Why is it that whenever people talk about AI, they worry about AI-generated art: paintings, literature and such? Surely the whole point of AI is to do your mundane household chores so that you, dear human, can expand your intellectual and creative horizons by spending that extra time painting, writing great literature etc.?
Every time it seems that humans will be replaced by machines, we go through a spasm of concern and fear. Right from the time of the Industrial Revolution up until the Computer Age, we invent machines to reduce our workload and then live in fear of them. Just after World War 2, when more women joined the workforce mainly as of ce assistants, the health implications of women using typewriters was hotly debated. In the 1980s, it was the same thing for desktop computers. And now, we are tilting swords with AI.
When Salaam Bahrain’s Editor and writers go to conduct interviews, some people darkly point to the future when articles will be AI-generated. But that is not the purpose of a community publication, is it? This is no college assignment essay that we should hand over the reins to a robotic writer fuelled by well-chosen algorithms. It is about re ecting the happenings around us and our history and dreams and we can understand that only by talking to each other.
This issue stands at the heart of our Bahrain summer when we have slipped well into the latter half of the year. It has been an eventful month – my heart warmed when so many expats rejoiced at Bahrain’s triumphs at the Olympics. This one-family spirit has always been at the core of Bahrain’s progress. For India and Bahrain, this shows in the many historic echoes – the date of both countries emerging as masters of their own destiny is the same despite being 24 years apart: August 15. Both countries have travelled far towards ambitious goals and a bright future. Independence Day greetings to us all!
CAPTAIN MAHMOOD Y. AL MAHMOOD CHAIRMAN
The
Management, Principal, Staff, Students & Parents of
New Millennium School Kingdom of Bahrain
Celebrating India's Independence Day
we speak your language
HIGHLIGHTS
Indian Independence Day Special Issue
SPECIAL FOCUS – India @78
AMBASSADOR VINOD JACOB - NURTURING THE COMMUNITY
New community initiatives and a close tracking of IndiaBahrain economic relations mark Ambassador Jacob’s assessment of bilateral ties and the promise of what’s in store in the future.
FREEDOM TALE TAWAIFS –HEROINES OF OUR FREEDOM FIGHT
They fought alongside sepoys in the 1857 War, passed on valuable information, funded the revolution and even followed the Mahatma. Yet, history is late in recording their role in India’s freedom struggle.
SHEROSPEAK
WOMEN SHAPING THE COMMERCIAL & CULTURAL DIALOGUE
Shaikha Marwa Al Khalifa, Kaneka Subberwal, Shobha Anand, Tanima Chaudhry - four women whose passion and creativity is driving forward the wheels of commerce and culture between the GCC and India. We got them to share glimpses of their life story and success mantra.
IN CONVERSATION
ISB CHAIRMAN – MILES TO GO
Newly-elected Chairman Binu Varughese of The Indian School Bahrain has unveiled plans to upgrade teaching, facilities and infrastructure at the Kingdom’s oldest and largest expat school.
THE BIG STORY ALL HAIL THE BHATIA MATRIARCHS
Imagine living through the political birth of a sub-continent, being uprooted rst to India and then, after marriage, to a desert isle where these young brides built the community through sheer grit, courage and perseverance. Salaam Bahrain proudly presents, for the rst time, the untold story of these pioneers of the Bhatia community. They laid the foundation which elevated the Indian community to a three-dimensional family unit.
FASHION
Kaneka Subberwal’s Tarakeeb label fuses Bahraini luxury sensitivity with a wonderful cross-border awareness of culture and craft
ECOLOG
SEE-SAW OF MARINE HEALTH
How can Bahrain snorkelers and divers support marine environment? Take pointers from a marine biologist and let’s cherish our sea.
COVER STORY BEYON MONEY REIMAGINES OUR FINANCIAL FUTURE
Homegrown Bahraini SuperApp BEYON Money has proved to be a gamechanger, putting control of how we track our spending, saving and how we remit money into our hands. CEO Roberto Mancone talks of the exciting journey ahead, new products and challenges to be met.
FOOD
INDIA INFLUENCES TASTE TEST
The quirky TasteAtlas has places the Garlic Naan among its Top 10 Traditional Foods, much to the chagrin of Indian food-lovers who disagree. Never mind, the Indian in uence shows strongly in many other top dishes!
A celebration of India-Bahrain friendship at Ajoor majlis
Two dedicated Bahraini Indophiles who knew much more about India, its culture and history than many Indians – Shaikha Haya bint Ali Al Khalifa and her daughter Shaikha Marwa bint Abdulrahman Al Khalifa were the chief guests at a luncheon organized by businessman Nabeel Ajoor and his brother Abdulrahman Ajoor in their grand majlis in Hamala. With the Indian Ambassador Vinod Jacob and over 30 leading Indians in attendance, the luncheon was a delightful exchange of memories and
Telugu immigrants take the spotlight
It’s of cially the 11th most-spoken language in USA and now has a potential Second Lady in Usha Vance. The people of Andhra and Telangana are the toast of today’s immigrant story.
BY MEERA RAVI
Embracing celebrity husbands as the community’s ‘son-in-law’ is an honoured Indian tradition. Priyanka Chopra-Jonas’ husband Nick has been tagged ‘jiju’ or ‘brother-in-law’ by her fans and even the hardened paps use the term to get him to pose for them.
Now we have a possible political ‘alludu’ – Telugu for daughter’s husband.
That’s U.S. Veep hopeful JD Vance whose wife Usha Chilukuri Vance is of Andhra Pradesh-origin. Born in San Diego to immigrant Indian scientists, Usha and her sister followed in the illustrious footsteps of their family (her great aunt is making headlines as a 90-year old professor in India) and she holds a bachelor’s degree in History from Yale University and a Master of Philosophy degree from the University of Cambridge.
The couple came together in 2013 at Yale when they collaborated to organise a discussion group on “social decline in white America” – a subject which later
vignettes of Indian history. The crowning moment was the delicious Indian lunch to which Shaikha Haya has personally brought special dishes from her palace kitchen.
Nabeel Ajoor and Abdulrahman Ajoor and his wife Fatema were perfect hosts, plying each guest with personal attention and hospitality. It was an afternoon that will remain warm in the annals of Indo-Bahraini friendship history.
formed the central narrative of Vance’s bestselling book Hillbilly Elegy. She also served as Managing Editor of the Yale Journal of Law & Technology and Executive Development Editor of The Yale Law Journal.
DIFF’RENT STROKES
“We started as friends,” she said in a recent interview, “He was then, as he is now, the most interesting person I knew - a working class guy who had overcome childhood traumas that I could barely fathom to end up at Yale Law School, a tough marine who had served in Iraq, but who enjoys spending his leisure time playing with puppies and watching the movie ‘Babe’.”
A litigator at a national rm, Usha Vance is the daughter of Indian immigrants and has an impressive academic background.
Like Rishi Sunak and Akshaya Murthy, Usha draws a lot of spiritual solace from her Hindu faith.
“I grew up in a religious household. My parents are Hindu, and that was one of the things that made them such good parents, that makes them really very good people. And so, I think I’ve seen that...the power of that in my own life,” she said.
Her introduction of the VicePresidential nominee at the Republican Convention was perfectly crafted to
highlight a vulnerable yet strong allAmerican man. However, there is no denying that behind the PR, there is a genuine love and strength between the couple. In 2020, Vance described his wife as a “strong female voice” that grounds him. “Usha de nitely brings me back to earth. If I get a little too con dent or proud, I remind myself that she’s way more accomplished than I am,” he had said on a national TV show.
She revealed her husband’s culinary skills in Indian cuisine, describing him as a “meat and potatoes” kind of guy with a newfound ability to cook Indian food.
Of course, buried in the cheering are increased hate posts online from farright gures and Usha and the couple’s children have become the targets of backlash for their Indian ancestry as has Vice-President Kamala Harris whose electability has been questioned. It is a black spot that Americans will have to grapple with soon as Republicans look set to sweep the polls and give the country its rst Asian-American VicePresidential spouse.
GLOBAL STORY
The Telugu diaspora outside India from the states of Andhra Pradesh and Telengana, has been changing its pro le and today re ects the growth of the I.T. corridor in the uni ed Andhra of the 1990s. It was the heyday of Hyderabad as a rival to Bengaluru and top B-Schools
the acknowledged architect of modern I.T. -led Andhra Pradesh)
also set up home there since campus recruitment by blue-chip international companies was assured.
From there it was a measured step for the Telugu people of both states to migrate around the world and nd their niche.
And what a niche it is! It boasts industry leaders including Satya Nadella, the Microsoft chief executive of cer, Shantanu Narayen, the CEO of Adobe, and Aravind Krishna, the CEO of IBM. The in ux has led to Telugu overtaking Spanish as the fastest-growing foreign language in USA. Today, Telugu students heading to the US in 2024 Fall, will nd a growing community and familiar environment. The Telugu-speaking population in America has surged from 320,000 in 2016 to 1.23 million in 2024, according to a report by the Statistical Atlas of the US based on US Census Bureau data, California hosts the largest Telugu-speaking population, nearing 200,000, followed closely by Texas (150,000) and New Jersey (110,000). Telugu is now America’s 11th mostspoken language.
In the Gulf region, Telugu people are represented increasingly by professionals, entrepreneurs and a good mix of I.T. and nance management. Bahrain has an active Telugu Kala Samiti (TKS) which is the hub of community activities and also a edgling Telengana Cultural Association established in 2015 .
Shanthini Raja and Bahraini businesswoman Ahlam Janahi meet Chandrababu Naidu,
“The Telugu Kala Samithi (TKS) is an anchor for the Telugu-speaking community and we organize many cultural events to keep the unique Telugu identity alive,” said President Jagadeesh, “We also ful ll a special service need in coordinating relief work, helping the vulnerable groups to communicate with the embassy etc. Recently we even conducted our 25th anniversary in grand style with former Indian Vice-President Venkiah Naidu as our Chief Guest.”
ENTREPRENEUR DREAMS
Along with the professionals, the community has welcomed entrepreneurs also and Telugu women have been particularly adventurous in exploring new business opportunities.
Foodpreneur Seema Acharya is a ne example. She relocated from Doha to Bahrain in 2017 and decided to continue her business passion of cooking aromatic Hyderabadi Dum Biryani for a select group of customers. The business soon grew into a full- edged home-catering service and then into a small restaurant.
“Then the pandemic struck – just within months of our opening,” she rued, “We had no choice but to dismantle our dreams and shut down. But I was well and truly bitten by the entrepreneurial bug. And so, immediately after the pandemic, I started a food truck and ran it for a year.”
After a year, Seema moved back into catering and now has a homely Andhra restaurant called Seema’s Kitchen in Adliya. She says doing business in Bahrain is easier than Qatar because the community is smaller and more welcoming. She also has little competition because authentic Andhra restaurants are few.
“Bahrain gave me the chance to spread my wings and see how high I can y,” she said, “As a beginner businesswoman with only her excellent cooking skills, I had to experiment till I found my correct rhythm. But the community has been tremendously supportive and that is my strength.”
Businesswoman Shanthini Raja, whose two children are in the USA, is excited about the possibility of an Andhra-origin VP spouse of America.
“Usha Chilukuri Vance’s potentially becoming the Second Lady of the USA shows the growth of the Telugu diaspora’s in uence in America,” she said, “Given that my children are in America, I see her as a strong role model and a successful immigrant narrative. Her in uence can indeed help to shape positive perceptions about the Telugu community and Indian diaspora globally.”
In Bahrain, Shanthini says the Telugu community has been steadily making a mark as a professional group and as reliable business partners.
“Our contributions to various sectors, including business, education, and healthcare, highlights our community’s dynamism and dedication,” Shanthini observed, “As a woman entrepreneur from Andhra Pradesh in Bahrain, I would advise Indian businesspeople seeking
to set up ventures here to leverage the welcoming business environment and robust infrastructure that Bahrain offers. It’s essential to understand the local culture and build strong relationships with the local community. Networking and adapting to the market dynamics can signi cantly contribute to the success of new ventures.”
Chef-businesswoman Seema Acharya says Bahrain's Telugu community helped her to build her home speciality biryani business into a restaurant.
Celebrating the Silver Jubilee of TKS – 25 years of community service
BEYON MONEY A PROFITABLE REIMAGINING OF OUR ECONOMIC FUTURE
BY MEERA RAVI
The award-winning nancial digital app puts money management into users’ hands and is a rising star in the region
What do AF, a well-travelled Indian banker, S, a blue-collar worker and RT a Bahraini lady professional have in common? They are all users of the Beyon Money Super App – the rst to make transactions worldwide, the second to make purchases and send remittances and the third to use the app’s investment product to place her money in a safe, Sharia-compliant zone and earn good pro t. The rewards and the absolute ease of nancial management in using the Beyon Money Super App makes it an instrument of choice for a customer base that embraces different nationalities, economic backgrounds and gender.
Launched in January 2022 as a part of the Beyon Group, the super app works from a smartphone and puts an array of nancial tools quite literally in the hands of the user who can make payments,
• Roberto Mancone, CEO of BEYON Money
track spending, make remittances and most recently even invest funds with Beyon Money for a healthy interest rate.
THE SUPERAPP
The SuperApp today has expanded rapidly with a 100% year over year growth since the start and the speed with which it has expanded its services won it 7th place in the Rising Star category of Deloitte’s Technology Fast 50 programme which celebrates and recognizes the fastest-growing technology companies in the Middle East & Cyprus, based on their revenue growth. Beyon Money’s cards with worldwide acceptance and rewards, its international remittance and Flexi Invest and Fixed Invest products have played a key role in supporting the company’s revenue growth and achieving this win.
“I think it would be correct to say that Beyon Money has focused from the beginning on the democratisation of nancial services,” said CEO Roberto Mancone, “Our vision from the beginning was clear – to build a digital nancial marketplace that is trustworthy, accessible and effective. For the development of the app which provides an array of convenient nancial services, Bahrain was the perfect choice – the Kingdom has the technological foundation that enabled us to build a platform that is scalable and offers stability; the Kingdom has a strong nancial legal structure matched by transparency. Most importantly, Bahrain is not huge but has a developed platform which we could use to build our app, expand our portfolio and export it.”
Today, Beyon Money has over 60 thousand active subscribers, more than 1 million app views per month and from the start it has supported more than BD 300 million card domestic and international transactions and more than 8 million transactions. Last year, the app expanded its scope by launching Beyon Money Flexi Invest, the rst high yield and exible digital
The Beyon Money Super App includes Visa Prepaid Cards with worldwide acceptance, Stored Value Wallet and fully digital Remittances. It also offers savings in the form of Flexi-Invest & Fixed Invest Sharia compliant products. These products allow customers to invest from BD 20 (Flexi-Invest) and from BD 500 (Fixed Invest) with no limited amounts which are Shariacompliant and offer attractive profit rates.
It is the first fully digital Financial Super App to provide financial insights with categorization of spending with Beyon Money card.
The app is free and the Digital Classic Cards immediately issued upon registration can be added to Apple Wallet for iOS users and in
Benefit Pay app for Android or Huawei users, allowing clients that prefer digital cards to immediately access cash back, up to 6% and to 2x1 offers with up to 80 merchants (50 for Classic Cards, 75 for Platinum and 80 for Signature Cards). Platinum cards (at BD 15 annual membership) and Signature cards (at BD 25 annual membership) offer many discounts on car rentals up to 30%, luxury hotel chains up to 20%, travel booking up to 20%. In addition, the Signature Card offers access to more than 1,000 Airport lounges around the world.
The remittance feature has been further developed to offer competitive rates for international transfers to India, Pakistan, Bangladesh, the Philippines, Egypt and Europe and USA. The app also offers access to 49 international destinations including the UK, USA, Africa, EU and the GCC, through a collaboration with Sadad and enables them to be accessed from SADAD Kiosks.
“I think it would be correct to say that Beyon Money has focused from the beginning on the democratisation of financial services.”
retail investment solution in Bahrain and the GCC, offering its customers competitive pro t rates on their investment starting from BD20, with no upward limit. The product offers an interest earning up to 5.00% and is Sharia-compliant. Customers have full freedom of withdrawal at any time without penalty charges. One of the advantages of this product is that earnings are calculated on the daily balance and paid at the end of each month.
This year Beyon Money has also launched 3 months Fixed Invest with pro t rates between 5.00% and 5.30% and a 3 months Fixed Invest with pro t rates between 4.75% and 5.10% making them the best transparent offer available to any client in the market.
INNOVATION & TRUST
Mancone is especially proud that the app’s rapid development has incorporated innovation without losing customer trust.
“In upgrading our offerings, we are continuously evolving and every month there is an new service or a product tweak. But because parallelly we ensure that the old services continue to work, we enable customers to use our products without missing a beat – they always have the choice of using the familiar service or easing themselves into the new one.”
He says this is not just about enabling growth but also about staying true to Beyon Money’s mission to make digital nancial instruments more accessible, easy to understand, transparent and value driven, giving customers greater degrees of choice.
“We have always structured our offerings so that our customers got more than the market offered. Our digital prepaid card, for instance, costs zero but the user gets cashback on every transaction using it in addition to special offers. We started with cards, then introduced the most competitive remittance rates – sending money anywhere in the world
starting from 800 lls- and now we have moved into investment products.”
The company has extended its reach to the UAE with its remittance arm and expects that by September 2024 it will expand its UAE suite to include cards and investment also.
“The UAE is very competitive and more digitalized but the audience there is more receptive to new digital products,” Mancone said, “However, Bahrain is a great place to ne-tune a product like ours because the market is compact and allows us to read the cues and deliver a top-class product.”
What has been the public response to Beyon Money?
“When we rst started, - we didn’t create a single solution with a speci c target group in mind such as a card for Bahrainis, a banking service for expats or a remittance service for Asians. We built our solutions, put it out there based on deep data analytics, based on the demographic, and leveraging our data mining and business intelligence and let users with their behavioral pattern guide us in re ning products and services closer to their requirement.
The result has been tremendous. Because there are no pre-conceived barriers built in, everybody feels included and excited to experiment and nd their own level of comfort. For example, we are delighted with the response to our remittance service from blue-collar workers, who many felt would not use a digital service easily. Yes, initially we did nd it challenging to win over female customers. However, with time and new products, we have closed the gap. Today men are still a little over women when it comes to cards and Beyon Money wallet use. However, we’re delighted that women are taking the lead in using our investment products.”
Beyon Money has also built a special product for youth, targeting the 7 to 17 age group. Called ‘Dough’, it works as a supplement used by the youth under supervision by the parents and is a great way to teach nancial responsibility and literacy
“Today, Beyon Money has over 60 thousand active subscribers, more than 1 million app views per month and from the start it has supported more than BD 300 million card domestic and international transactions.”
CLOSING THE GAP
In a rapidly evolving nancial world, Beyon Money is committed to staying ahead of the curve. By December 2024, the portfolio is expected to include at least two more investment products and the company is also evaluating micro-lending partnership options.
Going forward, Mancone says that digital nancial platforms will also embrace partnership with providers of cryptocurrency wallets – in fact, the company has already launched together with Binance a wallet-to-wallet solution that allows Binance clients to top up instantly their wallet with Beyon Money wallet, at 0.5% fee compared to 2.2% fee if they use any other card to top up. This is a great customer experience at lower cost allowing clients to top up Binance.bh wallet with the phone number linked to the Beyon Money app.
“We shall continue to hold on to our leadership position by letting our innovations lead the market. We have the rst mover advantage and believe that Beyon Money will play a vital role in supporting the advancement of payments innovation and digital ecosystems by accelerating consumer digital adoption of nancial solutions, anticipating the demand for seamless, fast and secure digital money ow. Ensuring access to a suite of services that meets our customers’ nance requirements is our priority and we look forward to evolving the Beyon Money SuperApp to deliver more services and bene ts in the year ahead.”
All school stationery items are available in selected outlets
A HISTORIC YEAR FOR INDIA-BAHRAIN TIES
Indian Ambassador Vinod K Jacob speaks to the community through Salaam Bahrain
IN CONVERSATION WITH MEERA RAVI
The winds of change are blowing across India. The country just completed a remarkable exercise in democratic af rmation which brought the NDA to power for a third term albeit with the support of other political parties. The Indian opposition too has been strengthened, underscoring India’s reputation as the largest democracy in the world.
2024 is also the tenth year since the historic visit of His Majesty King Hamad on a State Visit to India and the fth anniversary of the of cial visit of PM Modi to Bahrain in 2019 – the rst by an Indian PM.
Against this interesting backdrop, Salaam Bahrain met Indian Ambassador Vinod K. Jacob and explored what the 78th Indian Independence Day means.
Salaam Bahrain (SB): Could you tell us what the visit of PM Modi meant for IndiaBahrain relations?.
Ambassador Vinod Jacob: The state visit of PM Modi, in August 2019 was historic and successful and he had excellent discussions with
INDIAN INVESTMENT TO BAHRAIN
INCREASE IN 5 YEARS
the Bahraini leadership, HM King Hamad and HRH Prince Salman bin Hamad. Let me explain the success of the visit with some statistics.
If you look at the investment that has come into Bahrain since 2019, the data shows that in the past 5 years, a 40% increase has occurred. In fact, Q1 2023 to Q1 2024, US$ 200 million has come into Bahrain from India.
When you look at trade and India’s export basket, traditionally India used to export food items, poultry, dairy and other products. But now you see engineering goods, electronic goods rising. The trade gap has also reduced quite substantially. From April 2023 to March 2024, the trade gap between India and Bahrain was a miniscule US$ 80 million. This is down from around US$ 150 million, two years back.
There has also been increased cooperation in the areas of space research and I.T. and also a recognition of India’s potential in terms of the entertainment industries around the world.
So you can see there is a there is a sense of purpose to this relationship and this purpose is directly coming from the consensus reached during PM Modi’s visit and we have created a partnership which is comprehensive in every sense of the term.
The rate at which India’s economic growth is taking place today is around 8% and the world economic growth which is around 3%. The difference of 5% represents a great opportunity for Bahrain over the next 25 years – I call it the demographic dividend which Bahrain and India can bene t from but time runs fast and it is my hope that we can work together.
SB: The whole of Bahrain is talking about the fact that the Taj group of hotels have
Between April 2023 and March 2024. The trade gap between Bahrain & India shrunk by about showing healthy uptick in Indian exports. US$ 70 million
now signed 2 hotel deal to come to Bahrain. And this is really a landmark opportunity for what was what is still considered one of the agship hotel chains of India. Please let us have your opinion on this and how this will impact tourism and trade relations between India and Bahrain.
Ambassador Vinod Jacob: I’d like to say it’s a very welcome development. More and more Indian companies establishing a presence in Bahrain, contributing to the economic prosperity of Bahrain. The Taj group, of course, is wellknown for its contribution to the India growth story, and I hope that they will be able to, have a successful stint here and continue their journey of expanding to different parts of the world.
SB: The Indian embassy has been engaged in a tourism push and facilitated more than one discovery trip to India for Bahraini and Arab journalists. How does India compare in tourism popularity with neighboring countries like Sri Lanka.
Ambassador Vinod Jacob: Tourism is a very important area as far as India is concerned. Last year the data showed around 1,000,000 Indian nationals visited Bahrain for tourism and we are
A group of Bahraini journalists explored India on a fam trip – the rst of many such promotions. They are seen here with Ihjas Aslam C.S.. Second Secretary (POL & PIC)
seeing the rise of Indian wedding tourism in the Kingdom.
Bahrainis also travel frequently to India. The Bahraini journalists who undertook the familiarisation visit - this was also in the context of the G20 presidency which took place last year. We hope to send more such delegations to India. You know, I was recently in India, a couple of weeks ago and I went to places where I’d been last 20 years ago. I can tell you India changes and evolves immensely and I’m sure that India will leave a deep impact on the young Bahraini and Arab journalists.
SB: Despite changing emphasis on engineering and tech goods, food is the main import from India What are the trends in food export from India to Bahrain? And how is India viewed vis a vis partnership with Bahrain in the area of food security?
Ambassador Vinod Jacob: In the period 2023 to 2024, the food exports which includes rice, dairy, poultry to Bahrain was in the order of US$ 115 million. We recently had a visit by an APEDA delegation which explored opportunities for taking this cooperation further. In this regard, I can tell you one example which proves India’s continuing commitment to Bahrain’s food security - the speed with which I was able to work with the Bahraini Ministry of Commerce and the department of food production back in India to get a speci c exemption for Bahrain from the onion export ban which was introduced in India.
SB: What in your opinion is the nature of labour relations between Bahrain and India? And how do you see them evolving?
Ambassador Vinod Jacob: If there is one responsibility I consider as foremost priority in my present posting, it is taking care of the interest of Indian nationals in Bahrain. In that I get a
lot of support from the friendly government of Bahrain. The labour relations in particular, are governed by an MoU that India and Bahrain signed in the year 2000 which con rms the support of the Bahrain government. All the agencies involved have always been very helpful.
When we look at the speci c statistics, we have been able to reduce the number of cases that come into the Open House which we conduct on the last Friday of each month where any Indian citizen can meet me and our of cials with their issues. However, we don’t wait speci cally for a matter to come up in the Open House. We have a robust mechanism of dealing every day with the various labour issues. And this has resulted in fewer complaints to tackle. When I had my rst open house in August of last year, we had around 60 complaints whereas in the last few months, it has been in the range of 10 to 15 complaints a month.
One of the highlights of this cooperation has been the fact that King Hamad has been very merciful and granted royal pardon for almost 100 Indians in the last 6 months or so. Usually, the numbers were in the range of 15 to 20 –this time, I put in place a system of regularly evaluating speci c cases for presentation to the Bahraini government for consideration for royal pardon. And I’m very happy that the system is working.
SB: To take forward bilateral relations, it’s very important to engage with the future generation. Both in terms of diaspora youth from India, as well as Bahraini youth. What are the things that, the embassy puts forward that they can look forward to, taking part in and having a meaningful relationship with the India of the future and the Bahrain of the future?
Ambassador Vinod Jacob: That’s a very important question because we are talking not
Noted Bahrainis such as former Minister of Labour and founding Chairman of the Bahrain India Society, Abdulnabi Al Shoa’la have taken their Indian education to the heart of Bahrain’s public life. He is also an authority on Gandhian political philosophy and his book ‘Gandhi: His Engagement with Islam & the Arab World’ has been published in Arabic, English, Hindi, Urdu and Malayalam.
Teaching them young – senior students of Indian schools in Bahrain are encouraged to visit the embassy, interact with the Ambassador and of cials to understand its workings
Tourism is a very important area as far as India is concerned. Last year the data showed around 1,000,000 Indian nationals visited Bahrain for tourism and we are seeing the rise of Indian wedding tourism in the Kingdom.
only of the present but also the future. In this, as you would agree this is a task which cannot be carried out only by the embassy. In this task we rely mostly on the Indian community and the Bahraini society as well. Since I have come here, I have initiated number of steps in this regard. One such is the ‘Visit Embassy’ programme. The aim is to get senior students to come in batches of 15 to 20 to visit the embassy spend around 2 hours at the embassy, interact with various colleagues of mine, and at the end they spend around half an hour with me where they can ask any question. So this provides an opportunity for us to explain to the students and we have had 6 or 7 iterations like that to explain to the students what are the important developments taking place in India. It basically magni es the outreach that is being done by the government of India in this speci c sphere.
The Indian central government supports the ‘Study in India’ programme which is tailor-
made for foreign students, students from NRI backgrounds to come to India and get the best education that is possible.
As an embassy, we have been encouraging this through various initiatives in collaboration with community associations in Bahrain. Since I came here, we have done 2 or 3 such events in November last year. In September, we also had the ITEC day - the Indian Technical and Economic, Cooperation Programme. Till date over the last 14 years nearly 100 Bahraini students have taken the bene t of this capacity building programme but it is very important for me to mention that we still have amongst us some very important luminaries on the Bahraini side who did their education in India. For instance, we have the founding chairman of the Bahrain India Society, His Excellency Abdulnabi al Shola who used to be a former minister of labour. He continues to support these initiatives.
Iconic Taj resort and hotel set for Bahrain
World-famous Indian hospitality brand will add value
to Bahrain tourism
The Taj brand is a fabled hotel group and people all over the world consider it an epitome of Indian luxury. Now, the Indian Hotels Company Limited (IHCL), India’s largest hospitality company has announced the signing of a luxury hotel and boutique resort in the Kingdom of Bahrain, both under its iconic Taj brand. These green eld projects mark a signi cant milestone as IHCL becomes the rst Indian hospitality company to establish a presence in the Kingdom of Bahrain, further cementing its footprint in the Middle East.
The signing was between IHCL and Kingdom Projects, a leading Bahraini construction group.
Puneet Chhatwal, Managing Director and Chief Executive Of cer, IHCL, stated, “This move is part of our strategy of growing Taj’s presence in key gateway cities of the world. With a portfolio of seven hotels including four under development in the Middle East, these hotels will extend our presence in the MENA region.”
Nestled amid picturesque surroundings, the Taj resort in Hamala will feature 251 luxurious rooms, each thoughtfully designed to re ect the laid-back serenity of the island. The resort will offer luxury offerings, including an all-day dining restaurant, two specialty restaurants, alongside a swimming pool and exclusive beach club. Curated to create an atmosphere of relaxation and rejuvenation, the resort will additionally encompass wellness areas such as a state-of-the-art gym and tranquil spa. The resort’s 1,200 sq.mt banquet facilities will cater to grand events and celebrations, making it a key player in Bahrain’s emerging leisure sector.
The 200 room Taj hotel in Downtown Seef, Manama, will cater to the needs of business travelers and tourists alike. Coupled with world-class wellness facilities including a modern gym, spa, and swimming pool, all-day dining and specialty restaurants and an exclusive pool bar, The Downtown Seef hotel will additionally feature banquet areas tailored for meetings, corporate events, and weddings.
Jalal Al Wazzan, Managing Director of Kingdom Projects W.L.L, stated, “We are delighted to welcome the prestigious and world-renowned Taj brand, a rst for Bahrain, which will work towards attracting tourists in greater numbers from across the region and around the globe, thereby enhancing the tourism sector's contribution to GDP. In line with the Economic Vision 2030 driven by the Crowne Prince, partnering with leading leisure and hospitality brands exempli es Kingdom Projects’ vested commitment to contribute to the development and growth of the tourism sector and thereby, the diversi cation of the national economy.”
With the addition of these hotels, IHCL will have a presence of 7 hotels with 4 under development in the Middle East.
Jalal Al Wazzan, Managing Director of Kingdom Projects W.L.L with Puneet Chhatwal, Managing Director and Chief Executive Of cer, IHCL
Odisha takes centrestage at Embassy
It was a proud moment for the small but in uential Odiya community in Bahrain when the picturesque coastal state was chosen as the fth Indian state to be showcased in a new community initiative in the spacious Consular Hall at the embassy. In the presence of embassy of cials and the Bahrain Odia Samaj, Indian Ambassador Vinod Jacob unveiled the Odisha Wall that promotes the culture, the history and amazing crafts heritage of the state.
There were cultural performances and a beautiful display of Odisha’s crafts and textiles too.
Earlier, the states of Rajasthan, Jammu & Kashmir, Uttar Pradesh and Karnataka were showcased.
“India’s vast potential as a tourism destination shall be highlighted with similar “walls” for all other states in turn so that visitors can get a glimpse of the regional attractions and variety of India’s beauty,” said Ambassador Vinod Jacob.
India-themed events & weddings take centrestage
The word’s out – everybody’s celebrating Indian style and its not just weddings but get-togethers, corporate theme parties and team-building dos. And one expert group has all the know-how to make your Indian party tick.
BY MEERA RAVI
Speaking to a highly-placed Bahraini lady just before Ramadan this year, I was delighted to be told that her Ramadan ghabga this year was going to re ect an Indian theme in décor, guests’ attire and food. Another Bahraini pulled out all stops to arrange a Royal Indian Wedding recently, complete with colour, owers and band-baja-baaraat (traditional Indian wedding band). Clearly, with a surge in spending on luxury and out-of-the-box ideas, and both big and small retailers targeting the boom, we are poised for the most extravagant and glitzy wedding season this year.
Post-Covid, Thailand and Turkey are doing very well as international wedding destinations and the Middle-East’s share of weddings – especially big Indian weddings - continues to rise. In the UAE, Dubai, and Ras Al-Khaimah are leading
the list with Fujairah and Abu Dhabi catching up. Qatar is a new entrant that has been aggressively promoting itself for weddings with Indians.
And Bahrain, as an upcoming Destination Wedding venue, has been tapping the Indian mood effectively. The Indian weddings infrastructure is getting more professional and the theme is not limited to just Indians.
TRENDING NOW
“There’s no denying it. India is the trend of the hour on the global stage,” said Musthaq Ali, CEO of Celebration Events wll, a bespoke event management and wedding planning company, “More and more international communities are discovering the immense potential of Indian celebration culture to add glamour, depth and meaning to their
events and ceremonies. And leading the list is Indian weddings.”
As the business of Indian weddings grows in Bahrain, Celebrations Events has recently opened a Bahrain of ce that will offer the complete range of services to help clients make memories and offer guests a awless and seamless event or wedding experience. With a talented and experienced team to execute photogenic wedding plans and put together a complete package, Celebration Events has already got a couple of successful Bahrain events to its credit.
Musthaq Ali feels that BTEA and the hotels here have pulled out all stops to make Bahrain the top choice as a Destination Wedding option.
“There has been a huge change in expectations from weddings. The old homely weddings where family and friends pitched in and helped with
The Confederation of All India Traders (CAIT) says 3.5 million weddings will be solemnised between November 23 and December 15, representing Rs 4.25 trillion worth of business.
arrangements. Today, weddings are designed to re ect the personalities of the couple and every aspect is created to be Instagram-worthy. And to get it right, you really need professional help.”
According to the Confederation of All India Traders (CAIT), 3.5 million weddings will be solemnised between November 23 and December 15, bringing an estimated business of Rs 4.25 trillion this wedding season. In comparison, around 3.2 million weddings took place in the same period last year and expenses were estimated at Rs 3.75 trillion.
CHECKLIST PERFECT
A mega-wedding such as the AmbaniMerchant wedding that had the world agog recently, would have taken more than a year of serious planning from the ideation to sourcing and execution. Add to that, there were multiple public ceremonies with super VIPs from around the world. When Celebrations Events manages a wedding, Mushtaq Ali says, the starting point is a checklist of do’s and don’t’s which can run into nearly 50 key points. This can start with the collaterals such as the ‘Save The Date’ and then move on to venue nalization, food menu, themes, entertainment, etc. Talking about 2024-2025 wedding trends, Mushtaq Ali says the big move is towards having a personalised and unique wedding. Weddings are styled to match the couple’s vision, with ticketed weddings to themed receptions, live performances on charter ights to game nights and special ceremonies created for the couple. But industry watchers say that the average cost of
weddings has remained relatively stable in 2024 compared to last year, possibly because couples are opting for more intimate guest lists and a more textured guest experience.
“Oh, the Indian wedding is still fat – regardless of whether it is a beach celebration or in a temple town, there are multiple ceremonies to prepare for, such as Sangeet, the actual wedding ceremony and the reception,” Mushtaq Ali says, “These are spread over multiple days and sometimes different venues and the complexity of arrangements have been made possible de nitely by the rise of the professional wedding planner. A professional wedding planner dedicates her/his full team and time to your event unlike the most well-meaning family and friends who can only t your event into their schedule and do so piecemeal.”
He added, “In Bahrain though, people have not learnt to use the wedding planner to full capacity. Planners are trained professionals and when it is a planning rm like Celebration Events, we have warehouses stocked with resources for decorating the venue, we have connections for the best venues and entertainers and caterers and an experienced back of ce team to manage RSVP and logistics. Décor is a part of the whole offering. So I would say you should take advantage of the full gamut of our professional skills. By all means involve family and friends but the trick would be to get them to oversee speci c aspects of the wedding arrangements as consultants to the planners who do the actual work. This way you get the best of both worlds.”
The best part, says Mushtaq Ali, is that Indian-themed celebrations are no longer limited to just weddings. People are using the Indian vibe to enhance every celebration and event.
“As a result, we now have a palette of India options for clients to choose from. You can go minimalist in style, you can be sustainable and unique or OTT with glitz. What’s more, at Celebrations Events, we deliver not just Indian occasions but every kind of look and feel because no theme is standalone but an amalgam of different cultures. You can have a grand Indian wedding and then a black tie and tux reception. They all need a professional approach and a planning company’s rm management.”
He concluded, “For us, weddings and events are not just a cluster of arrangements. They are about making memories forever – the type that families cherish and hand down for generations to come. And that is a responsibility we take very seriously and creatively.”
To contact Celebrations Events wll, you can reach Mushtaq Ali on +9733996 9422 or by email on mushtaqaliproduction@gmail.com
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The Merriam-Webster Dictionary de nes a shero as a woman regarded as a hero. The word has been around since the early 19th century and means
“a
woman admired or idealized for her courage, outstanding achievements, or noble qualities;
a heroine.”
They walk amidst us. They inspire us with their achievements. In keeping with our Independence Day theme, we bring you four ladies who have recast the Indo-Bahraini relationship with powerful and progressive personal success.
Noted Indophile and expert designer and curator of Indian objets d’art
Art collector, fashion designer, sustainability champion and an advocate of crosscultural dialogue
Educationist, passionate champion of early learning and pioneering business owner and professional
Electrical engineering company
Chairperson who stands tall in a male-dominated industry and a noted philanthropist
SALUTE TO OUR SHEROES
TANIMA CHAKRABORTY
SHAIKHA MARWA BINT ABDULRAHMAN AL KHALIFA
There are many Bahraini families who have built a close relationship with India – not just Indians in Bahrain but through travel and exploring India over several delighted and informed visits. One such person is the lovely Shaikha Marwa bint AbdulRahman Al Khalifa, a member of the Bahrain Royal Family and a discerning Indophile. As daughter of Shaikh Abdulrahman Al Khalifa, a pioneering hotelier who founded the Caravan Group of Hotels with her mother Shaikha Haya bint Ali Al Khalifa, who was among the first officials to help set up the collection for the Bahrain National Museum, Shaikha Marwa often accompanied her parents to India and to the teeming art, antiquities and craft markets there.
She laughingly says that her first sight of Switzerland was not when she travelled to Europe, but the locales she saw in Indian movies.
Today, the childhood exposure to India has been built into a thriving business where she uses her knowledge to curate Indian interiors with objet d’art, Indian-made fine furniture, fabric and designerware and even support Bahrain’s efforts to be the Destination Wedding venue of choice for mega-exclusive Indian weddings. It is undoubtedly bonds such as these that form the foundation of Bahrain-India relations and build a bridge across cultures.
My association with India is ingrained within me from birth. My father was one of the first businessmen in the Al Khalifa Royal Family and had a strong relation with the merchants in Manama market. My maternal grandfather as well as great-grandfather, Shaikh Abdulla bin Isa bin Ali Al Khalifa had a deep relationship with Indian merchants in Manama and the Gulf merchants who lived in India. In fact, the Gold Souq Road (also known as Shaikh Abdulla Road) has been named after him as he had close relations with the Indian jewellers having shops there.
My mother is an academic, historian and archaeologist. Both my parents were passionate about their work, which took them to a lot of places around the world, particularly India. This love of travel, history and openness to different cultures was what I grew up with. Being the youngest in the family, I had to accompany my parents whenever they were travelling. My father used to travel for business and my mother for getting artifacts for the Bahrain National Museum, since Bahrain and India had trade relations spanning centuries. Initially, I did not like it too much. I wanted to go to Disneyland, not to Chor Bazaar! Sometimes my mother used to leave us in the hotel room if she had to visit places not suitable for children. We used to run around and play in the Taj Hotel, it was like a second home and the whole staff looked after us. When I reached my teen years, I started appreciating the finer points. When I compared the fabrics, antiques, jewellery of India to the world, I felt they were the best, there was no comparison.
Ties between both the countries has existed since the pre-Islamic era. Bahrain was an important port of call for ships coming from India and trade ties were flourishing even 5,000 years ago. From the 1930s onward, when Bahrain and India were both under British rule, the Indian Gulf Rupee was the currency used in Bahrain. The aspect I wish and hope to happen is for there to be direct shipping lines from India to Bahrain and lowering the taxes on the products. This will substantially help businesses to cut the costs, import more products and pass on the benefits to the customers.
“Our nannies were Indian, we watched Indian movies, and looked up to Indian actors and actresses. I remember going on Haj with my parents as a 8-year old. My mother asked me to pray for my heart’s desire, and the 8-year-old child in me prayed that when I grew up, I wouldto be prettier than Hema Malini!”
After my children grew up, one of my friends suggested to me to start a business like my father. That comment ignited a spark within me, and building on the knowledge I gained from my father, I opened Bayana Homes, the first of its kind store for furniture, fabrics and glassware featuring unique patterns. I didn’t want Bayana Homes to be another commercial shop, but a venue where I can go back in history and produce items which used to be made for the Maharajas. I used to be fascinated by the Maharajas and Mughal architecture and blended Arabic designs to get a very unique final product.
I visit India to source the items, and I feel very welcomed and safe there. Everything you find in my store is made in India as per my specifications. I didn’t want Bayana Homes to be another commercial shop, but a venue where I can go back in History and produce items which used to be made for the Maharajas. The chandeliers in the store are the same as found in Royal palaces in India, handmade, millimetre by millimetre to preserve the uniqueness.
KANEKA SUBBERWAL
Oneof the secrets to staying relevant and engaged is to harness one’s passion for a larger cause. Kaneka Subberwal has done just that all her life and she adds a different quality to it too – she reinvents herself while staying true to her core belief.
With a distinguished track record as a respected art collector and consultant, Kaneka’s ArtBAB exhibitions put contemporary Bahraini art on the world map. She took Bahraini artists to prestigious art spaces such as the V&A in London, Bikaner House in New Delhi, to Moscow, Venice, Singapore and finished off in style by arranging and overseeing for Bahrain, the honour of being the Country Pavilion at the Paris Biennale - the first Gulf country to receive such an honour.
Around 2019, as an organic exploration of her art engagements, Kaneka collaborated with haute couture Indian designer JJ Valaya to design and curate a beautiful crafts component that brought Bahraini craftsmen to the limelight, supported by Valaya’s unique design sensitivity. That led to the latest exciting craft venture titled ‘Tarakeeb’ that builds on Kaneka’s belief in sustainability, fashion inclusivity and – more importantly – brings together the amazing arsenal of the textile heritage of India and the niche weaving art of Bahrain to the forefront.
The immense success of the fashion line means Kaneka has once again interpreted Indian and Bahraini art sensibilities in a way that makes them accessible and enjoyable for even a lay person and facilitated a new dimension in cross-cultural discourse between India and Bahrain.
ArtBab was launched in 2015 and I am honoured and so proud to have showcased some of the very finest contemporary Bahraini artists on the world stage. Working with these artists also put me in touch with Bahraini craftsmen who represent the country’s artisanal sensibility over generations. I felt that Bahrain’s craft industry which had not been showcased fully. I connected with my friend JJ Valaya and under his curation, we launched the Bahrain Room at ArtBab in 2019 and that was taken forward to the Paris Biennale as the Bahrain Room. These were 16 pieces of artisanal furniture where the different techniques of Bahraini craft were reimagined to create contemporary furniture - whether it was nail carving or stained glass or even the weaving techniques of Bani Jamra whose fabric we used as upholstery. That, for me, was the stepping stone for Tarakeeb.
Bani Jamra weaver Abu Essam is today a master in producing a special ne checked fabric for Tarakeeb. He also travelled to the Paris Biennale since fabric woven by him was used for the ceramic poetry installation (in the photo)
I have always had a passion for fabric – the texture and the craft moves me, the colour speaks to me. When we were first working with Bahraini craftsmen, we did many exciting things for the Paris Biennale: we used the fabric of Bani Jamra as a part of an installation, which was done along with ceramic poetry. And then we did a range of jackets.
Tarakeeb attempts to channel three key beliefs for me: sustainability, cross-cultural dialogue and inclusivity. How do we collaborate to create something unique? One example is Bahrain’s Naqda embroidery – very similar to India’s Muqaish but different because in Bahrain it is bolder and thicker. Again, in weaves, India has a stunning range of weaves but the Bahraini Bani Jamra weave is artisanal and one-of-its-kind.
When I wanted to build a cross-cultural textile experience, I sought to marry the two and also create a quality and sustainability matrix with the absolutely best yarn – cotton from Turkey and Brazil, alpaca wool from the UK and fashion finishing in India. Working with the Bani Jamra cluster of weavers, we have even created a special Bani Jamra tweed.
The brand Tarakeeb and the tagline “Inspired by Bahrain” is not because I’m living in Bahrain and my buyers would be Bahraini. It’s because Bahrain was the place where I truly found myself. I came here alone in 2008 to embark on a journey of self-discovery through art. Along the way, I discovered the untapped beauty of Bahraini crafts and the potential to fuse it with India’s ancient handcrafted textile technology fascinated me.
Simply put, Bahrain’s willingness to embrace new ideas, to listen to them inspired Tarakeeb. It encapsulates my values of sustaining our traditions and crafts, of aligning across cultures and creating a line of fashion garments that are inclusive of people of all sizes and across all cultures. A Tarakeeb long coat can be an abaya in the GCC and a cardigan coat in the UK – clothing that are not just beautiful but bestow integrity and dignity on the wearer.
Today, after exhibiting in Bahrain, building a fantastic base in Dammam, participating in the London Fashion Day and opening retail relationships in the Dubai, I am confident that my voice is true and that it resonates with my Tarakeeb clients.
How does a woman succeed? In anything – in her career, in life. Three rules – again! Don’t get comfortable! Keep changing the contours of your comfort zone. Never take no for an answer. Get behind the No and prove you can do it. And always remember that there is no end to learning. Its all around you. We are, in a way, Renaissance people, who have resources at our fingertips to learn. Build on that!
SHOBHA ANAND
Shobha Anand, a visionary entrepreneur, was a young mother of toddlers when she found a niche for inspired early education schools in Saudi Arabia. This was in 1983 – when women in Saudi rarely started their own ventures. With an unwavering passion to nurture young minds and to ensure the best foundational education for her sons, she established two schools in Saudi Arabia - and later, two pre-schools in Bahrain.
Warm and quick to click with every generation, Shobha is today an education pioneer who can hard-talk in a boardroom with as much ease as wowing her grandkids with her understanding of Taylor Swift! Even after decades as expats, she believes in nurturing the Indian spirit of belonging in her family - each Independence Day, her grandchildren dress up in traditional attire and sing the Indian National Anthem. The recording is sent across to friends and relatives as Independence Day greetings.
I had always believed in the importance of Early Education as a strong foundation for later years. When I could not find this resource for my children in 1983 in Saudi Arabia, I decided to embrace education as a profession and provide children there with this critical start to their lifelong quest for knowledge.
I started off by learning on the job. I began a nursery from a spare bedroom in our compound villa. In time, the nursery became a kindergarten. Meanwhile I juggled my roles as wife, mom and edupreneur with that of a student - I worked days and spent my nights gaining qualifications in this new profession. Forty-one years on, here I am: we are today an education group with two schools in Saudi Arabia and two pre-schools in Bahrain, which now, the next generation of my family manages.
I don’t think of my work as a ‘business’ – nor of myself as a boss/owner. I am, at heart, a team playersure, there is always a commercial and financial element to a business model but I never lose sight of the passion involved. The one thing that has made my work successful is the family environment that we foster in our schools. Even today, I make sure I am in our schools everyday and involved in the ever-evolving education sector.
Two things helped me enormously to succeed: the first is my husband’s and family’s unconditional support. The second is the fact that I have lived in many countries and am comfortable in a multicultural environment. I love learning to navigate a new culture or language. In any case, for a student’s growth and development there can only be one language - that of love.
Bahrain has always been a second home to the family since the early ‘80s. Our holding companies – Ardaas Holding and Ardaas Capital has business interests in Bahrain in the sectors of education and general trade and logistics. Our EYFS British Curriculum pre-school nursery locations under the KINDER WORLD banner are our most recent additions.
We would like to continue to grow the KINDER WORLD franchise in Bahrain as education remains a growth sector for us in the region with an emphasis on Bahrain and Saudi Arabia. The Government of Bahrain has been extremely forthcoming and supportive with assistance for the education sector through the Economic Development Board (EDB) platform.
The transition of our work to the next generation has been organic - the pandemic pause gave us time to reflect and reassess. Today, my daughters-in law, Anisha and Priyanka help me run the education sector while my husband Anil and sons Akshay and Aditya run the other businesses. Every family member plays to their particular strengths with almost very little over-lap in responsibilities.
We have consciously built a ‘Team First’ attitude among family members - my husband and I still have full overview across business lines but also understand that it is essential we take a step back as time passes.
TANIMA CHAKRABORTY
Equally at home in the boardroom or in the thick of organising a community Durga Pujo, glamorous Tanima Chakraborty is the epitome of a successful global businesswoman. Encouraged by her parents to pursue her passion, Tanima set up her own smart light solutions company, Biolights. She admits that her role model and guide was her father, businessman and philanthropist Tapan Chakraborty, and after his untimely demise, she also took charge of his company, Al Barq Electrical Services, making her one of the rare women entrepreneur heads in this sector.
It was a huge learning curve – I undertook relevant professional courses in electrical engineering, set about building a robust network, and receiving guidance from business partners and experienced professionals. I grew the company and myself and earned the respect of peers in the industry. I took on high-risk, large-scale projects and strengthened the Albarq marque.
Every entrepreneurial venture holds the potential to add value to the market. In our case, our experienced Indian senior engineering professionals train our Bahraini team. This knowledge transfer helps to upskill local Bahraini talent. India, being a larger market with a strong focus on sustainable and innovative solutions in electrical engineering services, we are able to stay updated on the latest methodologies and international standards and effectively serve the Bahrain Economic Vision 2030.
People-to-people, I would straight up recommend two areas where we can collaborate more with Bahrainis – Bahrain’s Startup ecosystem where both countries can facilitate knowledge exchange, access to new markets and funding opportunities; and more sporting events. Oh, we have enough cultural clubs but let’s see more of Indian football, cricket, volleyball, or basketball teams in Bahrain, and vice versa! That would be such a youthful take on bilateral relations.
As a founder, chairperson, philanthropist, and public speaker in Bahrain, I have dedicated myself to representing India on various prestigious platforms. Whether at community service events, or government gatherings, I strive to embody and convey our cultural values of kindness, empathy and empowerment. I use these opportunities to highlight the challenges faced by blue-collar workers, advocating for their needs and supporting their well being through my philanthropic initiatives.
With Indians excelling globally through hard work, dedication, competence, and integrity, many have ascended to notable and influential positions as CEOs of Fortune 500 companies, leaders of nations, and key players in Western politics and economics. Coupled with a young and dynamic demographic, India is poised to meet international workforce demands with exceptional quality. This is truly India's moment on the global stage to attract Foreign Direct Investments (FDIs) into its vibrant and innovative ecosystem to drive overall growth and development.
Three community projects which were most effective:
Ghana Water Pump Initiative : I spearheaded a project to install a water pump in a remote village in Ghana, providing clean water to over 125,000 people. The project also included building sanitation facilities such as restrooms and hand wash areas.
Shukran Bahrain Project : To celebrate Bahrain’s unity in combating COVID-19, we organized a tribute to health workers and delivery personnel. This included a collaborative art project with Bahraini artists, creating a graffiti mural at the Avenues Mall to honor their efforts.
Pluck Cancer : Drawing from my personal experience with my father’s battle with cancer, I organized an event to promote early detection, build support networks for patients, and advocate for necessary changes in the cancer treatment ecosystem.
MATRIARCHS OF THE DIASPORA
When the story of the Indian diaspora in the Gulf is mentioned, one of the rst groups that gets talked about is the Bhatia community – the ‘Banians’ or traders as they were known. We all know about the plucky Bhatia men who nanced the pearling eets and dealt with wholesale foodstuffs. When 1947 came and with it the Partition of India and Pakistan, the Bhatia were deeply affected because they hailed from Thattha, now in Pakistan. Most relocated to India and many families reached out and brought relatives to Bahrain, which was then the most liveable Gulf country.
In all this recording of a community’s narrative, there is one voice that is clearly missing – that of the women. This ‘other half’ to the industrious Bhatia men helped the community to set down roots and give shape to their lives. Just imagine – a group of busy businessmen without their families would continue to lead bachelor lives, living in shared homes, cooking on their own, praying at the edgeling Shrinathji Mandir, working impossibly late hours in harsh weather and fashioning a rough-and-ready life for themselves.
A studio family photo taken when Sitabai Kavalani was about 5 - with her grandparents, mother and siblings
Sitabai as a young lady.
A meeting across cultures - Mala and Indubhai at High Tea
When the women entered the picture, there was a dramatic change. ‘Family’, that nodal point of a community blossomed and altered the script. With family came the need for a more multi-dimensional social engagement with the world, the children had to be provided for with education, leading to the founding of The Indian School, medical services had to be improved and even a simple thing like running water in taps had to be thought about. In short, the women were the reason the Bhatia changed from a tradesmen group to a full- edged diaspora.
But what was life like for these women? We took a time capsule tour of these brave pioneering women who laid the foundation for the prosperity of the Indian community, giving it a dimension beyond the marketplace. The Matriarchs of the Bhatia Community are all past 80. Some of them, like Radhiben Kewalram, were not available to talk because of poor health but are remembered for their piety and help in the community’s spiritual work. But the voices that emerged all speak of tough lives which you and I may not have the physical will to endure, the mental grit that held fast through loneliness and isolation and shared and supported each other through a life far from and utterly different from the comforts of their homes in prosperous and verdant Thattha.
Make no mistake – because these women were, we today are. You don’t need to be a Bhatia to feel grateful. Even if you are from Kerala or Punjab, your child probably goes to an Indian school here, thanks to the children of the Bhatia community for whom the rst ISB was founded. You get the provisions and goods that make life seamlessly Indian because the Bhatia were known for their strict dietary rules and as families settled here, the list of Indian provisions needed to feed families grew longer. As families settled here, Bahrain grew from a bachelor outpost to a diaspora hub from where we hear stories of people setting out to explore the nascent economies of Dubai, Dhahran and Kuwait. And returning always to Bahrain – where the presence of their families made it home and gave them the security and the power to set their imagination free and to build their business empires.
Here’s Her Story – directly from the Matriarchs.
Leela Jashanmal and Sarla Bhatia, two Founding Members of the Indian Ladies Association with movie star Vyjayantimala at a charity fund-raiser.
Age 94 Years
SITABAI TOLARAM KAVALANI
Iwas born in Bahrain in 1930, but spent my childhood in Karachi with my grandparents, as my mother passed away when I was three. Even in those early days, the community had flourishing trade relations between Bahrain and our native place Karachi (in undivided India, presently in Pakistan). I got married when I was 16 and became a mother at 17, and that was the year that India got independence. It was a traumatic experience as we had to leave our homes overnight and embark on a difficult and challenging journey with a newborn son and the rest of the family.
Early married life as a young bride in Bahrain presented its own set of challenges. All work was done by hand in a joint family setting and was shared amicably by the ladies of the house. Sometimes, the menfolk would invite their business contacts spontaneously, and would tell us that 15 guests are coming for dinner tonight, and we would rush to rustle up a good meal, using whatever groceries were available at home.
Apart from the routine housework, we used to make pappads by hand. Another way we passed the time was by stitching and embroidery. My sewing machine played an important role in my daily activities. Personally, I have embroidered at least 100 saris and gifted to female relatives, both near and far. My daughter in law still wears my embroidered saris. In the later years, when I needed the help of a full-time nurse (named Omna, who stayed with me for 17 years), I taught her also how to stich and do embroidery. My sons used to tease me that I should open a designer business and name it as Sita – Omna Tailoring Company!
We used to meet up with other ladies in the Shrinathji Temple and enjoy get-togethers and picnics too. Life was hard, but not complicated. Today we have all comforts and I believe we are enjoying the fruits of the labour of the olden days.
RUKMINI SUNDARDAS BHATIA (KEWALRAM)
Iwas 11 years old when India attained independence. We were based in Mumbai and I remember people waving flags and dancing on the streets. Celebrations were being held all over the locality.
I got married at the age of 19 and came to Bahrain in 1955. Initially, I did not like to live here, mainly because of the feelings of loneliness. My childhood years had been spent in the bustling city of Mumbai and Bahrain was so quiet. There were no helpers and we did all housework ourselves. During the summer months, the weather was very hot and humid. There were no air-conditioners so we used to sprinkle water on the terrace and sleep there. Vegetables used to come from India in steamers once a week and everyone rushed to buy them as soon as they arrived.
I was lucky – my father-in-law was a very progressive man and I was encouraged to learn how to drive. Cars were still a rarity but I became the first lady from the Bhatia community who learnt to drive, and for this I give full credit to my late father-in-law. Similarly, my father-in-law believed that the ladies should pursue their own interests outside the home. So when some Sindhi ladies, led by Leela Jashanmal, got together and started meeting regularly. They ran informal sewing and English language classes and invited me to join them too, since I knew how to drive. There were small community service initiatives and that is how the Indian Ladies Association, the ILA, was born. In those conservative and sheltered days, it was a huge step.
The men didn’t discuss business at home, but they did take us out to meet with their business associates. I have been to the Indian Embassy for the flag hoisting too during Independence Day celebrations.
Looking back, Bahrain has given me a lot of good memories.
MADHURI CHANDRASEN GANDHI
Iwas 8 years old when India got independence. Our family, including our extended families, left Karachi by ship and reached Okha in Gujarat, where we stayed in refugee camps. We did not face any problems at that time, but one of my aunt’s family, who were encouraging all of us to stay put in Karachi and did not leave with us, had to flee from the back door a few months later when a mob gathered outside their front door. Later, we travelled to Jamnagar, where we stayed for 2 – 3 years and then headed to Mumbai.
My parents then came to Bahrain, and I too joined them when I turned 12. I had studied till 3rd grade in Gujarati medium only when I came here. In those days, it was considered more important to train girls on how to handle household affairs rather than getting formal education. I got married at 22 years into the Kavalani family, also settled in Bahrain. Life was difficult in those days. Initially, there were no water taps in homes and we used to get water from the 4 taps which were installed in the Shrinathji Shri Krishna Temple. There were no domestic helpers, no appliances like mixers and washing machines, and the menfolk used to be out for work almost the whole day. So we did not have many outings. Even for flag hoisting on Independence Day, the men used to go, the ladies did not. The only place we went to was the Christmas party which was thrown annually by the British Advisor, but there too we could not have personal interactions with the womenfolk due to the language barrier.
Ladies spent their time looking after the household and children. Some ladies took the initiative to give tuitions in English and Hindi. Some others started teaching tailoring, embroidery etc. I always wanted to gain knowledge so I used to go to them for learning and picked up enough knowledge of English to be able to help my children with their homework.
At homes, there were no air conditioners and we had only one table fan which we carried from room to room. Toilets were built on the terrace and the floor there used to get so hot that during the day, we had to put up tarpaulins for shade. In the evenings, we removed it and slept on the terrace to get some breeze. We used to sprinkle water on our bedding to alleviate the heat.
MOHINIBAI LALCHAND
Iwas around 10 years old when India got independence. My parents’ family owned a cluster of buildings (called ‘ámaara’) in Karachi, where our extended families of brothers, cousins, uncles and nephews stayed together. Overnight, we had to leave the ancestral property and flee to Jamnagar in Gujarat. The family set about trying to put down roots in the new place. I got married in 1953 at the age of 17 and came to Bahrain in 1954. Our home was just opposite the Shrinathji Shri Krishna Temple in Manama, and acquaintances and relatives used to drop by whenever they came to the Temple. We had complete religious freedom from that time, which is continuing even now, for which we are very grateful to the Royal Al Khalifa Family and the people of Bahrain.
In those days, none of the facilities that we take for granted today were available, but we had a very happy and contented life. People were very simple in nature and there was a lot of sharing and caring. We stayed in a joint family and there was a lot of workload which the ladies of the house would attend to. Outings were not very frequent, though we used to go to the pools (nakhal) on weekends. On these occasions, we would rent a bus and go as a family. The same used to happen if one of us was flying, the whole family would rent a bus to drop or pick them up from the airport!
Since the family I married into is closely involved with the Bahraini pearling trade, I feel that I am a part of the history and evolution of Bahrain.
Age 87 Years
Parents’ Family Name
Wagh
In Laws Family Name
Asarpota (C. Mulchand)
Age 85 Years
Parents’ Family Name Kisani
In Laws Family Name
ASHA CHELLARAM THAKER
Iwas 11 years old when India got independence. My memories of those days are of migrating by steamer from Karachi to Mumbai along with my maternal grandparents. My parents joined us some time later. At that time, many people from the community scattered to different places like Mumbai, Dubai, Bahrain and Oman to build a new life. My parents came to Mumbai, where I continued my education. My father used to teach us and I also joined a stitching and embroidery class in Santa Cruz. I did a two-year certification course in tailoring, and made many baby frocks and jackets. People used to ask me to do the cutting for their children’s dresses.
At 19, I came to Bahrain 6 months after marriage. Bahrain was a very calm and safe place where everyone stayed in close vicinity. Unlike many other families, we had a refrigerator and air-conditioner at home. My brother-in-law used to work for Al Moayyed and Sons, so he was able to arrange it for us. I remember that the community ladies used to come to us to get ice, so once we gave it to one lady, immediately we would keep another batch for freezing so that it was ready for another family in three hours. If we forgot to keep the water, people would return disappointed from our home and we didn’t like that. Since there was one air conditioner only, the whole family used to sleep in one room during the summer months.
Outings used to be in the evenings and weekends. Thursday evenings would be spent at the Indian Club, and we used to go for picnics and to ‘nakhals’(swimming pools) with families on weekends where every lady would bring some item of food and we would all share with each other. We also hosted Bahraini and Indian business associates and professionals at home. Even now, when Bahraini dignitaries come to visit, even if I am in my room, they ask to meet me. In fact, when my sister had visited Bahrain the first time, she was amazed by the hospitality and kindness shown by the immigration officers at the Bahrain International Airport and made it a point to mention this to me. We are truly blessed by the respect and love we have received from the Kingdom.
MALA INDUKUMAR BHATIA
Igot married when I was 21 years and came to Bahrain on 25th December 1963. The lifestyle in those days was very challenging. There was no sweet water, no air-conditioners, no pressure cookers and not many facilities. We used to get sweet water from Adhari spring. When cooking the ‘daals’ we used to smear them with soda so that they get cooked properly.
We stayed in a joint family and most of the day was occupied with house-work and bringing up the children. We were members of the Indian Club, and attended the programmes held there, like cultural dances and Housie games. Flag hoisting events during Independence Day was attended mainly by the men.
When the children grew a little older, I did travel to countries like Singapore, Hong Kong and China. My sister-in-law and I supported each other by taking care of each other’s children whenever either of us was travelling. In those days, joint families meant up to 30 individuals staying under one roof. The women contributed a lot towards making this arrangement a success by their understanding approach and willingness to stay under one roof with extended families to support their husbands. Age 82 Years
Mala Bhatia on her wedding day
India ‘food bowl’ image is APEDA focus
Basmati rice, buffalo meat, poultry, processed foods top sellers
Basmati is unique in its appearance and flavour and is a G.I. tagged grain. It is grown across seven states in North India and the GCC is one of the biggest markets for it. In 2023-2024, Basmati exports accounted for nearly US$ 51.5 million of the total US$ 154.8 million food imports from India (APEDA monitored).
Dr. Bajaj
Recently Indian PM Narendra Modi said that India was a food surplus country that could provide solutions for global food and nutrition security.
It was a viewpoint that clearly underscored the visit of a delegation of Basmati rice, poultry meat and products, buffalo meat and Indian processed food exporters who visited Bahrain in July to turn the spotlight on India-Bahrain food trade under the umbrella of APEDA, the Agricultural and Processed Food Products Export Development Authority, an apex body for the agribusiness and food industry.
During their visit, the delegation met with of cials of the Ministry of Municipality Affairs & Agriculture, with Bahraini food importers and retailers and a major showcase of the food products was held at LuLu Hypermarket in Dana Mall and an Indian Basmati Rice Festival at the Al Jazira Supermarket.
Speaking to Salaam Bahrain, APEDA Director Dr. Tarun Bajaj and Secretary
Dr. Sudhanshu said that the focus was very much on Basmati as a premium rice of India.
“Basmati is unique in its appearance and avour and is a G.I. tagged grain,” Dr. Bajaj said, “It is grown across seven states in North India and the GCC is one of the biggest markets for it. In 2023-2024, Basmati exports accounted for nearly US$ 51.5 million of the total US$ 154.8 million food imports from India (APEDA monitored). Buffalo meat comes next, racking up US$ 29.6 million in exports to Bahrain alone.”
Not many people know that India is one of the major meat exporters in the world and the No. 1 supplier of buffalo meat - India ranks 5th in the world in terms of meat production. The total meat production in the country is 9.77 Mn Tonnes in the year 2022-23. Buffalo meat makes up 22 per cent of the meat produced in India. The major areas for buffalo meat production are Uttar
Pradesh, Andhra Pradesh, Maharashtra and Punjab.
“There has been a major overhaul of the Indian meat industry and we are better able to monitor animal health, Halal certi cation and export promotion,” Dr. Sudhanshu said, “In fact when we met the Bahraini agricultural ministry authorities, we did offer support in designing an effective Halal certi cation process and we are working to put a MRA (Mutual Recognition Agreement) in place between Bahrain and India which will recognise both countries’ Halal processes and make the import of Indian meat to Bahrain easier.”
What would be the challenges that APEDA is looking to address, going forward?
“We want to promote the vast range of Indian processed foods – this industry has expanded considerably in that past decade. In 2022-23, Indian exported $51 billion worth of agricultural and processed food products and processed foods represent a ‘Sunrise’ industry,” Dr. Bajaj said, “Over the past ve years, the industry has taken on a distinct international avour and Indianmanufactured Thai curries, Korean foods and Egyptian avoured foods are very popular. And then there are a huge range of Indian foods and snacks. They are already on the shelves of the global supermarket but APEDA will be
promoting them for greater visibility and sales.“
A promotion of the processed foods industry will also undoubtedly attract investors from the Kingdom and the GCC region.
Similarly, top-quality niche fruits such as Kashmiri apples will also be promoted for better visibility.
“The Indian fruit basket is more than just mangoes. We want to elevate other Indian fruits such as apples and even the many varieties of banana to the same level of marketing visibility,” said Dr. Sudhanshu.
Meanwhile, Indian Ambassador Vinod K. Jacob inaugurated LuLu Hypermarket’s Great Indian Food Festival which took forward the APEDA visit to Bahrain.
Lulu Launches “The Great Indian Festival” Powered By APEDA In Light of upcoming Indian Independence Day.
H.E. Vinod Jacob Indian Ambassador to the Kingdom of Bahrain inaugurated “The Great Indian Festival”. Featuring many varieties of the special long-grain Basmati rice, premium buffalo meat, poultry and processed foods. It was an occasion for LuLu Group to underscore its support of the Indian food and agribusiness industry.
“LuLu has always been a leader in promoting Indian food industry and we play a key role in supporting the Government of Bahrain in areas
The Indian fruit basket is more than just mangoes. We want to
elevate other Indian fruits such as apples and even the many varieties of banana to the same level of marketing visibility.
such as food security, price stability and continuous availability of quality foodstuff,” said LuLu Group Director, Juzer Rupawala, “In this, we have always worked closely with APEDA and created a robust platform. We believe that India plays a major role in food sustainability and security in the world and with our global presence, the LuLu Group can be a key factor in amplifying this fact.”
The LuLu Group has been expanding in India as well with hypermarkets, malls, processing factories, sourcing of ces and warehouses.
“LuLu has led the way with sizeable investments in the Indian food sector and a vertical integration of its supply chain with Indian food industry,” Dr. Sudhanshu said, “The turnout of shoppers for The Great Indian Festival is a successful marker of our presence in the Kingdom.”
How modern insurance products can build your nest-egg
LIC International’s knowledgeable CEO & ED, D.P. Pattanaik shares insights
Once viewed as an ‘emergency’ investment that allowed the insured to navigate the troubled waters of sudden expenses incurred due to accidents, sickness or even death, insurance has changed over the years into a multi-faceted investment option that not only provides such a cushion but also serves as a way to leverage your potential to built a nancial nest-egg.
Salaam Bahrain spoke to Debashis Pattanaik, CEO and Executive Director of LIC International, the Bahrain subsidiary of one of the most reputed insurance rms in the world, Life Insurance Corporation of India. Having started operations in Bahrain in 1989 in partnership with International Agencies Co. Ltd. (Intercol), the Company operates in 4 GCC countries: Bahrain, UAE (Dubai and Abu Dhabi), Kuwait and Oman. Starting its operations with USD 0.245 million of asset base, it has grown to more than a billion-dollar company today. The Company has been the market leader in life insurance / long-term business in Kingdom of Bahrain for past many years.
Salaam Bahrain (SB): In your opinion how has insurance changed as a tool of nancial preparedness in the past decade?
Pattanaik: In my view, insurance has transitioned from being a reactive purchase to a proactive tool for nancial security. Over the past decade, it has become an essential part of personal nance, driven by increased customer awareness and understanding of insurance products. What was once seen as an obligatory purchase, particularly for health and life coverage, is now recognized as a critical component of a comprehensive nancial plan.
Technology has been pivotal in this shift. Digital platforms have made it easier for customers to access a wide range of insurance products, compare
policies, and make informed decisions with unprecedented convenience.
Additionally, the growing emphasis on nancial literacy has played a signi cant role. Insurers and nancial advisors are increasingly focused on educating customers about risk management and the importance of insurance in safeguarding against unforeseen events. This has led to a more proactive approach, with individuals better prepared for potential nancial setbacks.
SB: Do people use insurance policies as savings or as a retirement nest-egg? Is that the correct thing to do?
Pattanaik: Many individuals use insurance policies as a savings tool or retirement nest egg. Products
like endowment plans, whole life insurance, and unit-linked insurance plans (ULIPs) are popular for offering both life coverage and savings accumulation. These policies are appealing because they provide a disciplined approach to saving along with the security of insurance protection.
However, their suitability depends on individual nancial goals. For conservative, low-risk retirement planning, insurance policies with a savings component can be valuable, offering guaranteed returns and a nancial safety net.
For those aiming to build a substantial retirement fund, it might be more effective to complement insurance with other investment vehicles, such as ULIPs, mutual funds, or real estate, which often offer higher long-term returns. Consulting a nancial advisor at LIC International can help ensure that chosen products align with both protection needs and wealth accumulation goals.
SB: What is the entry age for putting money into insurance policies and what is the age after which you get least returns?
Pattanaik: The entry age for purchasing insurance policies varies by type, with most life insurance products allowing individuals to start as early as infancy, under parental guardianship. Starting young offers the advantage of lower premiums and a longer investment horizon, enhancing potential returns through compounding. However, for savings-oriented or investment-linked products like endowment plans and ULIPs, beginning later in life—particularly after age 50 or 55—can diminish returns due to a shorter investment period.
As people age, the cost of insurance rises because of higher health risks and mortality rates, further reducing potential net returns. While there’s strict cut-off age under various plans, it’s generally advisable to invest in insurance products earlier to maximize bene ts. For those nearing retirement, it may be wiser to focus on nancial instruments designed for wealth accumulation and retirement planning, while using insurance primarily for risk protection. You can have the blend of both products at LIC International.
SB: Life, Health, Education, Retirement, Savings –which of these ve categories do you see the most among LIC International’s clients’ choices?
Pattanaik: At LIC International, we nd that Capital Guaranteed Life and savings insurance remains the most popular choice among our clients, closely followed by Child Education and retirement planning products. Parents often choose education plans to secure their children’s future, while other savings products attract clients seeking safe, disciplined wealth-building options.
Recently, we launched two new investment products to support customers in their wealth creation journey. These global market-linked whole life plans, available as single or regular premium options, allow investors to participate in various globally diversi ed funds managed by world’s top AMCs. Suitable for ages 0 to 70, these plans offer exibility in premium amounts, with a minimum single premium of USD 15,000 and a
minimum regular premium of USD 500 per month. Our goal is to provide Bahrain residents, particularly NRIs, with exible and attractive investment options that align with their nancial goals and international aspirations.
SB: Today life insurance doubles up as a complex investment tool – how has LIC International adapted to this trend?
Pattanaik: In today’s dynamic nancial landscape, life insurance has evolved beyond mere protection to become a multifaceted investment tool. LIC International has embraced this trend by offering a diverse portfolio of products that cater to both protection and investment needs. We’ve introduced unit-linked insurance plans (ULIPs) which is having equity market-linked returns, allowing policyholders to maximize their investments yield based on risk appetite and nancial goals.
Moreover, we’ve enhanced our traditional products like child education plan with guaranteed bonuses that add value over time, ensuring that our offerings are competitive and aligned with modern nancial planning needs. Our customer-centric approach, backed by robust technological integration, ensures that policyholders have easy access to information and can make informed decisions. By staying attuned to global trends and maintaining our commitment to trust and transparency, LIC International continues to adapt and innovate, providing comprehensive solutions that address the evolving demands of our clients.
SB: What are the top three tips you would give as advise to people wishing to secure their future with LIC nancial tools?
Pattanaik: For those looking to secure their future with LIC’s nancial tools, I recommend the following three tips:
Start Early: The earlier you begin investing in life insurance and nancial products, the better. Starting early not only lowers your premium costs but also maximizes the bene ts of compounding, ensuring a larger corpus for your future needs.
Diversify Your Portfolio: LIC offers a range of products that cater to different nancial goals. It’s wise to diversify your investments across various plans, including traditional life insurance policies, ULIPs, and pension schemes, to balance risk and return effectively.
Review and Adjust Regularly: Life is dynamic, and so are your nancial needs. Regularly review your policies to ensure they align with your current life stage and goals. LIC provides exible options to enhance or modify your coverage, so take advantage of these to stay on track with your nancial objectives.
A full-on Fernandes celebration
There was plenty for the Fernandes family to celebrate this July and they did it in style with a bash that saw lilting Goan music and camaraderie. There were three birthdays marked: mum Sarita Fernandes, son-in-law Felton
and daughter Amanda. The three daughters Gwen, Amanda and Meghan ew in with their spouses to join dad Gerard for a rare famjam and everybody set the dance oor alight with their balmy Goan groove!
Kargil Vijay Diwas marked
Did you know that there is a sizeable contingent of Indian armed forces veterans in Bahrain? To the community’s awed surprise, a total of twenty-four veterans turned up for the Kargil Vijay Divas 25th anniversary ceremony at the Indian Embassy. Three veterans who had actually served in the Kargil theatre: Wing Commander Roopesh Neramballi (Retired) of the Indian Air Force, Major Prince Jose, Sena Medal (Gallantry) of the 9 Para Special Forces, Indian Army and Naik Sunod Sudharkaran - Signal Regiment, Indian Army were present. The rst two being senior also spoke movingly about their experience.
Ambassador Vinod Jacob and Defence Attache Sandeep Singh led the ceremony with speeches on the signi cance of the Kargil victory.
It is believed that there are over 40 Indian armed forces veterans in Bahrain and lady members in the audience were very happy to see a senior lady medical of cer Lt. Col. (Retd.) Dr. Reeta Singh among them. The presence of the veterans lent an added dimension to the gathering and a keen sense of the sacri ce of the armed forces everywhere in safeguarding us and our freedom.
TAWAIFS – HEROINES OF THE FREEDOM MOVEMENT
They fought alongside sepoys in the 1857 War, passed on valuable information, funded the revolution and even followed the Mahatma. Yet, history is late in recording their role in India’s freedom struggle.
BY ADITI NAGAPPA
My dear friend Manjari Chaturvedi, the Kathak dancer, is an angry and disappointed lady. The founder of The Courtesan Project, a history archive on the art, the times and legacy of the tawaifs of the North, has been working hard for nearly two decades, to give these incredible artistes and keepers of Indian artistic and cultural heritage their due.
“For many years, I have been working to present the tawaifs as the powerful game-changers that they were. Contrary to prevalent belief, they were not mere
dancing girls or singers who ran brothels and made money as sex workers. Yet, popular culture persists in portraying them as merely pretty pawns in the hands of men.” Quite the opposite, courtesans enjoyed privileges not afforded to most women in Indian society, such as education and personal income.
Manjari explains, “Tawaifs enjoyed immense power and wealth – they were among the highest tax payers in the country and contributed immensely to the community from their wealth. Many tawaifs built and maintained
roads to sacred pilgrimage sites, built alms houses, hospices and rest houses for pilgrims. So many of them were producers when silent movies gave way to sound – they funded these lms and acted and sang in them too, thus giving Indian cinema a running start into the world of the talkies.”
She rues that history records every male producer and director of the early movies but is silent about the ‘Begums and Baijis of Bollywood’.
ACTIVIST ART
Manjari is particularly dismayed at the lapses in accuracy in Sanjay Leela Bhansali’s recent Net ix magnum opus, ‘Heeramandi’ – however, it must be said that the series has kindled an exploration of the role of tawaifs in the freedom movement. The courtesans had in them enough courage, grace and spirit to use their art as a tool for activism. Consider this: the tawaifs ran busy establishments which were salons for the performing arts and visited by the British and prominent Indians alike. Inevitably plans were discussed over a cup of wine and wily courtesans kept their ears and eyes open to seek out information which would be useful to the freedom ghters. They also generously contributed funds for the freedom ghters’ cause and hid the rebels in their salons or kothas and some even actively took up the sword against the British in pitched battles.
The names of tawaifs who put their shoulders to the wheel of freedom and moved it forward are only now beginning to nd the limelight. Azeezunbai who wore a man’s dress and rode into battle with the sepoys; the bloody-minded Hussaini whose name is linked to
planning the Bibighar massacre, which saw the death of over 100 captive British women and children; Begum Hazrat Mahal, who was the wife of Wajid Ali Shah, the last Nawab of Awadh and a courtesan before her marriage and led her husband’s men into battle and brie y seized control of Lucknow – these and other women certainly changed the trajectory of the freedom struggle.
OSTRACISM
All this meant that the British were ready to ostracise the tawaifs after the First War of Independence in 1857. Tawaifs were reduced to mere “nautch girls” and sex workers without consideration for their meticulous artistic heritage and training or an understanding of their elaborate power structure
which allowed them to choose or reject patrons and partners.
“(The British) got warrants for searching the kothas and would destroy them, break the furniture, pull down the curtains. That’s how the tawaif culture was actually, physically, dismembered,” said researcher-author Veena Talwar Oldenberg.
We are only now discovering the role and the historic value of the tawaifs, thanks to the blitz of well-researched books and papers that have been coming out. Many of the tawaifs did not stop at backroom encouragement and passing on vital information; they actually donned armour and headed to the battlefront. According to a paper by Lata Singh, an associate professor at the Centre for Women’s Studies in Jawaharlal Nehru University (JNU), Azeezunbai, who was one of the earliest freedom- ghter tawaifs got involved in the 1857 uprising through her association with the sepoy Shamsuddin Khan. Born in Lucknow, she had moved to Cawnpore (Kanpur) to set up her kotha. She channeled information to the rebel freedom ghters, offered safe house and funds for ghters on the run from the British and even donned ashy male attire, decorated with
“When it comes to giving credit to women in whatever profession or movement, we can see a marked disinterest among historians.”
A.K. GANDHI, historian
medals, armed herself with a brace of pistols and fought alongside the sepoys on horseback.
Around the same time as Florence Nightingale was revolutionising nursing in the Crimean warfront, “Azeezunbai formed a group of women who went around fearlessly, cheering the men in arms, attended to their wounds and distributed arms and ammunition,” Singh wrote in her paper.
Begum Hazrat Mahal, who was the wife of Wajid Ali Shah, the last Nawab of Awadh, was a courtesan before her marriage, some accounts say. With her determination and ery grit, she more than made up for her luxuryloving husband’s languid approach and, during the mutiny, when her husband was exiled, she led the Indian ghters and seized control of Lucknow, even though brie y.
Another tawaif who rose to become ruler and staked a claim for independence, was Begum Samru, the widow of mercenary Walter Reinhardt Sombre and ruler of Sardhana. Often called a sorceress or a witch by her enemies for her intelligent, practical ways, she converted to Christianity to stay on the right side of the British. She took keen interest in administration and in learning military techniques and displayed remarkable diplomatic skills.
MAHATMA & TAWAIF
Although Mahatma Gandhi called the tawaif profession “a social disease” and a “moral leprosy” that must be done away with, his ght for India’s freedom inspired one Husna Bai, a tawaif in Varanasi to form a support
group called the ‘Kashi Tawaif Sabha’. Researcher Lata Singh notes that Husna Bai, who chaired the sabha, asked the group members to wear iron shackles in place of ornaments in solidarity with the freedom movement, boycott foreign goods and sing the patriotic word in their meh ls.
Another tawaif called Vidhyadhar Bai adopted Gandhian principles of wearing handspun, eschewing foreign goods and even started singing patriotic songs at her meh ls.
Despite his doubts as to their moral values, in 1921, Mahatma Gandhi did ask Gauhar Jaan, a celebrated courtesan, to contribute to the Swaraj Fund through her performance. She agreed on condition that Gandhi should be present at the fund-raising concert. However, after Gandhi failed to show up, she sent only half the amount that she managed to raise, as per Vikram Sampath’s book My Name is Gauhar Jaan
“When it comes to giving credit to women in whatever profession or movement, we can see a marked disinterest among historians,” writes historian A.K. Gandhi (no relative of the Mahatma). The history of India’s freedom struggle, too, has been sifted and pruned and the contributions of many, like the tawaifs, overlooked.
In his book, Dance to Freedom, Gandhi interestingly separates the early British years into pre- and post-steamship periods. Steamships enabled British of cials to bring their families to their respective stations, allowing European morals (and, no doubt, the concerns of European wives) to reduce courtesans to the status of “mere prostitutes who
also sang and danced.” Multiple “antinautch” movements arose, many of them led by Indian reformist groups like the Brahmo Samaj and Arya Samaj, for example. Distanced from the 1857 War, even revolutionaries joined the cry to shut down the kothas, forgetting the role of tawaifs in the freedom ght.
Almost completely forgotten in the annals of freedom history is the story of Dharmman Bibi, the tawaif mistress of Babu Kunwar Singh, a minor ruler in Bihar. While Kunwar Singh is feted and even has an of cial portrait in the Lok Sabha Gallery of freedom ghters of the 1857 War, Dharmman Bibi, who left her newly born twins and sacri ced motherhood, to ful l her duty towards Kunwar Singh and the nation, is never mentioned. People in Arrah, Bihar, where
she and Kunwar Singh lived, pretend not to know about her, for the shame she might bring her royal patron and the memory of her valiant spirit and sacri ce has been swept under the carpet.
History does them a disservice but the courtesans continue to live in legends and folklore. Despite the negligible space tawaifs occupy in history, there is no such dearth in popular discourse. However, tawaifs in popular culture are most often portrayed as victims of the esh trade, kidnapped as children and taught the arts – a sad fact in many cases, yet not the whole story. It is only now that the one-dimensional narrative is changing and the valuable work of tawaifs as freedom- ghters and keepers of India’s classical art heritage is being acknowledged.
BFC celebrates 107 years of trusted service
Bahrain Financing Company (BFC), the leading money transfer and currency exchange company with a rich heritage dating back to 1917, continues to set the standard for innovation and customer service in Bahrain.
BFC has a long history of adapting to market trends. From its humble beginnings trading gold bullion to its current offerings, the company has consistently expanded its services. Today, BFC boasts an extensive network of over 50 branches across Bahrain, with plans for further expansion.
BFC is at the forefront of nancial technology (FinTech) solutions. Its BFC Pay App allows users to send and receive money securely to over 150 countries anytime, anywhere. Available on all major app stores, it offers a convenient and user-friendly experience.
Beyond individual needs, BFC understands the challenges faced by businesses. Through its corporate services, companies can access competitive foreign exchange rates, exible payment methods, and timely settlements. Businesses can learn more by visiting the BFC website and requesting a consultation.
BFC Payments, BFC’s subsidiary licensed as an Ancillary Service Provider with permitted activities of Card Processing and Payment Service Provider by the Central Bank of Bahrain (CBB),
provides innovative electronic payment solutions for businesses and individuals. Fully compliant with the Wage Protection Scheme (WPS), BFC Payments offers peace of mind and security for clients.
“Bringing convenience to our customers is our top priority,” says BFC’s Chief Executive Of cer, Mr. Deepak Nair. “We are constantly innovating and introducing new services to meet the evolving needs of our clients.”
BFC and its management would like to give a special thanks to our Indian colleagues and the Indian community for the support extended over the years and wishes them a very Happy Independence Day.
BFC Group Holdings is a global nancial services leader specializing in money transfer and currency exchange. With a network spanning over 140 branches worldwide and partnerships with MoneyGram and TransFast, the company offers seamless, competitive services across the globe. As the parent company of Bahrain Financing Company, Bahrain Exchange Company, BFC Forex, and BFC Payments, the Group operates in Bahrain, Kuwait, and India. Moreover, BFC Group were a founding member of Bahrain FinTech Bay, contributing to the region’s growing FinTech ecosystem. Visit www.bfc.com.bh or call 17228888 for more information.
Dharmman Bibi
BIS promises joyful educational experience
Bahrain Indian School (BIS) offers stress-free, child-centered, and comprehensive and top-quality education. Built on the core belief of the founders that education is an integral part of the whole life journey, the school has developed a learner-centric, activitydriven, and joyful educational experience. Following the syllabus set by the Central Board of Secondary Education (CBSE) 10+2 system, the school nurtures each child’s innate talents and abilities with a bouquet of activities, both academic and extra-curricular. The priority is shaping the personalities of the students by instilling life-enriching moral values alongside academic excellence.
The Board results year after year are record breaking with 100% success rate. BIS had produced an outstanding result in the Board Examinations 2024 in both Grade X & Grade XII. An exceptionally high number of distinctions, average percentage and number of students scoring above 90% in the aggregate, has made the fourth batch of Grade X results an iconic one. Securing an impressive overall score of 97%, Darwina Manoj Amaranath & Shaun Prabhu emerged as the toppers in Grade X. The second batch of Grade 12 students brought laurels to their alma mater by scoring a meritorious 100% pass with Manoj Subramaniam achieving a standout 96.4%.
For Bhavans-Bahrain Indian School (BIS), education is a shared commitment among teachers, students, and parents. The open accessibility to parents allows
them to track their child’s academic progress, stay updated on learned topics, and be informed about upcoming events. Parents can effortlessly engage with teachers for their child’s overall development through the portal.
The backbone of this environment is the faculty—highly quali ed and adept in advanced teaching methodologies.
The curriculum, aligned with NCERT syllabus and CBSE guidelines, prioritizes interactive learning through engaging projects and creative activities. The stellar performance of BIS students in the various MUNs has been underscored by 12 exceptional scholars who brought a harvest of 65 gold and silver medals from the Yale University Connecticut’s World Scholar’s Cup Tournament of Champions (TOC) 2023.
The spacious classrooms are equipped with audio-visual aids, projectors, and interactive boards. Additionally, individual systems are pro-
vided in the well-designed computer and language labs. The well-equipped library houses over 1000 references, encompassing both ction and non- ctional works. To inculcate good reading habits in children, the school demonstrates a continuous and comprehensive reading project, ‘The Athenaeum’.
To ensure quality education remains accessible, the BIS management has introduced attractive fee discounts for Grade XI admissions. In addition, comprehensive facilities for career counseling, integrated coaching for competitive examinations like IIT-JEE, NEET, SAT, and dedicated support for university applications are prime features which have positioned BIS as the most sought-after school in the Kingdom.
Admissions for the academic session 2024-25, from Pre-KG to Grade XI, are ongoing. Interested applicants can nd application forms and detailed admission procedures on our website at www. bhavansbahrain.com.”
Taking ISB into the future
Indian School Chairman Binu Varughese
outlines the hopes and plans of parents, students and staff of the region’s largest single-shift school
IN CONVERSATION WITH HINA ASAR
When Advocate Binu Mannil Varughese, the Chairman of the Indian School, Bahrain, hoists the National Flag at the school premises on August 15, 2024, he will also be celebrating the Silver Jubilee of his arrival in Bahrain. He landed in the Kingdom on this day in 1999. Having chosen the legal eld as his profession, how did he reach here? “This is all God’s plan” he revealed, “I graduated with my L.L.B. degree in 1996 and planned to enrol myself - that same year the Supreme Court passed a one-year apprenticeship period which I just missed. This gap year propelled my life in a new direction. I did my MBA in Bharatiya Vidyapeeth and landed in Bahrain in 1999 when I got a job in National Panasonic. In 2004, I joined Gulf Pharmacy, where I am presently the Consumer Divisions Head”.
Helming the biggest expatriate school as Chairman was not a planned decision, but once again an example of the Almighty leading him in a new direction. “In 2017, I was approached by the immediate former Chairman Prince Natarajan, whom I respect a lot, to stand for elections. After some thought, I took up the proposal and when we won, I was entrusted with the nance portfolio for 3 years. When Covid happened, the portfolio was extended for another 3 years, and then last year, the team asked me to lead them as Chairman. Our policy has been to work on an administrative level and not interfere in the academics. My job keeps me busy during the week, but my Saturdays are fully dedicated to the school when I meet parents and try to resolve any issues they might have”.
On a query if he has any regrets at not being able to pursue a legal career, he opines “Not really, because God’s plan is always better than ours. My job entails looking after legal contracts and documentation so the legal expertise comes in handy there. The only thing missing is going to Courts”.
Advocate Varughese was kind enough to give his opinion on how the Indian School, the largest single-shift school in the GCC, is preparing for the future:
The impact of the school on Bahrain – India relations
The Indian School Bahrain has signi cantly strengthened community ties at the local level by fostering a multicultural environment that includes students from 14 nationalities, including 1000 Bahraini children. At our campus, we celebrate both Bahrain National Day and Indian Independence Day with equal fervour. Several notable Bahrainis have pursued their education in India, including Abdulnabi Al Shoala, former Minister of Labour and Social Affairs, so we feel that we are serving as a continuing link.
Promotion of Indian culture while embracing the diversity of Bahraini culture
We promote Indian culture through events like cultural festivals, language day celebrations, integrating Indian heritage into the school’s curriculum and activities. Simultaneously, we embrace Bahraini culture by celebrating national festivals, incorporating Bahraini history into lessons and fostering an inclusive environment.
Integrating technology into the curriculum and investing in the latest trends in smart education technology
Technology has been integrated into the curriculum through state-ofthe-art laboratories, internet-enabled resource centres and language learning labs. For Classes XI and XII, the school offers Computer Science and Arti cial Intelligence (AI) with Science stream and Informatics Practices with Commerce stream. The school will continuously update its technology infrastructure, provide ongoing professional development for teachers and incorporate emerging educational technologies.
Initiative to harness solar energy at the school’s campus
The school has embarked on a groundbreaking initiative in collaboration with Kanoo Cleanmax Renewables Asset Co. to install solar panels, incurring
minimal to no cost to the school. The anticipated outcome is a solar power plant generating up to 64% of the school’s energy consumption and underscoring the UNESCO-af liated institution’s commitment to sustainable development goals. The project is expected to be fully operational by 2025.
Construction of separate toilet block for girl students
Feedback from students and parents highlighted the need for improved facilities to ensure a supportive and inclusive environment for female students. The new toilet block aims to provide better hygiene, privacy and accessibility
Students of ISB who could be potential future leaders
Our Head Boy Shan Diamond Louis, our ISB MUN Secretary General Jumainah Junaid and many others are potential leaders. They emerge from involvement in Model United Nations, youth festivals and cultural exchanges.
Balancing academic excellence and extra-curricular activities & promoting holistic development
The school integrates sports, arts and leadership programmes into the regular curriculum, ensuring that students have ample opportunities to develop diverse skills alongside their academic pursuits. Regular workshops, events and
competitions are organised to engage students beyond academics
Training and upgrade for teachers
Regular workshops, FDPs and courses on the latest teaching methodologies, educational technologies and subjectspeci c advancements are organized. Teachers are encouraged to pursue certi cations to stay updated with global education trends.
Student-Teacher Ratio in the classrooms
The school has 12,500 students across two campuses and a dedicated team of 700 staff members. The school strives to meet the growing demand for enrolment while adhering to CBSE and Ministry of Education guidelines by continuously expanding the facilities and resources.
Strategic vision as a Chairman in the next 3 years
Embrace advancements in educational technology, enhance teaching methods and provide personalised learning experiences; strengthen initiatives in sports, arts, leadership and community service; advance the school’s commitment to environmental sustainability; strengthen the nances of the school –an example of this is the recent purchase of 5 Leyland buses, the income from which is used to pay the EMIs. So, after 3 years, once the loan has been serviced, we have an asset for the next 15 years.
Memorable basketball tournament
Before the end of the school year, a very special sporting event takes place in the New Millennium School, Bahrain – it is the Farhan Memorial Basketball Tournament. The sporting event has been a popular xture since 2018 and held in memory of the school’s alumnus Mohammed Farhan who lost his life in a fatal bike accident.
This year, the white jersey Team Michael Jordan students comprising of students from Grades IX to XII, were the winners, scoring 36 points. They received their trophy from the Guest of Honour, Farhan’s mother, Nikhat Nihan. While felicitating the winning team, she showered her blessings to the young players and expressed her gratitude to the school for conducting such a heartwarming remembrance.
Principal Dr Arun Kuumar Sharma, while addressing the students, revived the fond memories of Farhan as a zealous and enthusiastic student of the school.
GETTING FOODY WITH YOUR EMOJIS
Oh please! A smiley or a facepalm is so-o YESTERDAY! Why not add some calories to your emoji lingo with these hidden foody emoji meanings?
BY BIMANSA THENULI
Young people of the world are changing the emoji game yet again! While our parents are just about getting familiar with the thumbs up, the smiley, the red angry face – or even the Korean-inspired nger heart emoji, we have started coding our messages with..ta-da..food emojis!
Ok, since many of the parental gen don’t know their way around this e-buffet, let us take you through some of the food emoji and their hidden meanings.
Pizza
The pizza emoji stands for all types of pizza but can also be used as an emoji to express ‘I love you’ or to signify community.
Teapot Did you know, for instance, that if you use a teapot emoji, it means you have some goss to share?
Popcorn:
That cheery tub of uffy corn puts us in a good mood, right? It can also stand for either being entertained (as in watching a movie or something very interesting) or being on the edge of your seat.. and mindlessly eating the popcorn.
Watermelon: Did you know a sliced watermelon emoji is one of the protest symbols for Palestinians on social media. It also means summertime joy.
Pretzel:
This one’s easy – a pretzel emoji can stand for Germany or it could be a hint of a “twist” in the plot.
Cheese:
The wedge of cheese emoji can stand for popular cheese-related phrases and terms such as ‘being cheesy’ or ‘not very original’ or ‘ nding my cheese’ or reward.
Green Salad:
This represents the modern wellness movement.
Coconut:
The standard coconut emoji shows either just half a broken coconut with the hairy brown outer shell and the crescent of the while inner shell. When used just as a half shell, a coconut emoji, like the banana emoji represents attitude – when a person is brown “on the outside” but adopts “white” or Caucasian attitude. It is often called a racist emoji and has been in the news recently because many Kamala Harris supporters are putting a coconut emoji to show their support for her.
A full coconut can stand for somebody or a situation that is “hard to crack”.
But if you put a coconut with a couple of coconut trees in the background – then that represents an island vacay!
Toast:
Heard the phrase “S/he’s TOAST”? It means somebody’s been pulled up and properly scolded and punished. That’s what this emoji means.
Jam: Jam can mean getting an unexpected reward for work you have done.
There is even a World Emoji Day every July 17 when we get new emojis of all kinds and celebrate this new hieroglyphic language. But next time round, I really wish they would give us more Indian and Arabic food emojis – such as samosa or even a kebab skewer or a shawarma. I can think of many meanings to t these – a kebab skewer can represent multiculturalism, what with the tomato, onion, peppers and meat cubes lined up together and a samosa can represent Indian culture just like the sushi roll emoji is said to represent cultural pride.
Psst! Have you signed up on Change.Org for the inclusion of a samosa emoji?
India@ Paris Olympics
There is a shift in hopes and aspiration but our sporting infrastructure and administration must keep up with our athletes.
BY SOURABH BHARGAVA
Over the years India’s performance in Olympics has mirrored that of a nation. Occasional ashes of brilliance, some moments in the sun here and there, the celebration of near misses of athletes amidst struggles and adversity they faced in their own backyard. But very little to show in terms of facts and gures. In terms of tangible medals. Like in many other areas beyond sports.
The 1990s represent a seminal period in Indian history. The economy was unshackled by liberalization resulting in the rise of a nation that was more con dent. More comfortable in its own skin. Inevitably, it led to a new order where subjugation could no longer be justi ed, where the intent was on proving one’s worth and living by one’s own code. Sports could not remain immune to these winds of change. As a result, Indian athletes started raising their sights higher. They were no longer
in the international sporting arena just to participate and appreciate the inclusivity and bonhomie. Niceties be damned. Context, though important, was consigned to back pages as the import was on getting tangible results.
India in Olympics 2024 continued its march towards building its reputation as a strong sporting nation. The import lay not as much in number of medals (there were many near misses) but in the identity it formed of being an opponent that plays with sustained intent. Every single time. An opponent who is unfazed by the enormity of the occasion or the reputation of the competitor.
No one epitomized this trait better than the Indian wrestler Vinesh Phogat as she defeated Yui Susaki, reigning Olympic champion, an all-time great who had won the last Olympics without conceding a single point and had a surreal record of 82-0 in international wrestling. And just to prove that it was
A sporting story
not a one-off, she overcame two more fancied opponents on the same day. It’s a shame that she was stripped of a possible gold medal owing to exceeding the prescribed weight in the designated category by few grams; however her impact on future sportspersons would be huge. She was the agbearer of India’s spirit and resilience in this Olympics.
Neeraj Chopra, a decorated javelin thrower, continued to amaze as he added silver to the gold he won last time. His impact, though, is more than medals. Supremely con dent in his own abilities, he entered the intensely competitive arena with only one thought in mind: the uncompromising pursuit of victory. In a fractious world given to so many distractions, it is a liberating, empowering simplicity. He brings to Indian sports not hope but expectation. It’s the bravest force in sports.
The hockey campaign was another revelation not just for the podium nish but for the way they played. Defeating World No. 2 with 10 men on the eld for most of the match requires more than mere luck. It requires having a bunch of players who, even amidst turmoil, like getting on with life, enjoying all the
thrills and spills that the game has to offer. Always focusing on the matter at hand - the next attack, the next pass, the next moment. Throw them at a wall and they will not break.
The exploits of Manu Bhaker in shooting were no less praiseworthy. Denied by malfunctioning of her ri e in last Olympics nal, her focus did not waver as she entered the nal this time too. Mishaps may occur, sometimes of calamitous proportion, but one needs to take them in strides. Because she has faith in herself, because she trains so hard, things will fall in place. As they did in Paris this time. Not many 22-year-olds have this equanimity in life.
Great though these achievements are, India will do well to remember that it is not enough. Ambition is made of sterner stuff. Success cannot be accidental; neither can it depend on exploits of a few. Rather it must be result of every part of the sporting community. And that can only come with proper structure and constructive attitude, including the sports administrators. India needs to do more. However, Paris Olympics did give an indication that we are on right path.
Homegrown fashion brand Tarakeeb (the word is Arabic for ‘put together’) is the dream of Bahrain resident Kaneka Subberwal. It represents her belief in sustainability, in inclusiveness and a timeless fashion sensibility.
“Through Tarakeeb which represents the art of textile weaving and fashion across countries and cultures, I want to reach women and men who love beautiful garments, crafted in India with bespoke textiles woven and made proudly in Bahrain with yarn from the best global centres,” Kaneka said, “Of course, with India being a centre for embellishments and top-of-the-line hand embroidery for all the best fashion houses, we too have our artisans working for us there.”
“Tarakeeb represents an absolutely granular attention to detail that goes into elevating every garment into a work of art and luxury. Its not about bling – it’s a quintessential Bahraini approach to luxury - you go to Bahraini homes, their knowledge, the subtle luxury or what people today deem as quiet luxury is the key to Tarakeeb. It's very digni ed, very integral.”
She has also built an inclusiveness into her styles so that the brand welcomes people of all sizes and cultures.
Tarakeeb updates are available on Instagram on tarakeeb.of cial
Tarakeebrepresents an absolutelyattentiongranular to detail that goes elevatingintoevery garment into a work of art and luxury.
BAHRAINI FASHION LABEL WINS HEARTS
Saree mates go junglee!
The invitation to the Bahrain Saree Mates Meet organized by Thanuja Anil and Chithra Padmanabhan said the dress code was animal prints. But although many of the guests came demurely un-animal like, there was a lot of fun and sharing of saree knowledge with quizzes and word hunt related to the amazing weaves of Indian textiles and saree drapes. Topped with an amazing spread of Gujarati food, it was a colourful afternoon-well-spent.
Basmati focus in Al Jazira
During the recent visit by a high-powered delegation from APEDA, the AL Jazira Group’s retail division Al Jazira Supermarket celebrated the goodness and delicious avour of Indian Basmati rice. Shoppers got to taste biryani that had been specially prepared in-store. There are 43 noti ed varieties of Indian Basmati listed under Section 5 of the Seed Act (1966) of India.
INDIA ACES THE TASTE TEST
TasteAtlas, the renowned online food ranking platform, has once again highlighted the global appeal of Indian cuisine – and Indians everywhere are celebrating.
BY NAOMI JOSEPH
In its recently released list of the “100 Best Dishes in the World”, TasteAtlas, an experiential travel online guide for traditional food, put Butter Garlic Naan at an impressive No. 7, in the ‘Top 10 Best Dishes’ of the world. The list also features Murgh Makhani at No. 43 and Tikka at No. 47 – and curiously enough, ‘Tandoori’ at No. 48 – presumably any Tandoor-cooked item?
TRADITIONAL HIGHLIGHTS
Unlike the Michelin star ratings where restaurant chefs are rated by gourmand inspectors on the innovation, taste and presentation of their offerings, TasteAtlas seems to be based largely on the most frequently ordered items across restaurants all over the world and the volume of business generated. The platform collates authentic recipes, food critic reviews, and research articles about popular ingredients and dishes and calls itself “a world atlas of traditional dishes, local ingredients, and authentic restaurants”. Founded in 2015
by Croatian journalist and entrepreneur Matija Babic, it took more than three years of research and development before the project launched in late 2018.
The online site features an interactive global food map with dish icons shown in their respective regions and purportedly contains nearly 10,000 dishes, drinks, and ingredients, as well as 9,000 restaurants.
Reportedly, the company does not intend to compete with the likes of Michelin guide or Tripadvisor, as it sees its niche between haute cuisine recommendations of the former and popular tourist places of the latter, none of which focus on traditional dishes. The site uses reviews and recommendations from gastronomy professionals and critics’ reviews instead of usergenerated content, citing trustworthiness as the main reason.
Of course, food always elicits deeply personal responses and many Indians scoffed that butter garlic naan is not a main course item but a modest side-dish. Similarly, tikka and tandoor referred to styles of preparing a dish and not any actual signature dish.
One netizen commenting on the list, wrote, “Ok, tandoori what? Tandoori is the style of cooking - this is such a vague list.”
Surprisingly, dosa, the popular South Indian crepe, did not feature in the all-foods list but came in 10th in the list of the World’s Top 10 Pancakes, where the French crepe came rst. The masala dosa, the potato stuffed version came in at No. 12 on that list.
INFLUENTIAL
Despite ‘only’ three dishes in the Global Top 50, Indian culinary skills have adapted many of the world’s favourite foods. Walk the streets of Madurai, a traditional temple town in the heart of Tamil Nadu, away from the limelight of cosmopolitan metropolises and you can still nd local versions of the Burmese Khao Suey (or Khow Suey), a spicy, soupy noodle dish which has earned the sobriquet of ‘Burmese Bhel’ because it is served with an array of dry toppings.
Similarly, the tradition of serving aky, layered (Kerala-style) paratha with meaty curry has been
Roti Canai is a fusion of Malabar and Malay taste, introduced to Malaysia by immigrants from Kerala.
Worst food offenders
A matter of celebration for Indian foodies everywhere is the fact that there is not one Indian dish in the companion “Global List of Top 50 Worst Foods” list. The earliest we nd an Indian entry here is at No. 60 where Alu Baingan, the gravy-based potato and brinjal curry is listed. With Indian cuisine being so varied, there are dedicated TasteAtlas lists for 64 of the Top Indian Worst Foods and even Top 9 Indian Worst Street Foods.
In fact, the Worst Foods list is dominated by traditional dishes from the Nordic countries of Norway, Greenland, Finland and Sweden. The predominant turn-off seems to be variations of sh when preserved or fermented, sh entrails and the use of animal blood in preparation.
The 2024 TasteAtlas List of Top 10 Foods:
BRAZIL
Picanha – a speci c cut of beef that is served grilled and rare.
CHINA
Guotie –delicate long dumplings lled with meat and crispy cabbage
MALAYSIA
Roti Canai –aky, layered paratha made with all-purpose our as served with a rich gravy curry
THAILAND
Phat Kaphrao – minced meat stir-fried with black soybean, garlic and basil
ITALY
Pizza
Napoletana – classic pizza from the original home of the favourite open pie!
entrenched in Malaysia as Roti Canai, the second dish on the list, thanks to the culinary in uence of the many immigrants from the Malabar coast. So, besides the three clear places, the Indian in uence pretty much pervades the Top 10 list! To perk up our readers’ tastebuds, we present a classic recipe for Burmese Khow Suey. Meanwhile the number of Michlin-starred Indian restaurants and chefs are growing – even Bahrain has its celebrated Vineet Bhatia whose Rasoi in the Gulf Hotel serves a stylish Indian repast. As regional cuisines take centrestage, wouldn’t it be lovely to see an authentic Kerala, Maharashtrian or Kashmiri restaurant win recognition?
TRADITIONAL DISHES
To ful ll its mission of preserving traditional recipes and promoting authentic restaurants and source ingredients,[16] a small team of 30 authors does rigorous research.[10] This is reportedly done using all available sources and criteria, including article mentions, reviews, Google Search popularity as well as relevant certi cates, such as EU food schemes, Unesco Intangible Cultural Heritage, and Ark of Taste.
HOW TO SERVE KHOW SUEY (GARNISHES)
Garnishes are very important to this recipe. Place each garnish in a separate bowl and allow each person to choose whichever garnish they would like to add. You can choose any of the following, or experiment and add your own take on the recipe:
Lime or lemon wedges to squeeze on top (highly recommended)
Spring onions, chopped
Crushed red pepper chili akes or chili oil
Fried sliced onions (about 3 cups raw onions)
BURMA
Khow Suey – a noodle soup with rich coconut milk and spice base
INDIA
Butter Garlic Naan, India – naan bread brushed with garlic butter and topped with fresh cilantro
RUSSIA
Shashlik –skewered and grilled cubes of meat similar to Bahrain’s shish kebab
CHINA
Tangbao –a large, round meat- lled dumpling
THAILAND
Phanaeng Curry – a meat stew with a coconut milk base, peanuts, aromatic Thai herbs, sh sauce and palm sugar. The name of the dish is derived from the word panang, meaning cross, which refers to the ancient way of preparing chicken with its legs crossed and set in an upright position.
Fried sliced garlic
Boiled eggs, chopped or halved, or softboiled eggs, halved
Cilantro, chopped
Peanuts, chopped
Strips of fried pappadum (lentil crisps) or fried wonton strips
BURMESE KHOW SUEY
Burmese Khow Suey is originally curried chicken noodles in a coconut curry broth served with an array of delicious toppings. However, the meat can be replaced with soya nuggets, tofu or vegetables for a vegan/vegetarian option.
The recipe’s authentic Burmese name is ohn no khauk swe which means ‘coconut milk noodles’. Khow Suey is very popular in India and Pakistan. It was brought to these countries by expatriates returning from Burma during the middle of the last century.
INGREDIENTS
1 tablespoon vegetable oil
2 teaspoon sesame oil
2 cups onions
1 tablespoon garlic minced
1 tablespoon ginger minced
1 teaspoon Kashmiri chili powder more to taste
3⁄4 teaspoon turmeric powder
2⁄3 kg. boneless skinless chicken thighs (2⁄3 kg) cut into bite-size pieces
5 cups low sodium chicken broth plus more to deglaze
400 ml coconut milk
11⁄2 tablespoon sh sauce
1 tablespoon soy sauce
3 tablespoon chickpea our 225 gms angel hair pasta strands broken in half **
**Traditionally, egg noodles are used but tend to overcook quickly.
PREPARATION
1. In a frying pan on the stovetop, heat 2 tablespoons of oil and saute the onions, garlic, and ginger until the onions are caramelized and turn golden brown. Remove with slotted spoon and set aside. Turn the heat down to medium.
2. Add in the chili powder, turmeric, and gram our and stir constantly for 30 seconds to 1 minute, until fragrant. Add a bit of oil if needed. If it sticks to the bottom, deglaze by adding a couple of teaspoons of broth or water to release the brown bits.
3. Add the chicken and stir to coat with the spice mixture. Saute chicken until no longer pink.
4. Stir in broth, coconut milk, sh sauce and soy sauce and bring to a boil.
5. Stir in the pasta and boil until the noodles are cooked to your desired consistency, about 10 minutes.
6. Cook through until the soup has thickened.
7. Assemble the garnishes in attractive little bowls and serve a big pot of Khow Suey surrounded by the garnishes. Sprinkle the garnishes of your choice over the Khow Suey and enjoy it hot.
E-waste, not plastics, are next big eco-threat
But kids, who are frontline electronics users don’t know it, according to Cartoon Network Survey
According to the UN, electronic waste (e-waste) is the world’s fastest-growing domestic waste stream. That means we all replace old electronic stuff like mobile phones, laptops, MP3 players, plugs and batteries regularly and very few of us dispose the old e-waste safely as per manufacturers’ instructions. In fact, there are few safe places for e-waste disposal. Trash disposal spaces have separate bins for paper, glass, plastic and even organic waste but none for e-waste.
Now, a survey by Cartoon Network shows that kids around the world can relate to e-waste with about 7.3 billion e-toys ending up in land lls annually (car racing sets, electric trains, music toys, talking dolls, drones etc). That’s an average of 1 per person on Earth! More disturbingly, the survey found that 70% of children aged 6-11 across the EMEA
region (Europe, M.E. and Africa), had not heard of e-waste or were aware but not sure / had no idea what it means.
TOON RESCUE
Cartoon Network has recognised the opportunity to bene t both the planet and children by using its combined platforms, reach, and the expertise of Envision Racing to highlight the issue of electronic waste. The e-waste campaign aims to raise awareness and understanding through new, fun, relatable, and inspiring content designed to encourage action via e-waste-themed Climate Champions challenges, informative videos, quizzes and trivia. The children’s channel Climate Champions’ new e-waste video content will air on the Cartoon Network channel and includes a “Guide to E-waste” video that explains what e-waste is, why it’s an important issue and the basics of how we can help tackle it. Cartoon Network will also air e-waste promos, explaining
issues around e-waste with a call to action on how kids can get involved in tackling it, and share weekly uploads to its social YouTube channels to help broaden reach and drive key e-waste messages home.
Among the many e-waste challenges available includes the ‘Device Rescue Mission,’ where children check their homes for old electronic devices that can be recycled, the ‘No Crossed Wires’ challenge, which involves taking care of chargers by preventing damage from wire tangles, and the ‘Phone Numbers!’ challenge, where kids count the number of mobile phones in their homes, including unused ones.
Warner Bros Discovery, VP Brand, Comms and Digital Content Strategy, Monika Oomen says: “E-waste is highly relevant to children, yet our research indicates a notable gap between their intentions and actions, primarily due to a lack of knowledge on proper disposal methods. It is encouraging to witness the agency among kids, and our goal is to help translate their intentions into meaningful actions.”
GREEN RACE FINISH
Kids aged 6-12 can become Cartoon Network’s Climate Champions by taking on daily challenges and making a signi cant difference together. The collaboration with the world champion racing team, Envision Racing, underscores Cartoon Network’s commitment to educating young minds. In the MENA region, Cartoon Network has been actively engaging children with a variety of interactive activities as part of the Climate Champions initiative. Further expanding their Climate Champions initiative, Cartoon Network MENA integrated it into Cartoon Network Game On! by introducing e-waste challenges on Roblox. In collaboration with Envision Racing, they launched the Climate E-Racers minigame, where players race in vehicles customized with e-waste collected in the game, completing Climate Champions challenges. Since its launch in May, Climate E-Racers has amassed 1 million visits, ensuring this crucial message reaches children during their playtime.
As part of Envision Racing’s Race Against Climate Change programme, the team has long aimed to energise fans to help save the planet, with the growing problem of e-waste a recent focus. In 2023 the team unveiled the world’s rst, fully driveable race car made entirely out of e-waste to highlight the growing worldwide problem.
AUGUST 2024
THE EDITORIAL TEAM
P.O. Box 50650, Arad Kingdom of Bahrain
Licensed by the Ministry of Information
Publication Licence no : GASB 740
Chairman and Managing Editor Mahmood Al Mahmood
Managing Director P.K. Ravi
Editor Meera Ravi
Contributors
Maharaja Features Pvt. Ltd. Hina Asar (Special Editorial Assistant)
No part of this publication may be reproduced without the written permission of the publisher.
The views expressed in this magazine are not necessarily the views of the publisher and Editor. While every effort has been made to ensure the accuracy of the information contained in this publication, the publisher & editor cannot accept legal responsibility for any error, content or omissions.
See-saw of marine health
How can Bahrain snorkelers and divers support marine environment? Take pointers from a marine bioloigist at the Sheraton Maldives Full Moon Resort & Spa.
DON’T DEAL IN CORAL
Just like ivory, rhino horn and animal/ reptile skins are considered supportive of poachers, buying pieces of coral or very large shells are also bad for marine health. Very often these are broken off the main reef and this causes immeasurable damage to the coral reef. Say no the dealing in this marine contraband.
TOUCHING MARINE LIFE
While it’s exciting to see sh, turtles, and other marine creatures up close, it’s crucial to respect their space. The ocean is their home, and touching them can cause stress and harm. Oils and bacteria from our skin can damage their protective mucous layers. Maintain a safe distance to enjoy encounters without disturbing the wildlife, ensuring their natural behaviors are not disrupted. Use underwater cameras or binoculars for a closer look without intrusion.
Did you stop to count just how many special days (and weeks and months and years) we have designated for environmental causes? From species-speci c days like World Horseshoe Crab Day (yes really – June 20) to general wake-up calls such as World Oceans Day (June 02), there are about 160+ days dedicated to reminding us of our place in the environmental grid and how we can protect it. Sometimes whole weeks and years are dedicated to a green cause and the effect does show in raised awareness.
Since Bahrain is an archipelago and its beaches attract snorkelers and swimmers, let’s take a look at the common mistakes we can avoid to ensure our marine ecosystems remain healthy and thriving. Some of these suggestions also come from Katelyn Hegarty-Kelly, the talented marine biologist from Sheraton Maldives Full Moon Resort & Spa.
AVOID SHALLOW AREAS OF THE REEF
It’s tempting to stand in shallow areas to get a better view, but doing so can severely damage the corals. Corals are delicate and, when harmed, become more susceptible to disease and stress, which can lead to their death. Even slight pressure from ns can break coral branches, causing lasting damage. Always swim along the reef edge or keep your body at in the water to avoid contact, preserving the fragile marine ecosystems.
By keeping a respectful distance, you allow marine animals to move freely and behave naturally, ensuring a more authentic and less intrusive experience.
DON’T IGNORE PLASTIC POLLUTION
Our oceans are plagued with plastic pollution. As snorkelers and swimmers, we can play a part in cleaning up. Bring a small bag to the beach to collect any trash you see while in the water. This simple act helps reduce the plastic that marine life must navigate through. By removing debris, we help prevent marine animals from ingesting or becoming entangled in plastic waste.
USING HARMFUL SUNSCREENS
Not all sunscreens are safe for marine life. Ingredients in some sunscreens can be toxic to corals and other marine organisms. Chemicals like nonnano titanium dioxide and zinc oxide contribute to coral bleaching and can disrupt the growth and reproductive cycles of marine life. Opt for reef-safe sunscreen brands to protect yourself and the environment, choosing products that use mineral-based ingredients like zinc oxide and titanium dioxide.
COLLECTING SHELLS
Collecting shells might seem harmless, but these shells often serve as homes and protection for sea snails and crabs. When shells are removed from their natural environment, it disrupts the habitat and protection for these creatures. Leave shells where you nd them to ensure these creatures have the resources they need to survive, supporting the balance of marine ecosystems.
MAKE A COMMUNITY DIFFERENCE
Everyone can contribute to marine conservation. Start a local marine conservation footprint. You can get a group of friends together and adopt a stretch of beach. Adopt A Beach, Adopt a Coral Reef are all signi cant steps which can be implemented by individuals or small groups at a community level. Speak to shermen in your community and nd out which sh are getting scarce. Try to avoid eating that sh – at home or when ordering out - and track its numbers if possible with shmongers. Just like the hugely successful ‘dolphin-friendly’ tuna initiative, our smallest steps can snowball into big results. By engaging in these conservation activities, you too can actively contribute to creating thriving ecosystems for all marine life.
Built-in sunscreen and umbrellas don’t protect from sun say experts
Regular application of high-protection sunscreen remains a more effective solution to maximize sun protection
Products such as makeup with builtin sunscreen and umbrellas may not deliver the level of protection needed to guard against the sun’s damaging rays and individuals are advised to follow a more comprehensive approach, says an expert from global health system Cleveland Clinic.
“Individuals tend to overestimate the amount of sun protection they are getting from sunscreen-infused makeup products and umbrellas, says dermatologist Amy Kassouf, MD. “In reality, the shade of an umbrella is far less effective than a sunscreen with a high sun protection factor (SPF), while SPF in makeup probably isn’t enough to limit the harmful effects of the sun’s skin-burning ultraviolet (UV) rays.”
While any shade is better than no shade, research into beach umbrellas found 78% of users ended up with sunburn after three-and-a-half hours on the beach. For comparison sake, 25% of those using an SPF 100 sunscreen got sunburned in the same timeframe.
In the case of makeup containing sunscreen, skin care companies slather on an extra thick layer of a product when testing for SPF. “In the real world, individuals do not wear such thick layers of makeup, so you’re more than likely not getting the full protection listed on the label,” she says.
This same dynamic takes place with sunscreen, Dr. Kassouf adds, so an effective strategy can be to double up.
“Apply sunscreen with at least SPF 30 and makeup with SPF 30. Together, they’ll add up to the protection you need,” she says.
If a person is using SPF makeup for the convenience of applying fewer products, Dr. Kassouf suggests trying a mineral-based tinted sunblock instead, which she says is one of the best new products for protection against the sun.
“There is some iron oxide added to the sunblock base of zinc and titanium to give it a tan color,” she explains. “This way, you get the broadest spectrum sun protection in a product that can even your skin tone, as well — and it is just one product to reapply.”
5 Tips for applying sunscreen
Choose broad-spectrum sunscreen products, which protect against both UVA and UVB rays, the two types of sun rays that cause harm.
Pick sunscreen products with an SPF of at least 30, but preferably higher for a little extra protection, especially if you’re going to be outside for any extended period.
Use sunscreen heavily. The most common mistake people make when applying sunscreen is not using enough, says Dr. Kassouf. It should be reapplied about every two hours or more frequently if a person is swimming, sweating or otherwise weakening the previous protective layer. Don’t forget to apply to the neck, arms and any other skin exposed to the sun, not just the face.
Pay attention to the expiration date as sunscreen does not last forever and protection will weaken over time.
Nat & Tariq go to Bollywood
ollywood-style glamour and sparkle lit up the happy tenth anniversary celebrations of Natalia and Tariq Al Alaiwat. Family from all over the world and friends dressed up in clothes that would have done Karan Johar proud and danced to some all-time Bolly hits. A great time was had by all.
QUOTE OF THE MONTH
‘MY TIME WITH
RAJINIKANTH CHANGED
ME AS A PERSON’
While Bollywood watchers praise 67- year old Anil Kapoor as a Peter Pan who never ages, there is one more actor who has invested a lot of hard work into his tness and looks dashing at 62 – Suniel Shetty.
What’s more, the actor’s reputation is clean as a whistle and he is known as a committed family man and shrewd businessman who has built nancial success outside the lm industry.
Recently, the actor talked about his life-altering shoot with mega-star Rajinikanth for the lm Darbar and how it changed his life.
“I never wanted to do a negative role, but I made an exception with Darbar because this had me opposite Rajinikanth. My time with Rajinikanth changed me as a person. He would talk to everyone on set, be so simple and humble and yet transform into an actor in front of the camera. The minute he is ready with make-up, it’s a different world. Even though he has achieved so much, he remains the same. I took a lot from those beautiful moments for my own life too.”
Suniel himself has a special connection with Chennai; one of his personal favourites, Bollywood lm Hera Pheri (2000), directed by Priyadarshan, was shot here. A year later, he shot for a Tamil lm (12B). Then, twenty years later, he returned to Tamil cinema, essaying the role of the antagonist in Rajinikanth’s Darbar(2020), directed by AR Murugadoss.
KAILASH KHER’S GARBAGE HIT
Singer Kailash Kher is the darling of parties - no, not for pubs and discotheques but for political parties who ght electoral battles. Interestingly, whenever there is an election, Kher’s voice is the go-to for anthems to rouse the voters and this Lok Sabha election was no different. In rallies and door-to-door campaigns, his voice could be heard to promote the Bharatiya Janata Party, Samajwadi Party, and Bahujan Samaj Party with songs that were recorded at different periods of time.
But his personal Top Hit is his popular garbage disposal anthem wafting through colonies and mohallahs across north India, urging people to stick to their Bharat Ka Irada’ is played over speakers attached to waste collection vehicles of municipal corporations and municipalities.
Kher describes the popular cleanliness anthem as a “pleasant and successful” way to connect music with something as prosaic as garbage disposal. “Often where lectures don’t work, two to three meaningful lines set to music change minds and hearts. A line like ‘humse niklegi swachchta ki ek nadi, swachhta ki jyot ghar ghar jalayenge’ conveys the larger purpose behind the mission. The song by default takes my voice to homes who have not heard me otherwise,” he twinkles.
TRUE LOVE AND ELEGANCE ELEVATE SONA-AHEER WEDDING
Speaking of weddings – no, not THAT one – one elegant and understated ceremony that rose effortlessly above the drama it generated was that of Sonakshi and Zaheer Iqbal. It was private but public enough, the bride turned away from OTT bling and designer lehenga to wear her mother’s red Benarasi in a heartfelt, sentimental note and the groom looked classy in his off-white togs. Not even the spoilsport brother Luv Sinha who not only stayed away but then went public with a hundred reasons why, could break the spell.
“It took us ve minutes to choose our out ts,” Sonakshi said, “I was very clear in my head that for my actual signing and the wedding, I wanted to wear my mother’s saree and her jewellery, which is exactly what I did… It was all in my head and we just brought it to life on that day,”
The groom wore an ivory-hued embroidered kurta-pajama for the signing ceremony followed by a white open jacket with a shirt and matching pants for the reception. “We went to his friend, who is a designer, and he saw one out t and he was like ‘Oh, I will wear this.’
“We are not that fussy,” Sonakshi said.
ADOPTING THE MILIND MOVE
Milind Soman is a model, actor, National-level swimmer, TV presenter and India’s most recognized run-for- tness person (well, after Anil Ambani, maybe). Now the Soman threesome of Milind, his octogenarian mother Usha who runs and climbs the occasional mountain even today and his wife, tness queen Ankita have come together to write a book – a sort of tness self-improvement from the perspective of three generations. Titled ‘Keep Moving: Lessons on Staying Young in Mind and Body from India’s Fittest Family’, it has been written in collab with Bengaluru-based journalist and writer Roopa Pai.
In 200 pages, the book is published as a compendium of lessons and learnings derived from each family member’s respective journeys in tness, both mental and physical. Each author - Milind 58, Ankita 32 and Usha 84 trace their tness perspective for the reader. Biggest lessons? Start young – get your children off Playstation and out moving. If you have not had the “ rst mover” advantage, start today – its never too late. And follow the Soman family mantra that “Movement is Medicine”.
The Indian School Bahrain is the largest single-shift school in the GCC with over 13,000 students studying in its two sprawling campuses. I recall how, when the late Atma Jashanmal suggested that the time had come for the school to move out of its cramped Manama building to a purpose-built Isa Town campus, many parents raised an alarm. They said that as expats the school catered to a ‘ oating’ population and was unsustainable. The visionary that he was, Jashanmal persisted and look where the institution is today!
I remember a former Chairman of the school saying that the school was not just an educational institution but an economic enabler – it enabled thousands of families to stay together because their children were assured of a good education and that in turn fed the local economy through spending on housing, living expenses etc. I mean, even accounting for siblings, we are looking at a minimum of 10,000 family homes, grocery bills etc. each month.
A couple of years ago, I happened to meet an old matriarch of a Bhatia family and she recalled the times in the 1940s when young brides like her landed in Bahrain to form the nucleus of the Indian mercantile community here. It struck me then that women like her – a whole generation that came from the 1940s onward – were the unsung pioneer heroines of our corner of the diaspora. Most of them came from a sheltered rural region of Thatta (now in Pakistan) and after their marriage, travelled to Karachi to catch the Flying Boat to Bahrain. It was a multiple day journey and although the community was well-todo, creature comforts which we take for granted today were few. No air-conditioning, saline – and I mean downright salty! - water in the few taps and hardly any entertainment - no clubs or movie houses for the evening. Medical help was limited too so most of them made the arduous journey back to India for childbirth.
Despite all this, the ladies of the ‘40s and ‘50s – right up to the 1960s – were courageous. They stayed on, they gave the community its rst taste of family and belonging. Why, the Indian Ladies Association, the oldest expat women’s group in the region was born out of the charity sewing circle if these pioneering women.
The sense of settled contentment gave the men the stability needed to set down roots and take calculated risks in their businesses. Sadly though, we have not done enough to celebrate the spirit and the courage of our pioneering women. Today, as women, we all walk with ease in corporate corridors and take so many comforts for granted because they stayed and struggled and laid the community foundation.
In this issue of our August magazine, we pay tribute to the pioneering Indian women who knit the community together and helped us set goals. We are because they were. Just like the freedom ghters who gave us our priceless independence and the right to be us.
We thank them all.
MEERA RAVI
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