From Baghdad to Another New Beginning
Me:
So this is how Savinder Ji began the next phase of his life. After completing his Master’s degree in Mechanical Engineering from the University of Southern California, he set aside the American dream and joined his father, who had established his own construction venture in Baghdad, Iraq.
So, Savinder Ji, what happened after you reached Baghdad?
Savinder Singh:
We were in Baghdad for about two years. Then history took a dramatic turn. Saddam Hussein invaded Kuwait, and soon the Gulf War began. Later, the United States launched military operations against Iraq, and everything changed overnight.
Me:
You were actually there when all this happened?
Savinder Singh:
Yes, I was there throughout that period.
At that time, our company had nearly 1,000 employees working on various projects across Iraq. Almost all of them were Indians whom we had recruited for the projects. They included laborers, technicians, engineers, supervisors, managers—people at every level.
I had been married only recently, and my wife was with me in Baghdad. We had just attended my younger brother Ravinder’s wedding in the United States and returned to India. My father decided to stay back in India for a while, while my wife and I returned to Baghdad to continue managing the business.
Then, unexpectedly, Iraq invaded Kuwait.
My father was in India, and I suddenly found myself solely responsible for the entire operation and for the safety of nearly a thousand Indian workers.
Me:
So you personally arranged for every one of them to return safely to India?
Savinder Singh:
Yes. Every single one of them.
Fortunately, the Government of India mounted one of the largest civilian evacuation operations in history. Hundreds of special flights were organized to bring Indian nationals home safely, free of cost. My wife was evacuated on one of those flights along with many others.
Me:
But you stayed back?
Savinder Singh:
Yes. I remained in Iraq until the very last worker had safely left. Only about ten days before the actual war began did I myself leave Iraq.
Me:
That reminds me of the saying, “The captain leaves the ship only after every passenger is safe.” You truly stayed behind until your last man was out.
It is remarkable how this family’s journey keeps unfolding, from Jhelum, to Dhanbad, to Baghdad. Just when everything seemed settled, the Gulf War destroyed years of hard work. The business that Surinder Ji and his father had built with such dedication had to be abandoned almost overnight.
Thankfully, with the timely intervention of the Government of India, thousands of Indians, including their own family members and employees, were safely repatriated.
But what about the financial losses?
Savinder Singh:
They were enormous.
We had to abandon heavy machinery, equipment, construction materials, offices—everything. We applied for compensation through the United Nations process, but nothing substantial ever came of it.
Me:
Did insurance or the Indian government compensate you for those losses?
Savinder Singh:
No. There was no financial compensation. The Government of India helped by evacuating our workers safely, which was invaluable. The Iraqi state authorities also reimbursed a small portion of the transportation costs, but compared to our total losses, it was insignificant.
The greatest achievement was that every member of our team returned home alive.
Me:
So life changed once again. In a way, you became a refugee for the second time.
First, your family had been uprooted during the Partition of India. Now, decades later, the Gulf War forced you to leave behind everything you had built in Iraq.
Once again, you had to begin life from scratch.
Savinder Singh:
Exactly. We returned to India and started exploring new opportunities. We carefully evaluated several business possibilities before deciding what to do next.
Me:
And that is where the next chapter of your remarkable journey begins.
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