Ranchi, Nov. 19: The Gulf might be reaping petrodollars but ask children from the region where there heart lies and pop comes the answer ? India.

For Shaheen Usman, a student of Class VII from Qatar, ?India is a great country. Though I was born in Doha, my native place is in Kerala ? that is where my heart and soul is. Whenever I see an Indian leader on television I tell my friends about the leader. Every July, I visit Kerala during summer holidays and take back spicy food, coconuts, cardamom and idols of goddesses. When I return, I cherish the moments with my friends who are from Sri Lanka, Europe and America. It?s a great feeling.?

For four students, Inzarul Haq, Tejas Kurian, Shaheen Usman and Astha Tiwari, who are in the state capital for the 31st Jawaharlal Nehru Science Exhibition from Doha, Qatar and Muscat, it is a nostalgic feeling.

They are students of Middle East Education Services (MES), Doha, Qatar (Arabian Gulf) and Indian School, Muscat.

Tejas Kurian from Doha and student of Class IX said he is also a native from Kerala and keeps touch with Indian traditions by taking part in annual day celebrations and youth festivals.

Living in the Gulf has its downside. ?We are not able to enjoy life freely there. We are staying in rented flats there and our mobility is restricted to a limited area. In India, at least, the children move out in the open to play. Doha is not democratic, it is under a monarchy,? Kurian added.

But Kurian clarified that they do not undergo any racial discrimination.

?We are allowed to build churches there and feel sad when we learn about communal violence back in India. We enjoy the monsoons in India. In Qatar it rains only in February.?

A Class XI student of Indian School Muscat, Astha Tiwari, who had left India five years ago, said she wants to return to India after completing her Class XII and pursue higher studies here.

She added that she misses India especially at the time of festivals. ?We are not allowed to burst crackers, light candles and play Holi. I miss my relatives and grandparents very much. During holidays, when I come to India I take clothes, idols and embroidered clothes, since we do not get them there,? Tiwari said.

Another student of Class IX from Doha, Inzarul Haq, said, ?Whenever cricket matches are held, we support India. Sachin Tendulkar and Rahul Dravid are our heroes.?

Back in Ranchi, they enjoyed eating alu gobi and sugarcane. The students have also taken up the cause of educating 200 children in Kako of Jahanabad district, Bihar, by the Qanat foundation. It is called Qanat International school.