Why Bahrain is Unique?

By
Mohan Krishnamurthy

I have travelled across nearly 13 countries, but Bahrain brings me back again and again. I wonder what makes Bahrain unique.

I must share an incident that happened few years ago with the readers.

Being in the Information Technology industry, we need to travel at short notice. Our administration department has details of all travelling employees, including complete name, scanned passport copies, frequent flier numbers, food and seat preferences. But due to the intense travel schedules, often our overseas customers or partners book our tickets.

One common mistake most of them make is missing out on my food preferences. I am a vegetarian and I find it hard to get vegetarian food when I travel intensively in Gulf countries. Of course UAE (Dubai only) is an exception. In Bahrain there is no dearth of great vegetarian varieties.

I was onboard a flight from Riyadh heading back to Bahrain. After surviving several days on salad, hummus and mutabole, I was eager to get something decent onboard. When the flight attendant reached me I anxiously told her "vegetarian" and what I got in response was something not unusual for me. She apologised that there was no vegetarian food onboard and also advised me to ensure it is mentioned during the time of booking the tickets in future.

What followed after that remains in my memory afresh! I returned my food tray and just kept the juice to extend my survival. Next to me was a Bahraini businessman. While I was settling down with my juice, I noticed him returning his food politely. I could judge that it had something to do with me. I told him that though I followed vegetarianism, I did not have any problems in people sitting next to me eating non-vegetarian meals.

He told me, "Mohan, in Islam we are taught to respect other cultures and practices. I can afford to be without food for the next couple of hours. I am not going to die. But if I opened my food packets you may feel uncomfortable". I was deeply touched by this behaviour. I requested him several times to go ahead with his dinner. He summarily refused the same.

Then we went on to talk about various religions, their beliefs, cultures and why certain religions believe in vegetarianism etc. When we landed in Bahrain, we exchanged our business cards and departed as good friends.

The quality that makes Bahrain such a great country comes from its people. People here are broad-minded; they know the values of other religions, culture and practices. When I reached Bahrain nine years ago, I told my mother about a temple in Bahrain. She was very excited about it.

Such is the generosity and global outlook of Bahrain that keeps people glued to this country, regardless of their changing lifestyles.

There are several such instances which I can quote that have created a stronger bonding for me to this country. While Bahrain, with its international sporting events, financial harbours, free-hold properties making its place in the global map, there is scope of another initiative by the government that may seal Bahrain's place as a global player. Bahrain will become known to more and more nations as a friendly, warm and neutral country because of its great qualities.

I feel that if the government chooses to run free English schools for citizens of all ages, it will create a platform for every Bahraini to join the global mainstream. English still remains a language that connects the countries of the world, predominant language of information technology and telecommunications, a bridge to any two nationalities and a channel to bring people of two different mother tongues closer. All I have to say is, Bahrain: Keep glowing, keep growing and keep going!