Dubai's oldest Indian family, residing for over a century, shares a rich history intertwined with the development of Hindu temples.
The Bochasanwasi Shri Akshar Purushottam Swaminarayan Sanstha (BAPS) Mandir, the inaugural Hindu temple in Abu Dhabi, is currently under construction on a sprawling 27-acre plot since 2019.
Deepak Bhatia, Managing Director of Uncles Shop Building Material Trading, representing the oldest Indian family in Dubai, recalls four generations thriving in the Gulf for 104 years.
Bhatia highlights the UAE's liberal atmosphere, emphasizing the absence of distinctions between UAE nationals and expatriates, fostering a sense of home for decades.
The family points to the oldest Hindu temple in Bur Dubai, nearing its centenary, standing opposite the Al-Fahidi Mosque, as a testament to peaceful coexistence between two faiths.
Bhatia's late grandfather and another Indian, Dhamanmal Issardas, played pivotal roles in acquiring land from Sheikh Rashid bin Saeed Al Maktoum for the temple, making it the oldest in the region.
The temple's origin traces back to the 1920s and 30s, repurposing land with godowns and a Gowshala owned by Bhatia's grandfather, reflecting the cultural evolution of the area.
As the population grew, Bhatia's grandfather sought a land grant from the ruler, receiving support in the form of land to build the temple for the community.
The Krishna Haweli temple is currently managed by the Mercantile Hindu Committee of Thattha Sindh, continuing the cultural and spiritual legacy.
Prime Minister Narendra Modi's imminent visit to inaugurate the first Hindu temple in Abu Dhabi is hailed as a significant event, reinforcing values of coexistence, acceptance, and tolerance in bilateral relations between India and the UAE.