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A sail that’s been worth cherishing

Embracing UAE as his second home Balachandhran became an active member of Indian community’s socio-cultural activities and an eminent Malayalam writer.

“I came to Dubai accidentally but time has proved that the decision to come here was right. I wanted to join the Indian Army but I failed the final test. So my brother who had been running an air-conditioning workshop in Dubai advised me to come here,” said Balachandhran.

“I sailed to Dubai from Mumbai in a ship called Dumra along with few other job-seekers. The ship anchored at Rashid Port and my brother came to pick me up. Dubai was a very small city that time. Only few highrises were there. Most of the people were put up at small villas,” he said.

“Shaikh Zayed Road was a narrow road those days. There were a few small villas in Karama. The local people were very warm and welcoming to the expatriates. They all were expecting a boom because of oil discovery. But I am sure that the rapid growth this country has witnessed was beyond their expectations,” Balachandhran observed.

“Dubai was a primitive city and all the income was drawing from the trading. The expatriate community was mostly from the sub-continent. When I visited Sharjah first time the road between Dubai and Sharjah was sandy. There were a few buildings and a hotel in Sharjah. I joined in Sharjah Ruler’s Executive Council as a secretary. Since then I have been living in Sharjah and the growth this country has witnessed is amazing,” he said.

“In olden days, the locals and expatriates used to mingle more but now I think the interaction is comparatively less. I think it’s because of the increase in number of people and the change in lifestyle,” Balachandhran observed.

“The rulers of this country especially the late Shaikh Zayed had a vision on how to shape this country to be a modern and vibrant nation. They knew what the people wanted and how to meet their needs. They planned it properly and implemented the plans,” he said.

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