I sometimes watch old Hindi films of Devanand and Dilip Kumar to remind myself of my old Mumbai days. I also enjoy the old golden melodies of Rafi, Kishore Kumar, Mukesh... their songs still persist, and it's very nice to listen to them, Dr Dashti said.
Dr Hussain Dashti is a senior professor at the Department of Surgery, Faculty of Medicine Kuwait University.
In the year 1968, Dr Dashti got a scholarship from the Indian government and travelled to Mumbai for his studies. He did his two years of Intermediate in Jai Hind College, which is also called Sindhi College, at that time. After that, he got admission to GS medical college (King Edward Memorial (KEM) Hospital) in Parel, Mumbai. After completing his MBBS in 1974, Dr Dashti also worked for community medicine in a village near Mumbai for around three months, which was then compulsory in India.
"The life was full of fun. I met a lot of people in Mumbai, learned Hindi, met many actors at that time, but the study was not that easy," Dr Dashti recollects his Mumbai days during an exclusive chat with IndiansinKuwait.com.
"As I came from Arabic school, my English was not that great compared to my Indian classmates. I had to compete with Indians who had better English than me. After the class, I used to sit for 14 to 16 hours just to revise what the teacher taught at the classroom. Exams were very tough. Unlike the multiple-choice question nowadays, we used to write long essays as the answer. But slowly, I started picking up everything and managed," Dr Dashti said.
My life at Mumbai was very lovely at that time, Dr Dashti said. The city was not crowded and travelling by train was so easy and fun. We used to stay in Church Gate, which was the central city in Mumbai. Trains used to start from there and go to other places, Dr recollects.
Dr Dasti with Dilip Kumar
Today after 50 years, when we look at Mumbai, it is too much grown up. Dr Dashti, who went to Mumbai recently for the college reunion as part of its 50th anniversary, found the Mumbai city very difficult to manage. "It is completely changed. So crowded and congested," Dr Dashti said.
As the culture between India and Kuwait shares many similarities, life in India was not at all a problem. "I never felt homesick... Food was not at all a problem as Indian food have many similarities with the food we used to have it here in Kuwait." Doctor recollects his weekly visit to the postman to receive a letter from Kuwait, which his mother used to write.
As he was associated with the cultural wing at Kuwait Consulate in Mumbai during his studies, he got a lot of opportunities to attend many Indian cultural programs. "This helped me to have good relationships with the Indians. I became very close to the Indian Doctors; they became my friends, and I am still in connection with them."
Dr Dasti during his Mumbai life
Watching Hindi movies talking with my classmates and friends in Hindi helped me learn Hindi fluently. I still listen to Hindi songs and watch Hindi movies, Dr Dashti said. Watching old Hindi movies reminds me of my days in India. Like how we spend our weekends in Mumbai with friends by going to 'matinee' shows of Raj Kapoor, Shami Kapoor, Vaijanthimala etc..
India is a big country, and it is very difficult for someone to go and visit all places. In addition to Mumbai, Dr Dashti visited several places, including New Delhi, Aagrah- Taj Mahal, Chandhigar, Kashmir, Goa, Chennai etc. For the current generation, it will be difficult to visit India without a proper guide as they don't know which part of India to visit. If any Kuwaiti friends wish to go and see the beauty of India, its architecture, history of 5000 years of Indian Temple, etc I suggest having a good guide.
Indian doctors are honest, hardworking and very loyal to their workplace. I am very proud to have them as my friends here in Kuwait, Dr Dashti said.
However, it will be challenging for young Kuwaitis to graduate from India. The studies are very tough. But India is good for doing their post-Graduation or to get better experiences in their field of studies, Dr Dashti said.
Dr Dasti and his son Dr Mohammed
Dr Dashti's son Dr Mohammed, a Urology specialist at Mubarak Hospital, also has great memories about India. Dr Mohammed had been to Chennai, Ahmedabad, Hyderabad and many other places.
I was 18 or so when I went to India. My whole life in Mumbai was very nice, I had a very good time there, and I don't have any regrets. My life started there, and all the old memories are wonderful and cherishable ones, Dr Dashti said.