RIYADH – Anil Raturi completed his three-year term of service as Second Secretary at the Embassy of India in Riyadh. His dedicated services will be remembered for a long time as he was one of the popular diplomats in the Indian diaspora. Anil Raturi will move to Osaka in Japan as Deputy Consul General.
Anil Raturi was in charge of the “deaths registration” section of Community Welfare. In case of someone’s death, the necessary documents for repatriation or burial of the body were issued with his signature. This section of the Indian Embassy works 24X7.
The program started with the recitation of the verses of the Noble Quran by Mohammed Shams. Marghoub Mohsin conducted the proceedings as Master of Ceremony. Extending his gratitude for an impressive farewell Raturi thanked all the community leaders. He appreciated the services of Indian community leaders. He shared some of his experiences during the corona period and termed it as the toughest period of his career. Indians being the largest community in Saudi Arabia, embassy officials faced a lot of challenges and difficulties. “Due to the travel restrictions and ban on transporting the dead bodies, it was very difficult for us to convince the grieving family members for last rites in Saudi Arabia. Many family members were pleading to transport the bodies back home. It was very challenging to convince them.”
Raturi, highlighting the challenges said that due to the COVID-19 lockdowns, cheques of compensation issued by the Indian mission struck up in various post offices and got lapsed before reaching their destination. Assessing the situation, Indian Embassy re-issued more than one thousand cheques and sent them again to the family members of the dead.
Speaking on the occasion, Ram Prasad said that Anil was a very good official, who served the community very well during his tenure. Addressing the community, he said that Indians living in Saudi Arabia have registered their names in large numbers to participate in the next Pravasi Bharatiya Divas which will be held in Indore from January 8 to 10.
In his address, Anil Raturi thanked the organizers of the event and the Indian community for their sincere expression and said that he worked in many countries of the world, but the sincerity he got in Riyadh was not the love he got.
Community leaders Shihab Kotukad and Dr. Misbah-ul-Arifin also addressed and praised the services of Anil Raturi. The farewell event was organized by the Indian steering committee at the community hall in the Diplomatic Quarters. This event was attended by the Acting Ambassador of India N. Ram Prasad along with a large number of community members and diplomats.
Engr. M.A. Nayeem, General Manager, MASAH Specialized Construction Company, Niaz Ahmed, Abdul Ahad Siddiqui, Dr. Misbah Al-Arifin, Shihab Kotukad, Abrar Hussain were also present on the occasion.
A commemorative memento was presented to Anil Raturi by the community.
A large number of community leaders presented shawls and bouquets to Anil Raturi. On this occasion, the wife of Anil Raturi, Mrs. Minu Raturi and his daughter Ms. Vasundhara Raturi were also felicitated.
Abdul Ahad Siddiqui delivered the vote of thanks.
