Being an Indian in Dubai

The ‘Odisha Samaj’ (community) in Dubai literally brought the fragrance and colors of home to UAE and resurrected a mini-India on 15 April 2011. The function was possible due to the efforts of immensely dedicated group of organizers and participants. These are schoolchildren studying in competitive environment, participants and organizers excelling in their demanding professional fields. They stole moments from their busy lives, churned out an impressive program that held viewers captive, and left them hankering for more. The program was bejeweled with a scintillating line of group and individual performances. The program was initiated by an inaugural group song and an Odishi classical dance recital, where Lord Jagganath was paid homage. Various individuals’ songs, group dances showcasing the various folk and classical forms of Indian culture, followed. The most endearing element of the program was the fancydress competition for children. Earlier, a painting competition for differentage groups of children had been arranged, where the central theme was Indianculture. The winning entries were honored with prizes during the program. OdishaSamaj (community) is a small start to an exemplary vision of keeping alive theIndianness in the minds and hearts of children who never had an opportunity toexperience their homeland. No matter how far from home one is the heart alwaysyearns for its roots. The mundane irritations and ordinary memories become themost cherished. The daily doses of power-cuts, sweaty and hot evenings equippedwith newspaper-fans in dark, ritualistic family gathering, antaksharis, wordpower games, etc. Even the most errant, irksome memories are adornedin a citadel of nostalgia. Homing pigeons find their way back home from the odorcarried by the wind. Salmons, thousands of miles away from home, are guided byan internal magnet back to their dwellings. Nature has designed each of theseanimals to find their way back home. Humans are devoid of such naturaldirectors, perhaps because their survival is not hinged on it. Theirintelligence enables them to adapt to all environment. Yet for people residingaway from their homeland the thirst for their roots is real and acute.The estimated Indian population in the United Arab Emirates (UAE) asof 2009 census is two million. This constitutes about 35% of the totalpopulation of six million. Ironically, the local Arab population is a mere 20%of the total population of the UAE. Abu Dhabi, Sharjah and Dubai are the citieswhere a majority of the Indians resides. If numbers were a determinant of power,Indians can literally rule the country. Indians, however, have traditionallyenjoyed an amicable and cordial relationship with the UAE. Certain incidencesof ill-treatment of immigrant Indian laborers in the recent years have brewed updiscord in the relationship between the two countries. Indians like otherexpatriates prosper and enjoy the employment opportunities in many other sectorslike construction, real estate, petroleum, transport as well as inentrepreneurship and professional services. The proximity tohomeland, convenience, security, infrastructure, and comfort attracts Indians toUAE like bees to honey. Being in UAE is like being in a comfortable, secure andmodern India- A pseudo-home land, devoid of the concomitant headaches that ispart of a resident Indian's life. The UAE is also a relatively lenient nationthat offers opportunity for cultural/religious expression and freedom. Indiaclub, Goan Association, Keralite association, temples, churches, Indian schools,and an enviable line up of Indian restaurants and food joints are testimony tothe fact that Indians are allowed to be Indians in UAE. It is, however, notUtopia and there are certain limitations and restrictions like, non-Muslims arenot allowed to proselytize their religion publicly. Three years backwhen I was to embark on my journey to UAE a Muslim country I did have certainreservations. This was triggered by a seemingly innocuous statement by a friend.When she had come to wish us a safe journey, I had invited her to visit ussometime in UAE. She had blunted out promptly "Oh! I’m sorry, but I cannotvisit a conservative Mohammedian country." I do not know what had elicited thereaction, but it stayed with me for a long time. I am happy that now, havinglived here for 3 years, I feel a little sorry for her complacency. We celebrateHoli, Diwali, Easter, Id and Ramadan with as much élan as any IndianMuslim, Hindu or Christian would have. The only difference is that we havefriends who are Muslim, Hindu and Christian and not necessarily only from India.Employment opportunity, financial constraints or comfort of living and a myriadof other reasons brings us far from home. We survive the homesickness byrecreating a semblance of home, perhaps a more tolerant and accommodative home.