British South Asian history has all too often been overlooked in our education systems

Manchester Museum will be the first-ever museum to have a permanent South Asia gallery in the UK, as a part of a landmark partnership with the British Museum. The gallery will bring forth diverse histories and experiences of the South Asian diaspora living in Manchester and will generate new ideas, events, performances, learning and public programmes in the museum. Curated by Nusrat Ahmed, and co-curated with The South Asia Gallery Collective, a group of 30 inspiring individuals including community leaders, educators, artists, historians, journalists and musicians, the gallery will be a celebration of the contributions of the South Asian community in the UK. The new South Asia Gallery will be the UK's first permanent space dedicated to the lived experience of the South Asian community. Azraa Motala, based in Leicester and Preston, has been exhibiting her work across the country since 2014. Her selfportrait, I Beg You to Define Me, is a powerful commission that will explore what it means to be British Asian today, in British Asian space. Speaking to Asian Voice, Azraa said: “British South Asian history has all too often been overlooked in our education systems and cultural institutions. Resulting in the underrepresentation and misrepresentation of British South Asians in politics, media, arts and culture. The new South Asia Gallery at Manchester Museum fills this gap and offers much-needed space to express, share, learn and connect with our heritage. It has been uniquely cocurated by a Collective of 30 individuals, which has allowed for self-authored representation. The gallery disrupts political rhetoric and the narrative of “otherness”, instead shining a light on the rich stories and experiences of the South Asian diaspora past and present.”