In search of their Arab fathers

March 09, 2010 12:35 am | Updated 12:35 am IST - Hyderabad:

These Hyderbadi youths have a common cause - trying to join their fathers in the UAE. Photo: G. Krishnaswamy

These Hyderbadi youths have a common cause - trying to join their fathers in the UAE. Photo: G. Krishnaswamy

The best place to find a helping hand is at the end of your own arm. That's what they have found out after much running around. Theirs is a story of grit and determination, a story that tugs at the heart.

A group of young Hyderabadis are out to trace their fathers. And this fight for justice and fairplay has taken them to the sandy deserts of UAE. They may be short on capital and clout but not on drive and hope. And that makes their battle more poignant.

The ghettos of Hyderabad's Old City, where life is a daily struggle, is home to these young men. Nasser, Salem, Mansoor Ali are the faceless boys knocking the Sharia courts in UAE seeking justice for themselves and their wronged mothers. About 40 of them have come together for a common cause – of securing the nationality of UAE and claiming their rightful due from their overseas fathers. Poor parents, fabulous Sheikhs and innocent brides. The Arab fairy tale continues to go awry. Many a Hyderabadi damsel has landed in distress soon after tying the knot. The case of Rehana Begum is simply pathetic. Her UAE husband, Ali Saleh, has visited her only twice during last 19 years. He is ready to accept his teenage son, but not her. “Without my child I can't think of living”, wails Rehana who ekes out a living doing embroidery work.

After confronted with proof of marriage, many UAE nationals have accepted their wives but refuse to own up their children. However, a determined Nasser Jamal Mohammed (31) did not lose heart. He produced his birth certificate and forced the authorities to conduct a genetic DNA test at Centre for DNA Fingerprinting Diagnostic, Hyderabad, in 2002 and again in 2008 at Sharjah. “But still there is no response”, says a despondent Nasser.

Following the uproar created by Nasser's case, DNA test of 18 other boys was conducted last year after visit of a UAE delegation to Mumbai. But there is no further action on it. The shattered families don't know whom to turn to for help. The other day some boys met the Cultural Attaché of Saudi Arabia, Ebraheem Mohammad Albatshan, in Hyderabad and represented their case. But he expressed helplessness since the case involved a different country.

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