A Bahraini family is hoping that a book documenting the rich history of the country’s postal services will be showcased in the museum as a tribute to its late author.
Sirat Albarid Fi Al Bahrain (Postal Biography in Bahrain) is an exhaustive compilation of notes penned by Ali Mattar over a span of five decades, after he took up a job in a post office in Bahrain in 1953.
Mr Ali Mattar died in 1998 and after two decades, his recollections were put together by his family and published as a book last year.
The late author’s brother Mahdi Mattar, who edited the first draft of the book, is hoping Ali’s legacy will be honoured by the country as the book documents not just the history of postal services in Bahrain, but also his key role in the sector in the UAE.
“My brother was a director in post office and his book can be seen as a bibliography and a detailed journey of a man who shaped postal services in Bahrain and the UAE,” Mr Mahdi Mattar told the GDN.
“It’s also a book that records the historic evolution of post office in the Gulf.
“My brother had completed his notes way back in 1995, three years before he passed away in 1998.
“I stumbled upon them two decades later in 2018. My brother had detailed his experiences in the field and it was my duty to honour his wishes and get the matter published.”
Bahrain’s postal history dates back to 1884 when the first post office was opened in Manama. The first set of stamps with Bahrain’s name was issued in 1933 and the second office was set up in Muharraq in 1946.
In the book, Mr Ali Mattar highlights the functioning of the post office, its services besides the cultural and historic significance of stamps and his own journey and adventures in this field.
“My brother was sent to Abu Dhabi in 1963 by Bahrain’s government to offer his expertise to the nation’s yet-to-be developed postal system,” said the 64-year-old.
“I believe two more people were deputed for the job before him, however, one of them was promoted and moved somewhere else, while the other could not stay in the UAE for too long.
“Modes of communication were limited and hence travelling away from family and friends into a foreign land was difficult.”
However, Mr Ali Mattar overcame all challenges and stayed on in Abu Dhabi.
In his book, he reminisces his role in revamping the UAE postal service department.
“It was not easy, living conditions were tough, everything was disorganised as I worked on my own,” Mr Ali Mattar wrote.
“But I organised the post office step by step, got to know the regular customers, citizens and foreigners.”
Mr Mahdi Mattar said his brother was offered jobs in the UAE multiple times, however, he refused to take them up.
“Ali once told me that whenever he attended international or regional conferences on postal services, he had the Bahrain flag waving in front of his nameplate. Being the pride of his country is all he ever asked for.”
Mr Ali Mattar has three sons and seven daughters.
“Our family hopes the book will be showcased someday in the postal museum inside the Manama Post Office,” Mr Mahdi Mattar said.
The book is available in leading stores.
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