Abu Dhabi: Having spent 44 years of his life working for an Abu Dhabi company, Gokulan Bhaskaran Kallayil left for India on September 2 with fond memories of the country where he started his career on a monthly salary of Dh425.
The journey back after all these years still seemed to have come too soon for Kallayil as he had celebrated his 44th Eid Al Adha in Abu Dhabi on Friday. “When I came here in 1973, life was not easy for the Senior Secondary School-passed lad whose father invited him on a visit visa but he never looked back,” he reminisced during a recent conversation with Gulf News.
Kallayil’s first job offer in Abu Dhabi was with British Petroleum but it was a temporary one — all of 13 days — and he was paid Dh425 before he joined Adnoc at a monthly salary of Dh750 in 1973. He retired on a monthly salary of Dh18,000 excluding housing and furnishing allowances and other benefits.
In an interview with Gulf News, Kallayil, who left aged 61, said: “I never changed my job and decided I was happy to stick with one company.”
He retired on June 30 as a storekeeper at Adnoc having been offered two extensions of six months each.
“I took a ship named Dawarika from Mumbai port and landed in Dubai. From Dubai I took a taxi to Abu Dhabi,” he recalled.
Kallayil’s father too had been employed with Adnoc, as a purchase manager.
“My father brought me here on a tourist visa hoping to introduce me to a working environment that would appeal to me once I had finished my studies and wanted me to continue studies. But when I got a job, I didn’t want to go back.”
In the 70s, the main and internal roads were good but the streets were still unpaved, Kallayil recalled. He also spoke about small buildings dotting the streets, mostly villas, and tap water that was good enough to drink.
“Whatever I have today is bestowed by the UAE. It’s a great place with lovely people and very kind leadership,” Kallayil, who hails from Thrissur in the southern Indian state of Kerala, said.
He recalled sharing Arabic cuisine and traditional Indian cuisine on Eid at the home of his dearest friend Abdul Latif, who retired last year from Adnoc.
“I am going to miss the place a lot but would visit again to meet my son-in-laws who are based in the UAE,” he said.
He is going back to his own house in Thrissur, which he built more than 15 years back.
His dedication and services to Adnoc were recognised by the company, which gave him a certificate for his services.
Kallayil feels extremely attached to the UAE and its culture. “My stay here for so long is the best example of my love for the country, he said. “I am fond of Arabic cuisine particularly kebabs and hummos and Ghawa, [Arabic coffee]. I enjoy them very often with the family.”
On his future plans, he said: “I don’t want to jump into a new business quickly. I will settle down there for some time and study the market before deciding what to do next,” he said. “I will start off on my farms growing some vegetables and fruits and will try to see if I can do that on a commercial basis,” he said.
In 1973, Kallayil recalls, he used to pay a rent of Dh250 annually to have a room and a kitchen to himself in a villa when he first arrived in Abu Dhabi. At the time he left, his rent was Dh110,000 annually for a 3BHK apartment, which was provided by Adnoc.
Kallayil has three daughters aged 33, 31 and 28, all of whom are married, besides a son, aged 22, who is pursuing a career in medicine in India.
“All [my children are] happily settled and he got a graceful retirement,” he said.
Kallayil said he is going to miss some places in the UAE badly including the lush green Mubazzarah, Jebel Hafeet and Dubai’s Miracle Garden besides the Abu Dhabi Corniche, Breakwater and Yas Water Park.
Kallayil’s wife, Usha Gokulan, 58, has been a great source of support for him right through the 35 years of their marriage. She too loves Abu Dhabi and especially likes the freedom and safety women enjoy, the friendly people and the religious freedom.
“Safety and security for women in Abu Dhabi is really a big plus and I can go around freely any time of the day or night. That is a wonderful aspect of Abu Dhabi for me. We couldn’t imagine walking around so freely at night in our own country,” she said.
