This screenshot speaks of the deep civilisational ties between Masqat and New Delhi, via Mandvi. Sheikh Pankaj Khimji, the influential Bania businessman greets the Indian President on His Majesty’s state visit to India.
Mr. Khimji is an Advisor to the Sultan of Oman and a top honcho of the Asian Cricket Council. I was there four years back in Muscat when Modiji visited Muscat and spoke to the diaspora at the Sultan Qaboos Sports Stadium in Bousher, next to my then office next to the Royal Hospital. I was the only analyst who had blogged on his visit.
I had presented on this connection in my Middle East Institute NUS talk in 2018 and had co written a paper too.
Oman is India’s maritime neighbor with an influential merchant diaspora from Kutch, who are Hindus and are custodians of the temples in Muscat. Oman was an invitee to India’s G20 Presidency as well.
Yallah!
Change Thinker 