Introduction
As the Community Engagement team, we're passionate about making sure that London’s communities are visible and have their voices heard. All through the year, we support a variety of communities with celebrating and highlighting religious, cultural and community events. In this month’s blog, we are delighted to highlight South Asian Heritage Month.
South Asian Heritage Month (SAHM), now in its third year, will take place between Monday 18 July - Wednesday 17 August 2022. The month is an opportunity to celebrate the impact and contributions made by South Asian cultures and commemorate South Asian history in the UK. This year’s theme for SAHM is journeys of empire, with a focus on two key anniversaries: the 75th anniversary of the independence of India, partition, and subsequent creation of East and West Pakistan, as well as the 50th anniversary of the expulsion of Ugandan Asians by Idi Amin. This is the first year since its launch that events will be taking place in person, and there are a huge range of events to look forward to. You can find the full programme here.
Below in this blog, we hear about the importance of celebrating South Asian histories from one of SAHM's co-founders.
Why is South Asian Heritage Month Important?
By Jasvir Singh, Co-founder of South Asian Heritage Month.
South Asian Heritage Month (SAHM) runs from 18th July to 17th August every year. It raises the profile of British South Asian heritage and history in the UK through education, arts, culture, and commemoration, with the goal of helping people to better understand the diversity of present-day Britain. Its concept launch was in 2019 and the first SAHM was held in summer 2020.
SAHM is about reclaiming the history and identity of British South Asians. People need to be able to tell their own stories, and this is an opportunity to show what it means to be South Asian in the 21st century, as well as look to the past to see how Britain became the country it is today. South Asian influences can be found everywhere in London and across Britain, from our food and clothes to our music and even our words. The streets of our capital are rich with the colours, sights and sounds of proud South Asian identity. Its culture permeates all parts of British life and adds to the richness of the nation.
South Asia is the southern region of Asia, which is defined in both geographical and ethno-cultural terms. The region consists of the countries of Afghanistan, Bangladesh, Bhutan, India, Maldives, Nepal, Pakistan, and Sri Lanka. Every single one of those countries has been hugely impacted by its relationship with Britain, primarily through war, colonisation, and ultimately via the British Empire. There are significant South Asian diaspora communities in many parts of the world. People of South Asian heritage are a significant part of London’s population, and about 1 in every 5 people in the capital (20% of Londoners) are of South Asian heritage.
This year, South Asian Heritage Month will be celebrated for the third year, focusing on the theme of ‘Journeys of Empire’. This theme encompasses many different aspects of South Asian identity, not only in Britain, but other communities across the diaspora that were and continue to be influenced by the journeys of empire. 2022 marks 75 years since British India was divided into India and Pakistan: dividing up the provinces of Bengal and Punjab, with over 1 million deaths and up to 20 million people displaced. Disputes in the region have continued over the last 75 years, including in East Pakistan (which gained its own independence as Bangladesh in 1971), Kashmir, Punjab, Assam, Pashtun tribal areas, Balochistan, and Ladakh to name just a few areas. It is also 50 years since President Idi Amin of Uganda ordered the expulsion of the country’s South Asian minority, giving them 90 days to leave.
Over 27,000 came to the UK as refugees, many of whom settled in London. There are events happening all over the capital to mark SAHM 2022. To find out more, visit our webpages using the button below.