Gulf Daily News/by Joshua Mathew
All Indians in Bahrain would like to salute and thank His Majesty and his delegation for making that historic visit to India.
We are sure it will further strengthen the existing excellent bilateral relationship between India and Bahrain. It is quite evident that the Bahrain government has been very serious about this visit – the 120-member delegation included three princes, the Deputy Prime Minister, all of the key Bahrain ministers, businessmen, industrialists, Shura Council members, journalists and many high ranking government officials.
During these three days, many memoranda were signed which will mutually benefit both Bahrain and India in the economic, trade and investment sectors.
Yes, India’s relationship with Bahrain has been more than 70 years old and in fact prior to the introduction of the Bahraini dinar in 1965, the currency in Bahrain was the rupee.
The Indian Club was started in 1915 and the Bahrain Keraleeya Samajam was started in 1947. We, expatriates, especially Indians have enjoyed our stay in Bahrain and we have earned it by diligently carrying out the work entrusted to us.
Needless to say that a quarter of Bahrain’s population is made up of Indians, but spare a thought for the quarter million labourers who toil hard in the open to support their families back in India and many of them find it very hard to make both ends meet. Many of them have not gone back to their home town for many years and end their lives here without even having a chance to meet their dear ones. I hope something will be done to improve their condition.
During the last 17 years Bahrain has been my second home. It has given me all the freedom, a good job and opportunity to be active in society as I desired.
I do not know whether it is a mere coincidence that my 51 years of existence in this beautiful Earth is equally divided into three 17 year segments. 17 years in Bahrain from 1997 to till date, 17 years in India, from the age of 5 to 22 and 17 years in Oman (12 years between 1985 & 1997 plus the five years in Zanzibar where I was born). As you may be aware Zanzibar was once part of Oman and Zanzibar joined Tankanyika in 1964 to become Tanzania.
All the best to the leaders and to the people of Bahrain and India and for the betterment of their unilateral relationships.
(The views expressed above are the personal views of the writer)
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A unique relationship
