Abu Dhabi: For 49 years the Indian Cultural and Social Centre (ISC) has served as a community hub for Indians in the capital, making it one of the oldest social clubs in the country and an integral part of Abu Dhabi’s history.
Originally founded in 1967 with the help of the late Shaikh Zayed Bin Sultan Al Nahyan, the founding father of the UAE, the centre had humble beginnings, with a small group of members and facilities. Mirroring the growth of Abu Dhabi, the centre in 2008 moved to its current modernised five-storey building which also saw the support of the UAE’s leadership, with President His Highness Shaikh Khalifa Bin Zayed Al Nahyan allocating the land for its new location.
“The centre originally had a small group of members who would get together. The land for the centre was given by the late Shaikh Zayed. Over time, as the community grew, so did the membership numbers, with more than 2,500 members currently registered, and when we put these numbers with their families it comes to more than 10,000 people associated with the club,” said Thomas Varghese, who has been with the centre for more than 30 years and currently serves as its president.
“We have many types of facilities our members can use whether its for sports, entertainment, or education. As well as having many facilities which can be used on a daily basis, we also celebrate big occasions and festivals, and for such events our doors are always open to the entire community,” he added.
Varghese spoke proudly of the fact that the centre has been around for so long, with Abu Dhabi being a home away from home for many Indians.
“We feel we are a part of the city’s history, I myself came here in 1977 so one can imagine how much has changed since then, and I have been a part of that change and have had the chance to witness it stage by stage, so I feel like this is my second home. So, it’s a very a strong bond.
“I believe that because we have been in Abu Dhabi for such a long time, this builds a very strong relationship with the leaders of the country. There is good trust there, and the government officials have always been very open to us … The land for our new building was given by His Highness Shaikh Khalifa, and this is a very strong recognition of our community.”
John P. Varghese, general secretary of the ISC, has been with the centre for more than 20 years. He told Gulf News that the centre was an example of the shared historical ties between the UAE and India.
“We feel very proud that our centre has existed in the UAE for 49 years, and that we are being taken care of. We have witnessed the progression of the country, from the old Abu Dhabi to the new, which has grown at such a great level and has become a truly global city, and we see ourselves as being part of that history and growth,” he said.
“Our centre has become one of the main centres for Indians in the country, and it is one of the biggest such facilities in the world, with all types of social activities for people to take part in,” he added.
