The passing away of Sultan Qaboos has left many gasping for words. I have lived in Oman for more time than in any country, and Masqat is my home, even after my parents moved back after a quarter of a century there. His photo graced our living room for decades, and is a personality which has been an overwhelming presence in the lives of desi Masqatis. From Khasab to Salalah to Stone Town to Chabahar/Gwadar and many towns and cities across the world, this palpable loss would be dearly felt. I grew up singing the Royal Anthem in the Indian School in Darsait.

Although he was unwell for years, the country rejoiced every time he came back from treatment and prayed. The late Sultan was educated in India and the UK and served in the British Army in Germany. A renaissance man with a vision, he rebuilt the country. The Royal Opera House in Masqat is a monument to his cosmopolitan vision. May the country recover from this massive loss and move on to greater heights.