In November 2006, I was approached with the idea of doing a book about the Indians in Bahrain.  The subject was exciting to me because it seemed tailor-made for challenge. There was hardly any record, almost no documentation, many of the protagonists were no longer living, but yet everyone knew the history was long and certainly important. This was the challenge, and this eventually made this book a deeply personal journey into the stories of many brave and courageous individuals and families who live in Bahrain even today.

At times, the stories I heard moved me beyond measure, and I have tried to instill that feeling and emotion into my words. On another level, I have come to understand and appreciate many things about life as a foreign expatriate. The words are a much-used, bandied around term, but when you go back into the history, especially of the Indian expatriate, you realize all that the term encompasses.

You realize the sacrifice, the commitment, the vision and spirit of adventure that have gone before. It seems amazing today, in view of the tensions that threaten our global society, the contradictions that beg for answers, the lack of understanding and compassion between races, cultures, religions, that here in Bahrain we have an example of a relationship rooted in tolerance and empathy, which no one can deny has withstood the test of time. It quite literally goes to show that differences do not matter, when the spirit is generous.

The people of Bahrain have through years of hospitality and tolerance and an appreciation of others’ contribution, made this country a unique one. The first Indian traders and travelers found this spirit when they landed on an unknown island country. It is this that made them stay on here, adopting Bahrain as a home. It is the same spirit that continues to draw Indians to this country.

In a nutshell one could say that while Footprints in Time is a celebration of the soul and indomitable character of the Indian, it is also a celebration of relationships, of the triumph of human brotherhood.

Excerpt:

It is still unknown when the first links between India and Bahrain were established. Archaeological evidence goes back into the second millennium BC, but there is no conclusive indication that this is when it began. For the Indian and Mesopotamian traders, Bahrain was a halting point, where they refreshed themselves and prepared for the arduous journey still lying ahead. Oman, in the south, was already a trading hub, lying as it did on the Spice route, trading in its rich harvest of frankincense, but Bahrain lying further north and closer to Mesopotamia was at first more valuable as a strategic break point during the long journey. Its geographical position was reinforced by its natural features – artesian springs in the coastal areas, a deep belt of cereal and date cultivation, natural harbours – all of this ensured that weary sailors using the sea route between India and Mesopotamia inevitably stopped at Bahrain…

Part 1, pg 15, Footprints in Time ©

…The new spirit spread like wild-fire. Events in Bahrain and India simultaneously stoked the flames that were burning in the Indian heart. On the one hand, prosperity and growth beckoned from Bahrain’s oil-enriched economy, and on the other, the sense of a new chapter culminating from the painful yet successful birth of the Indian Republic. It brought forth a burst of adrenaline like no other. Business opportunities abounded, and those enterprising enough were ready and waiting. It was into such an atmosphere that the new breed of Indians entered into Bahrain. All had skills of some sort to offer, and those already here began thinking of innovative ways to establish and entrench themselves further.

Part 4, pg 108, Footprints in Time ©

 Footprints in Time: The Story of Indians in Bahrain. Author: Reena Abraham, Publishers: Miracle Publishing The author can be contacted at reena.at.work@gmail.com  The book is available at all leading bookstores in Bahrain. For more information contact the publishers at:  +973 17 295502