Dubai: An Indian tailor, who is retiring on December 31 after working in the UAE for nearly two decades, is returning home with the best gift ever: an auditor’s job for his son from his own employer.
“They say the UAE is a place that makes dreams come true,” said Thankappan Babu, the 62-year-old tailor who works with Copthorne Hotel Dubai in Deira. “Who can vouch for that better than me?”
Babu said, “People migrate to this country in the hope of securing a better future for their families. I was no exception. I first arrived in Sharjah in 1998 to work at a tailoring shop. In 2007, I started my own shop specialising in ladies’ catalogue gowns. I could not sustain the high rents, so I shut shop and joined Copthorne Hotel in 2008. Ever since have been stitching and mending staff uniforms and linen and supporting the Housekeeping Department by handling guest laundry.”
Biggest satisfaction
He said over the years, he managed to get his two daughters educated and married. “In fact one of them works as a nurse in Sharjah. But I received the biggest satisfaction when my son Dileep Kumar got settled in the same hotel where I worked. A commerce graduate, he qualified for an internship and was absorbed as night auditor by the company thereafter. As I prepare to leave the country on December 31, I can only say this is my best New Year gift ever. I can’t thank the hotel management enough.”
Dileep Kumar, 22, said, “I consider myself lucky to have got this job. My father always praised Copthorne Hotel. I am grateful to the hotel for not only employing me, but also making my father a proud man.”
Glenn Nobbs, general manager of the hotel, said, “When the vacancy came up, Babu asked his son to apply. Dileep Kumar qualified for the post and we were happy to hire him after due process. We hope he will have the same sense of integrity and work ethics as his father.”
