Flip through the latest issue of Gulf Weekly.
The English translation of former Bahrain-resident and author Millat Ahmad’s novel has hit the shelves, and offers a poignant portrayal of migrant life abroad, writes Melissa Nazareth.
Indian expatriate and second-year student at Catholic Junior College, Singapore, Alief Ahmad, collaborated with his father Millat, who wrote the novel Singapooril Saravanan in 2020 in Tamil.
The new book entitled Three Hearts, One Sorrow brings alive culture, history and human emotion and is set against the Little India riot, which took place on December 8, 2013, following an accident that killed an Indian worker.
“While the novel is purely a work of fiction, it’s inspired by true events,” 53-year-old Millat, who is also known for his filmmaking, told GulfWeekly.
“The initial inspiration for this story came to me while I was in Bahrain as I witnessed first-hand the incredible social work of individuals in the kingdom, who dedicate their own money and efforts to help repatriate the bodies of deceased Indian workers to their families back home,” he added.
The novel captures the emotional journey of Saravanan’s friends, as they navigate the complex process of repatriating his body to his homeland, after he dies amidst the unrest.
Millat masterfully weaves together the life stories of three individuals, presenting the narrative from multiple perspectives: through the eyes of a character, as a narrator, and via a diary.
This multi-faceted approach offers a deeply emotional and nuanced exploration of foreign workers’ lives, exposing the harsh realities of agent exploitation and painstakingly detailing the procedures and certifications required to bring a deceased body back to India.
“My son suggested that translating the novel into English would help it to reach a wider audience, especially those who don’t read Tamil,” said the former video shop owner who used to live on Zubarah Avenue in Bahrain.
“While still an O-Level student at St Patrick’s School, he eagerly volunteered for the task, diligently working on the translation during his breaks from studies. He completed the project during his school holiday.
“The publication of Three Hearts, One Sorrow coincides with Singapore’s 60th Diamond Jubilee this year,” Millat added.
The book is available online.
