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 Goawere 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 Kuwaitdoing their jobs most sincerely. The maids or Ayas working in Kuwaitare 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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