When the Kerala Catholic Social Service Club was formed by a handful of Kerala Catholics, it was to foster our socio-religious and cultural aspiration and it started primarily at a social level with a goal to bring together the Kerala Catholics, scattered all over the city, under the banner “For Church and Country”
With a small beginning, the members initially organized get-togethers. The first significant and far-reaching social action was the purchase of 4 graves in St. John’s Cemetery at Sealdah for the benefit of Kerala Catholics in Calcutta, in 1965. Any strong man become helpless, once he loses someone close to him. The help and assistance given by the members on such sad moments increased the confidence level especially of those who were alone and financially weak.
Towards the end of the sixties, the club increased the activities with indoor games and library facilities. In 1970, we instituted both merit and need based scholarships. The first such scholarship was instituted in the memory of the founder president and named as K.P Thomas Memorial scholarships.
There was an Arts Wing to discover and promote the budding artists. On many occasions the members put up Dramas, and Ganamelas. The first Drama titled “EBILISUKALUDE NATTIL” was staged in 1965, ably directed by Late P.J Job, one of our Past Presidents. Then it became a normal feature to stage at least one drama by the members during the Annual Function and we presented Block Buster drama like Mukthi, Akkaldama, Divyabali, Manalkad, kadalpalam, Kirateeyam, Moshham etc. etc. We are indebted to Mr. V P Panicker, Mr. Moorthy, Mr. Evoor Krishnan Nair, Shri A S R Nair, IAS, Shri. A. .I Abraham, who directed our dramas. For few years, we organized one Act Play Competition, which was opened to other Malayalee Communities. The talent contest we are organizing every year on Children’s Day gives an opportunity to bring out the hidden artistic talents within our children and youth. They also get opportunities to explore and exhibit their tastes during the cultural programmes organized on the Foundation Day, Annual Functions, Feast Day of Blessed Alphonsa and Feast Day of St. Thomas. The Fete, which we organized since 1969, not only helped us to make financial gains, but also helped the members to have a sense of belonging and a feeling of togetherness.
One cannot afford to forget the fond memories of the regular social gatherings at S.H Church Hall, after the Malayalam Mass on the 2nd Sunday of the month, when new members were introduced and asked to sing, dance or exhibit their talents as ice breaking exercises. The annual out door picnic is another event, which the members looked to forward to.
KCSSC always tried to be a secular organization, of course without diluting the Christian faith and values. Cutting across religious borders 14 Malayalees Associations have almost formed a minuscule Kerala in New Alipore featuring members of the Christian and the Muslim communities during the Durga Puja organized by Suruchi Sanga in 2003. We are the only Christian organization participated in the cultural programme and we put up 2 food stalls. We feel the event will go a long way in integrating Malayalee Christians in the Bengali fold, and enrich our Secular dimension.
The many seminars we organized and the various Mega programmes, like the one presented by the Calcutta Youth Choir, the Variety Entertainment Programme by Alleppy Ashraf, Ganamela by Lata and Raju, the classical concert and ganamela by Padmashree Dr. K J Yesudas, and the other programmes by Sri M G Sreekumar, Mr. Biju Narayanan, Smt. Usha Uthup, the Bharat Nattyam performance by Rev. Fr. Dr. Saju George S.J. and Carnatic Music Programme by Rev. Fr. Dr. Paul Poovathingal C.M.I and latest one by Miss Reemy Tomy and Afsal, all tell how committed KCSSC is to the varied cultural and literary activities.