KOCHI: Mathunny Mathews popularly known as ‘Toyota’ Sunny, who was a pillar of the Indian expatriate community in Kuwait for over half-a-century, passed away at his residence in Qadisiya in Kuwait on Saturday. He was 81.
The funeral will be held later at his native Podippara, Eraviperoor in Pathanamthitta district.
Mathews had played a key role in the safe evacuation of 1.7 lakh Indian nationals from the Emirate after Saddam Hussein’s Iraqi forces invaded Kuwait in 1990.
Mathews was barely 20 when he set foot on Kuwaiti soil in 1956 even before the oil-rich Emirate had attained independence. He came to be known as ‘Toyota’ Sunny following his life-long association with the leading automobile dealer Al-Sayer Group. In fact, Mathews went on to head the Al-Sayer Group as its managing director.
Mathews had gone to Kuwait by ship. During his decades-long existence there he was able to establish a vast network of friends and well wishers. He became chairman of the Indian School in Kuwait and headed various social organisations. Mathews was one of the founding members of the Indian Arts Circle which brought the expats together.
Mathunny Mathews was the inspiration for ‘Airlift’, a Bollywood movie in which Akshay Kumar depicted Ranjit Katyal. He is survived by wife Mary Mathew and children Joy, Annie and Susan.