A SENIOR engineer who has played a prominent role in the creation of several major road projects in Bahrain is leaving the island after 45 years.
Indian expatriate Parail C Abraham is heading back to his home state of Kerala with his wife, Lily, on December 7.
The signature of the 78-year-old, who retired last month from the Works, Municipalities Affairs and Urban Planning Ministry, has featured on the designs of almost all the highways, major roads and junctions in the country.
“I will miss the roads of Bahrain, the grilled food and most of all, the loving people,” said the former head of the ministry’s highways, causeways and roads special projects.
“I’m emotionally attached to the people and the places here. And, whenever I stop at any junction, I see a piece of my art and it almost speaks out to me.
“I reminisce over the incidents, the challenges, those joyful moments during each project. There’s a playback in my mind. It’s a beautiful feeling and I will miss those treasured memories.”
A major ring-road plan which aims to connect the entire country is among his favourites as its former project head and design engineer despite being an incomplete dream to date.
“The North Manama Ring Road land reclamation project was initially carried out under my supervision. It’s a brand new project connecting the island and being developed in stages.
“It was my dream to see the road completed and to drive ahead with the project – it’s on its way.”
Mr Abraham’s passion for rail, roads and bridges started during his school days. An alumnus of India’s Trivandrum Engineering College, he boasts a Master’s from Thailand’s Asian Institute of Technology, Bangkok.
He hails from Chengannur and was teaching at the Government Engineering College Thrissur, Kerala before he came to Bahrain in 1976.
After two years with Kenneth Anderson Associates, UK, he joined the Housing Ministry where he worked for 15 years prior to moving to the Works Ministry.
Among the key projects under his hands were the Shaikh Khalifa bin Salman Causeway, the change of roundabouts into traffic signal-controlled intersections, widening of the Estiqlal and Dry Dock Highways, among several others. He was also one of the leading voices behind the much-needed creation of a 10km cycle path, the first phase of the 50km long cycle path planned for Bahrain.
A well-respected spiritual leader too, Mr Abraham, was a regular preacher at various congregations on the island and was awarded a degree of Doctor of Ministries from the Tyndale Theological Seminary, Dallas. An elder at the Manama Brethren Assembly, he has also held the president’s office of the Bahrain Malayali Christian Congregation.
He reminisced over the 1990 Gulf War – a time of panic, when many families left and schools were closed.
“Government warning sirens and TV announcements on impending dangers were daily proceedings,” he recalled.
“During these times of uncertainty and fear, I remember visiting church members along with fellow brethren, offering family counselling, engaging the children with encouragement to remain calm.”
He was also the chairman and faculty of several leadership seminars organised by the Haggai Institute Alumni Bahrain Chapter and the patron of the YMCA, Bahrain. He was a speaker at several conferences and conventions including the International Convention of Youth for Christ International, Chicago and Gideons International Conventions across the US, among others. He has also been the co-ordinator for several Child Evangelism Fellowships.
Once settled back in Kerala, Mr Abraham will take up the responsibility of the Rehoboth Theological Institute in Thrissur which offers theology classes.
Meanwhile, the past struggles and successes of the Indian School Bahrain will remain close to the heart of his wife, Lily, a former teacher of physics.
The couple has four children, all alumni of the Indian School and Sacred Heart School Bahrain – three sons, namely Abey, Sam and Benjamin, and a daughter, Phebey, all happily married – and nine grandchildren.
raji@gdn.com.bh
&uuid=(email))