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Gulf connection gets strengthened
THANKS TO a Bahrain-based Indian journalist, the first ever comprehensive The Gulf Who's Who Directory has become a reality. ``In fact, this is an updated and enlarged edition of the directory I published in 1978,'' says Sunny Kulathakal, who considers Bangalore his Indian home. The '78 version itself ran into 1,050 pages and over 4,000 entries, providing valuable information about the States in the Gulf, which were then slowly beginning to make a mark in the world. And attracting Indian workers and businessmen in increasing numbers.
The latest directory goes a step further than the 1978 edition. It offers readers indepth information on all Gulf countries, along with geographical, political, and economic profiles of each State. Sections on each State feature profiles of persons in all walks of life, from ministers in the Government to senior management personnel and professionals; most of them decision-makers in their own way.
``The announcement of the latest Directory being launched triggered off a tidal wave of excitement across the Gulf media and articles in Gulf News, Khaleej Times, Bahrain Tribune, Times of Oman and in the Indian media too,'' Sunny remembers. What motivated him to bring out the first directory was the poor image of Indians working in the Gulf then. ``I wanted to correct the impression that Indians there were only coolies and ayahs. Many were in responsible management positions in major trading houses but little known,'' he says. There was not even a proper telephone directory or regular newspapers in the Gulf then.
In two decades, things had changed but the Indian community spread across the region was still not much known even to one another. His experience as a journalist helped in getting access to governments and business houses. Entries came in thousands from Arabs, Indians, Pakistanis, and ex-pats from the U.S. and Europe.
The Gulf Directory will also have a Bangalore connection. Part of the revenue from its sales will go towards a charitable fund providing scholarships for bright young men from the Gulf to come and study here. ``Post September 11, Arab students are looking at countries other than the U.S. for their higher studies, and I want to encourage them to come to the best colleges in Bangalore and other Indian cities.''
Sunny is also active in soliciting the support of the Karnataka Government to help thousands of workers from India who were lured to the Gulf by agents who made tall promises but left them in the lurch. ``With some help, these skilled workers can become indepndent and stand on their own feet in no time,'' he says.
By K.Satyamurty
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