Sukun and Panha, aren’t we all looking for them?

Dubai Diary - by Devasis Chattopadhyay

‘Sukun Hain, ‘said Muzahir, my Hala captain, driving a Blue Roof. He is from Peshawar, Pakistan.

Sukun. Tranquillity. Peace. Shanti.

Muzahir has been in the city for the past two years. His job as a Dubai taxi driver sustains his family back home. And he found peace. ‘You do your work sincerely, efficiently, obey rules, and mind your business, you have nothing to worry about here. The city will embrace you,’- the young and handsome Pathan said in his somewhat guttural yet respectful voice, trying to reach me to Al Warqa for my lunch appointment as quickly as possible from Bur Dubai.

Sincerity and efficiency. That’s what Dubai is all about. It is true about all the Emirates of the United Arab Emirates. In fact, why Dubai?

‘How are we treating you, brother?’- the first question a well-known business leader from Dubai asked me when I was introduced to him during an event hosted by a leading media house. I am a non-entity in Dubai. No one really knows me. An upstart of about a fortnight. But he was curious to know of my opinion and had asked honestly. He listened intently to what I had to say about the systems I had to deal with for being admitted into the city-state and starting a new work life. During our discussions, he referred to the recent announcement about embracing the ‘metaverse’ in Dubai, his current focus area. I candidly replied that I hold a contrarian view about the adoption of ‘metaverse’ in any country and have already published my thoughts. He replied equally sincerely that as long as my suggestions and opinions are constructive, they can look at those too. The limited point, he was not dismissive of the contrary view held by a new kid on the block. He showed extreme administrative maturity in embracing a debate with a contrarian in its genuine spirit. Unfortunately, I cannot say so about many corporate and political leaders from some of the so-called more matured democratic countries of South East Asia. In those democratic countries, contrarian views are frowned upon heavily. So much for their democratic ethos.

We can feel the manifestation of the emphatic and humane view of the powers that be all over the Emirates. The current population of the UAE is slightly over 10 million as of Sunday, August 7, 2022, based on a ‘Worldometer’ elaboration of the latest United Nations data. The two biggest cities, Dubai and Abu Dhabi, have more than 3 and 1.5 million residents each. Expatriates and immigrants account for about 89%, and Emiratis make up the remaining 11% of the population. The expats and immigrants come in all shapes, sizes, and colours. Historically, South Asians, which include people from India, Pakistan, Bangladesh, Nepal, Myanmar, Sri Lanka, and the Philippines, compose about 59% of the population. The Iranians and Egyptians are slightly over 4 % each, and the Chinese population in the UAE is around 2%. The other 17.94% are people who migrated from various regions of Africa, Europe, and North America. One statistical figure that multiple acquaintances consistently threw at me was that over 200 nationalities are present in the UAE now. Which is a unique phenomenon for any country in the world.

A study of the population of the UAE in the year 2022 is an eye-opener because people from diverse backgrounds, such as–unskilled physical workers, skilled migrant workers, individual investors, high-skilled individual professionals, artists, and artisans, are all heading towards this country. It makes us understand the demographic complexities of this country. Apart from providing a comfortable home to many expats, the UAE has progressively allowed many religions to flourish over time. As the population grows, watching how the UAE flourishes would be interesting.

Ever since I saw the 1976 American movie - Taxi Driver - directed by Martin Scorsese, starring Robert De Niro and Jodie Foster, it remained itched in my memory. Culturally significant and inspirational, at least for me, the movie explored the city of New York and its culture through the eye of a taxi driver, and it gave me the idea to use the same technique whenever I visit a new city to understand it.

So, while returning from Al Warqa, I inevitably struck up a conversation with B. Nissamudeen from the outskirts of Trivandrum, Kerala, India, my captain from Hala Red Roof. He told me that he plans to retire once his daughter graduates from a Dubai college and his son settles into his new job in a logistics company. Nissamudeen has been in Dubai for over 25 years and driving a taxi. He saw the evolution of the city. It did not surprise him at all that I, even after crossing a biological clock of a half-century, took the decision to start afresh my work-life in a new city. His views were simple yet profound. If you have the skill and motivation within yourself, Dubai will give you the Panha. The shelter.

The city will provide you with the canvas to draw your picture. You need to have the skill and agility to use it.

Yalla!

Sukun and Panha, aren’t we all looking for them? (end)

#dubai #uae #lifestyle #culture #cityscape #halataxi #dubaitaxi #metaverse #sukun . #tranquillity . #peace . # #shanti .