After more than four decades in Bahrain, I am now planning to move back to my hometown of Kurukkiladu near Vadakara, Kerala.
I first landed in the kingdom on a sunny day in February 1980 on a free visa and my first priority was securing a job. As advised by some friends, I requested an interview with John Dunn, then circulation manager at the Al Hilal Group. That meeting marked a long and rewarding relationship with one of the leading publishing and marketing organisations in the Middle East. Mr Dunn offered me the post of distribution assistant in the group’s busy magazine division. When the Bahrain-Saudi Causeway opened in 1986, I was assigned the role of serving the Saudi market, which often involved travelling to the kingdom in the morning and returning in the evening.
Later, I was promoted to the post of distribution manager. I am deeply grateful for all the support extended to me by Mr Ronnie Middleton, the managing director of the group. Three years ago, I informed Mr Middleton that I wanted to return home, to which he replied: “I will say when you may leave...”
Bahrain has been home for 40 years. I still recall this dear country as it was when I first landed here. At that time, much of Juffair and Hoora were not reclaimed and there were very few buildings which were more than 15 storeys high.
I am married to Ms Aisha and was living with family in Bahrain initially and children had done their schooling at Ibn Al Hytham Islamic School and Indian School. A few years ago they settled back home in Kerala. We have four children – Muhammed Ershad, Majida Majeed, Abdul Jumail and Muhammad Yaseen. Two of them are doctors working in the US and in Qatar. One of them is studying for MBBS and one of them is studying back home in India. Also have one son-in-law Muhammed Jameesh who is a doctor and daughter-in-law Alifa Muneerudeen, an architect. All the children have fond memories of Bahrain.
I have taken an active part in social activities and treasure the friendships I have cultivated along the way. I played an active role in the construction of the Ibn Al Haitham Islamic School in Bahrain and was part of a 20-member committee that managed the school’s activities. I was also the founder of the CIGI chapter Bahrain, and am a member of many other organisations.
When I move back to my hometown, I intend to continue with these social activities. I have already started some social activities in Kurukkiladu. I am the chairman of the Kakkad Mahal Sas Karika Koottayma, a social organisation that runs the PSC coaching centre, supplies drinking water and provides medicines to the poor – and plan to be more actively involved in such work after returning home.
When I leave at the end of June, I will carry with me very fond memories of Bahrain and will treasure the love and care of Bahrain’s rulers, who treat all people equally – whether locals or expatriates.
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