Community Leaders and Friends Celebrated Koshy O. Thomas’s Birthday in NewYork

NEW YORK: Community leaders, longtime friends and well-wishers gathered at Santoor Restaurant to celebrate community activist Koshy O. Thomas’s birthday in a spirit of friendship, peace, unity and togetherness.

Held in connection with Koshy’s September 15 birthday, the gathering brought together friends and associates from various areas of community and organizational life. Raju Varghese Abraham and V.M. Chacko organized the gathering, bringing together many of Koshy’s longtime friends.

Koshy thanked Raju Varghese Abraham and V.M. Chacko for bringing his friends together. He said such gatherings provide an opportunity to meet, exchange ideas and strengthen relationships, expressing hope that they would continue working together for the betterment of the community.

Reflecting on his life experiences, Koshy said one of the most valuable lessons he has learned is the importance of restraint.

“When you are angry, it is never wise to make an immediate decision,” he said. “If you wait a while, many things settle down. You can then see things more clearly and make the right decision. Practicing restraint has helped me greatly in life.”

He said choosing reflection over reaction has remained an important principle throughout his life.

Subhash Kapadia described Koshy as “a person of vision, integrity and hard work” and commended his contributions to the community.

Among the longtime friends and associates attending were Hemanth Shah, Dr. Hari Shukla, Ashok Jain, George Abraham, Vinod Patel, Alex Esthappan, Dincil George, Ravi S., Lona George, Vanitha Ravi, Ujwala Moses, Usha George, George Parambil, George Chacko, Thankamma Abraham, Dr. Lizzy Chacko, Aleyamma Appukuttan, V.M. Chacko, Raju Varghese Abraham, Shaji Enasseril and Farhad Hazari, along with other friends and well-wishers.

Several attendees spoke about Koshy’s leadership, perseverance and longstanding community service. Friends noted that differences of opinion had never prevented them from maintaining mutual respect and friendship.

For more than three decades, Koshy has been active in the social, cultural and organizational life of the Indian American community in New York.

He was among the leaders of the Floral Park Bellerose Indian Merchants Association and now serves as its chairman. He has also been actively involved with Queens, NY India Day Parade and numerous community initiatives.

Born in Kerala, India, Koshy spent much of his childhood and educational years in Madras, now Chennai. With a background in legal studies and an interest in public life, he moved to the United States in 1993 and continued his civic and community involvement in New York. In 2021, he ran in the Democratic primary for the New York City Council.

“Wherever you move, your values should not change,” Koshy said, describing a principle that has guided his life.

He also cited another belief that continues to inspire his community involvement: “Serving the community is the truest form of worship.”

The gathering ultimately became more than a birthday celebration, offering an opportunity to renew enduring friendships, reaffirm unity despite differences and reflect on lessons drawn from years of life and community service.