Shaikh Khalifa bin Daij Al Khalifa gets Bahrain-Kerala Friendship Award

Manama : The Indian expatriate community’s contributions and their strong and cordial relations with the Kingdom were highlighted at a summit in which HRH Crown Prince’s Court President Shaikh Khalifa bin Daij Al Khalifa received the inaugural Bahrain-Kerala Friendship Award.

Shaikh Khalifa received the award from Kerala Chief Minister Pinarayi Vijayan at the Bahrain-Kerala Friendship Summit 2016, which marked the silver jubilee celebrations of Bahrain Returnees’ and Residents’ Association (BRAIN) held in Thiruvananthapuram, the capital city of the Indian state of Kerala on Thursday. He began his address by extending Onam greetings to those present at the mega event.

“Thank you for blessing me today with this award. Not only am I blessed for receiving it from the honourable Chief Minister who graced us this evening with his presence, I’m also blessed to be the first to receive it,’’ Shaikh Khalifa said after receiving the award.

Malayalees, he said, had worked side by side and hand in hand with Bahrain to build up the Kingdom to what it is today.

“Over the past 25 years, the association has acted as a bridge between our two great nations. For that loyalty and service I thank you,” Shaikh Khalifa continued.

“Looking at the member profiles and recollecting the numerous engagements I had with the members, I can’t but imagine how many people you touched throughout your service in Bahrain - how many patients you treated and cared for, how many projects you completed and how many companies you served in and helped succeed. Throughout my life, I have come across countless clubs and organisations that have a certain mission. But none touched me like this association has. For this association continues to serve the Kingdom hundreds of miles away in communicating our core values of love, peace compassion and sharing,” he elaborated.

Shaikh Khalifa said he was touched by the association’s decision to celebrate the National Day of Bahrain on December 16, calling it “a true gesture of love, pride and affinity.”

“Our hearts are filled with gratitude to what the association stands for and has achieved in this 25 years… and are looking forward to many years to come. Inshallah!” he concluded.

Chief Minister Pinarayi Vijayan who inaugurated the programme said the Kerala government would set up a special project with participation of the Union and the State governments and Non-Resident Keralites (NoRKs) to put to productive use the money sent by expatriates. 

Drawing a parallel between Bahrain and Kerala, he said Bahrain allowed people from around the world living there to practise their faith freely. 

“Temple and churches there are a symbol of the Ruling Family’s tolerance,” he said. “This was akin to Kerala’s tradition, which welcomed people from other parts of the world and gave them space to establish the religions they brought.”

Shaikh Khalifa’s son Shaikh Daij bin Khalifa Al Khalifa who also spoke on the occasion, thanked the Indian community in general and Keralites in particular for the contributions they made to the development of the Kingdom.

Al Namal & VKL Group Chairman Dr Varghese Kurian, RP Group Chairman Dr Ravi Pillai and National Fire and Safety Managing Director VK Rajasekharan Pillai were honoured during the event. BRAIN’s financial aid to five deserving students to continue their higher education was also distributed.

BRAIN General Secretary S Sivaprasad welcomed the gathering while BRAIN President S Krishnamoorthy presided the meeting and DT News Chief Editor Soman Baby introduced the Royal Guest of Honour. Indian MP Dr Shashi Tharoor, Kerala Pravasi Federation Secretary K.E Ismail and Shanthigiri Ashram Organising Secretary Swami Gururethnam Jnana Thapaswi gave the felicitation address. BRAIN Vice President Jose Kurisinkal proposed the vote of thanks.

Bahrain is home to more than 313,000 Indians, out of a total population of approximately 1.04 million. People from Kerala constitute approximately 65-70pc of the Indian community.