It was destined for me to come to UAE. Otherwise, why would I have asked my husband to consider the offer he had already rejected? To cut the rest of the story short, he joined his job in UAE in January 2006, and I came to UAE in the same year in May. Just for a visit.I was actually on two months leave from my work (OneWorld South Asia).It was a good job, and I loved the kind of work I was doing there. But then....... I could not go back. I decided to stay back for my son Kabir, my husband and myself. I decided: it was better to stay together than just feel happy about the job waiting back in India.
Initial two years were very depressing with no job, no friends and a bad health. Finally after many rejections and frustrations,I now feel very much as a part and parcel of this side of the Globe. Since I had to live here, I started gathering information about the region, history of Emirates, important people etc.
Once I was travelling in a lift, I had to go to the 10th floor. An old man (an Emirati) boarded the lift on the first floor. He looked at the picture of Sheikh Zayed on the magazine (facing his side) and murmured something in Arabic and concluded –Peace be upon him. I could not understand the rest of the sentence spoken in Arabic, but I could guess- it was for sure, something positive. Later, I got a chance to do a cover story on the most respected man of the region and father of the Nation : Late Sheikh Zayed.
In the process, I got more fascinated by him and ever since...I can't stop admiring him.
Fraction of the story is attached below-
Sheikh Zayed- A Pioneer from Middle East: A leader of world stratum
Green Vision of a man from the Dessert
-Seema Sangra
In the history of the Emirates, there was a Sheikh, who ruled Abu Dhabi for the longest period; from 1855 to 1909- His name was Sheikh Zayed bin Khalifa Al Nahyan. In 1918, he was blessed with a grandson who would change the region in more than one way. Sheikh Zayed was born in Al Nahyan clan to change the face of the region. He became the father of the nation, which he created from seven Trucial States, now called United Arab Emirates.
Son of the Dessert
At the time Sheikh Zayed was born, the emirate was poor and undeveloped dessert, with an economy based primarily on fishing and pearl diving along the coast and offshore and on simple agriculture in certain areas near oasis .Part of the population was nomadic, ranging across a wide area of south-eastern Arabia in search of pasture.
Principles of Islam
He started taking his religious education at the age of eight. Even as a member of the ruling family he led a simple life. Principles of Islam learnt early in his life, remained the foundation of his beliefs and principles throughout his life. He was a firm and dedicated opponent of people who tried to pervert the message of Islam and distorted Islam’s image by justifying doctrine of narrow-mindedness and terrorism. He was a true Muslim and understood and practiced Islam.
The Great Environmentalist: A Green Vision of a man from the Dessert
Sheikh Zayed was an environmentalist long before it became fashionable to be one. Of all the commendable qualities of this multi-faceted leader, it is perhaps as an environmentalist that he will be remembered by most. He was a son of the dessert but had a green dream, which he fulfilled with in his lifespan and passed it to the next generation of rulers. Preservation and enhancement of the environment was his passion. For five decades, Sheikh Zayed advocated and adopted the concept of what is known today as “Sustainable Development”. In one often-quoted statement, Sheikh Zayed said -“We cherish our environment because it is an integral part of our country, our history and our heritage. On land and in the sea, our forefathers lived and survived in this environment. They were able to do so only because they recognized the need to conserve it, to take from it only what they needed to live and to preserve it for succeeding generations”.
As a ruler of Al Ain, the key task for Sheikh Zayed was to stimulate the local economy, which was largely based on agriculture. To do this, he ensured that the ancient subterranean water channels or falajes (aflaj) were cleaned out, and personally financed the construction of a new one, taking part in the strenuous labour that was involved. He commenced the laying out of a visionary city plan, and, in a foretaste of the massive a forestation programme of today, he also ordered the planting of ornamental trees that, now grown to maturity, have made Al Ain one of the greenest cities in Arabia. Sheikh Zayed was responsible for the "green belt" of vast tracts of previously barren, arid land. Under all ambitious localised forestation programme more than 150 million trees were planted during his rule.
Sheikh Zayed was born into a world where the inter-relationship of Man and Nature was a crucial part of life itself. The time-honoured traditions of nomadism and of the skills they involved of living off a harsh and demanding land were still the key to survival for many of the people of Abu Dhabi. His knowledge of the environment around him led him to recognise the dangers posed by a non-sustainable exploitation of resources. He drew that insight from his knowledge of the traditional heritage of the people of the Emirates, and was interested not just in ensuring the conservation of wildlife, but also in learning about it. Sheikh Zayed developed an understanding of the relationship between man and his environment and, in particular, the need to ensure that sustainable use was made of natural resources. He learned, too, about the coastal fishing communities, and the age-old offshore pearling industry, which had begun as long ago as 5000BC, and involved diving without artificial aids to the seabed to harvest the pearls that were to be found there in profusion.
On the island of Sir Bani Yas, he encouraged the captive breeding of rare indigenous species including the Arabian Oryx and gazelle. In the early 1960s, aware that the Arabian Oryx was on the verge of extinction in Oman, he arranged, just in time, for the capture of two breeding pairs for the nucleus of a captive-breeding programme. Today, 40 years later, there are well over 2,000 Arabian oryx in captivity in the UAE, many on the island of Sir Bani Yas, which he turned into a private nature reserve.
In the late 1960s, when he became Ruler of Abu Dhabi, Sheikh Zayed created the Association for Animal Welfare, a group of rangers who patrolled - and still patrol - the deserts to ensure that there was no uncontrolled hunting of wildlife. He also pursued his interest in falconry and conservation, not just as a participant, but as the source of numerous initiatives that have come, over the years, to have a far-reaching effect. Thus the 1st World Conference on Falconry and Conservation, held in Abu Dhabi at the end of 1976, for the first time, brought falconers from North America, Europe and the Far East together with falconers from Arabia, acting as the launch pad for a strategy devised by Sheikh Zayed to bring falconers into the mainstream of emerging conservation efforts. It was at this time that captive-bred falcons from Europe first began to appear in Arabia, launching a trend that today sees most UAE falconers choosing captive-bred birds by preference.
A few years later, on Sheikh Zayed's instructions, the country's first Hunting Law was promulgated, providing protection to virtually all of the UAE's wildlife.
Besides issuing of legislation and the establishing of new governmental structures, Sheikh Zayed also showed in his own private actions that his personal commitment to conservation was deep-rooted, an essential component of the way he looked upon the world around him. He encouraged research into the ecology of falcons while he was amongst the first to discern the threats to wild falcon populations and set in motion a wide variety of captive-breeding programmes for species related to falconry. He also launched the Zayed Falcon Release Programme, which has now seen well over 1000 birds released back into the wild. Today, many of the initiatives on the environment and wildlife conservation made by Sheikh Zayed are enshrined in legislation.
In a segment of his biography published a quarter of a century ago, Sheikh Zayed recalled the moment in his youth when he recognised that the over-exploitation of natural resources could, and would, lead to the extinction of species. He mentions: "One day I set out on a hunting expedition in open country. My game was a large herd of gazelles spread over a wide area. I followed them and began shooting. Three hours later, I stopped to count my bag, and found I had shot fourteen gazelle. I pondered over this a long time. I realised that hunting with a gun was no more than an outright attack on animals, and a cause of their rapid extinction. I changed my mind, and decided to restrict myself to falconry only". The Zayed Archives of Falconry, the only institution in the world, was established exclusively to collect and preserve the history of world falconry.
A man who executed MDGs much before they were conceived internationally
If we look at his work: Eradication of poverty, Environment, Education, Empowerment of women, Public health, Partnership, it would not be an exaggeration to say that he executed most of the MDGs (applicable in the region, during his time), well before they were even conceived at international level!
An Enduring memory in people’s heart
After Sheikh Zayed’s death, Dr. James J. Zogby (a founder and president of the Arab American Institute (AAI), a Washington, D.C.-based organization which serves as the political and policy research arm of the Arab American community), interviewed couple of American dignitaries .
He writes: If a man can be known by his friends, then the tributes paid to Sheikh Zayed by this extraordinary collection of US public figures stood as a remarkable testimony to his greatness. What struck me, even more than what they said, was the intensity of their feelings about the man, and the common themes, each, in separate interviews, used in describing Sheikh Zayed's life and work.To a man, they spoke of their admiration for his extraordinary success in building his nation and leading it into the 21st Century. They spoke, as well, of his wisdom, a quality frequently mentioned in discussions of Sheikh Zayed. Each noted how Sheikh Zayed, while a friend and steady ally, never hesitated either to provide wise counsel or to criticise US policies that tested the friendship. They also noted his timely and generous assistance in meeting humanitarian challenges worldwide”.
He also writes :When critics ask "Have Arabs done good with their wealth?" or "Can Islam coexist with modernity?" one need only look to the UAE to see that the answer to both questions is definitively "yes".
Today, the whole world realises the great contrast UAE is able to create in the region full of conflict and mistrust. It has emerged as a nation- where a strong sense of identity is not a hindrance in respecting the faith and customs of people from more than 200 nationalities, living in the UAE. A nation built on vision of a man who was indeed a Pioneer from the Middle East and a leader of world stratum.
A Country becomes a Nation…… when its lead by a visionary.
In the history of the Emirates, there was a Sheikh, who ruled Abu Dhabi for the longest period; from 1855 to 1909- His name was Sheikh Zayed bin Khalifa Al Nahyan. In 1918, he was blessed with a grandson who would change the region in more than one way. Sheikh Zayed was born in Al Nahyan clan to change the face of the region. He became the father of the nation, which he created from seven Trucial States, now called United Arab Emirates.
Son of the Dessert
At the time Sheikh Zayed was born, the emirate was poor and undeveloped dessert, with an economy based primarily on fishing and pearl diving along the coast and offshore and on simple agriculture in certain areas near oasis .Part of the population was nomadic, ranging across a wide area of south-eastern Arabia in search of pasture.
Principles of Islam
He started taking his religious education at the age of eight. Even as a member of the ruling family he led a simple life. Principles of Islam learnt early in his life, remained the foundation of his beliefs and principles throughout his life. He was a firm and dedicated opponent of people who tried to pervert the message of Islam and distorted Islam’s image by justifying doctrine of narrow-mindedness and terrorism. He was a true Muslim and understood and practiced Islam.
The Great Environmentalist: A Green Vision of a man from the Dessert
Sheikh Zayed was an environmentalist long before it became fashionable to be one. Of all the commendable qualities of this multi-faceted leader, it is perhaps as an environmentalist that he will be remembered by most. He was a son of the dessert but had a green dream, which he fulfilled with in his lifespan and passed it to the next generation of rulers. Preservation and enhancement of the environment was his passion. For five decades, Sheikh Zayed advocated and adopted the concept of what is known today as “Sustainable Development”. In one often-quoted statement, Sheikh Zayed said -“We cherish our environment because it is an integral part of our country, our history and our heritage. On land and in the sea, our forefathers lived and survived in this environment. They were able to do so only because they recognized the need to conserve it, to take from it only what they needed to live and to preserve it for succeeding generations”.
As a ruler of Al Ain, the key task for Sheikh Zayed was to stimulate the local economy, which was largely based on agriculture. To do this, he ensured that the ancient subterranean water channels or falajes (aflaj) were cleaned out, and personally financed the construction of a new one, taking part in the strenuous labour that was involved. He commenced the laying out of a visionary city plan, and, in a foretaste of the massive a forestation programme of today, he also ordered the planting of ornamental trees that, now grown to maturity, have made Al Ain one of the greenest cities in Arabia. Sheikh Zayed was responsible for the "green belt" of vast tracts of previously barren, arid land. Under all ambitious localised forestation programme more than 150 million trees were planted during his rule.
Sheikh Zayed was born into a world where the inter-relationship of Man and Nature was a crucial part of life itself. The time-honoured traditions of nomadism and of the skills they involved of living off a harsh and demanding land were still the key to survival for many of the people of Abu Dhabi. His knowledge of the environment around him led him to recognise the dangers posed by a non-sustainable exploitation of resources. He drew that insight from his knowledge of the traditional heritage of the people of the Emirates, and was interested not just in ensuring the conservation of wildlife, but also in learning about it. Sheikh Zayed developed an understanding of the relationship between man and his environment and, in particular, the need to ensure that sustainable use was made of natural resources. He learned, too, about the coastal fishing communities, and the age-old offshore pearling industry, which had begun as long ago as 5000BC, and involved diving without artificial aids to the seabed to harvest the pearls that were to be found there in profusion.
On the island of Sir Bani Yas, he encouraged the captive breeding of rare indigenous species including the Arabian Oryx and gazelle. In the early 1960s, aware that the Arabian Oryx was on the verge of extinction in Oman, he arranged, just in time, for the capture of two breeding pairs for the nucleus of a captive-breeding programme. Today, 40 years later, there are well over 2,000 Arabian oryx in captivity in the UAE, many on the island of Sir Bani Yas, which he turned into a private nature reserve.
In the late 1960s, when he became Ruler of Abu Dhabi, Sheikh Zayed created the Association for Animal Welfare, a group of rangers who patrolled - and still patrol - the deserts to ensure that there was no uncontrolled hunting of wildlife. He also pursued his interest in falconry and conservation, not just as a participant, but as the source of numerous initiatives that have come, over the years, to have a far-reaching effect. Thus the 1st World Conference on Falconry and Conservation, held in Abu Dhabi at the end of 1976, for the first time, brought falconers from North America, Europe and the Far East together with falconers from Arabia, acting as the launch pad for a strategy devised by Sheikh Zayed to bring falconers into the mainstream of emerging conservation efforts. It was at this time that captive-bred falcons from Europe first began to appear in Arabia, launching a trend that today sees most UAE falconers choosing captive-bred birds by preference.
A few years later, on Sheikh Zayed's instructions, the country's first Hunting Law was promulgated, providing protection to virtually all of the UAE's wildlife.
Besides issuing of legislation and the establishing of new governmental structures, Sheikh Zayed also showed in his own private actions that his personal commitment to conservation was deep-rooted, an essential component of the way he looked upon the world around him. He encouraged research into the ecology of falcons while he was amongst the first to discern the threats to wild falcon populations and set in motion a wide variety of captive-breeding programmes for species related to falconry. He also launched the Zayed Falcon Release Programme, which has now seen well over 1000 birds released back into the wild. Today, many of the initiatives on the environment and wildlife conservation made by Sheikh Zayed are enshrined in legislation.
In a segment of his biography published a quarter of a century ago, Sheikh Zayed recalled the moment in his youth when he recognised that the over-exploitation of natural resources could, and would, lead to the extinction of species. He mentions: "One day I set out on a hunting expedition in open country. My game was a large herd of gazelles spread over a wide area. I followed them and began shooting. Three hours later, I stopped to count my bag, and found I had shot fourteen gazelle. I pondered over this a long time. I realised that hunting with a gun was no more than an outright attack on animals, and a cause of their rapid extinction. I changed my mind, and decided to restrict myself to falconry only". The Zayed Archives of Falconry, the only institution in the world, was established exclusively to collect and preserve the history of world falconry.
A man who executed MDGs much before they were conceived internationally
If we look at his work: Eradication of poverty, Environment, Education, Empowerment of women, Public health, Partnership, it would not be an exaggeration to say that he executed most of the MDGs (applicable in the region, during his time), well before they were even conceived at international level!
An Enduring memory in people’s heart
After Sheikh Zayed’s death, Dr. James J. Zogby (a founder and president of the Arab American Institute (AAI), a Washington, D.C.-based organization which serves as the political and policy research arm of the Arab American community), interviewed couple of American dignitaries .
He writes: If a man can be known by his friends, then the tributes paid to Sheikh Zayed by this extraordinary collection of US public figures stood as a remarkable testimony to his greatness. What struck me, even more than what they said, was the intensity of their feelings about the man, and the common themes, each, in separate interviews, used in describing Sheikh Zayed's life and work.To a man, they spoke of their admiration for his extraordinary success in building his nation and leading it into the 21st Century. They spoke, as well, of his wisdom, a quality frequently mentioned in discussions of Sheikh Zayed. Each noted how Sheikh Zayed, while a friend and steady ally, never hesitated either to provide wise counsel or to criticise US policies that tested the friendship. They also noted his timely and generous assistance in meeting humanitarian challenges worldwide”.
He also writes :When critics ask "Have Arabs done good with their wealth?" or "Can Islam coexist with modernity?" one need only look to the UAE to see that the answer to both questions is definitively "yes".
Today, the whole world realises the great contrast UAE is able to create in the region full of conflict and mistrust. It has emerged as a nation- where a strong sense of identity is not a hindrance in respecting the faith and customs of people from more than 200 nationalities, living in the UAE. A nation built on vision of a man who was indeed a Pioneer from the Middle East and a leader of world stratum.
A Country becomes a Nation…… when its lead by a visionary.
I salute -Late Sheikh Zayed bin Sultan Al Nahyan :People’s Man and World’s Leader!
(Mercy Be upon Him)
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1 comment:
i realy liked this article on Sheikh Zayed.well written and informative
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