Kuwaitis are known for their Deewanyaat, which is a section of the house where men traditionally gather. Today, there are deewanyaat for women, and recently for mixed-gender groups.
Etymologically, the word deewanyah is of Farsi origin, meaning the residence of the great emperors of the Farsi empire. It was incorporated into Arabic. Today, it also means the complete works of a poet. Thus, there is the Deewan Al Mutanabby, the Deewan Al Jawahiry and so forth.
In Kuwait the deewan, the section of the house where guests are received, has evolved over the years to take on a variety of uses.
Deewanyaat are of different types: for playing cards, sports, and younger people who like to discuss sports, falconry and desert hunting, or simply a place to hang out, chat and gossip. As an English friend living in Kuwait put it: They are like pubs in England, without the lager.
Yet, the deewanyaat of Kuwait are also known to be the second line of defence for democracy and the preservation of the nations constitution.
Shut down
When the National Assembly was dissolved in 1986, the opposition organised rallies and demonstrations from deewanyaat. The gatherings were held on Mondays and hence they were dubbed Mondays deewanyaat.
Some of those deewanyaat were shut down by force to prevent the gatherings. Sometimes, tear gas and water cannons were used to keep people from attending such targeted deewanyaat.
In January 1990, a former Member of Parliament, Ahmad Al Shuraian, was even summoned to a police station for questioning, over the call for a gathering at his deewanyah.
During the Holy Month of Ramadan, deewanyaat in Kuwait take on a more specific purpose: socialising and visiting. Local newspapers are filled with advertisements and pictures announcing when certain deewanyaat will be receiving visitors during the month.
Even the ruling Al Sabah family has its own deewanyah, just like any other family, and announces via the newspapers the times itll be open for visits during Ramadan. Usually, it is during the first and the second day of the month, although it was extended for two more days this year due to the massive turnout.
Deewanyaat are not restricted to Kuwaitis either. Some expatriates have set up their own deewanyaat. Even foreign ambassadors have set up deewanyaat in a diplomatic move in keeping with the ancient caveat when in Rome....
During Ramadan, a variety of traditional Gulf sweets and cuisine is served at deewanyaat in Kuwait.
Diabetics may well have increased problems with their blood sugar during this month, as it is difficult to resist having a piece of this and a piece of that especially given the insistence of their hosts.
It is socially unacceptable to go into a deewanyah and refuse all offers of hospitality. People in Kuwait roam the streets after the Isha prayer (around 7.30pm) until way past midnight during Ramadan.
It is common to visit a deewanyah briefly. Due to these quick visits, there is little time for much discussion. However, at the end of the evening, as the drop-in traffic dies down, late-night deewanyaats resound with discussion sometimes involving quite serious topics.
Last Saturday in my deewanyah, the new American Ambassador to Kuwait, Richard Le Baron, witnessed a simulated vote by the people present mostly Kuwaitis.
They were asked for whom they would vote if they could vote in the upcoming American presidential elections. The almost unanimous vote was for the incumbent President George W. Bush.
Asked whether this was typical of Gulfies, answers varied. Most liked Bush for having overthrown Saddam.
If he had not done so, Saddam would still be around for a long time to come, was the common remark. Pragmatically, the Gulf people feel that Bush has guts and determination, and he, not Kerry, has the guts needed to finish the job in Iraq.
If the business of Iraq is left to Kerry, i.e., left unfinished, then chaos will prevail throughout the region. Also, according to some present Bush didnt bow to media pressure in the US after 9/11 to attack Saudi Arabia. Instead, he attacked Iraq, a more deserved foe.
According to many Kuwaitis and, to some degree, many Arabs, Bush is the only American president to have committed himself to a two-state solution vis--vis the Arab-Israeli conflict.
Back to square one
If he wins, he will be under less pressure to keep his pledge as he will not have a next term in office to be concerned about. Thus, he will not need to please the Jewish voter.
In contrast, a win for Kerry will take the issue back to square one as he will most certainly be preoccupied with ensuring his own reelection come 2008.
Most importantly, the people in the deewanyah, and perhaps in the Gulf as a whole, will always remember the Bush era for three things. First, 9/11; secondly, the overthrow of Saddam Hussain, and thirdly, the all-time record high oil prices.
The rise in oil prices, whatever the reason, has come at an economically critical time for a number of Gulf countries. These welfare-state economies had budgets in deficit, and they were having difficulty even paying the salaries of their citizens.
The new American Ambassador was fascinated by the degree of freedom of expression in the deewanyaat, but to the dismay of many, no one could determine whom he supports the Democrats or the Republicans.
The deewanyah in Kuwait is truly a miniature parliament where people can speak their minds about whatever issues they choose: oil prices, Iraq, Palestine, etc. They can even cast their own vote in the American presidential election not that it counts.
Dr. Saad Al Ajmi is a former Minister of Information in Kuwait, an academic and analyst. He can be contacted at sajmi@gulfnews.com
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