THROUGH MY PRISM A SECULAR MONARCH

Iwill pick up from where I left
In Saudi I was feeling claustrophobic.
Money, of course yes, but then choice is yours. Self esteem or Money. I think it is 
not the place meant for literary and creative people. Again I would like to mention , it is SUJECTIVE.
After I came back I got a job offer from Sultanate Of Oman, for which I had applied while in K.S.A.
I reached MUSCAT Airport. " AHLAN WAHSALAN " again. This time I could feel the genuineness and warmth of "Ahlan"
Long drive from the Airport to my residence. My office was at Ruwi and my flat was half an hour drive at Wadi Al Kabir. I was on a family Visa and later my 
mother also joined me. Muscat, the capital of Oman was World's cleanest city
In late eighties, Singapore was second.
Broad six track roads and all Lush Green
Surroundings. You don't feel like being in a desert.
My sponsor was Dr. Omar Zawawi, the owner of OMZEST (Omar Zawawi Est.)
group of companies . He ,at that time was
rated world's eighth most richest man by
" Forbes" and had a world wide net work
of business establishments. He is a major
Stake holder of OIB (Oman International Bank) which has it's branch in Mumbai also.
Whatever basics of Arabic Language I had learnt in K.S.A , came handy in Oman.
Whenever you meet people, friends or acquaintances in offices, staircases or
elevators, you greet with , "Salam wale Kum " which is warmly and promptly 
reciprocated with , "Wale Kum Asalaam"
Omanis generally have an affable demeanour and show solicitude to their
guests. 
Major percentage of Omani population
Consists of immigrants from Yemen, Sudan and Baluchistan. Baluchis speak
fluent Urdu and use suffix " Al Baluchi" 
With their names. Nomadic desert tribes, 
The " BEDOUINS" who are aborigines are
rarely seen. This is because like in any other country they have been marginalised due to rapid pace of 
development. The dress code for males is
" KANDURA" like that of other Arabs.
Head dress is either embroidered round cap or large square cloth which has red or black small checks. People holding important positions in Government or the
Ones having some Royal connections keep a small dagger tucked in cloth tied
arond their waist. 
The National emblem of Oman has also two daggers in it.
I have found Omanis very peace loving and fun loving people.In their leisure they 
Sing in groups and play a stringed instrument which to me looks like a Lute
or Mandolin.
I had the privilege of being a part of many
Lavish parties thrown by ZAWAWIS in their huge estate.
Amongst the expatriate population Indians are in good number besides Filipinos, Pakistanis,Americans.Bangladeshis and 
Sri Lankans. In my time there were about
thirty or more Kashmiri families whowere
known to me.
Oman is an Islamic State like other Arab
Countries but when I compare it with the
one where I had stayed earlier, I find a huge difference.I loved working and staying in Oman . I acquainted and befriended many Omanis.A few are still 
my friends.One of them eventhough quite
elderly gave me a thorough insight of the
Place.His name was Abdullah Al Baluchi.
I learnt many things about Oman from him which I shall discuss in the later section of this write up.
Oman is a small place, not amongst even 
top twenty Oil producing countries,but
The King , by his policies has put it at par
With any most developing Arab Nations.
The King, Monarch, 
SULTAN QABOOS BIN SAID AL SAID
Dark complexion, short but strong built
Sultan sports a trimmed grey beard and 
Wears a turban. At times colourful gold 
embroidered cloak and turban ,Some other times just white.
He is single ( his wife separated immediately after marriage and lives in some Eurpian/American country).He does not have any issue, No brothers, No
sisters, None except his country men. So,
all his resources and energies are 
Channelised for the development of his
country and welfare of his countrymen.
Sultan Qaboos is an emancipated and a
liberal King.During my stay I never felt even once that I am not staying in a
democracy. I was told that the King has 
studied in India also at atime when India's
Late President, Shanker Dayal Sharma was in teaching profession.He has tutored the King and the King has great regard for Indians and is influenced by
India. In later years when Shanker Dayal
officially visited Oman an unprecedented
rousing and warm welcome was accorded to him. Such a welcome has not
been given to any other foreign dignitary
including Prince Charles
I often used to visit Ministry Of Defence for meetings with my sponsor Colonel(that time he was a col.)Waleed Zawawi. In the gallery you'll find pictures of The Sultan in Uniform, In the battle fields dressed in Fatigues /Combat dress.
King is the Supreme Commander of Oman Forces.
You will find cinema Halls, Bars & Hotels with discotheque and Singing Arab and Fillipino girls. Belly dancing by Egyptian
Ladies goes on till late hours. Non Muslims are entitled to liquor permits to
the tune of 20% of their salaries. Liquor
Shops do not display Sign Boards.There's absolutely no identification. Only buyers
know the shops by addresses. Ofcourse
One has to maintain decorum and behave
according to Oman Laws.
During my tenure I happened to see the
Entourage of Sultan on few occasions.
Once while he was passing we were 
signalled by Royal Oman Police to stop.
Out of curiosity I followed his convoy for
some distance. He was driving his open
HUMMER dressed in white.Just a few vehicles in the convoy. No "TAM JAM " No
Z Plus Security. No Heavily Armed Gunmen. Locals were greeting him from both sides of road. He was showering
RIYALS on them .Riyal is Omani Currency
which during those days was equivalent 
to Indian 100 Rupees.Saudj Riyal was ten
Rupees.Like any ordinary citizen the King
stopped at Red Lights and gave right of
the way to pedestrians who wanted to cross the road. I WAS HIGHLY IMPRESSED and after following some
distance I took my way.
My friend, Abdullah Al Baluchi told me;
" Sultan Qaboos respects Indians. During
the time of Sultan's father when Oman was not well connected with other parts of the world and there was no infrastructure. The main route was only sea route ,A Hindu Gujarati( Kutchi)by the
name Ram Das would arrange all essentials and necessities for the King
from far off places on camels and donkeys and that he had to travel for weeks together to do all this.His loyalty to
The King was unconditional. The King as
a mark of respect allowed him to wear 
shoes/chappel. Otherwise no one else
other than the King had this privilege.
Today we see the huge business empire
Of KHIMJI RAMDAS being run by his progeny.There are other State sujects like
Khimjis.They are also KUTCHI IMMIGRANTS namely DHANJI MORARJI
and PURUSHOTTAM TOPRANI.
IN fact HINDUISM CAME TO MUSCAT WAY BACK IN EARLY FIFTEENTH CENTURY. THEY WERE KUTCHI MERCHATS FROM SINDH. "
I know some other people who have been given citizenship. One Gujrati Opthalmolgist doctor used to come to my
office.
The oldest Shiv Temples are MUTHESHWAR TEMPLE at Al Hawshin and one at MUTTRAH. During SHIVRATRI
celebrations people thousands in number
in long serpentine queues are respectfully
managed by Royal Oman Police under orders from The Sultan .What a gesture !!
KRISHNA TEMPLE is located at DARSAIT.
HINDU CREMATORIUM is located in SOHAR ,Northwest of Muscat.
People love Hindi Movies. Sunny Deol and
Sanjay Dutt have a huge fan following.
I was told that Indian Rupees were in 
circulation and accepted as PROMISORY
NOTES till 1974.
During my stay of more than ten years, I 
enjoyed every moment. Breathing fresh
Clean air, Watching movies, Celebrating
Festivals, Visiting temples, Souks, Malls, 
Socialising with Kashmiris, Picnics and Excursions, Cruise and Dolphins.This is
very memorable because all along my mother was with me and it used to be in
The company of other friendly families.
We remain still connected with some of
them.
It is only when you drive on outskirts and
Highway, For example going to Dubai, you
see vast open stretches of Sand Dunes.
On some stretches you find barbed fencing and warning of stray camels.
After dusk when it is dark, Camels come
out on highway. In the midst of the road
when high beam of your head lights fall
on them, they get confused and may result in collision.Brakes do not work 
because your speed on highway is very
high.Since camel is a tall animal with 
Slender legs, it just collapses on the car
when hit and crushes the car under it's
weight.
I have seen pictures of such gruesome 
fatal accidents in the Office Of Traffic Police warning the people/drivers to be careful !!

OMAN IS MOVING FAST TOWARDS 
PROGRESS AND PROSPERITY UNDER
THE DYNAMIC LEADERSHIP OF TRULY
SECULAR KING QABOOSBINSAID ALSAID
(Sudesh Raina )