Maid and Aya, these two words are very popular
in Kuwait though both are interpreted as
same in meaning, one is English word while the other an Indian word coming from
Sanskrit meaning Ai-i means a mother. According to our elders who came in early
fifties to work at Oil sector in Ahmadi, Kuwait, the Britishers employed at KOC, first time recruited Ayas from India to work in their houses provided by the KOC. The
word Aya means Mother whose job is to take care of the children of their
employers just the way the real mothers do except breast feeding.
From the Britishers the locals learnt the
lesson to hire the services of Indian Ayas whom the locals started recruiting
directly from Goa, Mangalore and Bombay. The early Ayas to come to Kuwait from Goa
were in late fifties but in sixties and seventies their number increased
tremendously because plenty of money started flowing into the hands of plenty of locals
who started living an affluent and sophisticated life. Though the Maids were recruited
to do the job of Ayas that is to take care of the small children of their
employers but later on they were made to do the different types of jobs which were
not suitable for the females. But having
no choice the poor Ayas surrendered to the diktats of their employers.
Goan maids are the most sincere and faithful in
Kuwait
doing their jobs most sincerely. The
maids or Ayas working in Kuwait
are called Domestics and being so they are categorised in the eyes of law in
different category as far as their Residence Permits are concerned. Maids or
Ayas or Domestics as they are called here because of their domestic residence permit category, as per the law are not supposed to work outside of their sponsors houses
but some sponsors of the Ayas allow them to work outside. When they work
outside they make more money and enjoy more freedom.
During the time of invasion of Kuwait many of the maids in Kuwait made
great sacrifices even without returning back to their home countries. These maids were so faithful to their
employers and their children that they even volunteered to die in Kuwait along
with their employers for their sake and for the love of their employers and
their children. They spent the entire
invasion period with fear and tension of war. By doing this type of sacrifice
for the love of their employers and their children they even forgot their own children and their other
family members. Their sacrifices were really great. This point has to be remembered very well and
always when dealing with the maids in Kuwait. After the invasion some of
the maids went back to their home countries without even taking their salaries
since they understood well the financial difficulties their employers were
facing. Those who are treating them harshly either lawfully or unlawfully must
show some compassions for their plight and for the sacrifices they made when
they were not duty bound to do the same.
On the 4th day of the invasion of Kuwait,
American troops started coming to Saudia Arabia to protect this land from Iraqis.
In fact on the 4th day of the invasion of Kuwait, the Iraqi invading
troops of Kuwait late in the afternoon were moving and while going from their Military
Jeeps and Lorries they were shouting saying "we are now going to Saudia". This I saw with my own eyes at Kuwait City
when Iraqi troops were moving towards Saudia. This move of American troops to
Saudi Arabia was a surprise for Saddam Hussein and with this anger he issued a
warning to America that if its troos enter Kuwait, he will convert Kuwait into
a graveyard for all its residents. Was it difficult for him to execute his
threat? Being an Arab Monster anything and
everything was possible for him.
When this threat was issued, most of the
countries according to the information available at that time, supplying
manpower to Kuwait were shocked and silently they started pleading with Saddam
Hussein thru proper diplomatic channels not to take such a heinous actions. Then
as per information Saddam Hussein for the sake of expatriates life in Kuwait withdrew
this threat and secondly Americans also did not give him any opportunity to go
ahead with his threat.
During the invasion time of Kuwait, expatriates
acted like a human shield for Kuwait. Many of
the expatriates were of great help to Kuwaitis as well. They may be a hindrance now but
at the critical time they were of great help to Kuwait and Kuwaitis just as Domestics. This
fact cannot be ignored.
A. Veronica Fernandes,
Kuwait.
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