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'I have seen Dubai growing like a child'

Dubai - Water and electricity were not readily available amenities

Bhagwati Girdharilal Bhatia, 77-years-old, moved to Dubai from Mumbai in 1958. She was newly married and hardly 18 years old then.
She lived with her husband - who passed away two years ago - and now lives with her son in one of the areas in Old Dubai. In her 60 years here, she has seen the city grow, much like a child.
Recalling the early days, Bhagwati said: "I remember there were no flights at that time between Dubai and India, so we used to travel by ships; it used to take a good seven days to reach Dubai.
There were no schools and hospitals, so around 50 Indian families got together and formed the association to help out each other. Water and electricity were also not readily available amenities, so some of the locals would sell sweet water for Dh1 and hard water for 50 fils a litre. "But those were the days. we had a lot of fun and the local people were very nice," she reminisces.
The Bhatia family also struggled during those difficult days - Bhagwati's husband had come to Dubai to try his luck, with almost nothing in hand. A relative gave him a tiny space in his shop to start a business. With hard work and his wife's support, he later opened a small shop in Deira.
The business grew with time and today the family owns four shops in different areas of old Dubai. She spends most of her time in the temple in Meena Bazaar, participating in various activities there and mingling with other community members.
"It keeps me busy, otherwise If I'm alone and sitting at home, I just think of the days spent with my husband and I miss him. those were the golden days of my life," she said.
Her attachment to Dubai has grown with the passing years. She visits India at least twice a year to visit family and attend occasions and weddings, but does not plan to move back after spending most of her life here.
"Dubai has everything, from the luxury of Indian food to Bollywood movies, temples and spiritual places.
"Over and above everything, we feel safe and secure here. We can celebrate all our festivals here with freedom and liberty. We are never discouraged from following our faith or religion. I think it is the most wonderful thing about this place".
ankita@khaleejtimes.com
Interviewed by Ankita Chaturvedi
Street talk is a weekly column to get a ?glimpse of people's lives in the UAE