a spot for the
club's annual picnic; acting in the dramas
conducted by the Kerala Club, playing Mahabali at
Onam programs, or cheerfully playing Santa Claus
at Xmas, he was there everywhere to support and
lead us. May the fond memories of him linger
forever and may his great soul rest in eternal
peace!”
Hemachandran Krishnan: “As my
brother-in-law, I was fortunate to
know Madhavan Chettan at a very
personal level. What jumps out the
most when I think of him is his
fascination with all forms of art and music, and how
passionate he was for all Indian art forms… music,
Malayalam poetry, dance, motion pictures, drama,
costumes, fashion and so on. He especially loved