Addressing a press conference on Monday, A.V. Bhaskaran, president of the association, said that the DMA founded with the aim of promoting national integration, social welfare and education and culture have been organising medical camps, providing assistance during calamities and holding seminars and cultural programmes. But it is yet to find office space despite being the largest of the many Malayali outfits in Delhi. In fact, it got a phone connection just this year.

We have appealed to the Kerala government and have asked them to spare some space in the Travancore House for us, Bhaskaran said. The lack of an office after 50 years of existence reflects a general identity crisis by the 12 lakh Malayalis settled in Delhi. The association admitted that despite operating in 17 areas in Delhi it has failed to reach out to the community. It blamed its low profile on want of space and money. ``We expect the golden jubilee year to give our activities some kind of momentum,'' association member P.J. Varghese said.

According to writer M. Mukundan, the 50-year-old association has been a positive presence in Delhi in its early days when it was Left oriented. Later, it began to languish due to the lack of a sense of purpose. ``Its new leader, HUDCO chairman V. Suresh seems to have lots of plans for the body,'' said Mukundan, who along with Sahitya Akademi Secretary Sachidanandan and Members of Parliament from Kerala, is on the golden jubilee committee of the association.

Among the high points of the golden jubilee celebrations this year is a Yesudas concert, a film festival, a film-star night, besides an All India Malayalam literary competition and seminars on topics like women's reservations.