UniF1ed..We Did It Together

Two days since Race Day and I am still in the buzz of the Bahrain Grand Prix 2012. And what a show it has been. Until even that morning, there were people skeptical how everything would pan out but we really, really must pat ourselves on the back and congratulate Bahrain on pulling off one of the finest shows we have ever seen and an even more thrilling race!  

Dearest dearest CP, HRH Prince Salman Bin Hamad Al Khalifa, thank you sir for your unwavering commitment to ensuring that we had this. Thank you for all you’ve done for Bahrain. You are and always will be the hope for Bahrain. Congrats also to HM the King and HRH the Prime Minister on an event well done.

Secondly, big hearty congratulations to the team at the Bahrain International Circuit, who have been working day and night for the last year, to ensure that this grand prix was absolutely fantastic. And trust me, you guys put up an insane show. I remember calling Mohammed Shareeda (of the BIC) at around 11 one night the week of the F1, and he was still knee deep in work. Go on, hug yourselves, you guys deserve it.

Special mention also to Ali Haji and his team at the racertimes, for the second by second live twitter coverage the activities got. You made us proud. And shout out also to Maryam, Fahad and the entire team at the Information Affairs Authority who have shown their strength and caliber during the lead up to the Bahrain GP, during the event and now and everyday for all their efforts.

 

I was honestly and pleasantly surprised at the huge turnout we saw at the Bahrain International Circuit. I headed there on Saturday with the family and really had a ball of a time. Good line up of activities which are fun for the entire family.

I absolutely loved the pogo stick guy; I can’t remember his name though. He was beyond hilarious. And some amazingly awesome stunts on the pogo stick and the uni-cycle. But more than anything, it was his rib-tickling sense of humour that made him so good.

I was also fascinated by the mini-band that was full of westerners but were playing Kolaveri, that was pretty cool. I didn’t get to see much of Shaolin monks so can’t comment much on that.

 

Navi, hmmm. Quite the Micheal Jackson he is. But I wasn’t too thrilled about his dance moves. But overall, with his singing and his stage antics, he had a large number of people, myself included, screaming and swooning for MJ.

Even though I was upset that it was the Red Hot Chilli Pipers instead of Peppers, must say they really know how to up the tempo. They were really good and I loved that guy’s accent. They were really good with the bagpipes and the show girls added the fun and sassy element.

The carnival atmosphere and the attractions, especially for the kids made this quite the family friendly event!

Day  3, we headed to the Circuit in three cars, friends and siblings and their friends and siblings. No surprises there that there was a long queue to the entrance. And an insanely large number of people inside. What really struck me was the sheer amount of ethnicities I found: Bahrainis, Arabs, Asians, Europeans, whites, blacks, browns, men, women, infants and even people with casts on their legs walking in crutches; there were people of all ages and from all backgrounds at the BIC.

The race day was indeed the ultimate. I am not a race fan but this race had me at the edge of my seat, with my fingers in my ears though. Yeah, I know, earplugs but I didn’t have them. The race was nail bitingly exciting.

And our seats in the main grandstand right in front of the start line only added to the excitement. We caught Bernie doing the rounds before the race, we saw the buzz of the teams before the flag off and the applause when the race started made me proud.

The standing ovation when Vettel crossed the finish line was truly humbling. But the moment I celebrated was the when they brought out the banner “UniF1ed..We Did It Together’ cuz indeed we had done it together.

I personally know a number of people who have been working round the clock to ensure that we were able to show the world what we are capable of. On Twitter, on TV, on Radio and basically on every platform we got, we have been trying to explain why this is a chance Bahrain deserved and why we should have this and in that moment, to realize that our efforts might have made a difference was truly a humbling experience.

While it was a huge disappointment that LMFAO was not going to be there, the local DJ wasn’t that bad. He had a good choice of tracks and really got the people in the groove. And my kiddies had a ball of time dancing the night away and that really made me happy.

For me though, truly the moment that stood out is when we got to meet and say hello to the cutest prince of all time, Prince Nasser. My sister went bonkers really. But I do really want to meet the Crown Prince someday.

I am really looking forward to next year, though I hope we’ll see less fashion disasters at the race. Some of the clothes and make up and heels made me want to pull my hair out.

Also, there was one incident that truly showcased the spirit of Bahrain. My friend lost his phone, I texted the number saying it was our phone and to please contact us. and in less than 5 minutes I got the call back and that person, Hussain, a young Bahraini chap found us and returned the phone to us. And that is one of the many reasons we love the country so much.

During the F1 weekend, we were also able to dispel a lot of rumours because a large number of journalists came into the country and saw it for themselves. And slowly but surely, with each passing day, international journalists are getting more clarity about the situation here.

So, Bahrain! We have every right to be proud. Every one told us we couldn’t, we faced roadblocks (no pun intended) at every level, and yet we did it and boy, we did it fantastically well. Bahrain has been and always will be the motorsport capital of the Middle East. Let’s continue holding our head up high, working for our home and clearing the misconceptions held by many along the way.

It is true. UniF1ed, We did it together. One Nation in Celebration.

Bahrain - The Way Forward..

The last month has taken its toll on the economy and politics of Bahrain, but I think the biggest victim in all that happened is the colossal rip in the fabric of Bahrain’s society. What are our options as we go forward, acceptance, forgiving and forgetting. Atleast that is the ideal solution, but saying it is so much easier than actually achieving it.

The wounds inflicted are very deep and it requires more than just time to heal, but heal it must. Bahrain is not a country just on one sect or the other, but for everyone living in Bahrain. This Kingdom has always been about multiculturalism, and that cannot be allowed to change.

In the beginning, I saw the younger generation, the youth of both sects being open to ideologies and suggestions from each other. As the days passed and violence and death toll increased, the change was palpable and unmistakable. It became a very ours vs. yours game. I’ve seen sensible people, who could logically analyze a situation or ide turn emotional, thus throwing rationality out the window. I’ve read enough about friends who now can’t see eye to eye for solely political reasons.

In schools, students who’ve studied together for years suddenly turned against each other because their political ideologies didn’t match. Wait a minute; there is something really wrong when its 14-15 years olds fighting with other each other based on politics.

Everywhere, people started looking at the person next to them wondering which side they were on, without realizing that no matter which side wins, Bahrain stands to lose. An old Bahraini man once told me, “If something happens to Bahrain, atleast you have the choice to go back to your home country. But what will we Bahrainis do?” and that I’ve realized is a question those in Bahrain who were aggressively rooting for either side didn’t think about.

Praise the Lord that the situation is getting stable and normalcy is returning. We are limping back to normalcy to be apt. Now don’t get me wrong. I don’t think having tanks on the street and the roads being completely empty at 10 pm in Bahrain is normal. Far from it. I do miss the times when my family and I used to leave City Center post 1 AM. Call me an optimist, but I do believe it will happen soon.

The reason people are saying that things are getting back to normal is because in the last month, people gathering at a roundabout had become normal, rallies every other day in support of unity was normal, mocking each other was normal, staying home from work and school was normal. Someone who had been to the Pearl around March 1 told me situation there was normal and I had to ask, “normal as in people all gone home, or normal as in everyone is there but no violence. That is how far Bahrain had become abnormal.

Now atleast people are having more hope, everyone is returning to office, children will start school. Those who had their exams postponed is writing it again, Central market is open, businesses are running again, this really is the closest to normal Bahrain has seen since March started. Yes there may be checkpoints, and shops may close early but we are heading towards

There are a few things that absolutely need to be done.It might seem so simple, yet very difficult to achieve.

Even if it is acceptable to believe that the “other side” is wrong, one shouldn’t everyone who believes that ideology is committing a crime. Be open to freedom of expression. Just because someone does not accept your opinion, does not mean they are wrong. Also neutrality is also an opinion. No one should be forced to take sides. I’ve seen my friends listed as hate mongers and the like, just ‘cuz they tried to have a balanced view.

Accept that it is just as much your country as every other Bahraini’s. No one has the right to say that people belonging to one sect can’t come to Riffa or Manama or anywhere else. It is wrong for civilian vigilantes to block a road or smash a car just because it belongs to a particular group.

My friend’s Shia boss, who did not take any sides during the last month, is considering leaving the country because he worries for his kid’s safety. Because his brother was harassed at a civilian checkpoint. This is unbelievably unfair. Just the same, it is unfair if it’s a Sunnii being targeted or an expat.

Respect and care for those around you and for yourself. Don’t boycott stores, don’t close down shops. Because this shows complete lack of respect. Remember that no matter what it took a lot of hard work and contributions from all sections of Bahrain’s society for any establishment to succeed.

It is also imperative for children to build trust in each other. Parents and teachers and other elders would work hard to instill in them values of brotherhood and unity. It is the need of the hour that they start believing that hate and violence will not solve anything.

For most parts, it has been leaders who have been turning opinions and people against each other. They need to go. Make your own choices, be your leader, but don’t decide based on emotions alone. Weigh each option based on what its benefits are to yourself, to your community and to your country at large. Educate yourself, as it is only education that can dispel darkness be it in your religious beliefs or what the leaders claim to be the truth.

Work hard. There just is no excuse for not returning to work, this country needs us. All of us, to put in our best, then only can we reap the benefits. Let me ask those who are striking from work, what happens when your salary is cut or even when you’re fired? How does help you, your community or your cause?

Unite. Haha, I don’t believe I’m saying this but we really need to start taking an effort to be nice to those around us. Keep in mind that everyone, even if they don’t agree with you, has been through tough times. Be sensitive, and let them be. Sometimes a hello or a smile or a handshake can go a very long way. And if you are totally pissed off, take a look at either of the UniteBH video or the Bahrain Unite video to remind yourselves what Bahrain is about.

Dialogue. And no I don’t mean just at the leaders’ level. Yes, accept the CP’s initiative and let there be national dialogue. But the youth needs to understand each other’s point of view, and why they felt the need for what happened.

Also understand that there need to be reforms. I am strongly pro-government but that does not make me turn a blind eye to what we need. Reforms and development is how we pave a path to a brighter future. But yeah, protesting alternately at Lulu and Al Fateh does not help one bit.

And BTV, please pull up your socks and make us want to watch you. We do not want to see ancient serials. We want to see current events or programs recorded in Bahrain. We know we have the talent why not utilize it?

Let time do its part. Every wound can heal with time and care. Be patient and have faith in yourself, your friends and family and in your country.

I remember the days when I didn’t know nor didn’t care whether if my Bahraini friends were Sunni or Shia. And I want to go back to that.

All said and done, I think many like me will never again complain of being bored in Bahrain. We’ve had enough excitement to last a lifetime. Now let’s work, together in rebuilding this nation, because it has the potential and capability to be right up there on top, or to be written off as one of those nations perpetually hit by civil war, poverty and strife. Choice, really is ours and ours alone.

Bahrain - My Part to Play..

Many expats in Bahrain, like me, have been born and brought up on this island. Our parents may not have the Bahraini passport, nor do we, but I wonder if that makes us any less citizen of this country just cuz the colour of our passport is not red. We are the community that has our origins in India, Pakistan, US or UK. Our parents migrated here decades ago, we have our livelihood here and Bahrain is where we call home.

I am as much Indian as I am Bahraini. I am equally proud of what each country has achieved and I will stand up for it if either country is in need. I will not say, I don’t stay belong here nor will I shy away from seeing its flaws.

We agree that Bahrain is not perfect; we agree that reforms were much needed, in the political front and definitely the media here needed be overhauled and reworked. There were also many who supported the cause of the protesters before it turned into anarchy. We heard their arguments and gave our feedback.

The cause they claimed all this was for was democracy, the power to elect their leadership, and maybe in the process stop discrimination. Somehow, living in the world’s largest democracy, I am not too fascinated by it. Yes we may elect the leader, but the kind of corruption and crime that we see there is unimaginable. Having a democracy does not translate into end of all problems and perfection. People protesting in Bahrain only want to see one side of it not the other.

Every system has its pluses and minuses. Different places have different people who have different cultures and requires different political set ups. I belong to one democracy does not have to translate to I want democracy everywhere. It is important to be open minded enough to accept that each country deserves the system which is best for it, even if it doesn’t match your ideologies.

The system in Bahrain was one of free education and medical care. Of welfare, where the unemployed gets money and everything is subsidized. Keep in mind that all of these benefits come without the funds being collected from the people as taxes.

A lot of expatriates also came out in public in support of the Royal family. Many reacted when expatriates stepped out in favour of the government here, saying “it is their internal matter, why do you interfere?” To these critics I have but only one question, “Would you stand back and watch when your house, your country is getting hurt? Would you say it’s not my responsibility and stay away?” When our country is in crisis, it is our right and duty to step forward.

Maybe we support the Kingdom ‘cuz we have over the last decades seen what Bahrain has been able to achieve under the Royal Family. Like I’ve said before, Vision 2030 sets out a strategy to achieve set goals by then, to make Bahrain one of the most developed countries in that time span. We have seen the infrastructural developments that have changed the face of the country in such a short period of time. I remember being fascinated by new buildings and massive changes when I visited every six months.

We have seen the education system here evolve; from when there was absolutely no option after grade 12 except the Bahrain University to now, when there are multiple institutions offering courses in engineering, medicine and even aviation. Even for those who don’t want to opt for these, there are institutions like NYIT and Birla and Globals which provide higher education.

The media has taken massive strides. We even have a desi private owned station here now. We have multiple newspapers in Arabic and English. Bahrain also prints Tagalog, Malayalam and Urdu newspapers here. Over the last month, state run BTV has struggled to keep us as updated as possible [though it might lean towards the government]. Yes, the media has come a long way but it still has miles to go. This week for the first time in history, BTV showed news bulletins in Tagalog and Hindi.

That in itself is a mark of respect and appreciation to the expatriate community. The Bahrainis have always had respect for the Indian and Asian and other expatriate community. We have always been welcomed with warmth, and given positions and salaries that make even the Bahrainis jealous.

Even through all this unrest, both protesters and the royalists have pledged their support and appreciation for the expatriate community. They have seen what we are capable of achieving, that we are sincere and hardworking and that is why we have been made part of the fabric of this nation.

The freedom that expatriates get in Bahrain to practice our own religion and culture is unrivaled. I have personally celebrated every Indian festival in all its glory here. My friends and I belong to that unique group that identifies with being at the best of what both countries have to offer. This country is what made many of us who we are. And given the chance many others like me will step out to support Bahrain and to work for its development no matter what passport they hold.

I am one of the large number of expats who have actively voiced my thoughts and concerns of what has been unfolding in Bahrain over the past month. I have also participated in one of the rallies in support for the government and I have also been part of both the Unite Bahrain videos.

For me and my family, the question of leaving does not cross our minds. This is where I was born, where my family had lived for almost thirty years, our home. The Prime Minister and Foreign Minister of Bahrain have also assured that they will do the best to keep us safe. I trust them and I trust Bahrain.

Saying a Fond Farewell

The Pearl has fallen and has made many shed a tear for the majestic monument that they took for granted. Many expatriates and citizens alike welcome the decision to rebuild the area, but also look back at the cherished memories and emotions connected with the glorious monument which was the face of Bahrain for almost three decades.

Othman Janahi, a Bahraini national said, “GCC roundabout was in my route to work on an everyday basis. I will never forget the smell of the freshly cut green grass when I pass there and the huge white monument that represents the unity of the Gulf Counties. It was also in my way back home after a long day at work and will never forget the sound of the fountain nor the lights that brightened the pearl on top. That was all before 14 Feb 2011.”

But he further added, “As much as all Bahraini's are connected to the scene of that monument, I am truly thankful for the decision of demolition it, as now it will always remind us not of the beauty it had, rather it will remind us of the dark days that our beloved country has gone through and suffered dearly.”

“In all its grandeur, the Pearl roundabout truly held a big place in the hearts of everyone living in Bahrain., It definitely was the face of cosmopolitan Bahrain, built on strong foundations of its rich traditions and culture. Everyone who loves the beautiful country of Bahrain will miss the Pearl Roundabout dearly, as it goes down into the annals of history and Bahrain marches forward,” said former resident and lndian citizen Devan Surendran.

In the opinion of British national Charles Wilcock, who has been in Bahrain for over 25 years, “It was a symbol of the country. I remember my late father jokingly nicknamed it ‘dog bone’ roundabout. Now the only way we can see it will be on the 500fils coin and on postcards. The roundabout brightened the skyline of Bahrain, long before the new buildings came. The coloured lights on it during the evening took one’s breath away. It will be missed.”

Many students form different schools in Bahrain look back on how every project they did about Bahrain had a picture of the roundabout. Others reminisced how they found locations by following the Pearl in the skyline.

Ehsan Kooheji, said on twitter, “My oldest memory of Manama is around the mid 1980's, with my dad, uncles and their friends playing cards on the grass near Lulu.”

Another interesting memory was of Mrs. Fernandes. “The first time my husband and I took a picture together, it was at the Pearl Roundabout. That is one of the fondest memories of our life together. We will always fondly remember the monument.”

“Every time I would go past the roundabout, I would remember my daughter Priya's words when she was small. She used to say: Pearl Roundabout, there's a ball up there. Our late Amir, Sheikh Isa put it up there". She used to tell her that Sheikh Isa used to play basketball and one day, he threw it really high up and it got stuck there,” said educator Natraj Sarma.

Munira Awadhi tweeted about her joke about the Pearl Roundabout, “Told baby bro that the pearl on the top of Lulu was a dragon egg, he believed that for 2 or 3 years.”

For Bahraini teenager May Faris, the fondest memory of the Pearl is when she used to left a playground nearby during an Eid to run under the sprinklers and then sleeping on the grass, and her parents carrying her home after that. But she id glad it is removed, “Funny that it had no political implications at the time, sleeping there. We need to move on with the future, without the memories of the graffiti and mess made out near that.”

“I remember how as kids, it used to be a mammoth task to cross the roads and get under the Pearl roundabout and all the passers-by totally amused at the weird-pose photo shoots that we used to have there. Negotiating the Pearl was the ultimate task for almost any new driver in Bahrain always. Also, there were a lot of jokes surrounding it like "Hey dude, what if they had constructed this monument upside down with the pearl on the ground??" reminisces Sreejith Sudhakar.

Aamna Mohiuddin, a Pakistani, who lives in Saudi Arabia but comes often to Bahrain for classes, tweeted, “Too bad I never got to see Pearl Roundabout up close, now I never will. But I guess it was the right thing to do.”


Waqas Rasool who is of Pakistani origin had another point of view. “Having seen the Pearl for last 25 years of my life just made it an object passes by as I looked outside my car window. Up until now the construction of the new flyover made me wonder why the Pearl left was untouched. For whatever reason the Pearl was brought down will now leave mixed feelings in the minds and hearts of many. This can also be the dawn to a new rising.”

Ancita Martin, who lived near the Pearl said, “Every tourism brochure of Bahrain always had image of the Pearl Roundabout. BTV never missed an opportunity to show it off. It was a symbol of home to me because I live very close to it. The Pearl at the top, to me, signified Bahrain's riches in the form of resources as well as its people.”

She continued, “Having said that, since the 14th of February, it was the place of terror. Chants and sounds echoing from the Roundabout had scared many for the past one month. The beautiful monument was turned into a dump by surrounding it with garbage and littering it. It was filled with graffiti and that too against the people who built it. The Roundabout had bitter memories for all of us. I am glad that it's removed. Things are not always the same and as for the Roundabout, it's time to move on from it.”

Filipino national, Imelda Cruv stated that this was the way forward. “There were plans before as well to demolish it for infrastructural development. And now it happened. Let’s pray and hope that this would mark a new beginning of unity and development on this country we call home.”

Just minutes after the news of its removal broke out, the social networking world was filled with comments like RIP Lulu Roundabout, and everyone mourned its loss, but with a hope for a greater future.

In her tweet, Nour said, “Let's hope the demise of the Pearl roundabout brings birth to Pearl and pure hearts filled with love and peace.”


[Excerpts published in Daily Tribune, on MArch 20 2011 - http://www.dt.bh/newsdetails.php?key=301110213450&newsid=190311191540]

In a Nut Shell - Bahrain's Uprising..

I had never imagined this would happen here, in beautiful peaceful Bahrain. But it did and now that it looks like the situation is improving, I am trying to summarize it in a nutshell.

For all purposes, Bahrain had succeeded in moving forward together without any glaringly differences in the people here. Foreigners or expats never even wondered if the person they were working for belonged to one caste or another. For all, the only way they were recognized was as Bahraini.

I re-read the history of the country once this started, after I have to say that there have been a lot of wrong doing during the times before HM King Hamad took over, and that there were cases of discrimination. But since then things have improved a hell lot. It goes without saying that everything would get much better under HRH CP Prince Salman, when his time comes. This again is fair enough, because like every family, the next generation is more developed and forward thinking.

The developments HM King Hamad has brought to Bahrain is tremendous. The National Action Charter, came to being in 2001 with an overwhelming support of 98.4% who voted in its favour. Learning about Vision 2030 will shed light on it. Bahrain is a country which provides free medical care and education with no taxes.

Also, CP has designed and implemented programs like the Crown Prince Scholarship Program for the betterment of the education system. It gives 50% to boys and girls, and of the total 60% are from the public school system. And does not check if the person receiving it is Sunni or Shia.

Even in politics, there were strides taken. A Parliament, which was elected by the people, came into power. And slowly, it would have got more power and more influence. These are changes that take years and years to develop and not those achievable over night.

It is also to be noted that no country is perfect, democracies too have a ugly face. Bahrain too had its flaws but were working towards fixing it.

The reason the protests started was Tahrir square for the masses, with the masterminds behind looking for revenge as they were ill treated or expelled ages ago. And it was okay too, till the army got involved and there were 7 deaths. That boiled their blood. and things took a turn for the worse. Thats when their resolve strengthened.

Then the generation next of the ruling family, the more liberalHRH Crown Prince got involved.He called off the army and offered a process of a no holds barred national dialogue, promised to pave way for reforms.

After the CP took initiative and pulled off the army, things were calm, but that calm turned into restlessness as they were being left alone for so long.

One of the biggest blows was when the teachers went on strike. And sectarianism led to fights among the students in schools and finally led to schools being shut down, and the public situation system and its students at the losing end.

Again a select few [even after their own leaders opposed the idea] organized a rally to Riffa Royal Court, which is a clear indication that they were not peaceful, because going to Riffa is close to suicidal. There were small clashes. But thank heavens nothing happened.

The very next day, to make things worse a large group, wearing cloth symbolizing a shroud and with the words 'ready to be a martyr' marched to the Kings palace, where they were greeted with dates and water. This seemed like a desperate plea for attention. Nothing happened, no violence and they seemed to be itching for more.

So the following day, they blocked the entrance to BFH and shut down the economic centre of the country. The entire financial district was overtaken. This is where they lost support of the moderates and liberals, where it stopped being a protest for your rights and started dragging down their own country.Then there was no way to go.

At all points, CP extended his hand for dialogue but they never agreed. It is the one chance to make sure that the changes and reforms you fought for are actually achieved. He is willing to listen and to implement, but what is he to do if you don't come forward?

Then came the GCC forces and the martial law and for many even though they don't have their peaceful Bahrain back, atleast there is no one holding the country's development a hostage. The people are now on the streets, going out and enjoying, getting back to work, schools back on track, Bahrain is trying to rise again.

Even now this country is limping but the offer remains on the table, take a chance, get involved in dialogue. And take it from there. If their demands were not heard even after the dialogue, by all means protest. But it is unacceptable that dialogue was not even given a chance. Learn to forgive, even if it seems impossible and unite as a country cuz Bahrain is too small for all the hate and sectarianism that is going on now.

Many have lost their lives in this, those who protested, policemen who defended the nation and even innocent expatriates who took no sides. It would be disgraceful if we continue to fight without looking to solve, especially when one can just stretch out their hand and grasp it.

God Bless Bahrain.

And The Pearl Has Fallen...

Every individual who has ever lived in Bahrain, even for a few days, looked at Pearl roundabout with a sense of pride. The monument, majestic with the six sails, representing the countries of the GCC lifting up the Pearl of Bahrain, was close to every resident’s heart. Now as it is demolished to pave way for infrastructural development, current and former residents, Bahrainis and expats, of all ages and nationalities come together to say a fond farewell.

Personally, I don’t have many memories of anything specifically related to the Pearl except maybe how my siblings and I walked from Dana Mall to the Pearl and then from there to City Centre, cuz it was impossible to cross the highway to get to the other side.

And the ever continuing jokes of our childhood days, of how the ball (Pearl) reached the top, which inevitably was “Mr. X, whoever was popular with us at the moment, kicked the ball hard and it landed on top, cuz they had Y drink [usually a particular brand of chocolate milk] and is the strongest.”

Ofcourse, how can I forget, the complete nightmare of driving across the roundabout. During my driving lessons, my instructor decided to take me there during my 3rd or 4th day of class. I broke out into a sweat and my heart raced. But I did get across. But each time I had to drive by that, even after getting my license and under the supervision of my dad, crossing that roundabout was always a challenge. I remember the sheer excitement of victory and jubilance I felt the one single time I got across without supervision. But alas, I never realized that would be the first and last time.

Every project we did about Bahrain had to have the picture of the Pearl in it, every drawing competition with the topic of anything remotely related to it, had to have the Pearl in it. Like my friend told me, it was the face of cosmopolitan Bahrain, built on the string foundations of Bahrain’s rich traditions and culture.

And all of us have enjoyed the beauty of the majestic Pearl and have even taken it for granted. Now, even though we wouldn’t have ever considered it even in our wildest dreams, it is gone. Now the only tangible object we have with the Pearl is the 500 coins which have been discontinues [some last year I think].

It feels like a part of Bahrain is cut off, and it hurts as well ‘cuz Bahrain is our home. I remember that during the five years I was in India for my higher studies, when I used to be back in Bahrain for my holidays, driving by the Pearl gave a sense of belonging, of having arrived home; possibly because I, like many of my friends, grew up seeing it.

For many people here, there are bits and pieces of their life and childhood attached to it. One lady told me how she and her then future husband had taken their first picture together at the Pearl. Another spoke of how they had run through it when the fountain was on. Everyone seemed to have some cherished memory connected to it.

It I’m not wrong, it was constructed in 1982, so when my dad came to Bahrain they had just started constructing it. Back then, when Bahrain did not have its share of fancy buildings and landmarks, the Pearl lit up the Bahrain skyline.

Even recently, during Eid, National Day and other such occasions, the spectacular Pearl in all its glory and splendor, with the multi coloured lights on it and the fountains underneath it, always managed to take my breath away.

As much as my heart bleeds for it, I must say that at some level, I think it’s better gone. I don’t think the attempts at revolution or the protests will come to an end because the monument is not there. But at least the sight of it on an everyday basis will not hinder the process of healing. The wound will deepen every time one passes by it. It was a sign of Bahrain for the longest time, but after the protests, it has become a symbol of Bahrain’s darkest time and that will not help the cause of moving forward, of unity and development. So I guess the demolition of the Pearl is for infrastructural development [which is the official reason], at more levels than what meets the eye.

Our generation will always always remember the legacy of the Pearl. For us, it represented the Bahrain of our childhood, of happiness, joy and multicultural unity. Let’s hope that someday we can make those have not seen it understand what it meant to us and to the country we call home.

Goodbye Pearl Roundabout. You will be cherished and missed, but I pray that with your demolition, Bahrain can see a new dawn of unity and development.

Indian Expat Stuck At Airport

This is one of the numerous Indian expat stories I've written. Some of the cases boggle the mind. But sometimes, you are wondering what it is that drags them here for such measly salaries, and then makes them flout the law.

[This appeared in the Daily Tribune on Saturday March 13 2011]

Pray for Japan..

The devastation in Japan is unbelievable and painful. Seeing the cars, buildings and people swept away like ants hurts. Every heart in the world bleeds for the country and prays for strength and resilience. God Bless Japan.

Praising the Lord that no one from Bahrain or India got hurt. Both countries also promised all help to rebuilding the country. Pray For Japan.

[Link to page: http://www.dt.bh/newsdetails.php?key=301110213450&newsid=110311165714. Article in Daily Tribune in Bahrain. Saturday, March 12 2011]

Killing A Country Slowly..

Bahrain was on the fast track to economic development and even development in political and other sectors. But in a month's time its traveled ten years back in time.

The Education Sector, economy, the construction industry, retail, there is hardly any sector that has not felt the after effects of the Pearl Roundabout gathering. They started it and many others reacted without realizing that ultimately, it is the same country at stake.

I am also compelled to ask why peaceful protesters would promote February 14, when it all started as a day of rage. Maybe we can even agree that they have been relatively peaceful, but they refuse to understand that normal life is being affected.

How can a central point of a country be taken over like this. It does not make any sense to me. Why go back to being Bedouin nomads, and drag your country back too?

The Pearl Roundabout was the face of Bahrain, a national monument revered by the residents and admired by all the visitors. For many, it's a scene we grew up seeing; joking about who kicked th pearl hard enough to reach the top. Especially on special occasions, with the lights and fountain and greenery, it could take your breath away.

All the grass there now have been trampled over. Graffiti drawn on the Pearl structure, and that too with the wrong spelling. The entire area now has been littered completely and has an awful smell. A true blue shanty town.

The F1 got cancelled, taking away with it, millions of dollars that would have been useful to Bahrain. Many would have benefited from it, from all walks of life, from all nationalities, but ultimately Bahrain would have emerged strong and victorious.


With the F1 hit, the tourism and hospitality industry took a major hit too. Fully booked hotels and flight bookings saw large scale cancellations. Major shows and concerts cancelled. People started wondering if Bahrain would even be safe. The reputation of Bahrain as a peace-loving wonderful place tarnished for good.

Another major blow to the system itself was the forceful shut down of Jawad and other such establishments, including Costa Coffee, 24 hr Mini marts and the like. This came as a retaliation to Faisal Jawad's support for those at the Pearl.

Now, though I personally feel he shouldn't have come out with such harsh criticism of the government as he himself has developed and massed wealth under the leadership, it is completely his right to voice his opinion and to stand by what he believes in.

It does not warrant forceful shut down of his business outlets. That is just being childish. Just like it is his right to freedom of speech, every citizen too has a right to boycott, if they choose to; but forcefully shutting down stores is taking it a bit too far.

If that is allowed to continue, and Praise the Lord it's not, then there would be a lot of people form both the pro and anti community that lose their jobs. And Bahrain would also lose credibility for a lot of international brands. It would also bring retaliation as others may choose to boycott or shut down more firms.

The construction industry also faced massive losses, which they say will be felt only after about 6 months. But luckily for them, the Housing Ministry has announced the Construction of 50 000 houses over a period of five years. They say it would be a boom for them.

The country took an irrecoverable step backwards when teachers joined the protests. They are bound by duty to educate and enlighten the young minds, and this became their lesson. Unacceptable by all counts.

School children then started stepping out of their class rooms, to shout political statements and it resulted in numerous brawls across Public Schools. This is students who were studying peacefully together that we are talking about.

I even spoke to students who refuse to return to the same school as they are worried about what will happen. How can parents allow this to happen? Education is what defines and makes their future. Education is their birth right. How can you take it away?

I have even seen four and five year olds shout political slogans, on both sides. Can't the parents think about the psychological impact that would have? The child is bound to grow up considering that it is perfectly acceptable to hate, thus creating another generation with the intent to fight.

The Unity of the country is so thrown out of the window. Even if everything calms down and peace reigns, I am getting a sense that there will be mistrust, and cracks that have been formed during the last month. Friends stopped talking to each other due to differences in political ideologies.

There are uncountable number of rumours doing the rounds about how a person of a particular community got hurt 'cuz others blocked the path. as far as my knowledge goes, there is no proof this happened.. But it could, traffic or rallies at hospital could mean loss of life. The Ministry of Health has stated in their report that the large number of people who crowded the hospital. And I hear the other group is planning to organize a peaceful organized rally to the Salmaniya Medical Complex. I'd suggest, please go elsewhere and let the hospital staff do their job.


The biggest issue of course is the spread of fear, of insecurity in terms of both economic and personal security. This has caused Philippines to put in place a ban on workers entering the Kingdom. Thus many got stuck without jobs in Philippines and many employers got stuck without a strong work force, who were set to join them soon.

The fear also led a large number of expatriates to take money out of Bahrain and send it back to their home country. It also cost Bahrain a number of its expatriate workforce who packed up and left. Keep in mind that these are people who worked in Bahrain, paid rent and other bills in Bahrain, purchased food and clothes from Bahrain and in different ways contributed to its development and would have continued to do so.

It is of prime importance that residents of the country, on both sides understand that they both belong to the same nation and if the Kingdom's resources are affected, then so are their futures. Why kill your own country and your own future?

Holding A Country To Ransom

I am a believer in human rights, in freedom of expression and choice. If a person doesn't agree or think his rights are not being granted, then by all means let your voice be heard. But that is no excuse to almost push the country over the brink of civil war.

No one denies that errors have been made and that the country should work together to develop and grow, but for that purpose dialogue is key.

Kudos to the Crown Prince HRH Prince Salman Bin Hamad Al Khalifa for starting the dialogue initiative. Everyone should use this opportunity to make their voice heard and demands sorted. But another issue is that many at the Pearl are not sure for their demands. Different groups have different outlooks and hence different demands.

I have spoken to a few people belonging to the community which is protesting. One of their main grouse is that how the can the country celebrate when we are mourning? But it has to also be noted that the country is not aiming to celebrate by gathering at Al Fateh, but to showcase that they are united.

And fair enough, the complaint is completely valid. But in that case, what excuse do you have to bring Barney the dinosaur and Tweety bird and have fireworks at the place which is now called the martyr's square? What about the barber shop and the barbe wue and the pop corn and the sheesha's? How do you justify turning it into a celebration of sorts?

It is your right to ask that the dead be given respect, and mourning allowed. And believe me, a large number of Bahrainis who are not even part of the protesting community have condemned the deaths. They don't support the deaths, nor do they support people getting injured.

It is unfortunate that certain leaders are spreading hate. Why do you forget that hate begets hate and nothing good can come out of it?

In my opinion, the need of the hour is to streamline the though, come to a consensus and present their case to the Crown Prince at the dialogue. If it fails, then by all means protest, but give a chance a chance first. How else will you be able to know what could have been achieved?

International Media: Why the Lies?

I have lived in this tiny island nation all my life. Born and schooled here, went to India to continue my studies and returned here soon after. My family has been here for a very long time and I have witnessed the changes over the last 2 decades. I have also seen firsthand the protests and followed it closely, to know what was happening to my ‘home’

Till very recently, no one even knew where the country was. Then came the Bahrain Grand Prix. But now thanks to the recent protests, everyone now knows it.

I am compelled to write this, because I am completely shocked at the portrayal of Bahrain’s recent turmoil on the international media. I always knew that every channel, every paper had an agenda, but there is no excuse for the biased coverage.

Inspired by Egypt and what they have achieved, a certain sect of Bahrain’s community took to the streets in Bahrain. They took over the Pearl Roundabout [Wonder how difficult it is for these international players to learn the difference between roundabout and square] and gathered there. They were given permission for 48 hours, and when there was no sign of them leaving after that, the riot police came over.

I drove through the area around 8pm, the night before the attacks happened. The area was jam packed, and the drive which usually takes less than a minute took more than half an hour. And this is the most important centre of the country, a majority has to pass through this point to get to the economically important locations. They had tied up tents and were setting up more tents. As it is travelling through the area was difficult. More people would have made it impossible.

Unlike what the international media keeps crying, the protesters were given sufficient warning, they were asked to leave, they were informed that force would be used if they didn’t move out. And many left. I believe it, because I had seen how many women and children were in the area, Mere kids who must have been 4-5 years old. But the fact that none of the women and children have been injured itself is proof that they were asked to evacuate.

But unfortunately, people died in the clashes. And thus began the entry of international media onto Bahrain. The King and the government of Bahrain continued to accept that they regretted the deaths and injuries caused to the people, but no one wanted to listen to that, as screaming out ‘Peaceful protesters attacked’ was more sensational.

International media, including Sky News and BBC and of course Pulitzer Winner Nick Kristoff has done nothing but fuel the tensions in this region. The distorted and selective reporting they gave made Bahrain look like a complete war zone which it was not.

People have called me up from across the globe asking if we were safe, and saying how worried they were seeing the situation in Bahrain. Then and now, I repeat, “It’s all a load of crap, Bahrain is not like what you are seeing on TV”

I am not claiming that the state media was 100% accurate, but atleast they announce themselves to be the government run channel, so one can expect it to lean towards an ideology, what is the excuse of these international players?

On Friday, February 18, more than 100 000 people participated in a pro-government rally. And that number is way more than the number of people that gathered at pearl roundabout. Yet not one international media highlighted that. The BBC showed 2-3 shots and spoke to only one person. And this again, I speak from personal experience. I was there to cover it for my paper. I was there because I felt strongly about my country, the country which I have called home since I was born.

There has been many rallies after that too, in support of the government. but no media highlights that.

In fact, during one of the press meets I attended, I heard an internal media person tell a colleague, "Violence is over here I think and now it will be boring. We should move on to Libya or so." How is that for objective reporting?

Children, adults, Bahrainis, Arabs, Indians, Pakistanis, Bangaldeshis, a group which highlighted the multiculturalism of Bahrain turned up to show their support. Yet the international media didn’t think it was worth it.

The international media made Bahrain sound like a small backward country where women only wear burqas and are scared to step out in public, this is wrong. Bahrain is one of the most liberal countries in this part of the world.

Don't get me wrong, I am all for a free media which can call a spade a spade. And I think the media in Bahrain requires reforms, but that's no excuse for other channels to be partial.

There is absolutely no excuse for any media to incite hatred or violence. “This fear and despair will soon change into rage”, this was overheard on one of the reports. Who are they to decide that?