A man from Kerala repaid a loan of Rs 25,000 to a former colleague to settle a debt from 35 years ago [3].
The act highlights a rare commitment to personal honor and financial integrity across decades and international borders. The repayment serves as a testament to a friendship forged during labor migration in the Middle East.
The transaction began in 1991 in Abqaiq, Saudi Arabia [1]. At that time, Ismail borrowed Rs 1,000 from his colleague, Lachanna [1]. The two men worked together in the region and maintained a positive professional relationship during their tenure.
Despite the passage of time and the distance between them, Ismail sought to resolve the outstanding balance. He traveled to Telangana, India, to meet Lachanna and finalize the payment in 2016 [1]. The final sum of Rs 25,000 included the original principal, and interest [2].
“I just wanted to settle the account,” Lachanna said [2].
Ismail expressed that the gesture was about more than just the money. “It was a simple loan and I just wanted to repay it,” Ismail said [1].
Lachanna noted that the bond between them remained strong despite the years of separation. “We were working together in Saudi Arabia and we had a good relationship,” Lachanna said [3].
The total duration of the loan spanned 35 years before the final settlement was reached [3]. The repayment of Rs 25,000 reflects the adjusted value and interest on the initial Rs 1,000 loan [1, 2].
““I just wanted to settle the account,” Lachanna said.”
This event illustrates the social dynamics of the Indian diaspora in the Gulf region, where informal lending between expatriate workers often relies on trust rather than legal contracts. The decision to pay back the loan with interest after three decades underscores a cultural emphasis on 'debt of honor,' where the moral obligation to repay transcends the actual economic value of the original sum.
