Sunday, August 5, 2001		VIP Toon Tales

Ranga

THE architect of the United Arab Emirates (UAE), Sheikh Zayed Bin Sultan Al Nahayan, was in Delhi in 1992 on a state visit with a large delegation of ministers and officials. The Sheikh is a veteran leader with achievements in various fields. Though there is no modern education system in his country, yet he is his known as the architect of the modern UAE. He is the ruler of Abu Dhabi, the largest of the Emirates and President of the UAE. For all his wealth and status, he is a simple man who tends to defy protocol and prefers to mix with people. A patron of camel races, the Sheikh had a glimpse of his sketch drawn by me when I managed to meet him during one of his engagements despite the tight security. Once the officials from the UAE were convinced that I was not a ‘terrorist’ but an artist, they paved the way for me to meet the Sheikh. The Sheikh’s signature on the sketch was like a triangle with the date being put in Arabic as April 29, 1992. I was quite amused with his signature and he noted it with a smile.