In February this year, I had the pleasure of welcoming David Dabydeen to my home, accompanied by Mike Nicholson from Cambridge University. David is one of the foremost creative writers on the Indian indentured experience in the Caribbean.
For over two decades, he served at the University of Warwick’s Yesu Persaud Centre for Caribbean Studies. An award-winning poet and novelist, David has written extensively on themes of migration, belonging, and identity. He has also served as Guyana’s Ambassador and Permanent Delegate to UNESCO and Guyana’s Ambassador to China. During his visit, he presented me with his book "We Mark Your Memory - Writings from the Descendants of Indenture."
I have known David for many years, our connection deepening after a meeting in 2021 organised by Prof. Lord Bhikhu Parekh. Held in the Speaker's Room of the House of Lords, the event introduced an initiative led by David and his colleagues, focusing on the recollections of descendants of indentured labourers, particularly in Guyana and the Caribbean. Many prominent figures participated in this significant gathering.
During their visit, David and Mike spent several hours with me, engaging in an extensive and insightful discussion. They sought my cooperation on various projects they are involved with at Cambridge University, particularly those related to the descendants of indenture. In a previous meeting, David mentioned that he would like to assign one or two scholars from Cambridge to engage in a detailed conversation with me, with the intention of preparing a book about the transformation of the UK.
During our conversation, I shared my reflections on how the UK, particularly London, was back in November 1966 and the remarkable transformation it has undergone over the past 58 years. While some may be interested in hearing about my personal autobiography, that isn't something I feel inclined to pursue. I don’t believe I possess the honesty or courage to delve deeply into my own story. However, the subject of the UK's transformation is indeed fascinating. Yet, it’s also a complex topic that requires significant time, preparation, and research. I would need to revisit my notes, archives of Asian Voice, Gujarat Samachar, our special magazines etc, and gather a lot of material to do it justice, so I don't want to rush into it. In a way, my column, "As I See It," touches on selective topics from the past and present, with a hint of what the future may hold, offering a short reflection on such themes.
I recall attending a dinner at the Indian Gymkhana, where I met a young, successful dentist in his early fifties. Interestingly, I had known both his father and grandfather. During our conversation, he liked my Gujarati column Jeevan Panth in Gujarat Samachar. He also encouraged me to write in English, particularly about my journey of settling in the UK. He felt it would be valuable to share stories, anecdote from my childhood, my experiences growing up in Gujarat and my time in school.
All of these topics are certainly interesting, but they require a significant amount of time and my current work commitments simply don’t allow it. But, I must admit, the response from readers has been very encouraging.
So far, we have only touched on a few subjects, and even then, only in a broad outline. For the full details, readers will have to wait for the book and two years is not a long time. Prof. David even cautioned me, saying, “Look, CB, you’ve got a great memory and all your faculties are still sharp, but you should dedicate more time to this subject.” He was referring to the academic liberties that come with relying on memory, eyesight, hearing, and other such aspects.
I am grateful to everyone who appreciates and adds value to the topics I select. However, I am limited by the amount of time and space available to me, as the Asian Voice is a comprehensive weekly publication.
The book "We Mark Your Memory" is both informative and enlightening, perhaps even self-reflective. It highlights not only what we have gained but also what we have lost. In particular, it sheds light on the struggles endured by people of Indian and African origin from the Caribbean, many of whom faced significant hardships during the Windrush saga.
Similarly, many East Africans, particularly those from Uganda, Tanganyika, and Kenya, faced significant challenges, especially after the 1968 "Rivers of Blood" speech by British politician Enoch Powell. The UK had already passed the Immigration Act of 1962, which restricted people from Commonwealth countries from settling in the UK without limitations. However, in the early 1960s—1961, 1962, and 1963, a large number of East African Asians, primarily Indians (Gujaratis and Punjabis) from Tanzania, Kenya, and Uganda, migrated to the UK. They arrived full of hope, carrying with them not only skills but also aspirations and other valuable resources.
In a short time, many of these East African migrants made their mark, progressing from humble jobs to becoming successful entrepreneurs. It all began with small businesses like selling groceries and provisions to predominantly Asian consumers. I recall a few notable examples, including a shop in Liverpool Street, East London, owned by a Gujarati Bohra gentleman known to me as Sutharwala Saheb. His shop was a primary source for many of our kitchen essentials. Today, his children and grandchildren have built a vast empire, including Sutharwala Cash and Carry, Sutharwala Properties, and several other enterprises.
In November 1966, on a misty morning, I arrived at Victoria Terminus after taking a coach from Heathrow Airport. I was warmly received by my friends from Dar-es-Salaam, Manubhai Thakkar and Rasikbhai Lavingiya. We shared a single room for five months before I began to find my footing in the UK.
While both of them worked full time, I attended college for lectures and courses at various London institutes. However, since my schedule wasn’t too intense, I took on the role of cook. Our typical three tinned course dinner consisted of roasted papad, warm soups, and slices of bread with butter and cheese, accompanied by a cup of coffee or tea. As time went on, I eventually learned to cook simple dishes like Mug Bhat (green gram and rice) among a few other basic preparations.
Someone once mentioned to us that there was a shop near Euston Station that sold tinned Patra, and Manubhai was eager to check it out. So, we visited the shop that was around in December 1966. It was a small establishment run by Lakubhai Pathak, selling groceries, samosas, and other snacks. Within a few years, Patak Spices and Patak Enterprises had grown into a major operation, transforming British tastes. Instead of the traditional fish and chips, people began embracing curries and other Indian dishes I also remember meeting Gulambhai Noon of Noon Products and several other notable entrepreneurs later on. This shift from serving the internal community to reaching the wider host community has grown on a large scale.
My greatest joy came from witnessing how Ugandan Asians, primarily Indians, who were forced to arrive in the cold winter of 1972-73, quickly became shop owners. I remember during that time, my friends and I had a chain of five shops in Chiswick, supplied with newspapers by W H Smith, John Menzies, and James Mayell. Each week, they reported that more Patels, Shahs, and Singhs were popping up along Chiswick High Road and Hammersmith Road, a long stretch between the Hammersmith and Chiswick roundabouts. One day, as I travelled nearly two miles along that road, I counted 37 shops owned by Ugandans. Not only were they thriving, but they also served their customers with smiles and an innovative approach.
I particularly remember one shop we took over, that had only been selling groceries. It was a sizable space, 18 feet wide and 40 feet long. The previous owner was content with a few vegetables in the front 12 feet, while the rest was essentially a stockroom. With the support of my bank and friends, we transformed it into a self-service store. We invested in shop front, flooring, gondolas, shelving, and lighting. This transformation took about five weeks and the turnover skyrocketed from £170 to over £600 per week.
This story is not just about my experience; many Ugandan and East African Asians, along with other migrants, learned the skills of transformation and improvisation during this time.
In 1990, I interviewed Prime Minister Margaret Thatcher and she wrote in Asian Business magazine, one of my then publications, that Asian entrepreneurship has made huge impacts on retailing and helped to transform the streets of London, Leicester, Birmingham, Harrow and various other places without any government help. Additionally, with various businesses developed by Asian, supported the local government through tax.
I find immense joy in the dedication of these shopkeepers, both husbands and wives, along with their relatives, who worked incredibly long hours. A report published by Mr Rampton, the Chairman of the Commission for Racial Equality, highlighted this effort. The dedication of these shopkeepers—husbands, wives, and their relatives, who put in extraordinarily long hours was commendable.
His study on Inner London education across twelve boroughs also featured an article from New Life. Mr Rampton noted that many shopkeepers and individuals from East Africa, especially those of Indian origin, demonstrated remarkable hard work and commitment to sending their children to private schools. I know several examples where they laboured tirelessly to ensure their children received private education. Today, those children have reached higher levels in various walks of life. This truly captures the incredible sacrifices, dedication, potential and bright future that lies ahead.
