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Take Sajeesh, a Bahrain-based expatriate whose life became permanently intertwined with a national tragedy. In 2018, the deadly Nipah virus emerged in Kerala, spreading fear. On the front lines was Sajeesh’s wife, Lini Puthussery, a dedicated nurse at Perambra Taluk Hospital. In caring for the very first victims with fearless empathy, Lini contracted the virus and passed away, leaving behind Sajeesh and two young children. Her final note from her isolation bed contained no regrets, only love and a plea to look after their sons. Sajeesh, who migrated to Bahrain to build a modest future, returned to a shattered reality. Lini became the face of selflessness, a reminder that the migrant journey is supported by families who give everything.
This spirit of mutual care came full circle recently. When the Nipah virus re-emerged in Kerala, threatening another crisis, the Kingdom of Bahrain demonstrated true global citizenship. Moving swiftly, Bahrain stepped in to procure and deliver critical, lifesaving antibody medications to Kerala. This timely response was more than a diplomatic gesture; it honoured the millions of expatriates who have spent decades helping to build, heal and sustain the Gulf. The state-level intervention mirrored the individual sacrifice of the nurse, arising from an instinctive reflex to protect human lives.
This narrative of unsung heroism extends beyond hospital walls to the merchant navy personnel navigating vital global supply channels. Civilian seafarers board commercial vessels to sustain families and keep global commerce moving. Yet, they routinely face terrifying perils, from lawless modern piracy to unpredictable geopolitical crossfire. This reality hit close to home recently when three Indian civilian seafarers tragically lost their lives off the coast of Oman after their vessel was targeted in a devastating missile strike. Beyond geopolitical violence, many face the slow cruelty of seafarer abandonment, where vessels sail without food, wages, or basic safety, forcing sailors to pay for trade with their lives.
Similarly, our urban landscapes stand as monuments to the sheer endurance of migrant construction labourers. These workers face the intense, blazing wrath of the summer sun day after day, turning blueprints into real-world infrastructure, skyscrapers, and homes. Their contributions are rarely commemorated with plaques, yet their sweat is permanently built into the concrete of our cities.
Paying genuine homage to these everyday heroes is best demonstrated through a continuous commitment to improving their material conditions – by enacting stricter safety protocols, guaranteeing fair wages that reflect the physical risks absorbed, and securing the right to refuse transit into active conflict zones.
While some argue that focusing heavily on labour rights might clash with nationalisation goals, the prevailing ethos within Bahrain demonstrates that economic strategies do not have to come at the expense of universal dignity. By choosing a path where humanity always triumphs, Bahrain shows that uplifting the protections and livelihoods of the working class is not just a regulatory obligation — it is a core moral imperative.
meeraresponse@gmail.com
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