"India opens its ears - European intelligence services are keenly speculating on the purpose of a listening post that has been active for at least two years on the outskirts of Ras al-Hadd, at the northeasternmost tip of Oman. Located on an isolated rocky plateau just 2 km from the sea, the site which is protected by police checkpoints in not among the listed US listening post in the country (see below), and it may be the first Indian listening post in the Persian Gulf. Several reasons make this likely. While Saudi Arabia and most other kingdoms in the region are allied to Pakistan, Oman has active diplomatic relations with India, with whom it signed a defence agreement in 2008. Construction of the Ras al-Hadd listening post was finished a year later. The facility is also located directly across the Arabian Sea from Pakistan. India has had an interception post in the far north of Madagascar since 2007 and is planning to build others in the Maldives, the Seychelles and Mauritius."
I highly doubt that the 200 million Indian Muslims hate Arabs (rather the opposite due to historical, cultural, religious, linguistic, economic and even ancestral reasons for quite a few) while I don't think that the average Indian hates Arabs either. Probably some prejudices but that's about it. That's my impression even here on PDF with so much trolling present. It's just that many people are ignorant of history in the world and shape their opinions of people and countries based on bad media news and absurd generalizations. People to people it's often completely different even between traditional "enemies".
As the reality shows and the historical one (well over 5000 year old trading and cultural ties) we have great economical relations and that's the main fundament between good friendly and respectful relations that are mutually beneficial.
Buddy, around 60% of Oman's population are local Omani Arabs. Around 1.7 million are expats/migrant workers mainly from South Asia most of which are Baloch people. Indeed there are also many Indians although the percentage of Indians is the biggest in the UAE of all GCC countries.
You can see how Oman, the GCC and Arab world looks like in this thread below.
The Arabian Peninsula and Arab world in photos
Also read more about Oman in this thread below.
In Oman, innovation meets tradition
It's one of the most beautiful countries in the region with absolutely stunning coastline, mountains and a lot of heritage, especially castles and forts. After all it was a leading colonial power in the region (Arabian Sea and Indian Ocean region) not long ago with possessions in Africa, ME and South Asia. For instance Oman owned Gwadar until the Omani sultan sold it to Pakistan in 1958.
History of Oman - Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia
In short Oman is a great country with an ancient history, very welcoming people and a lot to offer. It's one of the most peaceful countries on the planet too. You never hear anything bad happening there. You should visit and it's not that far from for instance Western India (Gujarat, Mumbai etc.)!
Cheers.
@Sam.
@Sam.
So you are from the beautiful region of Kerala? What a coincidence! I could almost feel it as it seems to me based on personal experience that Arabians and Arabs in general are really quick to bond/cooperate with the people of Kerala. Most of my Indian friends are from Kerala, Gujarat and Western/Southern India in general.
I also believe that there must have been some Hindu communities in Arabia before the appearance of the Abrahamic (Semitic) religions such as Judaism, Christianity and Islam. Early Hindu sects might even have coexisted in some parts of Arabia (mainly Southern) along with ancient pagan Semitic religions as surely throughout those 6000 years of mutual trade not only goods but people moved too and cultural practices. I don't know much about this topic but some historians might have written about this. I vaguely remember once reading about something similar.
Another thing that I have noticed. In Southern Arabia and areas of Hijaz it was/is not uncommon to use coconut milk (coconuts grow in those regions of Arabia) with rice. I know that this is a key ingredient of Southern Indian cuisine as well. I love it personally and Indian cuisine as well, especially Southern.
Also I think that Indians also have/had a leaf/milt stimulant/drug similar to khat.
Khat - Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia
I just don't recall it's name here and now.
I also know that Arabians exported gold to India as well from the Mahd adh Dhahab goldmine which was the biggest gold mine in the Middle East for 5000 years and still is one of the biggest if not the biggest.
The gold mine is located in Hijaz, KSA.
You can read more about this.
Mahd adh Dhahab - Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia
Silver too obviously as you mentioned.
Diamonds came from India indeed although diamonds exist in Arabia too but in much, much smaller quantities obviously.
Gem of a find: KSA may have diamond mines | Front Page | Saudi Gazette
Also we should not forget frankincense with for a very, very long time was more sought after than gold and it was very, very important for the trade in Arabia.
The Incense trade route or the Incense Road of Antiquity (see also the spice trade) comprised a network of major ancient land and sea trading routes linking the Mediterranean world with Eastern and Southern sources of incense, spices and other luxury goods, stretching from Mediterranean ports across the Levant and Egypt through Northeastern Africa and Arabia to India and beyond. The incense land trade from South Arabia to the Mediterranean flourished between roughly the 7th century BCE to the 2nd century CE.[1] The Incense Route served as a channel for trading of goods such as Arabian frankincense and myrrh;[1]Indian spices, precious stones, pearls, ebony, silk and fine textiles;[2] and the Horn of African rare woods, feathers, animal skins and gold.[2]
Incense Route - Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia
This key trade (much more widespread and important than the Silk Route actually) flourished for almost 1000 years.
Also we should not forget the Indian Ocean trade.
Indian Ocean trade - Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia
Also don't forget pearls from the Gulf. In UAE which before the oil and gas discovery was the least inhabited area of Eastern Arabia and the poorest and for them pearl sales to neighbors was very important and fishing.
In the historical region of Eastern Arabia pearls were an important commodity.
Eastern Arabia - Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia
Saudi Aramco World :
Servants of the Pearl
Oldest natural pearl found in Arabia - CNRS Web site - CNRS
Pearls from Farasan Islands in KSA in the Red Sea.
Pearls are an important symbol in Eastern Arabia.
Qatar pearl monument in Doha.
Cheers.
I am not from Kerala but quite the opposite basically our ancestor start migrating from southern Punjab(which is haryana state now) to western UP which now ended up in uttrakhand.
Arrow will show you my location
Also you should also read about Indian ocean monsoon trade
Indian Ocean Trade Routes
The web of trade across the Indian Ocean, driven by the monsoon winds. Click for larger image. Photo Credit: Kallie Szczepanski
The Indian Ocean trade routes connected Southeast Asia, India, Arabia, and East Africa. From at least the third century BCE, long distance sea trade moved across a web of routes linking all of those areas as well as East Asia (particularly China). Long before Europeans "discovered" the Indian Ocean, traders from Arabia, Gujarat, and other coastal areas used triangle-sailed dhows to harness the seasonal monsoon winds.
Domestication of the camel helped bring coastal trade goods - silk, porcelain, spices, slaves, incense, and ivory - to inland empires, as well.
In the classical era, major empires involved in the Indian Ocean trade included theMauryan Empire in India, the Han Dynasty in China, the Achaemenid Empire in Persia, and the Roman Empire in the Mediterranean. Silk from China graced Roman aristocrats, Roman coins mingled in Indian treasuries, and Persian jewels show up in Mauryan settings.
Another major export item along the classical Indian Ocean trade routes was religious thought. Buddhism, Hinduism, and Jainism spread from India to Southeast Asia, brought by merchants rather than by missionaries. Islam would later spread the same way from the 700s CE on.
During the medieval era, 400 - 1450 CE, trade flourished in the Indian Ocean basin. The rise of the Umayyad (661 - 750 CE) and Abbasid (750 - 1258) Caliphates on the Arabian Peninsula provided a powerful western node for the trade routes.
In addition, Islam valued merchants (the Prophet Muhammad himself was a trader and caravan leader), and wealthy Muslim cities created an enormous demand for luxury goods.
Meanwhile, the Tang (618 - 907) and Song (960 - 1279) Dynasties in China also emphasized trade and industry, developing strong trade ties along the land-based Silk Roads, and encouraging maritime trade. The Song rulers even created a powerful imperial navy to control piracy on the eastern end of the route.
Between the Arabs and the Chinese, several major empires blossomed based largely on maritime trade. The Chola Empire in southern India dazzled travelers with its wealth and luxury; Chinese visitors record parades of elephants covered with gold cloth and jewels marching through the city streets. In what is now Indonesia, the Srivijaya Empire boomed based almost entirely on taxing trading vessels that moved through the narrow Malacca Straits. Even Angkor, based far inland in the Khmer heartland of Cambodia, used the Mekong River as a highway that tied it in to the Indian Ocean trade network.
For centuries, China had mostly allowed foreign traders to come to it. After all, everyone wanted Chinese goods, and foreigners were more than willing to take the time and trouble of visiting coastal China to procure fine silks, porcelain, and other items. In 1405, however, the Yongle Emperor of China's new Ming Dynasty sent out the first of seven expeditions to visit all of the empire's major trading partners around the Indian Ocean. The Ming treasure ships under Admiral Zheng He traveled all the way to East Africa, bring back emissaries and trade goods from across the region.
In 1498, strange new mariners made their first appearance in the Indian Ocean. Portuguese sailors under Vasco da Gama rounded the southern point of Africa and ventured into new seas. The Portuguese were eager to join in the Indian Ocean trade, since European demand for Asian luxury goods was extremely high. However, Europe had nothing to trade. The peoples around the Indian Ocean basin had no need of wool or fur clothing, iron cooking pots, or the other meager products of Europe.
As a result, the Portuguese entered the Indian Ocean trade as pirates rather than traders. Using a combination of bravado and cannons, they seized port cities like Calicut on India's west coast and Macau, in southern China. The Portuguese began to rob and extort local producers and foreign merchant ships alike. Scarred by the Moorish conquest of Portugal and Spain, they viewed Muslims in particular as the enemy, and took every opportunity to plunder their ships.
In 1602, an even more ruthless European power appeared in the Indian Ocean: the Dutch East India Company (VOC). Rather than insinuating themselves in to the existing trade pattern, as the Portuguese had done, the Dutch sought a total monopoly on lucrative spices like nutmeg and mace. In 1680, the British joined in with their British East India Company, which challenged the VOC for control of the trade routes. As the European powers established political control over important parts of Asia, turning Indonesia, India, Malaya, and much of Southeast Asia into colonies, reciprocal trade dissolved. Goods moved increasingly to Europe, while the former Asian trading empires grew poorer and collapsed. The two thousand year-old Indian Ocean trade network was crippled, if not completely destroyed.
Lot's of similarities as well.
I must have misunderstood one of your posts when you described Kerala.
Well, that part of India had equally as long ties or at least very long ties as well with the Arabian Peninsula and certain parts of the remaining Arab world.
Thank you for the additional information buddy. This thread is a treasure for knowledge, at least the last few posts.
We should cover cuisine next.
why not and also crazy dance moves
I would say we have tons of thing in common and we don't even know.(I blame media)
crazy comments on the video ,i found one notable enough than trolls
I have maybe watched 5 episodes. I do suspect that there were quite a few singers on that show that also sang in Hindi or other languages of South Asia. I think that the show (Arabs Got Talent) have had performers performing in most languages almost.
By strategic I meant "strategic energy partnership". India depends on GCC for 65% of its energy needs; according to UN India will be the most populous country in the world. India would experience worsening energy shortages if the the middle class grows further.Infact, the whole public energy industry will require restructuring in a way which makes it more competitive while maintaining pricing that is politically sustainable. Iran is definitely not the only solution to India's growing energy needs.
