03-01-2006, 05:07 PM
Op-Ed in Pioneer, 1 March, 2006
<!--QuoteBegin-->QUOTE<!--QuoteEBegin-->Resonating with Riyadh
The capital of Saudi Arabia retains its unique cultural identity despite Western sense of architecture, says <b>Vinayshil Gautam</b>
To understand is to extend oneself. One reonateswith what one understands. To understand one needs to know. And to know one needs information.
My profession makes it necessary for me to know different situations, places and how the mind works in distinct places. Observation is a part of my work. Accordingly, when a few weeks ago an invitation came to address a Conference in Riyadh, it was difficult to resist.
This was not to be my first visit to Saudi Arabia. I remember having gone there some years ago on a management development activity to Dammam. The visit had been fascinating for many reasons, including an opportunity to observe an organisation that could have as many as 27 levels.
As per practice, my research staff had done my briefing for that visit, and I recall having been surprised at being informed that structurally the whole of Arabia is a vast platform of ancient rocks at a stage of time was linked with north-east Africa. In relatively recent geological times, a series of great fissures opened. As a result, a large trough or rift valley was formed. Later, sea moved in. Today, it is called the Red Sea and the Gulf of Aden. The shallow seas in the east deposited layers of younger sedimentary rock making for the creation of vast oil reservoir. The coasts till this day are fringed with extensive coral reefs, thereby making the approach difficult. <b>Yet, southern Arabia is prosperous. It is not as short of water as the popular imagination makes it out to be.</b>
The emergence of the nation state of Saudi Arabia is a comparatively recent phenomena and can be traced back to the 19th century. The attempt to write and interpret history as per the concepts and categories of post-industrial West inevitably creates confusion and complexities. This often leads to conclusions that leave a large overlay of inadequacy in the perception of the growth of the region. It is important to see any region's history in the context of its own value and agro-climatic realities. Using any other framework for writing the history is bound to create the situation of trying to fit a square peg in a round hole.
The concept of a 'capital' in such a context is unnatural. In a Bedoin context, not only is the category of a nation state irrelevant but mode of livelihood and economic activity are essentially of a different order. Besides, over a period of time not only do climatic changes take place, but also that geography changes.
Consider the case of Riyadh. It was originally located along a green river bed. It was situated on the confluence of several rivers (now wadis). Indeed, it owed its initial prosperity to the rich sub-soil water. <b>Before the coming of Islam, the settlement here was called Hajar. It was famous for its dates and orchards. The name Riyadh is derived from the plural of Rowdhah (place of gardens). By the end of the 18th century, Riyadh was the part of the first Saudi state, with the capital in Diriyah. Diriyah was destroyed by Turks in 1818. The capital then moved to Riyadh. Formally, it became the capital of Saudi kingdom in 1824. </b>
In 1891, Riyadh was conquered by Rashidi clan. <b>In 1902, Abdul Aziz bin Abdul Rahman Al Saud seized the city. He established the kingdom of Saudi Arabia, which has the official name Al-Mamlaka al-Arabiya as-Saudiya. This kingdom comprise of four-fifth of the Arabian peninsula, occupying approximately 2,250,000 square kilometers.</b>
The diplomatic capital remained in Jeddah till 1982. The dynasty founded by Abdul Aziz rules the country today. <b>The basic law of the country stipulates that the throne shall remain in the family of kingdom's founders and the practice of succession is clear.</b>
The flag of the country is the green banner of Islam bearing the inscription: "There is no God but God and Mohammad is his Prophet." The sword was added in 1906, symbolising the military success of Islam and Ibn Saud. The national anthem is "Sarei Lil Majd Walaya". The currency is Saudi Riyal. The territory is very sound in oil, gas and mineral resources. It has various zones with severe shortages of water resources, which is met through harnessing surface water, ground water and through de-salination of sea water. There are also attempts to reclaim waste water.
In the season of budget, it will be natural to draw comparison with the Saudi economy. In India, going by yardsticks fashioned in the post-industrial norms of the West, we seem to be doing well. As per a report, banks in Saudi Arabia held deposits totally 431.4 billion Saudi riyals ($115 billion) during the year ending January 2005, an increase of 21 per cent compared to 357.04 billion riyals the previous year. Bank reserves increased by 7.4 per cent, while private sector liabilities owned to banks increased by 74.12 per cent during the same period, the Saudi Arabian, the Monetary Agency (Sama) report said.
"The volume of bank credits increased by 32 per cent by January 2005 to 334.78 billion riyals, with short-term loan accounting for more than half of that figure (58 per cent) or 194.28 billion riyals. Long-term credits accounted for 8.8 per cent or 97.67 billion riyals." This is the claim of the Gulf Industries Magazine. Riyadh plays a critical role in the economic activities of the country.
There are other aspects of city's life that draw attention. In the conference I addressed, the men and women were seated in different rooms. As a modern city, it has clear norms of gender segregation in public places. Restaurants are often divided between 'family' seating and single seating. Alcohol is by and large unknown and the prosperity is palpable. One has to go searching for cinema halls. To resonate with Riyadh, the fellow travellers of the trans-Atlantic post-industrial culture have to leave behind a significant part of what they have grown up with in the West.
By no stretch of imagination can Riyadh be called backward. <b>Yet, its high buildings are inhabited by people whose identity can be clear to anyone who will choose to recognise this alternative route of self-realisation and happiness.</b> Informed personal choices can alone provide the answer.
<b>(The writer is founder director of IIM-K and professor of management IIT, Delhi)</b>
<!--QuoteEnd--><!--QuoteEEnd-->
<!--QuoteBegin-->QUOTE<!--QuoteEBegin-->Resonating with Riyadh
The capital of Saudi Arabia retains its unique cultural identity despite Western sense of architecture, says <b>Vinayshil Gautam</b>
To understand is to extend oneself. One reonateswith what one understands. To understand one needs to know. And to know one needs information.
My profession makes it necessary for me to know different situations, places and how the mind works in distinct places. Observation is a part of my work. Accordingly, when a few weeks ago an invitation came to address a Conference in Riyadh, it was difficult to resist.
This was not to be my first visit to Saudi Arabia. I remember having gone there some years ago on a management development activity to Dammam. The visit had been fascinating for many reasons, including an opportunity to observe an organisation that could have as many as 27 levels.
As per practice, my research staff had done my briefing for that visit, and I recall having been surprised at being informed that structurally the whole of Arabia is a vast platform of ancient rocks at a stage of time was linked with north-east Africa. In relatively recent geological times, a series of great fissures opened. As a result, a large trough or rift valley was formed. Later, sea moved in. Today, it is called the Red Sea and the Gulf of Aden. The shallow seas in the east deposited layers of younger sedimentary rock making for the creation of vast oil reservoir. The coasts till this day are fringed with extensive coral reefs, thereby making the approach difficult. <b>Yet, southern Arabia is prosperous. It is not as short of water as the popular imagination makes it out to be.</b>
The emergence of the nation state of Saudi Arabia is a comparatively recent phenomena and can be traced back to the 19th century. The attempt to write and interpret history as per the concepts and categories of post-industrial West inevitably creates confusion and complexities. This often leads to conclusions that leave a large overlay of inadequacy in the perception of the growth of the region. It is important to see any region's history in the context of its own value and agro-climatic realities. Using any other framework for writing the history is bound to create the situation of trying to fit a square peg in a round hole.
The concept of a 'capital' in such a context is unnatural. In a Bedoin context, not only is the category of a nation state irrelevant but mode of livelihood and economic activity are essentially of a different order. Besides, over a period of time not only do climatic changes take place, but also that geography changes.
Consider the case of Riyadh. It was originally located along a green river bed. It was situated on the confluence of several rivers (now wadis). Indeed, it owed its initial prosperity to the rich sub-soil water. <b>Before the coming of Islam, the settlement here was called Hajar. It was famous for its dates and orchards. The name Riyadh is derived from the plural of Rowdhah (place of gardens). By the end of the 18th century, Riyadh was the part of the first Saudi state, with the capital in Diriyah. Diriyah was destroyed by Turks in 1818. The capital then moved to Riyadh. Formally, it became the capital of Saudi kingdom in 1824. </b>
In 1891, Riyadh was conquered by Rashidi clan. <b>In 1902, Abdul Aziz bin Abdul Rahman Al Saud seized the city. He established the kingdom of Saudi Arabia, which has the official name Al-Mamlaka al-Arabiya as-Saudiya. This kingdom comprise of four-fifth of the Arabian peninsula, occupying approximately 2,250,000 square kilometers.</b>
The diplomatic capital remained in Jeddah till 1982. The dynasty founded by Abdul Aziz rules the country today. <b>The basic law of the country stipulates that the throne shall remain in the family of kingdom's founders and the practice of succession is clear.</b>
The flag of the country is the green banner of Islam bearing the inscription: "There is no God but God and Mohammad is his Prophet." The sword was added in 1906, symbolising the military success of Islam and Ibn Saud. The national anthem is "Sarei Lil Majd Walaya". The currency is Saudi Riyal. The territory is very sound in oil, gas and mineral resources. It has various zones with severe shortages of water resources, which is met through harnessing surface water, ground water and through de-salination of sea water. There are also attempts to reclaim waste water.
In the season of budget, it will be natural to draw comparison with the Saudi economy. In India, going by yardsticks fashioned in the post-industrial norms of the West, we seem to be doing well. As per a report, banks in Saudi Arabia held deposits totally 431.4 billion Saudi riyals ($115 billion) during the year ending January 2005, an increase of 21 per cent compared to 357.04 billion riyals the previous year. Bank reserves increased by 7.4 per cent, while private sector liabilities owned to banks increased by 74.12 per cent during the same period, the Saudi Arabian, the Monetary Agency (Sama) report said.
"The volume of bank credits increased by 32 per cent by January 2005 to 334.78 billion riyals, with short-term loan accounting for more than half of that figure (58 per cent) or 194.28 billion riyals. Long-term credits accounted for 8.8 per cent or 97.67 billion riyals." This is the claim of the Gulf Industries Magazine. Riyadh plays a critical role in the economic activities of the country.
There are other aspects of city's life that draw attention. In the conference I addressed, the men and women were seated in different rooms. As a modern city, it has clear norms of gender segregation in public places. Restaurants are often divided between 'family' seating and single seating. Alcohol is by and large unknown and the prosperity is palpable. One has to go searching for cinema halls. To resonate with Riyadh, the fellow travellers of the trans-Atlantic post-industrial culture have to leave behind a significant part of what they have grown up with in the West.
By no stretch of imagination can Riyadh be called backward. <b>Yet, its high buildings are inhabited by people whose identity can be clear to anyone who will choose to recognise this alternative route of self-realisation and happiness.</b> Informed personal choices can alone provide the answer.
<b>(The writer is founder director of IIM-K and professor of management IIT, Delhi)</b>
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