By We all have heard of the titles such as King, Queen, Prince, Princess, Sultan etc. If not in real life, at least in fairy tales. I, however, had the opportunity to live in the shadow of a real Sultan. The word ‘Sultan’ has Arabic or Turkish origins and means a leader or ruler.
Late His Majesty The Sultan Qaboos bin Said Al Said established the Sultanate of Oman in 1970 and ruled his Sultanate up to his untimely demise in 2020. (His demise can only be untimely; you can never be ready for the death of such a noble man)
I was introduced to the word Sultan not through fairy tales or movies. In the years that I lived in Oman, I thought there can be only one Sultan; so much so that Qaboos Bin Said and Sultan both were synonymous. Until I came across other Sultans in my history textbook, I didn’t think that any other person could be called a Sultan. Such was his aura and the warmth of his Sultanate.
There are many stories about the kindness and humility of the late Sultan. Here, however, as a citizen of the country India, I am narrating one particular incident.
In 1994, the then Indian President Mr. Shankar Dayal Sharma visited Muscat, Oman. Most nations follow certain protocols during the reception of the Head of the State. However, when the Indian President landed in Oman, all protocols were broken and broken by none other but the Sultan himself.
It is said that the Late Sultan Qaboos bin Said climbed up the stairs of the aeroplane that carried the Indian President. Later both together descended from the flight. In the usual protocol, the Sultan is not to receive any foreign leader at the airport but in his palace. In this case, however, the Sultan not just arrived at the airport to greet the President but also mounted the stairs of the flight.
Later, while explaining the incident, the Sultan said that he was not just receiving the Indian President but also receiving his teacher for whom he held high reverence. Yes! The Sultan was a student of the Mr. Sharma during his student days in Pune, India. This act was to show his gratitude towards his teacher.
Over the years, the Sultan had showed great kindness to the people from foreign lands and expatriates. He allowed places of worship of other religions other than the religion of Oman, just so that the expatriate population could feel at home. He also allowed for construction of different schools by other nations. During the time of my stay in Oman, I remember at least 12 Indian schools running.
It is because of these Indian Schools that so many of the Indian students could reside with their families and receive the best education as per the standards of their country.
Dear Sultan, I am sure that your professor Mr. Sharma would be extremely proud of you not just because you had received him so honorably but also because of the respect and kindness you had shown to his countrymen.
Mr. Sharma might have taught you during your student days and made you a better statesperson but you have repaid that debt a thousand-fold by allowing the culture of inclusivity in your Sultanate.
As you are no more, I can’t say, ‘Long Live the Sultan!’, but I can say this:
‘Dear Sultan, Your Majesty, thank you for your kindness.’
