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Undocumented: Stories of Indian Migrants in the Arab Gulf
Our complicated and fragile global economy relies on the unacknowledged labour of a subterranean network of undocumented migrant workers. Despite them providing vital support to host economies, governments continue to turn a blind eye to these migrants' woes without any consequences. In the absence of documents to speak for them, their human rights are systematically abused, their voices ignored, their existence refuted.
The women, as is often the case, suffer under the dual attacks of patriarchy and anonymity. Exigencies of bureaucracy ensure that the children are often unregistered and even lack passports. The result is a truly exploited populace without much relief in sight. They survive on sheer courage and perseverance, shedding blood, sweat and tears that end up fuelling the thumping home and host economies.
In Undocumented, journalist and migrant-rights researcher Rejimon Kuttappan brings to light the lives of these oft-ignored migrants through stories of six Indians in the Arab Gulf, and through them, voices the plight of millions more. Delving into histories both personal and national to establish where we are and how we got here, the author lays bare the lives of people betrayed by their own into human trafficking, into poverty, and into exile in a land that only glimmers with promise.
The women, as is often the case, suffer under the dual attacks of patriarchy and anonymity. Exigencies of bureaucracy ensure that the children are often unregistered and even lack passports. The result is a truly exploited populace without much relief in sight. They survive on sheer courage and perseverance, shedding blood, sweat and tears that end up fuelling the thumping home and host economies.
In Undocumented, journalist and migrant-rights researcher Rejimon Kuttappan brings to light the lives of these oft-ignored migrants through stories of six Indians in the Arab Gulf, and through them, voices the plight of millions more. Delving into histories both personal and national to establish where we are and how we got here, the author lays bare the lives of people betrayed by their own into human trafficking, into poverty, and into exile in a land that only glimmers with promise.
- GenresNonfiction
268 pages, Kindle Edition
Published November 15, 2021
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December 23, 2024
Undocumented, but not having documents doesn't mean that humans are going to be hound-like animals. And being treated worse than slaves. Humans deserve empathy and care, especially those who are vulnerable. It doesn't matter whether they are documented or not. In fact, sane people can't let humanity die, because few people are trying to kill it through their horrible acts. This book is an eye-opening and stellar work of investigative journalism. It's a must-read book.
In the Indian subcontinent, going abroad, especially to the Arab Gulf countries, and working and earning there is a dream of multitudes. In fact, it's more about the stories that people hear from their near and dear ones about the richness of the Arab world that push them towards those Arab countries. Without realizing that all that glitters is not gold.
Though, the word 'globalization' is a recent phenomenon. But, for thousands of years, the people of Hind (India) and the Arabs have been in contact with each other. Especially, from the Indian state of Kerala, whom the Arabs call the 'Malabaris.' For the people of the Arab world, India is Al-Hind, and Indians are Hindi. It doesn't matter whether you are from North India or South India. In Arab countries, Hindi means the people of India.
In fact, Keralites (those who are from Kerala) and the Arabs have been doing trade with each other for several centuries. Their relationship predates the arrival of Islam on the Arabian Peninsula. Interestingly, Islam as a religion first came to India through the Malabar Coast (Kerala). The Cheraman Juma Masjid, built in 629 CE, was the first masjid in India. And it's one of the oldest mosques in the world.
But all of this looks good when we study history. The present reality is not better. Those workers who have migrated to the Arab Gulf in the hope of changing their lives for good have faced and still face some of the worst things that a human could experience in his or her lifetime. So, let's discuss the stories of those migrant workers.
What is Undocumented by Rejimon Kuttappan?
Undocumented by Rejimon Kuttappan is the painful story of the struggles of the Indian migrants in the Arab Gulf, who have gone to the Arab nations to improve their lives. But, instead of betterment, they have received not only treachery but inhumane behavior from their employers. In fact, these tales reveal the horrible system of modern-day slavery, especially the 'Kafala System' that has been practiced in the Gulf Cooperation Council (GCC) countries with impunity.
The USP of this book is that the author himself lived in Oman for more than a decade. In fact, as a journalist, he not only covered the stories of the stranded migrants. But he also saved the lives of many Indian migrants, both men and women. That's why in 2017, he was deported to India by the government of Oman. Because telling a government that "all is not well" is like telling a physician that instead of giving medicines for the short term, they should tell their patient about the root causes of the disease.
The language of the book is easy to read. I strongly recommend this book to all the readers out there, especially to aspiring students of journalism and those who are from India, Pakistan, Bangladesh, Nepal, Sri Lanka, and other Asian countries.
Other than the introduction, the book has been divided into the following chapters:
• On a Persian Uru
• This white car will be my coffin.
• Pakistani bhais smuggled Majeed out of Oman.
• My son is my Arabab.
• We kidnapped Sushmitha.
• Even a Pakistani can speak Malayalam.
• All returned empty-handed.
In the Indian subcontinent, going abroad, especially to the Arab Gulf countries, and working and earning there is a dream of multitudes. In fact, it's more about the stories that people hear from their near and dear ones about the richness of the Arab world that push them towards those Arab countries. Without realizing that all that glitters is not gold.
Though, the word 'globalization' is a recent phenomenon. But, for thousands of years, the people of Hind (India) and the Arabs have been in contact with each other. Especially, from the Indian state of Kerala, whom the Arabs call the 'Malabaris.' For the people of the Arab world, India is Al-Hind, and Indians are Hindi. It doesn't matter whether you are from North India or South India. In Arab countries, Hindi means the people of India.
In fact, Keralites (those who are from Kerala) and the Arabs have been doing trade with each other for several centuries. Their relationship predates the arrival of Islam on the Arabian Peninsula. Interestingly, Islam as a religion first came to India through the Malabar Coast (Kerala). The Cheraman Juma Masjid, built in 629 CE, was the first masjid in India. And it's one of the oldest mosques in the world.
But all of this looks good when we study history. The present reality is not better. Those workers who have migrated to the Arab Gulf in the hope of changing their lives for good have faced and still face some of the worst things that a human could experience in his or her lifetime. So, let's discuss the stories of those migrant workers.
What is Undocumented by Rejimon Kuttappan?
Undocumented by Rejimon Kuttappan is the painful story of the struggles of the Indian migrants in the Arab Gulf, who have gone to the Arab nations to improve their lives. But, instead of betterment, they have received not only treachery but inhumane behavior from their employers. In fact, these tales reveal the horrible system of modern-day slavery, especially the 'Kafala System' that has been practiced in the Gulf Cooperation Council (GCC) countries with impunity.
The USP of this book is that the author himself lived in Oman for more than a decade. In fact, as a journalist, he not only covered the stories of the stranded migrants. But he also saved the lives of many Indian migrants, both men and women. That's why in 2017, he was deported to India by the government of Oman. Because telling a government that "all is not well" is like telling a physician that instead of giving medicines for the short term, they should tell their patient about the root causes of the disease.
The language of the book is easy to read. I strongly recommend this book to all the readers out there, especially to aspiring students of journalism and those who are from India, Pakistan, Bangladesh, Nepal, Sri Lanka, and other Asian countries.
Other than the introduction, the book has been divided into the following chapters:
• On a Persian Uru
• This white car will be my coffin.
• Pakistani bhais smuggled Majeed out of Oman.
• My son is my Arabab.
• We kidnapped Sushmitha.
• Even a Pakistani can speak Malayalam.
• All returned empty-handed.
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