A journey across continents: celebrating South Asian Heritage Month

By Geetha Dean

At Active Gloucestershire, diversity and inclusion lie at the heart of both our organisational mission and our culture. We aim to foster an environment which celebrates diversity and encourages staff to champion their passions, pursue their interests and share their identity with the team.

In July, in celebration of South Asian Heritage Month, which runs from the 17th July to the 18th August, I was keen to share my own Indian heritage with the team and offered to run an informal lunch and learn session, detailing the story of my parents’ emigration from India to the UK. It was an opportunity to shed light on the challenges, triumphs and cultural transitions they experienced and to celebrate their resilience and determination. My hope was that by telling my parents’ story, I could not only bring to life their struggle and sacrifice but the challenges faced by millions of immigrants who have invested in our country and whose hard work, passion and commitment have enriched our society.

To provide some context, my presentation began with a brief introduction to South Asian Heritage month. I invited colleagues to identify the eight countries that make up South Asia, detailed how, when and why South Asian Heritage month started and looked at some recent population data on South Asian communities in Britain.

I then began to explore my parents’ story – first delving into their childhoods, how they met and married and subsequently the reasons behind their decision to emigrate. I felt that only by understanding my parents’ start in life would my colleagues fully understand their motivations for emigrating and appreciate the courage it took for them to leave behind everything that was familiar.

I explained how my parents’ move to the UK in 1970, came at a time of huge racial turmoil, with rising tension in urban areas where South Asian communities had settled and it was against this backdrop that they began their new life. In addition to the cultural shock my parents experienced, from adapting to a new climate and cuisine to navigating a foreign language and unfamiliar social norms, my parents regularly endured incidents of racism and discrimination. These included racial slurs whilst out and about, struggling to find work despite being highly educated and qualified and being denied accommodation.

And yet despite these hurdles, my parents’ were determined to stay in the UK, for they knew that only by doing so, would they be able to build the life they had always dreamed of – a life filled with greater freedom, financial security and opportunity for them and their children. They worked tirelessly to make ends meet, embrace new opportunities and contribute to their adopted country. They responded positively to the kindness their employers showed them and through them, learnt how to integrate into British society whilst preserving their cherished Indian heritage. From cooking traditional meals to celebrating festivals with their new-found friends and colleagues, they created a home that blended the best of both worlds. This balance is a common theme among many first-generation immigrants and is a huge source of pride for their children.

I rounded off my presentation by explaining how my parents’ story is just one of millions of immigrant stories – stories of bravery and sacrifice, of perseverance and above all of hope and of how incredibly proud I am of their tenacity and resilience. My parents worked hard to create the life they wanted. They were prepared as so many South Asian families were, to roll their sleeves up and do what needed to be done to reach their goals. They never lost hope and gave up and above all, they never turned cynical. Despite the hardship and racism they experienced, they continued to believe in the innate goodness of people and remained open to the kindness and compassion of others, which they in turn reciprocated.

Upon finishing my presentation, I was overwhelmed by the positive response I received. It was clear that the team had been captivated by my parents’ story and gained a deeper appreciation for  their immigrant experience. I firmly believe that stories like my parents’ are essential in understanding the complexities of immigration and the contributions of immigrant communities to the UK. By sharing these narratives, we can foster empathy and respect and develop a sense of shared humanity.

Delivering this session also enabled me to connect to a part of my identity that I hadn’t fully explored. It allowed me to present my whole self to colleagues – to feel valued and appreciated and develop a deeper sense of belonging to an organisation that not only encouraged me to openly celebrate my culture and identity but better yet – celebrated it with me.

I have worked at Active Gloucestershire for several years and enjoyed many highs, but this lunch and learn has topped them all. To be able to work for an organisation that encourages you to embrace who you are, to have colleagues that show such genuine interest in and enthusiasm for your identity and the things that matter to you is what makes Active Gloucestershire such an incredibly special place to work.