Diplomatist Magazine Oman 2018 - Special Report | Page 17

The Indian community enthusiastically welcomes the Prime Minister to Muscat, Oman on February 11, 2018.
in Mayo college in Ajmer, Rajasthan where
two halls have been named in honour of Oman
and our deep bond with the Omani people.
Religious tolerance has been another hallmark
of the India-Oman cultural friendship. Hindu
temples were allowed to be built in Oman and,
by the 1760s, there were four Hindu temples
in Muscat alone. PM Modi paid a visit to the
125-year old Shiva temple situated in Muscat
during his latest visit to Oman.
Thriving Expatriate Culture in Oman
Currently, there are 800,000 Indian
expatriates in Oman and they form 20 percent
of the Omani population. A large number of
them are engaged in white collar jobs in Oman
and contribute to the growth of the Omani
economy. Despite introducing the policy of
‘Omanisation’ in 1988, Oman has warmly
received Indian expatriate workers as the
latter enjoy an image of being hard working
and apolitical. Several hundred Indians who
have been living in Oman for generations have
been granted Omani citizenship. Oman also
has one of the best labour laws in the region,
guaranteeing swift compensation to foreign
workers in case anything goes wrong. In June
2018, Oman announced its policy to grant visas
on arrival to Indians who have a valid visa of
US, UK, Canada, Australia, Schengen or Japan.
The Indian community in Oman is organised
under the Indian Social Clubs in Muscat,
Salalah, Sohar and Sur. The Indian embassy in
Oman has played a seminal role in developing
cultural ties between the two countries. India
opened its consulate in Oman in 1965 followed
by the Embassy in 1973. The Embassy
organised the first ever Festival of India
in Oman in November 2016. It has been
organising a series of events and programs
showcasing Indian culture in Oman since it
hosted a special reception celebrating 70 years
of India’s independence in 2017.
Given the historical, cultural and economic
depth of the India-Oman bilateral relationship,
it is only natural that Oman remains one of
India’s foremost allies in the Gulf region and
the world at large.
* Dr. Lakshmi Priya is a Research Assistant
at the Institute for Defence Studies and
Analyses, New Delhi. Having completed her
PhD from Jawaharlal Nehru University, she has
published several articles on issues related to
Syria and the Gulf region at large. Her areas of
interest are West Asia and North Africa.
2018 • INDIA-OMAN • 17