Established in 1986, BRC is an organization of Keralite expatriates from Calicut, which is known for its social and trade ties with Arabs since time immemorial.

“The club had its humble beginning as the Bab Makkah Recreation Club, about 20 years ago,” said V.P. Hifsu Rahman, BRC’s president.

Today the BRC is one of Jeddah’s biggest expatriate organizations with about 500 members making up approximately 200 families. The club holds a variety of programs for its members and other Keralites.

“We organize sports contests for ladies,” said the BRC president. “These sports activities managed by women are held in secluded areas.”

Apart from charitable and social activities, the BRC holds competition among its members by dividing them into four groups. Annual contests are held in Qur’an recitation, Islamic knowledge, adhan (calling to prayer), football, volleyball, cricket, caroms, tug-of-war and painting.

The organization is in the process of publishing a 200-page souvenir to mark its 20th anniversary.

“We have received articles, stories and poems from prominent Keralite writers including Hafiz Muhammad and K.K.N. Kurup,” said the group’s secretary, Imtiyaz P.N.M. “The magazine will contain articles on Saudi history, the life of expatriates, relation between Arabs and Calicut Indians and many rare pictures.”

Imtiyaz spoke about BRC’s leading role in organizing football tournaments for expatriates in the Kingdom. “We have been conducting annual football tournaments and we were the first to use Kaaki Grounds for such tournaments,” he pointed out, referring to a popular recreational-use area in Jeddah.

The group is also an active member of the Saudi-Indian Football Forum (SIFF) and has shown its strong presence in most football and cricket tournaments in Jeddah.

The BRC’s mass breakfast program during Ramadan is one of the popular annual events in Jeddah. The group invites a large number of people from outside the organization. BRC women make the event an unforgettable experience by cooking a variety of delicious Kozhikodan treats.

“Our volunteers have been extending services to pilgrims with the support of the Haj Welfare Forum,” said the president. “We also put pressure on authorities to solve the problems facing expatriates.” Muhiyuddin Koya P.V., a senior community member from Calicut, recently won the World Malayalee Council’s Oldest Pravasee Award, given to elderly expats.

The final ceremony of the 20th anniversary will be held on May 17 when BRC children will present different cultural programs. An orchestra with the participation of leading singers in the city, a medical seminar for women and the release of the souvenir are other programs scheduled for the day.