Saturday 18 / May / 2024
Muscat: The 8-month long landmark lecture series ‘Mandvi to Muscat: Indian Community and the Shared History of India and Oman’ organised by the Embassy of India, Muscat, drew to a close on May 1, 2024 with a final lecture by Prof Dr. Calvin Allen from US, the noted authority on the subject.
Dr. Allen’s lecture provided a panoramic view of the rich history of the Indian diaspora in Oman, spanning from prehistoric times to the modern era.
From ancient trade routes to contemporary collaborations, Dr. Allen elucidated the cultural exchanges, people-to-people ties, and socio-economic interactions that have shaped the close bond between India and Oman.
In addition, Harshendu Shah traced the evolution of Indian schools in Oman and Kiran Asher, Pravasi Bharatiya Samman awardee presented a detailed narrative of Oman’s Hindu temples, highlighting the inclusive ethos of Omani society.
Dr P. Mohammad Ali, recipient of the Pravasi Bharatiya Samman award, shared poignant anecdotes from his inspiring journey during the modern renaissance in Oman, while Dharmin Ved offered insights into the illustrious history of the Ved family, adding to the stories of deep-rooted people-to-people connections between India and Oman.
More than 300 people attended the event held at the Mahajan Recreation Centre in Al Wadi Al Kabir including dignitaries, scholars and prominent members from Omani, Indian and Indian-Omani communities.
Dr BR Mani, Director-General of the National Museum, New Delhi, Jamal Al-Moosawi, Secretary-General of the National Museum of Oman, Sayyid Nooh bin Mohammed Al Busaidi, Chairman of Oman Historical Association and Pankaj Khimji, Advisor for Foreign Trade and International Cooperation at the Ministry of Commerce graced the occasion with their presence.
In his address, Amit Narang, Ambassador of India to the Sultanate of Oman, underscored the significance of the ‘Mandvi to Muscat’ series in revitalising awareness about the contributions of the Indian community in strengthening India-Oman ties. He noted that all the papers presented during the lecture series will be compiled and published into a book.
The lecture series was inaugurated by Minister of State for External Affairs of India Shri V Muraleedharan on October 19, 2023 and the event on May 1 marked the conclusion of an eight-month journey, offering rich insights into the historical connections between India and Oman.
The lecture series saw the participation of distinguished academics, historians and anthropologists based in Oman, India, US and UAE including Dr. M. Redha Bhacker, noted scholar from Oman; Dr. Chaya Goswami, historian of western Indian ocean from India; Sanjeev Sanyal, Member of Prime Minister’s Economic Advisory Council; Prof. James Onley, Historian from the American University Sharjah; Dr. Sandhya Rao Mehta, Associate Professor at Sultan Qaboos University; and Swagath Pani, an Anthropologist Historian based in the US.
Additionally, family histories of Ratansi Purushottam, Khimji Ramdas, Naranjee Hirjee, Lakhoo Ved, Toprani, and Shah Nagardas families were narrated by the latest generations of these houses. From the more modern times, experiences of Dr. Syed Mohammed Rafay from Bihar and Dr. Mohamed Ali from Kerala were presented.
As a unique initiative, the ‘Mandvi to Muscat’ lecture series has made a meaningful contributionto promoting a better understanding of the history of the Indian community in Oman. It has also enabled a better appreciation of their role in nurturing and strengthening the special bilateral relationship between India and the Sultanate of Oman.
