Valsa Benjamin Matthew, a pioneering female leader in Al Ain, leaves behind a legacy of community service
Indian-origin community leader Valsa Benjamin Matthew, wife of renowned physician Dr. George Matthew, passed away in Al Ain on Saturday at the age of 79, reported gulfnews.com.
A trailblazer in community service and a pillar of support
Valsa Benjamin Matthew, who spent 58 years in Al Ain, was a pioneering figure in the Indian expatriate community. She was the wife of Dr. George Matthew, after whom Abu Dhabi named a street in his honor last year.
Valsa passed away at a local hospital following an illness, surrounded by her family and friends, according to her loved ones.
Born in Aden, Yemen, in 1945, Valsa was the daughter of KM Benjamin and Thankam John, who hailed from Kerala, India. She completed her Bachelor of Science degree from St. Teresa’s College, Kochi, before marrying Dr. George Matthew in 1966. The couple moved to the UAE in 1967, when it was still known as the Trucial States.
Championing women’s empowerment and cultural initiatives
-
Valsa played a pivotal role in promoting women’s empowerment and cultural initiatives
-
She founded the Indian Ladies Association in Al Ain and led the International Ladies Circle, where she established one of the first libraries with her personal collection of novels
Community leaders such as Bijily Anish, president of the Indian Mahila Association, and Smitha Rajesh, chairlady of the ISC Women’s Forum, described Valsa as a proactive and dedicated leader who significantly contributed to socio-cultural activities in Al Ain.
“She was deeply involved in the Indian expatriate community, leaving an indelible mark through her efforts. Her absence will be profoundly felt,” they said.
A life devoted to family, faith, and service
While Dr. George Matthew—affectionately known as ‘Matyous’—was a pioneer in modern medicine in Al Ain, Valsa stood by his side, actively supporting the community.
Dr. George, a recipient of the Abu Dhabi Awards, served as the first governmental doctor in Al Ain and held key positions, including Medical Director of Al Ain Region and Health Authority Consultant.
Valsa is remembered as a devoted wife and mother to their only daughter Maryam (Priya) and as a generous and pious member of St. Dionysius Orthodox Church, where she will be laid to rest on Monday, March 3.
Bency Tharakan, vice chairman of St. Dionysius Orthodox Church, remarked, “Valsa was deeply loved by her family, church, and community. Her passing is a tremendous loss, and her contributions will be cherished forever.”
A memorial service to honor Valsa Benjamin Matthew’s life will be held at 12 noon on Monday at St. Dionysius Orthodox Church, where community members will gather to offer their prayers and tributes.
***********************************************************
Readers
These are extraordinary times. All of us have to rely on high-impact, trustworthy journalism. And this is especially true of the Indian Diaspora. Members of the Indian community overseas cannot be fed with inaccurate news.
Pravasi Samwad is a venture that has no shareholders. It is the result of an impassioned initiative of a handful of Indian journalists spread around the world. We have taken a small step forward with the pledge to provide news with accuracy, free from political and commercial influence. Our aim is to keep you, our readers, informed about developments at ‘home’ and across the world that affect you.
Please help us to keep our journalism independent and free.
In these difficult times, running a news website requires finances. While every contribution, big or small, will make a difference, we request our readers to put us in touch with advertisers worldwide. It will be a great help.
For more information: pravasisamwad00@gmail.com
