History

M.A.U.K Chronicle

 

The 1930s: 

V K Krishna Menon, during his student days in Britain, laid the foundation for UK’s first Malayalee organisation by initiating the gatherings of a few Malayalees, which was later named as Kerala Samajam. 

 

1960/70s: 

Malayalees from Singapore started to arrive in London. They joined with a handful of Kerala Samajam members to meet, share their experience and form a support network in their new and hostile environment. 

 

1974:

Tried to register as a friendly society by the name of Kerala Samajam but couldn’t due to technicality. Therefore, it was registered as the Malayalee Association of the UK.

 

1980:

First Malayalam classes were started by MAUK based at Plashet School in East London. 

 

1987:

MAUK registered as a Charity in addition to a friendly society 

 

1987:

With the purchase of  671 Romford Road in Manor Park,  M.A.U.K became the first Malayalee organisation in the U.K to own a community centre. The property was bought at the cost of £78K. 90% of this amount was obtained through a grant from the local government. 10% raised from the 200 or so Malayalees living in London at that period. 

 

1989: 

MAUK ‘Dhrishykala’ in-house drama troupe formed. To date, the troupe have performed 24 plays on various venues across the U.K

 

1989:

Annual sports competition for the Malayalee community launched. Pool, chess, football, cricket, volleyball and badminton were included

 

1995:

MAUK’s building was named Kerala House by G Karthikeyan, Kerala Minister for Electricity. 

 

1996:

MAUK Nisari – music troupe formed and is currently one of the leading South Indian Music troupes in the UK

 

1996:

MAUK Janani – a quarterly Journal to highlight the achievement of Malayalees in the UK was launched. Currently published annually. 

 

1997:

Educational Achievement Awards introduced for GCSE (secondary) and A-Level (Plus 2)

 

1997:

MAUK Women’s Group formed to provide services tailor-made for women in the community.

 

1997:

Celebrated the 50th anniversary of Indian Independence, which attracted over 1100 people. It was one of the largest independence gathering in the UK attended by many dignitaries from HCI London and across political, cultural and educational institutions.

 

1998:

Elders Club started to cater for the ageing first-generation Malayalees. Meets every Tuesday and Thursday

 

2003:

Re-registered as a company limited by guarantee and a charity

 

2006:

Two day Kerala Festival held at Newham Town Hall in East Ham with the support of Newham council attracted over 5000 Londoners

 

2007:

MAUK 60+ Sisters Club launched to cater for the welfare of the growing number of elderly women, mainly widowed.

 

2011: 

Kattankappium Kavithayum (Black coffee n Poetry) launched to mark Shri ONV Kurup receiving Padmabushan Award. Kattankappi has since promoted Malayalam literature and language through over 100 episodes.

 

2012:

MAUK Chenda Troupe launched. The troupe have since then performed many high profile events, including Indian High Commission events, Commonwealth gatherings, Diwali on Square, 2012 Olympic Torch Rally and religious celebrations across the UK

 

2014:

Kerala house renovated at the cost of £120K into a 100 capacity venue and office rooms. 

Onam: Our Story project launched with the financial support of the Heritage Fund to highlight Malayalee culture. The project included teaching children in London primary schools about the legend of Onam and its ideology – manusharellarum onnupole. Heritage Fund contributed £50K for this project.

 

2016: 

Malayalam School relaunched with the support of Malayalam Mission and was inaugurated by K Balan, Kerala Minister for Culture

 

2017:

First-ever national gathering of Malayalee writers and poets held at Kerala House under the Kattankappi banner

 

2018:

Largest Thiruvathira performance in Europe was held at Flanders Playing Field in East Ham in the presence of Kerala Assembly Speaker P Sreeramakrishnan, Stephen Timms MP and other dignitaries. Over 210 ladies took part.

 

2018:

Raised over £40K for the victims of Kerala Floods. Largest amount raised by any single organisation in the UK.

 

2019: 

MAUK in Association with KeralaVision, built three Water Treatment Plants in Alappuzha District in Kerala.

 

2020:

Became one of the first Voluntary, Community and Faith Sector (VCFS) organisation in East London to come to the forefront to support victims of COVID-19. Started an emergency MAUK Food Bank to tackle food shortage among international students, undocumented migrants and the local community. Raised over £50K for this purpose.  The Food Bank is now functioning as MAUK Food Club serving over 40 local families and is part of the Newham Food Alliance.

 

2020/21

Built four houses in Kerala for families with no regular income.

 

2021

Over £20K spent on fourteen different emergency COVID relief projects across Kerala. 

 

Other achievements:

Onam celebrations held every year since the 1970s. Currently, it is one of the largest Onam and Onasadhya gathering in the U.K.

Annual outdoor sports, arts and family fun day gathering held since 1986. 

The first and one of the largest Malayalee charity organisation in the UK, recognised by local and central governments and High Commission of India.

A democratic organisation with Directors are elected by members at the Annual General Meeting and day-to-day activities scrutinised by its membership.

An accountable organisation working within the legal framework of the Charity Commission, Company House, Fundraising Regular and local authorities.

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