Updated: May 11, 2024
I can’t help thinking about the spirit of our men who work in some of world’s harshest conditions to make life better for their beloved ones back home. I hear all the time about those working in oil rigs etc., at a 70 C temperature in peak summers. Rest of us can fly to our vacations because of these men.
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Happened to read this online although never got to watch ‘Aadujeevitham.’ Its heartwrenching real life story based in Saudi. It suffices to say that until this day, we have Najeebs still suffering for no fault of theirs in Arab states. This Najeeb was lucky to get liberated after all his ordeals. Its a miracle he survived not only his master but also the harsh living conditions and his adventurous escape panning the most horrid and arid deserts of the world, one fine day. His trek through this uninhabitable scorching sand dunes lasts for weeks. His goat days unwittingly prepare him for this desert voyage just like his underwater tough existence prepared him for his goat days. His mental balance is admirable and his physical fitness cannot be underestimated given the poor nutrition he ingests by way of sparse food intake. Finally his freedom from the Saudi jail becomes the true godsend. It crushes our heart to learn that he has been held as illegal labourer after all by his employer, without a proper licence. Through all this I could not help noting how devoted Najeeb is. How he pins every responsibility on Allah and pardons every single offender with a grace that is extremely rare to find. He only bemoans his own fate never someone to come up with accusations. Its a big takeaway for me really. In short, Najeeb comes across as a very sweet soul. For the kind of torment he is subject to, anyone could be ending his life or ending up like his predecessor buried beneath the desert soil. For a soft creature, Najeeb also comes across contrastingly as an emotionally intelligent person who learns how to wait it out patiently and when to play his cards smartly. He makes his calculated moves avoiding risks. His calm acceptance of his situation, resigning to reality and then working doggedly but quietly towards a solution speaks volume about his strength of character. Even the book is a very reluctant version of the statement pried out of real life Najeeb after repeated appeals by the author. Najeeb’s personality is also enhanced from the fact that he is not glorifying his heroic adventure but wants to stay low key.
Only yesterday, I was reading about the Kerala maid sentenced to death in Yemen, because in her attempt to flee from her torturous employer, she had to end his life. What drives the employees to such a sad state of affairs losing self-control. What brings out their wrath. In the circumstances it helps to remember those like Najeeb who retained his sanity and wisdom under most trying conditions. Its his life saver.
Those in the lowest levels of hierarchy sometimes undergo the worst experiences in middle east. Their semi-skilled state makes it easier for exploitative employers to manipulate them and use them to their advantage. I hear many sob stories emanating from the Middle east. But the Goat days by Benyamin which was originally penned in Malayalam is a nightmare unlike anything I have come across. HOwever let not some unfortunate cases let you imagine the worst about gulf states. YOu have to remember that millions of Indians also at the same time make it good here and happily make the GCC nations their second home. Even in Malaysia, a friend’s employers took possession of the family passports as far back as in the year 1997. And this was that of a working professional. Legally its an offence in all these countries trying to strip of their employees of their basic human rights. Expats first much educate themselves about their own rights. Secondly, always stay connected with the embassy at least online. Staying in touch with the NRI community is a must for your own safety. Thirdly, air your grievances immediately and seek solutions. Or spread the word. Appraise someone of your living conditions. Have your communication channels open for instance with the local grocery, your co-workers etc. IF something is fishy, REPORT to the embassy or High commission or fellow NRIs. It may save you from tricky situations. Keep your family updated and equip your family to act on behalf of you if they don’t hear from you.
Again, we find Indians as top CEOS of banks and hypermarket chains and industrial houses in the middle east. Even hospitals and academies and schools and other businesses are founded and managed and headed by Indian nationals. We don’t find Indian labour much because, INdian labour is supposedly expensive. Even 25 years back in Malaysia I was told that Indian labour is unaffordable, so the cheaper alternatives such as Pakistanis, Bangladeshis were the options. Semi-skilled labourers like aircon technicians, plumbers, electrical workers, supervisors etc., may be the lowest rung of Indians employed in the gulf states. You can’t even find fellow Indians as billing clerks or selling garments and lipsticks in the malls. To that extent, the Indian employment levels have improved and gone far ahead. Indian medicos are most sought after. Indian restaurants are the most crowded. Normally we have only mostly good stories to relate. Very few unfortunate cases are out there calling for our attention.
Those like Najeeb must have ended up in the sorry state because of the cunning of some unscrupulous recruitment agents. Indian govt banned Indian women from working as maids since long. Those Indian ladies who find employment in foreign countries as househelp do it illegally. You cannot find INdian women working as housemaids in any part of the world. However poverty may push some women to get work visa in one category and work as housemaids in reality. Same may be true about Najeebs of middle east. Those who end up in such tragic situations must have violated the stipulated norms of Indian government for NRI workers.
You are talking about Najeeb. What about the Kerala women and women from Pakistan, Nepal etc., who end up in the red light districts of Dubai etc. Women don’t get employment permit generally in the gulf states. They are eligible to work only as nurses in hospitals or teachers. Other working women in middle east normally are on dependent visas of their husbands. From the point of employment, their visa status may change. But we hear stories of Kerala women getting work visas in gulf states and ending up in forced prostitution. Once they go into that line, there can be no turning back. Although I have not directly come across any such case, these news keep floating in NRI circles always. Women are the worst victims. They may be recruited as staff nurse but be held as hostage and introduced to flesh trade as bonded labour. Fearing persecution of the society, they resign to their destiny. Women must double check their employer credibility before taking up an oversees job. But again, these are semi-literate, semi-skilled women dying to make a killing in middle east. They won’t listen to words of wisdom.
This book fascinated me as we have made middle east our second home in last some 15+ years. NRI now since 1997-98 although I keep shuttling between Chennai and middle east. There is good and bad everywhere, is all I can say.
I have to round up the review (if I can call that) with the observation that I find it really strange that someone like Najeeb who is the son of the soil living so close to the holy abode of Lord Aiyappa must be a follower of Islam. It really makes no sense to me at all. Some countries like the Philippines for instance have no god so they have embraced Christianity in total. Bharat is the cradle of human civilization. Hindu Dharma is the mother religion for other faiths that are too new. If you have to find god in the deserts of Arabia forgetting your local deities, then I guess everything you do has to be removed from reality. The master of Najeeb is the reality check for Indian muslims. Kerala people are obsessed with gulf money. Although we ourselves may have made our livelihood from middle eastern job, I am very proud of the fact that my home state Tamil Nadu contributes to LOCAL ECONOMY and those in my state have built their lives from contributing to domestic growth paying taxes. Kerala is superficial in everyway. No local glory. Shut out the gulf channels. They are finished. Tamil Nadu on the other hand like the other states of India, is economically independent. We have a robust and well oiled machinery of manufacturing and production line and employment systems that guarantee the livelihood of millions. We create job opportunities and engage the masses productively which is important in the long run to maintain balance and prosperity. Overdependency on foreign sources can make you vulnerable to transitions at a later stage. Loyalty of Kerala muslims is NOT to Allah but for the dirhams that come with their middle-eastern positions. Life is much easier. But remember, there are millions of Hindus who also make a living in middle east, entirely employed on MERIT basis. These Hindus are mere employees and their loyalty shall always be with Dharma and India. You don’t have to become the slave to your employer. You can retain your dignity. It irritated me to read how Najeeb for no reason other than Islam tolerated the utterly inhumane treatment meted out to him. Would the same Najeeb have put up with his situation had his master been a Hindu and the setting was somewhere in Rajastan in India?
That is why I say, nobody can be loyal to India the way we Hindus are. Nobody can love India the way Hindus will. And nobody can bomb India and damage-destroy India the way Indian muslims can! Nobody can betray India like the Indian muslims would – not even the Indian christians. The Indian christians are an educated lot. They use their brains. There was also this news yesterday in the media: of how 10 Indian muslims set fire to forest reserves in Uttarkhand. If anyone is capable of this kind of sabotage to the mother country where they eat their food, sleep on the earth and breath the air, it is the muslim ummah. Loyalty and gratitude have no meaning in their dictionary. If world is taking a critical view of the muslims, its not without reasons.
REading the Goat days, my heart ached because I am human and human suffering does not make me differentiate between people. I find Najeeb to be an exemplery character. His is a beautiful soul. It does not matter to me whether he is muslim or Hindu. But it also pained me to note that so much of a Kerala muslim’s faith, loyalty, gratitude etc., lies with the merciless Arab to who he will remain nothing but the underdog forsaking dignity. Converts are the worst hypocrites you may come across.
Having said that, hats off to the Indian embassy. So many nations don’t care. But India takes best care of her citizens in whichever part of the world they may be. We have even insurance covers now. A tremendous spade work was done in this regard by Smt Sushma Swaraj who was our external minister. Last heard, even rich arab sheikhs now prefer enrolling their kids in Indian CBSE schools that charge a single digit fraction of the kind of fees levied by international schools. And kids attending Indian schools have the competitive edge like none other. You also see the Hindu mandir coming up in Abu Dhabi. There are two sides to every coin. But being an Indian citizen, you know you are in far more advantageous position than other nationalities. If a Najeeb still happens, its because of the foolishness of individuals in which governments have no role to play.
