Dubai: Noorankulangara Revi decided to head to the UAE over 55 years ago in search of opportunities. His first attempt in 1965 went bust when the 17-year old from Thrissur was arrested and jailed in Gujarat, and later sent back to Kerala. However, Revi did not give up and he tried again in 1967 and landed on the coast of Dibba Khor Fakkan, six days after he left Mumbai. 53 years later, his family identify UAE as home more than any other place, including their native state in India.
“When he first came here, the [Gulf] rupee system was still being used,” Revi’s eldest daughter Ragi (43) said in a Zoom call with Gulf News. Revi’s daughters were born in the UAE and grew up here, and two of them continue to live in the UAE along with their children, who make up the third-generation of this Malayali family.