In the winter of 1956, journalist David Holden arrived in Bahrain, a British protectorate at the time, and noted the heavy British influence that lingered in the Gulf. His writings revealed a region rich in both cultural and historical connections to India, where terms and customs echoed the era of the British Raj. In fact, much of the Arabian Peninsula was once administratively ruled as part of British India, with Indian passports issued as far as Aden in Yemen, the region's westernmost port.
Holden observed that this expanse included princes and soldiers trained under Indian command, creating a complex web of interactions that spanned decades. However, these connections faded from public view as Indian nationalism emerged, raising questions about the future governance of these territories.
A significant turning point occurred on April 1, 1937, when the British government separated Aden from India in a bid to redefine political boundaries. Despite maintaining administrative control over the Gulf until independence in 1947, discussions about whether India or Pakistan should manage these territories led to the eventual decision to sever formal ties. As a result, the Persian Gulf's riches came to be excluded from the governance and political agenda of the newly independent states.
Even after India’s partition, the Gulf states remained under British influence for another 24 years, introducing a new layer in the narrative of colonial legacies. British ties continued even as the remnants of the British Raj were abandoned, until a final British withdrawal in 1971 marked the end of their authority in the region.
Despite shifting narratives across the Gulf, the past connection with British India persists in private memories, as seen in the reflections of older generations. Today, Dubai stands as a testament to transformation, overshadowing its colonial past while the echoes of an alternative history linger—a history in which Dubai could have been intertwined with India and Pakistan.
