Kerala - Kochi

A cyber space for Malayalis

KOCHI: A year ago, when Jyothikumaran and Jayamohan, two expatriate Malayalis, sat together reliving their childhood days, an idea took shape. Thus was born www.Koottam.com, a website that claims to be the “Malayalees’ first social networking site.”

The idea had its genesis in Orkut, one of the world’s most popular social networking sites, when it played a role in rebuilding their friendship after both went their own separate ways after college. That Mr. Jayamohan is a successful IT consultant in the United States helped the cause. The site was launched in a small way with immediate friends as members. Services available were also limited initially.

Then, the site was given a facelift with added facilities in January this year. Since then, the membership has swelled taking it to 19,174, the majority of whom are youngsters, says Mr. Jyothikumaran, a businessman based in Dubai.

He said that checks have been put in place to quarantine and expel unwanted elements using abusive language or behaving against the spirit of the site. Complaints, if any, can be sent to admin@koottam.com and will be acted on promptly. Twenty members were expelled this way.

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