SOCIAL WORK is very close to his heart, and he feels obliged to serve humanity in whatever capacity possible. As the chairman of the Kuwait Chapter of Institution of Engineers India (IEI), Joseph Panicker has been actively engaged in a variety of social causes in addition to striving to resolve the issues of fellow engineers in Kuwait. He comes from a humble background, and has always seen hope in the most adverse of life’s situations. Not the least of which was an incident during the invasion when he sent a postcard with a message from the Bible to the late HH the Amir in the course of fleeing the horrors of war. Days later Joseph received a letter: a reply from the Amir’s office that was in exile in Saudi Arabia, thanking him for his emotional support to Kuwait.

Question: You are the chairman of The Institution of Engineers India (IEI), Kuwait Chapter? Tell us something about your organization?
Answer: IEI is a very old institution, founded in India in 1920. IEI got royal charter when George VI visited India in 1935. It is a unique professional body encompassing 15 engineering disciplines and representing the interests of engineers on a global platform. For example, when the annual meeting of World Federation of Engineers Organization (WFEO) took place in Kuwait last year, the IEI, Kuwait Chapter, was active in supporting the presidency of Adel Al Khorafi, who was eventually elected president. WFEO was founded in 1985.
Following that an MoU was signed between WFEO and IEI, Kuwait Chapter. We are currently in the process of sorting out a flawed accreditation system in India that is affecting the job prospects of a lot of Indian engineers in many countries. The system is inherently flawed, leaving even graduates from top Indian institutes like the IIT and central and state universities unaccredited.
Kolkata is the head office of IEI. We have over 100 centers and almost 500,000 members. We have 6 overseas Chapters including Kuwait, Qatar, Bahrain, Sydney.
IEI, Kuwait Chapter was founded in 1995.

Q: Tell us about some of the important activities of IEI.
A: IEI celebrates the Engineers Day, the biggest of its kind in the Middle East, in memory of Sir M. Visveswaraya, an outstanding engineer and statesman from India. In fact, India is the only country that observes Engineers Day.
All the members of the IEI, Kuwait Chapter, will take part in the observance of Engineers Day. Fifty percent of the participants are non-Indians. That gives it a very international flavor. The keynote speakers at the various events we organize during the Engineers Day come from different parts of the world. It is also an occasion for us to receive a message from the President of IEI.
For every Engineers Day we have a theme. The Day is observed on Sept 15 everywhere. But in Kuwait due to the weather and so on, we push it to October or further down.

The theme comes from the head office in India. We ask our engineers to prepare papers to be submitted on that day. We also publish some of those papers in our souvenir.
Secondly IEI, Kuwait Chapter, conducts technical seminars and workshops on topics related to engineering and technology, and provides certificates as part of continued professional development program.
We hold a seminar almost every month. They are either sponsored by various companies or organizations or we encourage our members to present it on their own. Last month the topic of the seminar was LED and Green Technology.
We also associate with other similar societies or organizations, which promote and support eco-friendly living. IEI participates in national and international technical conferences, congresses, seminars, meets and activities. Another of our important activity involves AMIE examination, which we conduct here in Kuwait.

Q: What is AMIE examination?
A: It is an examination that is equal to an engineering degree and recognized in many countries, including USA.

Q: How does IEI express its social commitment?
A: We give a lot of emphasis to environmental protection and believe in investing in children to make a change in future. The IEI Science Club conducts science related programs, science skits, soft skills-effective communication programs and presentations, and site visits for children.
We hold Science Club programs every month. We take the programs to various schools in the society to promote science. Our programs are of a very high standard. Last month we dealt with the topic of Black Holes. Some of the children who made presentations many years ago are today good public speakers. That’s how we mould young minds.

Recently, we took the IEI Science Club children on a visit to the Kuwait Science Club in South Surra. It’s a wonderful place, and not many people know about it. It has a planetarium and an Imax theatre, where films are shown. These facilities, I think, are not made optimum use of. We took the children to the aviation section in the club.
We were awestruck by the creativity of Kuwaiti science enthusiasts. We saw models of flying machines designed by Kuwaiti pilots. There was a twin-seater machine with a propeller at the back. In one filling, you can go to Dubai and come back on that machine. It’s patented. The only other of its kind in the world is in Spain.
Another pilot had a self-made helicopter. It looked absolutely fantastic. The club was a treasure trove of scientific wonders. The pilot gave us visitors a lesson in aerodynamics and answered questions.

Q: You also have a Green Club at IEI. What do you do there?
A: We fully appreciate the importance of imparting awareness among children on environment, which is increasingly becoming a hot topic everywhere. The Green Club promotes earth science and environmental awareness programs such as planting trees, beach cleaning activities and so on.
We have conducted several activities in schools making children understand the concept of global warming and how it is threatening our planet.

It’s the fundamental right of every human being to have clean air, good soil and unadulterated food. We make the children understand their right to enjoy these facilities, at the same time preserve them for the next generation. As part of the program, we have planted around 100 palm trees in Kuwait and around 300 shrubs in Doha in association with the Voluntary Work Center, which is chaired by Sheikha Amthal, the sister of HH the Amir.
In Salmiya garden, we have planted around 100 plants. It was during my involvement in such social work that I realized the passion among various Kuwaiti organizations to serve the country.
At our Green Club, we teach the importance of going green. This is once again for children. We have an ambitious plan of giving every school in Kuwait a green house.

Q: You mean a green house where plants are grown under controlled climate?
A: Yes. Here children will learn about plants, about good plants and invasive plants, and how to grow and nurture them. Once it is in the school premises, teachers can also contribute by imparting more knowledge to children.

Q: What are invasive plants?
A: There are certain varieties of trees that guzzle water, depleting our water tables. Unfortunately many such trees are found in Kuwait. It is taking over the ecosystem, which is very harmful.
Kuwait has very little reserves of natural ground water. These plants will dry them up.
So we focus on what’s good for the ecosystem. Botany teachers can also use it for instructing students. The green house will have a metal frame covered with plastic. And plants will be grown in it under controlled climate.
Unfortunately we have not got permission from the fire department. We made agreements with some schools, and also inaugurated it. But it didn’t take it off because of the fire department’s restriction.

Q: What other activities is IEI involved in?
A: Then there is also the Ladies Club. Every year the club has a theme. This is year’s was plastic. The ladies also discuss parenting and other subjects of interest to them. In parenting, we all agree that there is no fixed formula. It’s more about sharing our experiences and learning collectively from one another.

Q: Do you collaborate with other organizations in Kuwait in any of your activities?
A: Yes, one of the organizations that we are regularly engaged with is K’s PATH. They are an animal welfare organization, and have championed several animal causes. Recently, they interfered very strongly when they came to know that some street dogs were being poisoned.
K’s PATH has a program called Alial aimed at cleaning up beaches. They also undertake operations for the preservation of marine life. By cleaning up the beaches, you also actually save the lives of a lot of migratory birds. These birds swallow sand as they prey on their natural preys in the marine environment. They later spit out the sand. However, when the sand is polluted with plastic and other wastes, these birds choke on them and die.

IEI collaborates with K’s PATH in many of their beach cleanups. The cleanups are done very professionally. The waste is segregated into plastic, recyclables, toxic stuffs and so on before being disposed of. They also bring doctors along to be prepared for accidents. They come fully equipped.
EnV is another organization that we have worked with. They have a program called REUSE, which as the name indicates is about creatively reusing everyday things in life to save energy. They had invited us this year again to set up a booth. But we unfortunately couldn’t due to unavoidable reasons.
Energy is used in the creation of anything. Therefore, by recycling things, we are in effect saving a lot of energy that would have otherwise gone into its creation. This is a big science.

Talking of energy conservation, I am reminded of USGBC or United States Green Building Council. The council has what’s called LEED or Leadership in Energy and Environmental Design. This is a new system that is fast picking up everywhere.
Though it started initially in the US, today it is everywhere. Kuwait too has started its LEED. I think Qatar was the first country to accept LEED in the Middle East.
Engineers who pass the LEED exam are called LEED professionals. To design buildings according to LEED standards, you need these professionals. Qatar was the first country to build under these standards. The first LEED project was a city near the country’s international airport.

Q: What are the salient features of LEED design?
A: LEED designs follow many strict rules and regulations before the construction of a building, starting from the selection of land to construction and usage of place. There are many restrictions which have to be adhered to. For each rule that is kept there are points given. For a building to win LEED certification it has to have at least 40 points.
Silver and gold accreditations are also given to high standard designs.

For example, let’s say you are building a structure in the city. You get points if you choose to demolish an old building and build the new structure in its footprint instead of choosing an open space.
Because by using an open space, you are harming the ecosystem by obstructing the wind flow, rainwater penetration and so on. Selection of land itself brings points. In case you have to build on an unused land, then there are other sets of criteria to follow.
Using reflective materials for buildings is another factor for points. Traditionally we have been using black color on the roof to prevent water leakage. But black absorbs energy and heats up the building, leading to increased use of air conditions to offset the heat generated. LEED recommends that you create a garden on the roof or that you use white to reflect off the sunlight. On a clear day, the building with a white roof remains cool. Cloudy conditions can affect the heat outflow as clouds lock in the heat. This is the reason that on some nights we see temperatures in the range of 48 degrees.
The LEED also talks about how to set an office. It says that at least 30 percent of your vision from the office should reach a distant place. This is good for your eyes. The logic is that, by keeping yourself healthy, you avoid the need to engage a doctor, who will otherwise spend time on you, triggering a chain of energy-consumption events. Use of mercury light draws negative points in LEED. Disposing of mercury lights is a problem as mercury contaminates the soil and ground water.
In LEED, when old buildings are demolished, we focus on reusing things from the old buildings, like bricks, doors etc. This way the energy used to manufacture these items are saved.
IEI is promoting LEED and we are going to establish an examination center for LEED professionals in Kuwait. We will have a total of 9 officials for exam, and 3 are under training already. We will soon establish a center.

Q: Personally, what has been your inspiration to be involved in social work?
A: Let me share a small anecdote from my life. During invasion, the expatriates were leaving Kuwait in teeming numbers. After some initial glitches, the opportunity came for me and my family to leave for India from Amman via Baghdad. We were on the way to Baghdad by road.
On the way, I posted a letter addressed to the then HH the Amir, Sheikh Jaber Al Ahmed Al Sabah, quoting a verse of strength from the Bible. I sent the letter to express my solidarity with Kuwait, not knowing if I would ever be able to return to this wonderful country. But going by the horrible situation of that time, I never expected a reply.
To my surprise, I got a reply from the Kuwaiti government that was working from Saudi Arabia, thanking me for my moral support and stating that the HH the Amir empathizes with my sentiments. I was deeply moved by this noble gesture. The Amir’s office had taken the trouble and time to reply to my humble letter.
It is incidents like these that have inspired me in the way of social service. I feel deeply beholden to the society and want to give back in whatever way I can. I still cherish that letter from HH the Amir’s office. It gives me strength.
Moreover, I have a lot of friends who are involved in social work. All these people inspire me with their courage and will to make a positive change in the society.


biography
Joseph Panicker is the Chairman of the Institution of Engineers India (IEI), and works as a consultant in Pan Arab Consulting Engineers and Planners. In his career spanning decades, he has worked in leading organizations like House of Trade, Al Magwa Trading and Contracting Company, Mitsubishi Electric Company, National Kharafi, Carter International, Bader Al Mulla and many others. In 2011, Joseph Panicker received the Bharath Gaurav Award which is given to luminous personalities in India and abroad by India International Friendship Society at an annual function held in New Delhi.
Joseph Panicker has several professional affiliations including Fellow of Institution of Engineers India (FIEI), Life Member of Kuwait Society of Engineers, Member of Bahrain Society of Engineers (2011), Consultant Engineer, a title bestowed on him by Kuwait Society of Engineers and others.