Faith and culture

parent organization, Indian Social Club Oman, and by-laws stipulated by the Omani government. The activities of the club include arranging medical camps and blood donation camps in association with the Ministry of health and private clinics, organizing the International Yoga Day, an Open House with officials from the Indian embassy, walkathons on World Cancer Day as well as cultural events celebrating Indo-Oman cultural ties. In addition, National Days and festivals like Diwali and Onam are celebrated with large attendance and participation of the community. The Indian Social Club Salalah also actively participates in the organization of various community events, celebration of festivals as well as observing the Omani National Day. All these community organizations help Indians to retain their unique identity while living away from home. Central to creating this sense of belonging is also the role that faith plays in their lives.

Faith and culture

The genesis for religious tolerance in Oman can be traced back to thousands of years when the ports of Muscat, Sohar and Sur attracted many explorers, traders and sailors from across the world, bringing with them, vestiges of their faith and rituals. One of the first pieces of evidence is seen through the ruins of an ancient temple in Qalhat, a stone that can now be found in the National Museum in Muscat. The carved slab in the shape of a lotus flower, significant in Hindu mythology, is traced to the 10th century and is said to have remained intact until the end of the 13th century28. The early documented evidence of temples in Muscat can be traced back to the mid-17th century. When the Sindhi Bhattias helped the Yaarubi defeat the Portuguese (propelled by the merchant Naruttim who was angered by the Portugese commander asking for his daughter’s hand), they were able to live with most of the rules and rituals of their community intact, including having a cowshed, a cremation ground and a temple. At the end of the 17th century, an idol of Govindraj was brought from Basra, Iraq and was placed in this temple, decorated with an Omani Khanjar, a tribute to the Omani rulers29. During the rule of Ahmad bin Said, the Banians are said to have had a total of 4 temples, only one of which survives today30. The surviving temple, the Motishwar temple with the Shiva lingam and a shrine of Hanuman was built around a banyan tree and a well, which was used by the Banyan community for their drinking water needs. At that time, the community also had access to cremation grounds, a cow pen for

28 Moosawi, J (2019, September 27). ‘Oman, the Gulf region and India’. 29 Allen, C (1981). p. 41. 30 According to Allen, these temples include the Govindraj temple, a Pushtimargi temple known as ‘haveli’, A Kalka temple and a Shiva temple.

milk and a ‘sacred’ cave around Sidab.

Today, there are two temples in Muscat, the historic Shiva temple in Muttrah and the Shri Krishna temple in Darsait. The Motishwar Mahadev temple is located near the Al Alam palace and consists of three deities, Motishwar Mahadev, Adi Motishwar Mahadev Temple and Hanumanji31. Prime Minister Narendra Modi visited this ancient temple in 2018 during his visit to Oman. The Shri Krishna temple was built on land granted by late His Majesty Sultan Qaboos, and construction was completed in 1987. The temple was subsequently renovated in 2013 with the addition of an auditorium with a seating capacity of more than 3000. More than 3000 people visit the temples on weekends, with almost 7000 visiting on religious occasions. Each temple is serviced by 2-3 temple priests and more than 15 support staff. Both temples are managed by the management of Hindu temple, recognized by the Ministry of Endowments and Religious Affairs. The management consists of volunteers from ‘the Banyan Merchant community – the community which has settled in Oman over centuries’. In addition, there is a Krishna temple in Suhar and a Shiva temple in Salalah. There are crematoriums in Suhar and Salalah. Although there is little mention of a historical Christian community in Oman, J E Peterson suggests that there is evidence of a Nestorian church in Suhar from the early days of Christianity. Prior to that, there is fleeting mention of Jewish traders. Peterson, in his study of the city of Muscat states that the first church could be traced back to the early 17th century when the Portuguese built a church around the governor’s residence: “By this time (1650) Muscat boasted two churches: the original church built on or near the site of the destroyed Jami mosque and the other in an Augustinian monastery. The latter apparenty was built in 1597 and formed part of a larger complex including the governor’s residence, factory and garrison”32. This was known as the ‘gharayzah’, derived from the Portuguese word for church, ‘igreja’. Henceforth, there is little evidence of Christianity outside the American Mission set up in the late 19th century. Today, there are churches in the major cities of Oman, including Muscat, Suhar and Salalah that cater to the various Christian communities. According to the ‘Encyclopedia of Christianity in the Global South’33, there are 90 Christian congregations in Oman. The Catholic Church, the Al Manana Centre and the protestant churches of Oman are recognized by the Ministry of Awqaf and Religious Affairs. The Holy Spirit Catholic Church in Ghala was consecrated in 1987 and renovated with expansions in 1990. St. Peter

31 Hindu Temple Management website: http://hindutemplesom.com 32 Peterson. (2007). Historical Muscat: An illustrated guide and gazetteer. p. 8. 33 Lamport, M (2018). Encyclopedia of Christianity in the Global South.

& Paul Church in Ruwi was built on land granted in 1977. It was renovated in 1990 and the new structure was blessed in 1995. It has weekly mass in English, Arabic, Malayalam, Tagalog, Tamil, Konkani and many other Indian languages. The Christian burial ground is within the PDO, Mina Al Fahal complex. A new St. Francis Xavier’s Catholic Church was inaugurated in Salalah in 2019, in the presence of Ahmed Khamis Masood al Bahri, Director of the Ministry of Awqaf and Religious Affairs34. This is in addition to the St. Stephen’s Orthodox Church, which was consecrated in January 2020. Suhar boasts of a PCO (Protestant Church of Oman) and refers to itself as a “multidenominational, multi-cultural and multi-ethnic church”35. Suhar also has a St. Anthony’s church.

34 Apostolic Vicariate of Southern Arabia https://avosa.org/news/opening-of-the-new-stfrancis-xaviers-catholic-church-at-salalah 35 PCO Oman https://www.churchinoman.com/our-branch

Unveiling of a painting of Mahatma Gandhi painted by Saeed Al Ruwaidhi, Gandhi@150, 2020

Oman-India Exhibition for Contemporary Arts, 2019

Indian artist Sheffy Tattarath’s Indian drummer (left) and Omani drummer (right) paintings

Omani jewellery painting by Indian artist Sheffy Tattarath

Indian artist Rashmi Dauria’s “Caught Up” (left) and “Majlis” (right) paintings

Scene from Oman-India Exhibition for Contemporary Arts, 2019

Quilts in celebration of Oman’s 50th National Day by Hina Dharamsey (left) and Naina Purecha (right)

Dr. A P J Abdul Kalam giving a talk at the Muscat amphitheatre, 2009

Glimpses of events organized by thw Indian Social Club in association with the Indian Embassy, Muscat

India’s 71st Independence Day celebration

Stop SAD Campaign (Stop Smoking, Alcohol & Drugs) felicitation, 2012

Embracing yoga on International Yoga Day, 2018

Postage stamps released on 60 years of Oman-India relations, 2016

Dhows in Sur

© Prashant Mohgaonkar

Dhows in Sur

© Prashant Mohgaonkar

Omani Woman clothing © Abdulaziz bin Shihab al Shukeili

Hennah © Abdulaziz bin Shihab al Shukeili Omani men clothing © Abdulaziz bin Shihab al Shukeili

Mattrah Souq © Abdulaziz bin Shihab al Shukeili

Holi celebrations, Mathura, India © Abdulaziz bin Shihab al Shukeili

Young boys on horseback, Union Territory of Jammu and Kashmir, India © Abdulaziz bin Shihab al Shukeili

Mother and son, Jaipur, India © Abdulaziz bin Shihab al Shukeili

Karak tea, Old Delhi, India © Abdulaziz bin Shihab al Shukeili

PART 3

Diplomatic and Strategic Relations

Introduction

Oman’s proximity to India has not only ensured historic maritime contacts, but also diplomatic and cultural ties going back at least 500 years. From the time that Tipu Sultan sent his emissaries to Muscat, diplomatic ties between the two countries have only prospered, especially after India’s independence in 1947. In March 1953, India signed a bilateral trade and navigation treaty with Oman, strengthening the political exchanges between the two countries. India opened a consulate in Muscat on February 1, 1955, which was upgraded to a Consulate General in 1960 and later into a full-fledged embassy in 1971. The first ambassador of India, G L Puri arrived in Muscat in 1973. Oman established its embassy in New Delhi in 1972 and a Consulate General in Mumbai in 1976.

With the establishment of official diplomatic ties, there has been no looking back. Since then Oman and India have been sharing a range of bilateral strategic partnerships, commercial and trade agreements as well as cultural and educational exchanges. This section outlines the various institutional connections which exist between Oman and India, enhancing bilateral relations at every level. This section provides comprehensive information on bilateral relations between Oman and India as seen through high level visits, agreements and foreign policies. Introducing the new government of Oman under the leadership of His Majesty Sultan Haitham bin Tarik, this section then focuses on high-level meetings in India and Oman, discussing the foreign policies of both countries. An interview with the Indian Ambassador in Oman outlines the various ways in which cooperation between the two countries has been facilitated and suggests ways of moving forward.