It was an evening sometime in late 1987 that I met Sunny Kulathakal for the first time.

The place was The Times of India editorial in Bangalore. The occasion was the production of a supplement on Keralites in Bangalore. As the co-ordinator I had to get articles from different contributors on the leading figures of the community. My Resident Editor who introduced me to Sunny suggested that I could get the help of freelance writer Sunny on this. One of the tasks assigned to him was interviewing Gopalan Nair, a pioneering Keralite activist and founder member of Kerala Samajam, in the city. With his contribution a supplement well appreciated by readers was brought out. Since then our friendship blossomed into a strong personal bond that has survived to-date.

The disarming smile that can floor anyone is his unique trait. What has drawn me to Sunny is his enviable knack to build friendship and nurture it even under adverse circumstances. The trait of retaining friendships for decades is difficult to emulate. Over the years he has amassed a string of amazing enduring contacts that range from neighbourhood shopkeepers to national and international figures. He has been on equal terms with Kings, Prime Ministers, Ambassadors, industrial magnates and media moguls across the globe. As one who realized the value of networking in the pre-computer era, success in his ventures was assured. The runaway success of his Gulf Who's Who can be traced to his trait of putting premium on personal contacts.

  I find Sunny's infinite capacity to come to the aid of people in need quite astonishing. Be it the case of someone caught in bureaucratic red tape, a person at the receiving end of police high handedness, even a distressed parent looking for his lost son or a Gulf expatriate struggling to make a living, Sunny is always there to lend a helping hand. Sunny recalls an incident in San Francisco during his visit there when an elderly woman hailing from Kerala spotted him at a gathering and profusely thanked him for restoring her missing son some thirty years earlier. Those are the moments that he cherishes most. Hailing from a family of priests, compassion comes naturally to him.

Former Meghalaya Governor M M Jacob vividly remembers how he used to ride pillion on Sunny's rickety scooter years ago during a visit to Bangalore. Whenever he visits Bangalore he invariably stays with Sunny discarding official trappings. There are also several other politicians who enjoy Sunny's hospitality frequently. I have fond memories of the time I have spent with Sunny at his farm near Bangalore.

A Supreme Court judge hailing from Karnataka often says that Sunny has made him a judge of the apex court. He explains how this has come about: The judge while serving in the Karnataka High Court one day told Sunny that being fed up of work he was planning to put in his papers. Sunny soon alerted a brother judge in the High Court who in turn persuaded the judge not to take such an extreme step. As he reconsidered the decision to quit the opportunity for his elevation to the Supreme Court was not missed.

A born organizer, writer, journalist and social activist, he immensely values the trait of reaching out to people and zealously guarding the links. This amazing capacity has drawn him to the diaspora making him a familiar face at international gatherings of people of Indian origin.

Before the advent of Internet and social media he treasured the value of reaching out to people. This has stood him in good stead culminating in the success of Gulf Who’s Who Directory which has established itself as an effective tool in networking. It is also a successful venture in human relationships.

Based in Bahrain, as the International Co-ordinator (Middle-East) of the Global Organization of People of Indian Origin (GOPIO), Sunny is actively involved in alleviating the misery of expatriates.  The success of Kochi convention of GOPIO owes a lot to Sunny. As Vice President, GOPIO International and chairman of the Organizing Committee, his tireless efforts in forming various GOPIO chapters including those in London, Bangalore and Kochi culminated in organizing the successful jamboree of PIOs and NRIs in Kochi two years ago.    

Sunny's penchant for braving adversities with confidence is something worthy of emulation by the younger generation. In the seventies without the help of even a telephone directory venturing into a project like Gulf Who's Who and making it a success needed rare audacity. He is second to none in spotting an opportunity ahead and exploiting it to the hilt. He is a self-made man who is always eager to explore new realms.

At heart a Central Travancore farmer, Sunny cherishes his strong family bonds with his wife Elizabeth acting as a pillar of strength in all his ventures. He may be turning 70 but he has the zest for life and vigour that will be the envy of a 21-year-old. May benevolent God bless him with many more years of active life to enable him to serve humanity to his heart's content.