India

Featured Stories

Memories of Boliyan or Bolis (couplets) by Tally Kandola - Head of Organisational Development

Boliyan or bolis are couplets that are sung in Punjabi. I remember as a child, at every wedding and party, listening and watching as women performed the actions to the words they were singing, the way they would use their chunnis (long cloths that accompany Indian suits) to tell their stories as well as anything else that was handy! They would laugh and use the opportunity to make fun of each other, it makes me smile as I remember some of the verses.

A boli expresses situations and their emotions. Usually a boli is sung and introduced by one woman, and then other women/girls form a chorus. These boliyan are usually passed down generation by generation, each generation being taught by its predecessor. It is through this process that boliyan have been refined and passed on from long ago. Commonly women do giddha (traditional Punjabi dance) and sing boliyan, they have a uniform rhythm, and often their appeal is enhanced by a meaningless rhyme being added to them, that what makes them fun, they take you to another place.

Giddha is usually performed in circles. Whilst dancing the giddha, the women sing, sometimes to the heavy bass of the dholak (drum) or to the beat of clapping. The leader (woman) of the chorus sings the boli, which the chorus repeats. The dholak or clapping is in keeping with the rhythm, helping build an explosive and fun atmosphere.

(07/07/2022)

Duph ધૂપ by Meera Darji - Senior Lecturer in Film & Digital Production

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This series is an experiment of scanned artefacts that each has its own memory and meaning. I have gathered these items over the years from things that have been passed down to me, items that I have collected and other objects which I use everyday. Each individual artefact is something that belongs to me, shapes my identity and enriches my heritage.

It is a sensorial experience. It is not only the mere artefact alone and what it represents but the abundance of senses it enlightens. This which embodies a place, space and specific time.

I get asked a lot, what is your mother tongue? My answer often goes to Gujarati. Although I know it is English too. I never really understood that question because my identity is paired between the two. This scanned art quite perfectly portrays my identity and somewhat subconsciously it answers the question inexplicably.

The blue cotton saree સાડી [sadi] has been passed down from my grandmother. It is a reminder of the altitude of my ancestral migration, a saree sewn in the villages of India, worn through her married years in Kampala, Uganda (East Africa) and carried overseas, migrated to United Kingdom to the city of Leicester.

The silver anklet ચાંદી પાયલ [chandi payal] is something I yearned to wear every Navratri (dance festival) yet I had to always wait for my ankles to grow before I could fit into them. The delicate clasps and subtle jingles in every step I take invigorated my deepness in the culture I embrace.

The postal stamp merely a reminder of my sealed fate in a new land of which I embrace these precious artefacts and have built my home. Yet my heritage never leaves despite the walks I take through the valleys and peaks where I pick leaves and flowers, dissecting its delicate veins and wondering where it may have stemmed from.

I know sentimental items often are associated with past and memories but to me these shape who I am. Although I live in England and although I am British born, I know India runs through me and my mother tongue is weaved within this paradox. Often, I feel like an outsider here, possibly too Indian and sometimes I may be too British when I visit India. And so this idea of home still ponders my mind. I once read that home isn’t a place but it’s within you and so if my Indian heritage lives in my heart then I truly know who I am and where I belong. Perhaps I am so accustomed to carry these feelings, these ideas and pieces with me as they help invigorate my soul and enlighten my identity.

I could not begin to entirely dissect this image since each one part is hinged on another, and the piece is best understood as all parts that connect to a whole, and not otherwise. Each fold, each stitch, every leaf, letter and curve helps me to recognise who I am and commemorates my Indian heritage.

This series is a work in development which I hope to exhibit through projections in next year’s South Asian Heritage Month. Below is a poem I wrote that anchors the piece.

આ અગરબત્તી
મને શક્તિ આપે છે
મારા ઘરમાં
મારી ઓળખ
હું આ લાકડીઓ લઈ જઈશ
કાયમ
કૃપા કરીને દૂર ન લો

these incense sticks
invigorate
my home
my identity
I will carry these sticks
forever
please don’t take them away

Dhup ધૂપ by Meera Darji (01/07/2022)

Celebration of my heritage by Rashmi Dave - EA/Business Support Team Lead

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Many years ago I visited India for the first time. I had always wanted to visit India and the Taj Mahal, what an iconic monument, beautifully made of marble. Apart from visiting Delhi I also went to Jaipur and visited the Red Fort Palace, even though I had gone for 3 weeks the time flew by and I still had so much to see.

My ancestors originate from India so I thought I would fit right in but it really a culture shock when I arrived. The sounds, smells and hustle and bustle of normal life was like nothing I had ever experienced before. I had seen lots of programs on television about India but to actually experience it was something out of this world. I travelled to India with my Grandma, Uncle and Aunt and was lucky enough to meet my Great Grandma and my Grandma’s brothers and sisters, as well as visiting my ancestral town on my Father’s side.

My family originate from Gujarat which is in the North West of India, both my set of grandparents, decided to immigrate to Africa after which, my parents made the bold and brave move to immigrate to England in the late 60’s. I was born in the North West of England and have lived in England all my life so for me to go to India for the first time was such an adventure and I was really excited to meet my extended family and understand more about my heritage and culture.

My visit to India was humbling and taught me how one person’s decision can change another person’s life, without them even knowing and also it made me realise how lucky and blessed my life is to be a British Asian women living in England. I have had so many wonderful opportunities in my personal and professional life living in Britain and I feel proud of the contributions my fellow South Asian friends and family have made to integrate and contribute to the success of Britain.

This photo not only represents my heritage but is a celebration of the life my family have built in England. (01/07/2022)

Weddings by Sheela Patel - University Academic Business Manager

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Indian weddings are community events. They bring together friends and family from near and far to actively participate in the all the tradition and ceremonies as well as wishing the couple well. Weddings also support the wider need of the community by keeping people connected and encouraging conversations and connections.

It’s only recently, post lockdown, that I have appreciated and understood the impact of the reduced number of gatherings can have on the community and particularly the elderly who love meeting people and who enjoy participating in the many wedding rituals. Indian weddings run over a few days and each event has different focus. It is usual for the community to offer their support to make the wedding a success. Each close family member has a defined role in the wedding ceremony and by working as a unit they are offering their love and support to the couple.

When my children where younger the thought of getting dressed up and then coercing young children into Indian outfits was tough; but over the years they have come to enjoy wearing traditional clothes and look forward to meeting distant relatives. They are making their own connections and increasing their network.

Events that involve a community will help keep traditions alive for the next generation, as it would be such a shame if the religious significance behind the rituals was lost. Weddings are one of many events that keep the community engaged and connected. (01/07/2022)

India to the Caribbean by Melina Healy - Learning and Development Lecturer

SAHMMelinaimage In 1838 East Indians were bought to the Caribbean as indentured labourers to replace the slaves bought from west Africa after the abolition of slavery

1838-1917 half a million Indians were bought to the Caribbean. Trinidada, Guyanna and Jamaica.

They settled across the Caribbean and became part of the rich tapestry that is the Caribbean today.

(01/07/2022)

Poem by Chelsea Kielash Persad (Student)

This poem was written as a piece for my undergraduate creative writing portfolio in 2016. It is based on the field trips my classmates and I used to attend at the Montrose Vedic primary school in Trinidad. Our school was old, small, wooden and held over seven hundred children from the Chaguanas region. Our schooling system was quite traditional as we prayed for an hour in the morning before classes, as well as, sang bhajans from the Vedic Upasana (book of prayer). There were also regular Havans (prayers) and learning Hindi was a part of our curriculum as was celebrating Divali and Phagwa. Growing up in such a multi-cultural society and being predominantly influenced by Western media, I remember how disorienting it felt to be in such a traditional school. As a child, I felt separate from my Indian heritage and longed for freedom from it, a freedom I often felt while on school field trips. Now that I am older and have since attended a multitude of Catholic schools including two Catholic Universities in London, my perspective on my heritage has changed.

Most of the children who attended my primary school were of East Indian descent and came from low or middle-income households. Our opportunities were limited because of this. What was afforded to us was a simple education under a Hindu board that gave us a chance to progress past our [parents’] socioeconomic positions. After studying in the UK and finally being able to access all the opportunities I did not have as a child, I realised that they brought me immense joy and gratitude but also highlighted a sadness that I had carried with me for so long. I always longed to escape to the Western world, but it is in really remembering and accepting where I came from that I am learning to find my happiness. (11/09/2016)