Leicester is a bastion of multiculturalism where aspiration and compassion go hand in hand. On the 50th anniversary of the expulsion of the Ugandan Asians, we must acknowledge the hardship of the people who helped create the Leicester we know today.
Leicester’s modern history began on August 4th,1972 with an announcement in Uganda. President Idi Amin ordered all members of the Asian community to leave within three months, accusing them of economic sabotage. While Amin claimed he had been instructed by God, through a dream, to throw out the Asian population, critics have said this move was an attempt to restore his fading popularity and divert attention from his mismanagement of the economy.
But for Nitin Rayvadera, who was 20 when he was forced to leave the country, the reasons were irrelevant. He recalled, “It was very dangerous at the time and some Asians were even killed.” He remembered having to cross army checkpoints, where guns were pointed at him, on the way to the airport to ensure he wasn't taking more than he was allowed to.
“Idi Amin only let us leave with one suitcase and 50 pound,” Mr Rayvadera explained.
He initially stayed in army barracks in Surrey and then moved in with his brother in a rented house in Leicester. He remembers the generosity of the UK government who provided him and his family with food and clothing. He was especially grateful for the coat provided as he recollected, “The winter in 1972 was extremely harsh. And coming from a tropical climate, it was a huge change.”
Damini Rayvadera moved to the UK in 1970 as an 18-year-old. She stated, “My father felt it was best to leave as he could not see a safe future for us in Uganda.”
She described the challenges of living in Leicester in those early days, recalling, “There were hardly any Asian shops and you could only buy Indian vegetables once a week. As vegetarians it was difficult.”
Mrs Rayvadera also said, “The very first Navarati, I remember, was held in a church with only a few people playing garba.” She did however add, “At the time everybody wanted to come to Leicester as it had an Asian community”.
Mrs Rayvadera worked in the street opposite where Mr Rayvadera lived. “One day we met. Then we got married. After which we brought our own house and lived there for 25 years,” they gleefully explained.
While extremely grateful to the UK, especially for providing safety, free health care and quality education, they also stated, “Racism was there. Some people would refer to us as Pakis whilst others would be less obvious about it.”
Unfortunately, racism wasn't a unique experience. A recently retired nurse, who worked in the NHS for 42 years, explained, “In Newcastle Upon Tyne, where I did my training, I was the only Indian in the class. One manager referred to me as a unique person. Others didn't like me being in charge. It was something that wouldn't be allowed now.” In 1980, along with her family, she moved to Leicester to be closer to relatives and an Asian community.”
Remembering life in Uganda, she said, “We could have stayed because we were Ugandan nationals. But, by the end, it was an extremely hostile environment for Asians and if you are not safe you leave. I don't know anyone who stayed behind.”
She continued, “Before Amin asked us to leave, life was good in Uganda. There were friendly neighbourhoods and a good community vibe.”
She concluded, “The UK government at the time was very helpful. They provided us with a fully furnished house and benefits”.
Vinay Patel arrived in the UK, in 1965, from Kenya and had already established himself in Leicester prior to the arrival of the Ugandan Asians. He stated, “They came in families and were very business-minded. Prior to this only young individuals came. This meant they brought their own culture and entrepreneurship whilst also integrating quickly. The big bonus for us was Indian products became more available after they came!”
Mr Patel also added “The Golden Mile was due for demolition, but the Ugandans, being business-minded, brought the properties and built shops selling saris, jewellery and other products. The council even provided grants to help. At its peak, Asians from around the country used to come to The Golden Mile for wedding shopping.”
Whilst the intake of Ugandan Asians saw Leicester's fortunes rise, the same could not be said about the country they were expelled from. Prior to the expulsion, according to the BBC, the Asians owned 90% of the country's businesses and accounted for 90% of Ugandan tax revenues. Many of the confiscated businesses were handed over to locals who had no idea how to run them, eventually leading them to bankruptcy. This caused the tax burden to shift to farmers. The overall impact on the economy was devastating. The GDP of Uganda fell by five per cent between 1972 and 1975.
While Uganda struggled post expulsion, so did the Asians, initially. Having seen their ordeals first-hand, Vinay Patel was impressed by the mindset of the refugees. “These were people with servants and top cars who were left penniless but were just grateful to be safe. There was no fuss. They knew they had to either adapt or falter,” he explained.
He also noticed the emphasis the Ugandan Asians placed on education. “While all their possessions had been stolen by Idi Amin, they knew nobody could steal their knowledge,” he speculated.
Mr Patel, who was involved in helping the new refugees, said “I had a car so I took people from the airport to their relatives. I didn't care who it was. It was a time when as long you knew someone via someone, you helped. There was immense comradeship.”
He finished by saying, “But not everyone was happy about the arrival of the Ugandan Asians. The Leicester Mercury and The National Front were against immigrants. They believed there were already too many Asians in Leicester. They were afraid of becoming overwhelmed and British culture being lost.” But these attitudes weren't just monopolised by the fringes of British politics. In 1972, Leicester’s Labour-run City Council issued a notice in the Uganda Argus (Ugandan newspaper) asking the Asians “not to come to Leicester”.
Present-day Leicester, where diversity isn't just tolerated but is celebrated, has come a long way in 50 years. The Ugandan Asian community has played a pioneering role in this transformation. As British Asians all over the country today face challenges and obstacles, which can often be disheartening and overwhelming, I plead with them to look at what the Ugandan Asians in Leicester endured and achieved. Their story, a story of our tradition, shows with hard work and perseverance we, as a community, can overcome anything.
