Its been exactly a
month since I landed in Dubai .I have never stayed away that long from India
since 1986 when I was away for 2 months in the Phillipines .At that time I had
nearly broken down one night because I was feeling homesick –India sick .That was
about 30 years back –I was young and I was prone to high emotions .This time –I
havent felt the urge to break down !!But that does not mean that I don’t miss
India .I refuse to believe that anyone born and brought up in India ,can ever
get it out of ones system .Its very natural –the sights ,the sounds ,the smells
,the struggles ,the achievements ,the love affairs ,the moments of victories
and defeats ,the relatives ,the friends ,the poverty ,the affluence,the flora
,the fauna ,the seasons –everything is
wrapped around us and has got into our body politic .You cant divorce anything
that you have experienced .If you try to do –you will fail because it will be
diminishing a large part of your being .When one goes abroad –one should never
try to move away from what is a part of you .One should try to add what the new
experience will unfold .At the end of the day –the fortunate ones come back
home .No one leaves home –never to return .Thats why Shashi Tharoor came back
,that’s why Chandan Mitra came back ,that’s why Rajdeep Sardesai came back
,that’s why Sagarika Ghosh came back ,that’s why Arnab Goswami came back
,that’s why…………….oh innumerable Indians came back when they had the world at
their feet .And that’s why we will also come back one day .If we are lucky –we
will come back still young enough to work ,if unlucky –at least I will come
back to die in India .
The difference between Dubai and India is huge –both in work
culture and landscape .Dubai is a international city .In the locality in which
I live –my next door neighbour is a French (he has a signage outside his house
with a Champs Elysee number on it )on one side and a Fillipino on the other .In
the evenings when I walk into Spinneys which is the supermarket just across
from where I stay ,I find mostly foreigners .They are the residents of Springs
(where I stay).I havent interacted with anyone of them as yet .But I am sure ,very soon I will make friends
with them .Springs, is a green oasis in the middle of a desert .Impressive
buildings jut into the sky around it in a distance .In the evening ,Dubai is more gliterring than
Paris which is called the city of lights .It comes alive with resturants
belting music and belle dancers .Alchohol flows freely in the hotels ,and half
of Abu Dhabhi and the whole of Sharjah pack its Malls and night clubs .The
beaches are crowded with people of all ages –men and wowen in swimming trunks
and bikinis absorbing the sun on their oiled and well maintained bodies .Some
just sit around and watch the blue waters- occasionally pointing a finger
towards a passing ship in the distance .It is a small city by Indian standards
–probably no bigger than Defence Colony and South Extention combined .But
because everyone has at least one car and because cars occupy more space than individuals
–it appears crowded during rush hour .There are no dense foliage of trees and
there are no undulating pieces of land .Its flat ,and its monotonous .The best view of Dubai is when you are about to land at
its airport.Below you is a landscape which is brown in color –and its
uninterrupted .Contrast this with when you land in Ahmedabad –its interspersed
with trees ,dark clouds ,a meandering Sabarmati with a number of bridges ,flat
fields surrounded by small hills .A completely different scenario .
The people move around briskly .Everyone walks as if he/she
is about to miss a flight .They are almost running all the time .There are no
two wheelers in the city –neither cycles or motorcycles .Service Companies
bring the housekeeping staff in small sophisticated buses at a particular time
and take them away at a particular time .If you make them stay longer –you pay
them extra and also pay for their taxi fare home .!!The metros are a mode of
transportation for the lower middle class or people who don’t have a driving
licence .Everyone has a car .Its no big shakes here –I have a Mitshubushi
Lancer ,but will be getting a Prado shortly (four wheel drive ).But I do use
the metro –because I like to see what happens in there .
I have been pitchforked in life from a small town like
Dehradun to a gliterring fast paced city like Dubai .I taught in a school as a
young man whose address was “Village and P.Office Rai”.All my life I spent in
interacting with children and a population that was laid back and in places
where Sangeeta and me would get up and enjoy our Green Label Lipton Tea on a
balcony from where we could see Nilgais ,Peacocks ,Squirrels ,Dogs ,Buffaloes-and
even people going to defacate in the fields !! .We would feed the pigeons bajra
every morning and would give our dogs two biscuits each of Marie .This was a
ritual for years .Life was getting very cosy and comfortable and as such time
passed very fast .Because good times travel very very fast !!
Coming to Dubai is my way of slowing things down a little .When
one starts a school ,its always like climbing a mountain .One labours up the
slope and one moves slowly .Psychologically you feel you are slowing down time
.Once one reaches the top,different problems confront you .Everyone wants to
pluck the fruit from the tree you have planted ,and at times to do that they
try to run you down .One can slug it out –but it adds no value to your life
.Its a waste of time .You have two choices –go down to from where you started
or climb another mountain.!!But moving downwards takes one to the destination too fast .I don’t want
to cycle back down to Dehradun yet !!I will reach it too fast .And once I reach
it –I will rest .Coming to Dubai is my way of climbing yet another mountain
.Slowly !!Steadily !!Honestly !!Reaching the summit !!And then going back home
.One thing is sure .I think it’s the last mountain I am gonna climb .And you
can bet –I will reach the top !!There is a lot of strenght in the legs and the
mind left as yet .!!
