NAMAM Announces Excellence Awards 2026 Honorees

The North American Malayalee Association of Malayalis (NAMAM), in partnership with the MBN Foundation, will honor distinguished individuals for their contributions to leadership, entrepreneurship, innovation, community service, arts, culture, healthcare, education, and business at the NAMAM Excellence Awards 2026 on August 2 at Royal Albert’s Palace in Fords, New Jersey.

The awards recognize individuals whose achievements reflect “moral integrity, cultural enrichment, and inspirational leadership.”

“History is not merely a record of the past; it is the story of the people who lived it. If those stories are not preserved, we lose a part of our identity,” said Founder and Secretary General of NAMAM, Madhavan B. Nair.

According to a statement, the award recipients were selected through a “rigorous, impartial process” by a jury chaired by Dr. Padmaja Prem, with members Anil Pillai and Dr. Latha Nair.

2026 Award Recipients

• Padma Shri Hasmukh Shah will receive the Media Excellence Award. As Founder and Chairman of TV Asia, Shah has played a leading role in South Asian diaspora media since 1993, connecting more than 1,200 community organizations across North America. His honors include the Padma Shri in 2017 and the Ellis Island Medal of Honor in 2005.
• Colonel Virendra Tewathia will be honored for Public Service and Humanitarian Work. A veteran leader and National President of FOKANA, he leads the Shraddha Foundation, which supports soldiers’ families and disaster victims. His initiatives, including the FOKANA Medical Card program, reflect a longstanding commitment to community service.
• Dr. Sajimon Antony will receive the Community Leadership Award. A recipient of the 2026 Pravasi Bharatiya Divas Global Excellence Award and author of the Pulitzer Prize-winning Broken Chains, he is recognized for his contributions to literature and community leadership.
• Dr. Mathew K. Isaac will be honored for Literature. He is the author of Touched by Redeeming Love (2018) and is recognized for his literary contributions.
• Kishore Varieth will receive the Entrepreneurship Award. His global business ventures employ more than 130 professionals and support educational opportunities for underprivileged children in Bangladesh. According to the statement, his enterprise is valued at approximately $60 million.
• Pandit Shri Raghu Shankaramanji will be honored for Community Service. As founder of Shri Shiva Vishnukshetram in Edison, New Jersey, he has led spiritual outreach and humanitarian initiatives that have served the local community.
• Dr. Nandini Menon will receive the Education Award. Founder and Chief Education Officer of Cedar Hill Prep School, she has been recognized for her leadership in sustainable education, including receiving the INNOVATE100 Award in 2025.
• Sparsh Shah will receive the Extraordinary Talent Award. Living with Osteogenesis Imperfecta, Shah has built an international career as a performing artist and motivational speaker while raising more than $6 million for charitable causes.

Lifetime Achievement Recognition

The inaugural Samgra Sambhavana Puraskar (Lifetime Achievement Award) will be presented to Dr. M.V. Pillai, an oncologist and global health leader. As President and CEO of the International Network for Cancer Treatment and Research, Dr. Pillai has advanced cancer care internationally. He also received the Association of Kerala Medical Graduates’ Lifetime Achievement Award in 2024.

Special Jury Honors

NAMAM will also present Special Jury Honors to three individuals for their contributions in their respective fields:

• Guru T.S. Nandakumar for Performing Arts, recognizing his work as a mridangam maestro and cultural ambassador.
• George Joseph for Journalism, honoring his role as founder of eMalayalee and a pioneer of American Malayali media.
• Sunil Tristar for Visual Media, recognizing his contributions as a veteran broadcaster and innovator in Malayalam television.

NAMAM Legacy Edition

The awards ceremony will also mark the launch of the NAMAM Legacy Edition, a commemorative coffee-table book being published in conjunction with the 250th anniversary of the United States.

According to the statement, the publication will document the lives and achievements of 40 distinguished Indian-origin professionals and community leaders, preserving their contributions for future generations.

“The initiative reflects a broader effort to preserve the cultural legacy of the Malayalee diaspora while recognizing individuals whose work has created a meaningful and lasting impact,” Madhavan Nair said.

The premium hardcover volume will feature professionally written profiles and cinematic photography highlighting achievements in public service, entrepreneurship, literature, innovation, leadership, and community development.

In addition to the print edition, honorees will be featured in a coordinated digital campaign across NAMAM’s social media platforms, with their profiles archived through the organization’s online network.

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