As Rishi Sunak, the first British Asian Prime Minister of the UK, campaigned for the Conservative party last month, he hailed the UK as the “world’s most successful multi-ethnic, multi-faith democracy” during a visit to a Hindu temple.
The UK is indeed becoming increasingly ethnically diverse, with 18% of the population being from a minority ethnic group. While many within this population are first-generation immigrants, nearly half of individuals in Asian and Black ethnic groups overall are now born in the UK.
This proportion of people has risen in recent years, and notably so has their representation in political and public positions. A record number of 90 ethnic minority MPs have been elected to sit in the UK’s most diverse parliament ever. While the proportional representation of people from minority ethnic backgrounds in politics is lower as a whole, this particular historic advance is a step in the right direction and means that the new parliament comes closer than ever to reflecting the diversity of the electorate - with 13.8% of MPs coming from an ethnic minority background.
The unique characteristics of UK's various minority ethnic groups, such as migration histories, settlement patterns, and demographic structures, make understanding their diverse outcomes particularly challenging. Different factors may hold varying levels of significance for each group, and grasping the importance of these different drivers is essential for evaluating how various policies can either widen or reduce ethnic inequalities. South Asian Heritage Month (SAHM) does just that.
The month-long celebration, which first took place in 2020, aims to commemorate, recognise, and celebrate South Asian cultures, histories, and communities. It seeks to understand the diverse heritage and cultures that continue to connect the UK with South Asia. This year, the theme is “Free to Be Me,” a great extension of previous year’s theme of “Stories to Tell”.
Why celebrating identity is important
Jasvir Singh CBE is a family law barrister and the co-founder of SAHM and for him, “Free to Be Me” means discussing individual identities without reducing to labels, stereotypes, or tokenistic representations. Explaining his perspective of identity better, he said, “I identify as Sikh, Punjabi, English; I wear a turban, I'm gay, and married to my husband. I enjoy Bhangra, Bollywood, pop, and rock music—all of these aspects define me, but none of them defines me entirely.
“It's about celebrating our complete selves without shame or the need to hide any part of our identity. It's also about acknowledging that not everyone feels equally free to express themselves openly. Our goal is to embrace all these facets and allow people to express themselves as they wish, or to explain why they might not feel able to do so yet.”
Jasvir underscored the importance of the celebrating heritage and acknowledging the rich diversity among South Asians as many aren't even aware of the richness, diversity, or uniqueness of the various cultures within the broader South Asian community. “We are not a monolith; we are a multitude of people under the heading of South Asia, each with unique stories to tell”, he said.
Expanding on the significance of celebrating cultural identity, particularly as second and third-generation immigrants navigate integrating into British identity while preserving their own, he said, “There may be individuals who feel somewhat embarrassed about being South Asian because they don't know much about their cultural heritage. They might also feel the need to fit into mainstream society by downplaying what makes them different.
This rings very true for Binita Kane, Consultant Respiratory Physician and co-founder of SAHM, who describes herself as someone who 'always wanted to fit in and not be different', being a South Asian woman who was born and brought up in a predominantly white Welsh community. “It has taken many years to acknowledge and fully celebrate my own heritage and dual identity. Growing up as the daughter of a Partition survivor I have witnessed the resilience and strength within my parent's generation and the sacrifices that took place to pave the way for me to live my life today.
“Too often our stories in their entirety are not explored, understood or celebrated. It was through understanding my own past that I have truly felt 'free to be me' in today's society. Now I want to help others do the same through initiatives like South Asian Heritage Month which are hopefully triggering the right conversations.”
For her, the celebration and the theme are more important than ever, in the current climate marked by increased racial disparities and intolerance, providing a platform for stories that are often overlooked, hopefully enhancing the understanding and appreciation of the diverse fabric of British society. “By understanding our history we can start to acknowledge and address the root causes of contemporary racism and inequality. We can not only honour our past but also inspire the younger generation to stand up for their rights and identity in modern day Britain”, she said.
“This month is an opportunity to say, regardless of where you are, where you live, or who you are, whether you're South Asian or not, this is a chance to experience and embrace South Asian identity. It aims to be as welcoming as possible, providing a sense of inclusivity rather than exclusivity”, added Jasvir.
Gautam Bhattacharyya, Partner at Reed Smith also shared his gratitude and pride in his British Asian identity sharing, "I am immeasurably proud to be British but equally as proud of my Bengali heritage and all that which makes me who I am. All of us of South Asian heritage should be free to feel proud of our heritage. The richness of the UK’s diversity is something that makes us better and unites us; it must never divide us.
"I shall always be indebted to all of those of South Asian heritage who came before me, especially my parents, for leading the way and showing us that you can be proudly British and fully integrated into, and meaningfully contribute to, society but yet maintain all the key aspects of your deep-rooted history such as cultural, religious and linguistic traditions. My generation and the generations that follow us have a big responsibility to ensure that the glow of our South Asian heritage continues to shine brightly."
On the added pressures of being a South Asian woman
Women are a minority within the minority and South Asian women especially, have a lot less autonomy as compared to their white counterparts. South Asian women can often feel more confined, there is immense pressure and judgment surrounding how they live their lives and constant judgement for their decisions, whether it's choosing an unconventional career, deciding to be childfree, or not acing the balancing act of various roles. This is obviously not true for everyone, but this is a reality of life for many of them.
According to Banita, for South Asian women to truly feel free to be themselves, societal attitudes and systemic structures need to evolve. “For this to happen we need to challenge ingrained biases and stereotypes that dictate what is or isn't acceptable roles and behaviours for women.
“Education is paramount; understanding our history, confronting the legacies of colonialism and institutional racism are key, as well as tackling cultural stigma and taboos which are often deeply ingrained. We are standing on the shoulders of the South Asian female pioneers before us, looking up to and learning from the role models before us. Things are slowly progressing, but we have a long way to go - having these conversations is incredibly important.”
Anu Vaidyanathan is a South Asian immigrant who keeps venturing into new things, exploring what the world has to offer. Racism, sexism or anything else, she has seen it all. She is a filmmaker, comedian, and engineer. In 2009, she made history as the first Indian triathlete, male or female, to complete an Ironman Triathlon. In the same year, she also became the first Asian triathlete to finish an Ultraman race.
For Anu, “Free to Be Me”, means acknowledging and embracing who you truly are and recognising the joy that even simple things bring. “If you're someone who cherishes the company of your kids or your family, don't feel pressured to prioritise progress at any cost These are parts of ourselves that sometimes get overlooked. Acknowledging the importance of breathing, space, and rest to our humanity isn't just about moving from one point to another”, she said.
Having grown up navigating the South Asian culture herself, she has seen women being told to manage it all. “Our culture certainly has its ingrained principles, and they've been my guiding principles too. In our densely populated culture, where everyone has opinions, it's common to encounter unkindness. It's about putting their behaviour in perspective and moving on.”
She also feels that the portrayal of women being culturally oppressed isn't entirely accurate. It's a nuanced issue with both positives and negatives. “While there is judgement, there are also women supporting women. For instance, there's immense value in having someone like my mom to call for advice on parenting challenges. It's important to see things from both sides rather than painting them in a simplistic way for the sake of a good narrative. We live in this world beyond the movie theatre, and it's about finding redeeming qualities even in what may seem limiting.”
“Navigating my culture involves accepting who I am and what I want, seeking help when needed, and not letting negativity derail me.”
The positive side of “women supporting women” that Anu mentions is exemplified in the extraordinary journey, following the awe inspiring adventure of a group of South Asian trailblazing amateur female climbers, documented in ‘Mother Kili’. The documentary showcases the climbers' journey, shedding light on their personal struggles, triumphs, and the cultural significance of their achievement, redefining what it means to be a South Asian woman.
(Anu talks more about her heritage, identity and debut production. Refer to page 14.)
Need for conversation about representation in sports
Sport has historically served as a catalyst for community cohesion, transcending racial, linguistic, and socioeconomic divides. However, a concerning study commissioned by the UK's leading basketball club, The London Lions, in late 2023, revealed that 59% of individuals from ethnic minority backgrounds feel their identity as both minority and British is inadequately represented across the breadth of UK sports.
The study further highlighted that six out of ten ethnic minority Britons do not perceive themselves as fully represented in UK sports, with a third citing racism as a barrier preventing their active participation or support in sporting activities.
Aatish Sharma, CEO at Southall FC, feels that there is a need to invest in the community to combat this. “As a society, it is imperative that we continue to engage in discussions and implement strategies aimed at promoting equality, ensuring that everyone has an equal opportunity in life.
“By doing so, we can effectively combat the stereotypical views that the South Asian community currently contends with. Investing in the community is not just beneficial for its members but also contributes to the overall well-being and prosperity of society at large.”
(Aatish discusses much more about sports and representation in conversation with the newsweekly. Refer to page 13.)
Cultural representation is at the heart of it all
The SAHM 2024 will organise various workshops, film screenings, quizzes, panel discussions, community lunches, etc to explore the various cultures and their nuances.
Prashant Kunwar, an active British Nepalese working to promote UK-Nepal relationship and the Nepalese lead at SAHM shared more about his culture and celebrating the Nepalese culture in this one month. He said, “Nepali community in the UK is relatively young compared to communities like Bangladeshi or Pakistani. However, our connection with the United Kingdom spans a long history dating back more than 200 years. Since 1815, the Gurkhas have been an integral part of the Crown, serving the United Kingdom with great dedication. This heritage is something we wish to celebrate.
“This month provides an opportunity to showcase Nepalese culture, food, and community, which are vibrant and integral parts of the broader South Asian community. We aim to share our stories, culture, and festivals with others, fostering integration into British society.”
Similarly, other communities will aim to shed a light on the nuances of their culture as well.
The Bhavans, on their part, will continue their 50 year legacy to celebrate Indian arts to commemorate the month. With music, dance, art and exhibitions, the outfit will highlight its commitment to preserving British South Asian heritage, enriching our community, and passing it on to the younger generation.
