Its
been exactly two years since I landed in Dubai.The longest that I stayed
away from India was in 1986 when I had
spent two months in the Phillipines on UN assignment . 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.Home is where your roots are .For me
,that is India .
It was wet and humid day in
Ahmedabad when I left it .My plane took off and I asked for a cup of coffee. I
had travelled a lot before –but this time it was different .Life had pitchforked me from
a small town - Dehradun -to a gliterring fast paced city - Dubai.I could not
even comprehend the reasons .I had taught
in a school as a young man whose address was “Village and Post Office Rai”.My
life had been spent in interacting with
children 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.We had struggled with amenities such as water and electricity .This had been a ritual for years.It had never ever crossed
my mind that I should move out of 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 Brit and two houses away is a Srilankan .In the evenings when I walk into Spinneys (which
is the supermarket just across from where I stay ),I find mostly foreigners .In
the evening ,Dubai is more gliterring than Paris which is called the city of
lights .It comes alive with restaurants belting music and belle dancers
.Alchohol flows freely in the hotels ,and on Thursday evenings it seems that
half of Abu Dhabhi and the whole of Sharjah pack its Malls and night clubs !!.The
beaches are pristine and crowded with
people of all ages –men and women 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 Extension 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 ,Jaipur or Delhi –its
interspersed with trees ,dark clouds ,a meandering Sabarmati and Jamuna , 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 middle class or
people who don’t have a driving licence .Everyone has a car .Its no big shakes
here –I had a Mitshubushi Lancer to
start with and now have Honda Accord .But I do use the metro –because I like to
see what happens in the community areas .
Two years have seen me grow .There is a sense of satisfaction of
setting up another school .Its been difficult –the teething problems have been many
.But ,I am proud of myself that I have never given up the fight and enthusiasm
.I am aware that if that happens ,I will be like a braindead patient ! Its been a fabulous
learning experience for me .I feel richer because of that ,but poorer because
my wife and my pets have gone back to India .But then ,that’s destiny .One never
knows where one will be tomorrow. I did not know I wud be in Dubai two years
back .!!
No comments:
Post a Comment