OMAN-INDIA TIES, ACROSS SEA AND SPACE

The aim of the exhibition was to showcase the continuing strong cultural linkages between India and Oman, furthered by strong people to people contact. The exhibition displayed the works of Essa al Mifragi, Mohammed al Balushi, Naila al Mamari, Kholood al Shaepi, Nadia al Balushi, and Radhika Hamlai from Oman and Tarini Agarwal, Sushmita Gupta, Debjani Bharadwaj, Kanak Mitra and Komal Talati, among others.

Omani photographer Abdulaziz bin Shihab al Shukaili is one of the many Omani and Indian photographers who remain inspired by landscapes, people and places and aims to capture them in new and interesting ways. Abdulaziz has captured various traditional Omani and Indian festivities along with people living their everyday lives. As he says, “I capture the photographs about people because I empathise with them and feel the need to capture their emotions in the moment to save forever”. Many photographers have gone on to become very popular on social media as well.

Indian artists have been experimenting with various media and making use of different resident artist programmes to find self-expression. Private galleries like Bait Zubair’s Sarah Gallery, Stall Gallery, Bait Muzna Gallery and Ghalya Museum of Modern Art have all offered platforms for the display of artistic work. This has also found commercial recognition with various public spaces like those of hotels giving opportunities for established and emerging artists to share their work. The Oman International Art Fair, the Affordable Art Fair and other such increasingly popular events also provide opportunities for the sale of artwork.

Other forms of art such as calligraphy, jewellery design and quiltmaking are equally popular among Indians in Oman. The Muscat Quilt Guild, for example, is a diverse group of enthusiasts who use the Omani tradition of needlecraft and learn to create various objects using a mix of quilting, patchwork and sewing. Some of the Indian members of this group like Naina Purecha and Hina Dharamsey have been inspired by Omani colours and landscapes, which they have recreated through their quiltwork.

The Indian Social Club The roots of the present Indian Social Club (ISC) go back to 1950, when the Indian Association was established. After 1977, as the number of Indians in the community increased, the association took a more active interest in bringing members together as the need to have a better representation of the cultural and social interests of the community was expressed. In 1994, the government of Oman registered all the expatriate clubs under the Ministry of Social Development and renamed the organization as the Indian Social Club.

There are 29 linguistic wings under the ISC. The ISC and its various regional, linguistic and sports wings actively promote 125