Failaka - a sole land which lost its soul.

Nazar Thekkath

Sunday, January 15, 2012

It was my first trip to Failaka Island during the last Eid holidays. Failaka, an Island possessed by Kuwait gives more than that an Island can give to its guests. But, in fact I was impressed not by its arrangements but by its history and the remains of the history. When I landed there, I had a feeling of loneliness even though there were many tourists walking on the roads left and right. I experienced the isolation of a small land from the rest of the world. Then I myself tried to console that it might be because of my first time in an island.

There is no need to explain the beauty or the enchantment that Failaka has when the pictures attached herewith are more than enough to explain all those. So, it will be better to say something different i.e. about the grievances that Failaka is trying to HIDE from us. The tragedy of a small land and its people because of the invasion of a selfish ruler who himself ended in nothing at last. Even though I had enjoyed the heritage village, zoo and the lake; I was worried by hearing that painful history and by seeing the remains existing in the form of demolished buildings, fired houses, abandoned park, broken trees etc;. It was really pathetic to hear that this Island was once populated till Saddam’s invasion and many citizens in that Island were brutally murdered by Saddam’s army. After that invasion, people left Failaka forever and now it became a tourist spot in Kuwait’s map. Kuwait is going to invest more and more money to beautify it as to attract more tourists there.




My eyes and ears were open while I was walking through the streets. I was more curious to dig out all those stories about the Island which had suffered once and for all during the invasion and which had been abandoned by its people leaving it to the darkness of the night and to the solitude of the day. Failaka is seeking its companions whomever it lost forever. Now it has strangers and some regular visitors only.

Whoever going there, should not forget to walk through the nearby streets and to just look out those fired houses, abandoned park and masjid. That will tell us how cruel the man is when he is selfish to win over others.



After all, we will think who won at last?

The Saddam is history now and his monarchy is ruled by democracy where as he carried nothing with him than three clothes. The then Amir and Kuwait’s builder is also no more. The losers are some innocent people who had been killed in front of their wives, children and parents.

Was it the end of everything?

No!! Years later, the world witnessed the revenge of America over the so called autocrat Saddam Husain, coming to an end by the recent war and by the massacre of many innocent people.

When I was returning to get into the boat, I got a bullet from down the land. But my friend advised me to throw it back and not to take anything like that. Actually, he was afraid of hearing some stories from somewhere about some kind of explosives still lying here and there.



After visiting Failaka, I lost all the impression over Saddam Husain and I hate him now for no reasons by forgetting all whatever America did to him and to his people.

Happened is happened. Let us hope for the best of Failaka.

In short, combination of historical remains and olden model architecture makes Failaka a must visit place.

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