The Sultanate of Oman is a country that keeps you well and treats you well. When you plan to leave even after many years of service, it forces you to think and re-think.
“This is a country with amazing peace and one of the most hospitable people on the earth’’, said Dr Mukund Nayak, who served the Sultanate of Oman as an ophthalmologist for 25 years.
He calls it a second home and a place that allowed him to live peacefully and respectfully. For the sake of his family compulsions, he is leaving the country by the month-end.
“My stay in Oman with my family all these years is memorable. Oman is a very peaceful place to live for all expats. That is why people from all corners of the world live here comfortably without fear of any kind.”
Muscat, for him, is beautiful, clean and picturesque. Ocean on one side and a series of mountains make it natural. It has its own beauty and texture well blended with culture and rich heritage.
Despite rapid progress, the Sultanate of Oman kept its natural beauty and heritage intact. The people are very friendly and helpful. I am sure, once you live here, it is very difficult to forget Oman, he says.
“For me, it is my ‘Karma Bhoomi’ (workplace), and India is my Janma Bhoomi (birthplace). I can comfortably say that I have had a remarkable and memorable journey of my life here.
Looking back, the experience has been satisfying and unparalleled. The country, its people, and its splendour has captivated us right from the beginning and every minute of our stay here.”
His profession gave him the unique opportunity to interact with Omani people. His wife, who is also a doctor and children too had a memorable stay.
“Being a doctor, I have seen the transition of old and conventional healthcare facilities to the state-of-the-art hospitals… I can say without a doubt that the whole county is a picnic spot with mountains, deserts, date palm gardens, fountains, calm and natural beaches, rich culture hospitality, friendliest people and above all, efficient maintenance of law and order.”
While coming to the Sultanate of Oman 25 years ago, he had apprehension in his mind and hope in his heart. But while going back, he counts the years spent here as the most fulfilling professionally and personally.
“We are grateful to the kind and friendly people of this land for allowing us to be of service to them and for the good times we had here. When we crossed the shores of India, we were quite immature and nervous… But now we return, more mature and confident. Nothing would have been possible without the help of our sponsors, colleagues, friends and our own clients. I also personally thank local newspapers for publishing my health-related articles quite often, which were quite informative and educative, according to my own clients.”
He admits when he first came to Muscat, he never intended to stay so long. However, as time passed, he felt more at home with its peaceful atmosphere. He is not able to describe in a few words his real feelings of happiness while living in the country and the pain of leaving it.
“The Sultanate of Oman has a rare quality that only a very few countries may have. It binds people together irrespective of nationality. It is a true example of ‘the world being one family.’ It creates a feeling of wanting to return now and then and bask in a warm embrace, just as a child wants to be reassured by the tight hug of a mother. In the Sultanate of Oman, we experienced the right atmosphere for nurturing relationships, be it a friendship or between family members’’, says Dr Mukund’s wife Dr Thara Mukund.
“The able governance of the able rulers of this great nation has made all this possible. We, all expats, should be grateful to the rulers of this nation for giving us an opportunity to serve this wonderful land. I am leaving the Sultanate of Oman with a heavy heart. I have got love, affection and support across Omanis, colleagues and my friends’’, she says and wishes to come back again and again.
