- Thursday, April 25, 2024
THE history of British Asians has mostly been told in fragments. There is no similarly-storied moment of arrival, as that of the Windrush to symbolise the multiple journeys across the 1950s-1970s that made Asian communities Britain’s largest minority group. A potted history of race in Britain might often jump from…
A LEADING fertility doctor has urged more British Asians to sign-up as sperm and egg donors after a recent report found the birth rates after IVF (vitro fertilisation) were lower among black and Asian patients than their white counterparts. Research found that while the average IVF birth rate per embryo…
Driving around with hockey sticks in the boot of the car and stockpiling petrol bombs to defend themselves are among some of the gripping accounts that make up a new UK documentary chronicling racist attacks faced by British Indians in the 1970s and 80s. Defiance: Fighting the Far Right, a…
EASTERN EYE readers who want to discover how British artists have depicted colonialism and slavery over the centuries should visit the Royal Academy’s (RA) latest exhibition. Entangled Pasts 1768-Now: Art, Colonialism and Change is the RA’s “brave” response to the Black Lives Matter movement and the toppling of slave…
AWARD-WINNING director Iqbal Khan decided to take on the new adaptation of the Partition-based play Silence as he wished to build on the legacy of his late friend, former Tara Arts artistic director Abdul Shayek. Shayek directed the original production at the Donmar Warehouse in 2022 and had developed this…
LEADING public and private sector organisations need to do more attract ethnic minorities to their boardrooms, Kalpesh Solanki, managing director at Asian Media Group (AMG), told attendees at the GG2 Leadership & Diversity Awards. In December 2023, only 44 per cent of the UK’s top 50 largest private companies had…
PRIME MINISTER Rishi Sunak paid tribute to hundreds of Post Office branch managers, including several British Asians, as a new law to quash their wrongful convictions was introduced on Wednesday (13). Sunak had pledged action in the historic Post Office scandal involving a faulty accounting software named Horizon, which wrongly…
We are often fascinated when we spot a person of colour in British entertainment, be it cinema, series or any other source of entertainment. On this International Women's Day, we made a list of women who have brought colours to the British entertainment sector and have not only won the…
Prime minister Rishi Sunak paid tribute to the “incredible contribution of south Asian people to our economy and our society” as he congratulated winners at the annual GG2 Leadership and Diversity awards. Sunak also witnessed the unveiling of the GG2 Power List which profiles the country’s 101 most influential and…
The Award-winning British Indian musician Nitin Sawhney, who had to withdraw from Australia’s premier world music festival WOMADelaide due to a medical emergency, has revealed that he ‘had a heart attack’ a few days ago. Known for musical scores in over 70 films, including for a screen adaptation of Salman…
TIME is money”, but what does the expression really mean, especially to British Asians? This is the question finance guru Charles Crowson is eminently qualified to answer. Speaking to Eastern Eye, the author of Jam Tomorrow? Why Time Really Matters In Economics recalled the Indian boys who had studied with…
In the heart of Greater Manchester, a hidden gem beckons the taste buds of locals and curious visitors alike – the legendary 'Rice and Three' cafes. Nestled in the Northern Quarter, these unassuming eateries offer a uniquely Mancunian twist to south Asian cuisine. In the 1980s, the concept of 'Rice…
Riz Ahmed-led Left Handed Films has joined hands with BAFTA–winning Rogan Productions and GroupM Motion Entertainment to produce a racism docuseries Defiance for Channel 4. Defiance is set to examine how Britain’s Asian community was targeted with a campaign of violence and murder between 1976 and 1981, as National Front…
MIKE ALLBUT was a broadcasting pioneer who played a major role in the transition of Asian programmes on BBC local radio in England from targeting first generation immigrant communities to reaching out to young British Asians. Born in Scotland and raised in Suffolk, Allbut moved to Leicester in the 1970s…
BRITISH Bangladeshis have told Eastern Eye of the “trauma” they face living in cramped housing, as data shows that more people from this community live in social housing compared to other south Asian communities. British Asians were overall least likely to live in social housing, but there were significant variations…
THE historian Kusoom Vadgama does not think Sir Sajid Javid’s plan to build a monument to honour Muslim soldiers who fought for Britain during the two world wars is a good one, because she feels it would be a divisive gesture. Her argument is that Hindu, Muslim and Sikh soldiers…
THE British Asian community, which has long been supported by King Charles from the days he was a young Prince of Wales, is now rallying round the 75-year old monarch following his cancer diagnosis on Monday (5). Since the King is also head of the Commonwealth, just as Queen Elizabeth…
ENGLISH football clubs have been shown a yellow card by campaigners over a lack of progress after failing to meet their hiring targets for south Asian coaches. Recent data from the Football Association (FA) showed the 53 clubs signed up to the Football Leadership Diversity Code (FLDC) collectively failed to…
UGANDA’S president, Yoweri Museveni, has appealed to British Asians expelled by Idi Amin more than half a century ago to “build a living bridge between their newfound homes in the United Kingdom and the cherished homeland of their forefathers”. His emotional message was aimed at some 30,000 refugees – and…
KING CHARLES’S cancer diagnosis has shocked the whole country, but will be felt especially keenly by the British Asian community, for whom he has cared as long as anyone can remember. He said as much when his private secretary, Sir Clive Alderton, attended the Hinduja Diwali party in October 2022…
NOBODY expected this first India versus England Test match to turn into an all-time cricket classic. Having not set a 4am alarm on the first day, I woke to hear India already taking their sixth English wicket. That first batting collapse came just after lunch in Hyderabad, but well before…
BRITAIN is on course to elect its most diverse parliament ever following the general election later this year, a thinktank has said, while a leading Conservative parliamentarian has urged MPs to better engage with ethnic minority voters. Based on current candidate selections, a record number of ethnic minority MPs are…
BRITISH Asians have a higher rate of catching the life-threatening condition sepsis compared to other population groups, a study found. The illness, which kills around 48,000 people every year in the UK, occurs when the body overreacts to an infection and starts attacking its own tissues and organs. Leading doctors…
MPs and immigration experts have criticised ministers for “deliberately targeting” British Asian families in their quest to get immigration figures down. Home secretary, James Cleverly, announced last week (13) that from April 2024, the minimum salary threshold for UK nationals and permanent residents applying to bring family members to join…
A GROUND-BREAKING year in entertainment saw glass ceilings shattered, greater heights conquered, creative horizons expanded, and new paths carved globally. There was also ground-breaking work, international crossovers, and exciting new talent announcing their arrival. Top south Asian talent from diverse fields were at the forefront of the marvellous moves being…
THE British Asian business community clearly has done well, as the Eastern Eye Asian Rich List 2024 shows. The entry point to get onto the list 13 years ago was £25 million. Last year it was £120m, and this year the figure has gone up to £125m. Even allowing for…
Phizzical Productions has announced the UK tour of Shahid Iqbal Khan's Olivier-nominated play, 10 Nights! Audiences will get to experience one man's spiritual journey of self-discovery after he decides to participate in Iʿtikāf - the Islamic practice of staying in a mosque and fasting for the last ten nights of…
BRITISH ASIANS are being encouraged to visit National Trust properties as the organisation is striving to improve diversity among its members, volunteers and staff, its director general Hilary McGrady told Eastern Eye in an exclusive interview. As Europe’s premier conservation charity, the trust safeguards more than 500 historic houses, castles,…
SOUTH Asian families have been warned about potential hefty inheritance tax bills over their property portfolios. Ahead of the chancellor Jeremy Hunt’s Autumn Statement on Wednesday (22), experts highlighted a lack of awareness among some first-generation British Asians about the tax rules on real estate. The average property wealth of…
AS A SPECIAL treat in time for Diwali, the Royal Horticultural Society has given Kalpesh and Shailesh Solanki, Eastern Eye’s group managing editor and executive editor respectively, an exclusive guided tour of its famed garden at Wisley in Surrey. The idea is to encourage more British Asians to discover the…
A HIGHER proportion of British Asian children are classed as overweight compared to other groups, according to government data. Experts have expressed concerns over the disproportionate number of youngsters of Indian, Pakistani and Bangladeshi origin who are having weight problems when they turn 10 or 11. Some 36.2 per cent…
THE government is pressuring the BBC to refer to Hamas as “terrorists” instead of “militants” or “fighters” in its news reports. But ministers should reflect on the consequences of taking such a stance. The BBC is part of British soft power precisely because it is independent of government. Take, for…
RESEARCHERS have called on the government to prioritise funding towards analysing the impact of racism on mental health, saying countries such as the US were “way further ahead” in this area. A study by the Centre for Mental Health and King’s College London found that both past and present experiences…
BRITISH ASIANS in England and Wales are least likely to be living in care homes, according to an analysis of Census 2021 data. Figures released by the Office for National Statistics (ONS) on Monday (9) showed that less than one per cent (0.95 per cent) of the care home population…
WE SHOULD not forget that Covid took a terrible toll on the Asian community during the pandemic – and now, ominously, a new variant, BA.2.86, is making the rounds. “Honestly, we don’t know too much about it,” said my local pharmacist. Should masks again be mandatory on the London Underground…
STOP and searches of British Asians by police in England and Wales were 1.4 times higher than those from a white group for the year ending March 2023, figures show. In England and Wales, there were eight stop and searches of individuals from an Asian background per 1,000 population during…
IS BRITAIN “a fantastic multicultural democracy” emerging as a role model of how to make diversity work? Or do a toxic combination of immigration and multiculturalism pose an existential threat to our social fabric and survival as a democratic nation? Both arguments were advanced from the senior echelons of government…
WITH more British Asian podcasts than ever before, there is a great variety of shows on offer for avid listeners. The popular medium is also giving those who have never thought about broadcasting an avenue to express their opinions to a worldwide audience. With all that in mind, Eastern Eye…
THE use of laughing gas by young British Asians is a growing problem with tougher punishments needed for possession, according to doctors and community experts. Nitrous oxide, sold in small metal canisters or balloons, can lead to a host of health problems. After cannabis, nitrous oxide is the most commonly…
THE Royal Horticultural Society (RHS) recognises that it has become difficult for young people to own their own homes – which is why it is holding a show devoted to indoor plants. Those with access to outdoor gardens during the pandemic lockdowns were lucky, but others who own or rent…
THOSE who pursue romantic love across boundaries of caste, religion or class in India are even today “just asking to be murdered”, says the historian Joya Chatterji, emeritus professor of South Asian History at Cambridge University. She has given several examples of love leading to murder in her new book,…
THE billionaire owners of B&M are believed to be in the running to buy collapsed retail chain Wilko, which announced last week it was closing its doors, putting 400 stores and 12,500 jobs at risk. B&M, which is owned by brothers Simon, Bobby and Robin Arora, has been told by…
GENDER-NEUTRAL or unisex toilets, where men and women mingle sometimes in intimate spaces, are not for British Asians, given they are conservative in such matters. The National Portrait Gallery in London, which had separate toilets, has come back after its £41.3 million renovation with unisex toilets. They have also been…
INDIA on Tuesday (15) completed 76 years as an independent country. The historian, Ramachandra Guha, provided a report card in a long article in the Sunday Times (13), headed, “Can India be the next superpower?” Guha, known to be a critic of the Indian prime minister Narendra Modi, whose Bharatiya…
EVERYONE knows that the easiest way to win an election is to “encourage” the opposition candidate to stand down. In Pakistan, Imran Khan has been cancelled by the army. He should have known those who live by the army die by the army. He has been given a three-year jail…
THE proportion of British Asian and other ethnic minority candidates applying for UK universities has increased this year while interest from white Britons has declined. There were 52,460 applicants of British Asian background, up four per cent over the previous year and the number of white Britons applying for degree…
RISING superstar Adam Azim has targeted a fight with former unified lightweight world champion George Kambosos once he returns from injury. Azim, who is under the tutelage of Amir Khan, was scheduled to headline at York Hall last Friday (16) against Aram Fanyan but was forced to pull-out after his…
NOBODY would today tell the story of post-war migration to Britain without reference to the Windrush. The scale of attention to this week’s 75th anniversary of the boat’s arrival, at Tilbury Dock in 1948, speaks of its importance as a historic moment. It has become a symbolic ‘origins story’ of…
ENGLAND’S world cup winning cricketer Adil Rashid is among the British Asian names recognised in King Charles’s inaugural Birthday Honours List announced today. With doctors, politicians, educators, authors, community leaders and philanthropists among the 11 per cent of recipients coming from an ethnic minority background, the list showcases the immense…
Author Vaseem Khan has told Eastern Eye of his ambition to attract a more diverse membership as he agreed to take on the chairmanship of the Crime Writers’ Association (CWA). As the first non-white person occupying the top post of the 70-year-old organisation, Vaseem spoke of his hope that taking…
THE Chelsea Flower Show hosted its first wedding this year. Having designed the Garden of Unity for Eastern Eye and the Royal Horticultural Society, Manoj Malde married his partner, Clive Gillmor amidst its bright orange and pink marigolds, its array of vegetables, fruit and diya oil lamps, intended as a…
A play – set in 1887 and exploring the lives of Indian ayahs, sailors and servants in the heart of the British Raj – still has a lot to say about modern society, playwright Tanika Gupta MBE has said, as her work is set to return this July. After a…
The head of the Royal Air Force (RAF), Air Chief Marshal Sir Mike Wigston, has said increased diversity in the armed forces is “mission critical” in future battles as he vowed to attract the “brightest and best of every single community”. Currently, 2.1 per cent of all RAF service personnel…
British Indian children are being diagnosed with autism nearly two years later on average than white British youngsters, according to a new study. Toddlers of Indian origin in the UK were diagnosed at 68 months, compared to 48 months for their white counterparts. Researchers also found that British Indian parents…
British Asian leaders have praised King Charles for using his coronation an essentially Christian ceremony which also showcased Britain’s “diversity of faith and communities” to pledge his life to service. Last Saturday’s (6) coronation of the King as monarch of the UK and 14 Commonwealth countries was the first in…
For the hundreds of guests at the event, Saturday (6) will be a once-in-a-lifetime opportunity and a day that they are unlikely to forget. More than 850 people have received a special invitation to King Charles’ coronation at Westminster Abbey in London. Over 450 recipients of the British Empire Medal…
London mayor Sadiq Khan has accused the government of trying to alienate “certain groups of people” from the democratic process with the introduction of photo IDs which will be mandatory from next month’s local elections. Voters must show photo ID to get their ballot paper at polling stations on May…
Whether it is starring in films, on TV or his game-changing role in super hit 2022 web series Ms Marvel, Rish Shah has made an amazing impact in a short space of time and turned heads with his terrific talent. The British Asian actor adds to his impressive list of…
HOW low should you go when campaigning to govern? Westminster’s Easter weekend was dominated by a fierce arguments about campaign ethics after both major parties sought to make political capital from child sexual abuse. “Do you think adults convicted of sexually assaulting children should go to prison? Rishi Sunak doesn’t”…
THIS appears to be the age of rising Asian power. Certainly British Asians have never before had so much presence, more voice or more status in British public life. The pace of change has been extraordinary. Prime Minister Rishi Sunak and Scottish First Minister Humza Yousaf were born in the…
Humza Yousaf on Monday (27) became the first Muslim to be elected as a national leader in any western democracy, five months after Sunak walked into Downing Street as the UK’s first Asian and Hindu prime minister. A prominent Asian parliamentarian told Eastern Eye on Tuesday (28) that both appointments…
TRUST in policing matters – but trust must be earned. One of the most harrowing features of the brutal abduction and murder of Sarah Everard was how it highlighted the tragic dangers when those in positions of trust are allowed to abuse the coercive powers of the state without being…
RISHI SUNAK paid tribute to his family as his elevation to become Britain’s first Asian prime minister kept him on top of the 2023 GG2 Power List for the second consecutive year and was also recognised with a coveted award in London on Tuesday (7). Sunak tops the ranking of…
THE first brilliant album of 2023 has been the recently released masterpiece Ghazals &Thumris From The Musical Heart of Budapest. Leading Indian artists have collaborated with the incredible Budapest Symphony Orchestra (BSO) for the cool collection of ghazals and thumris recorded live. This is the third South Asian led album…
Labour leader Keir Starmer and London mayor Sadiq Khan have reaffirmed the party’s commitment to diversity while highlighting the contribution of south Asians to the UK’s growth. At a fundraising gala dinner hosted by Labour in London on Wednesday (1), they said inclusiveness made Britain a strong country where aspiration…
ACCLAIMED musician Nitin Sawhney won the top award at Eastern Eye’s annual Arts, Culture and Theatre Awards (ACTAs), which recognise the achievements of Britain’s south Asian community in the arts, creative and media industries. Sawhney, whose latest album, Immigrants, examines the complexities of identities in modern Britain, was presented The…
Parminder Nagra, best known for portraying Jess Bhamra in Gurinder Chadha’s Bend It Like Beckham (2002) and Dr. Neela Rasgotra in the NBC medical drama series ER, is set to return to headline the second series of her hugely popular and thought-provoking crime drama DI Ray. Parminder stars in the…
PRIME MINISTER Rishi Sunak and his wife Akshata Murty have made their debut on the Asian Rich List 2022, which profiles the 101 wealthiest Asians in Britain. Sunak and his wife – whose father NR Narayana Murthy co-founded Indian IT major, Infosys – are ranked 17th in the list, with…
ENGLAND winning consistently at cricket still feels a little bit out of character. Yet last weekend’s World Cup victory makes England champions in both the 20-over and 50-over formats, after a sweeping defeat of India in the semi-final was followed by a strong bowling performance that put the final beyond…
British Asians experienced a much larger fall than other groups in planned hospital care during the pandemic, new analysis has revealed, highlighting how the health emergency worsened racial disparities. While age- and sex-standardised procedure rates fell by 44 per cent in the white group, the drop in elective procedure rates…
Gareth Thomas MP has called for investment in teaching South Asian languages in the UK to strengthen the country's ties with the Indian subcontinent. The Labour-Cooperative Party parliamentarian for the Greater London constituency of Harrow West said south Asian languages should receive the same state financial support as given to…
SANJANA MODHA ON GOOD FOOD AND HER CROWDFUNDED BOOK Social media has become a special space to share great recipes, cooking ideas and healthy eating advice. A popular online British expert providing top tips to prepare sumptuous meals is Sanjana Modha. She has gone from writing an unknown food blog…
Being the first ethnic minority in any job brings a lot of pressure and becoming Prime Minister, particularly in the current climate, is no easy feat. As the first woman of colour in the Welsh Parliament, I have no qualm in saying that any role where a person bears the…
In a momentous day, Britain’s first south Asian prime minister, who became the Conservative Party leader on Diwali day [24], has vowed to unite the country and his riven party. Speaking on the steps of Number 10, Rishi Sunak, a practising Hindu, told the country that he would be a…
WHAT should you give a man who has got almost everything for Diwali? Most of Rishi Sunak’s parliamentary colleagues decided, after all, that the answer was the leadership of the Conservative party, unopposed, and the chance to be Prime Minister of his country. There are rarely many political rewards for…
I was absolutely delighted to see Rishi Sunak become our first British Asian prime minister and leader of the Conservative Party this week. Not only is Rishi an extraordinarily talented and thoroughly decent man, but he is the embodiment of a seismic and hugely positive shift in attitudes in both…
LIVE PERFORMANCE DARBAR FESTIVAL 2022 When: Until Sunday October 16 Where: Barbican Centre, Silk Street, London EC2Y 8DS What: The annual classical Indian music festival featuring the finest live performers. This year’s line-up includes Shubha Mudgal, Sabir Khan, Ramana Balachandran, Satyajit Talwalkar, Wahane Sisters, Pandit Uday Bhawalkar, Eeshar Singh, Yashwant…
LIVE PERFORMANCE MUSIC OF INDIA: ROOPA PANESAR When: Sunday October 9 Where: Curve Theatre, 60 Rutland Street, Leicester LE1 1SB What: The British sitar maestro, accompanied by tabla master Yashwant Vaishnav, presents an evening of the very best of Indian classical music. www.curveonline.co.uk DARBAR FESTIVAL 2022 When: Thursday October 13-Sunday…
Newly premiered play Silence is a powerful stage adaptation of Kavita Puri’s acclaimed book Partition Voices: Untold British Stories. The theatre production based on testimonies and stories of people who lived through Partition marks 75 years of that brutal moment in history that divided India. The production is being staged…
BRITAIN is ready for an Asian prime minister, Rishi Sunak has said, as the prime ministerial hopeful revealed he was “stung” by racism as a child, but now believes Conservative voters will judge him on his policies, rather than his ethnicity, in the leadership race. In a wide-ranging, exclusive interview…
RISHI SUNAK, former chancellor and a candidate to be the next prime minister, received a hero’s welcome with loud cheering and Indian drums at a hustings event in north London on Monday (22). Sunak’s popularity in the community was evident as more than 650 British Asians from across the country…
The British Asian Trust has announced that a national commemorative event marking the 50th anniversary of the arrival of British Asians from Uganda in the UK will be held at The Guildhall in London on September 18 . The event is being organised in collaboration with British Ugandan Asians at…
PARTITION, for so many people from south Asia, evokes the horrors of the violent and brutal separation of India and the creation of Pakistan. Less mentioned, however, is life before 1947, when people from different cultures and religions lived side by side largely in harmony for many years. Author Kavita…
LEADING Asian MPs and commentators have condemned racist attacks on Asian fans watching the fifth Test between England and India at Edgbaston on Monday (4), which left some “literally in tears”. Footage shared on Twitter showed India supporters being targeted with abuse such as “you smelly P****”. One fan, Anil…
ENGLAND cricketer Moeen Ali has said that the participation of British Asians in football at the professional level is minuscule in the country, according to a report. Asian involvement in UK cricket is healthy even in the backdrop of allegations by former Yorkshire cricketer Azeem Rafiq in which he claimed…
HEALTH authorities need to overcome misconceptions about British Asian communities in order to change an “outdated” dementia care service, according to the researcher whose review found that the system had been “designed for white British patients”. Dr Karan Jutlla’s research highlighted that the system was “totally inadequate” to support dementia…
SATYAJIT RAY was one of India’s greatest film directors and also very highly regarded in the history of world cinema – ironically, however, his work is now largely unknown to a new generation of British Asians, some of whom may not even have heard of his name. The British Film…
WEALTHY British Asians continued to pump money into the Conservative Party with businessman Dr Selva Pankaj making the largest total donation with £78,250 in the first quarter of 2022. Dr Pankaj is the CEO of Regent Group, a London based educational group which has a number of institutes across the…
Author Sir Salman Rushdie and cricketer Moeen Ali are among a number of British Asians honoured in the Queen’s Birthday Honours List published on Wednesday (1). With doctors, politicians, educators, authors, community leaders and philanthropists among the 13.3 per cent of recipients coming from an ethnic minority background, this list showcases…
THE National Theatre’s new play, The Father and the Assassin, examines why Nathuram Godse, initially a supporter of Mohandas Karamchand Gandhi, turned against the Mahatma and shot him dead at a prayer meeting in New Delhi on January 30, 1948. Eastern Eye readers will appreciate this is a multi-layered play,…
THE British Asian landscape designer Manoj Malde has spoken of “creating connections” as part of his new role as an ambassador for the Royal Horticultural Society (RHS) with a remit for “inclusivity” that was announced at the Chelsea Flower Show on Monday (23). That was the day the Queen, who…
THE cost of living crisis is leading to more British Asians from poorer backgrounds being unable to own a home and living with their parents for longer, say experts. They have also noted many from middle class backgrounds are staying in the family home after marriage to look after their…
THIS year’s annual exhibition of the Royal Society of Portrait Painting, with over 200 works on display, drives home that this is a genre where British Asian artists appear to be missing out. There are a few, to be sure, such as Shanti Panchal, Suman Kaur and Akash Bhatt but…
BEING arguably the greatest and most successful south Asian stand-up comedian of all time hasn’t made Russell Peters rest on his laurels. The Canadian trailblazer continues to power on with sellout shows, including the world tour of his brand-new offering Act Your Age, which stops over in the UK for…
THE British Kabaddi League has been launched in Wolverhampton to mark the prominent role of the Midlands in British Kabaddi, a statement said. Eight teams including, Birmingham Bulls, Wolverhampton Wolfpack, Walsall Hunters and Leicester Warriors, alongside London Lions, Edinburgh Eagles, Glasgow Unicorns and Manchester Raiders will participate in the league…
ALLEGATIONS of Islamophobia within the Conservative party have been deeply damaging. They go against the fundamental social fabric of what the party stands for – to promote equality of opportunity to all for a better life, regardless of colour, background or creed. Such allegations must quite rightly be investigated. There…
FORMER Hampshire cricketer has slammed the chairman of Middlesex for his south Asians prefer studies comment. John Holder, who is only non-white British umpire, said Mike O'Farrell's testimony to a racism inquiry by Digital, Culture, Media and Sport Committee, was "utter horse muck". O'Farrell later apologised after commenting that black…
AZEEM RAFIQ’S treatment at Yorkshire and the subsequent racism storm that engulfed English cricket can be a “watershed moment” for the game to addresses its mistakes and make meaningful long-term changes, according to the journalist who the cricketer first spoke to about his ordeal. James Buttler, of the Cricket Badger…
FEW Commons inquiries have had so dramatic an impact as the Culture Select Committee’s probe into racism in cricket published last week. Just announcing the hearings had proved a crucial tipping point towards regime change at Yorkshire County Cricket Club (YCCC), once the chair and chief executive has been invited…
EXPECT AN ACTION-PACKED YEAR FILLED WITH ENTERTAINMENT AND TALENT THE world slowly opening back up again after the awful pandemic means there will be plenty to look forward to this year. From great live events and delayed movies finally releasing to emerging talent, boundary breaking artists and unexpected surprises, it…
By Nylah Salam Human rights campaigner and counter-terrorism commissioner Sara Khan, paediatric cardiology professor Shakeel Ahmed Qureshi, Leicester academic professor Kamlesh Khunti and actor Nitin Ganatra are among several British Asians who have been recognised in the New Year Honour’s List published tonight (31). Khan has been recognised with a…
A TO Z OF AN ACTION-PACKED 2021 FILLED WITH HIGHS, MEMORABLE MOMENTS AND NEW TALENT AFTER a relatively quiet few years, it has been an action-packed year for British Asian artists and music, with songs, albums, performances, comebacks, and interesting innovations. There have also been breakthrough artists and emerging talent,…
MUSICAL maestro Prabhat Rao is keeping young British Asians connected to classical Indian tradition by taking on talented students and getting them to headline events like a forthcoming concert at The Bhavan centre in London on December 4. Thirty students will present a repertoire that evening, which is inspired by…
Diaspora watch ethnic content but UK channels 'do not cater to diverse audiences' entertainment ETHNIC MINORITY viewers in the UK have said watching Asian channels helps them keep in touch with their culture, according to a survey for Ofcom, but the regulator was criticised for not acknowledging that British TV…
LONDONER Dilan Markanday has become a sensation among Asian football fans in the UK. When he took the field for Tottenham Hotspurs in a Europa Conference League match against Vitesse, social media went abuzz about the young midfielder. At 20, Markanday became the first British Asian of Indian heritage to…
By Sunder Katwala Director, British Future thinktank ‘That word – the ‘P**i’ word – has real meaning for me. I don’t need to be told it’s not banter’, said Lord Kamlesh Patel, after becoming the new chair of Yorkshire County Cricket Club because the county’s leadership lost all confidence in…
Figures reveal four in 10 British-Pakistanis still unprotected The health secretary, Sajid Javid, has told Eastern Eye that he is “very concerned” that three in 10 south Asians remained unprotected against Covid. During a meeting of specially invited non-white press and broadcasters, Javid revealed that among British-Pakistanis the take up…
Former Arsenal star Mesut Ozil hopes to boost the numbers of British Asians breaking into professional football after helping launch a development centre in Bradford. The United Kingdom has a South Asian population of more than three million people, which amounts to seven per cent of the population. Yet only…
Call for British Asians to enter RHS competition that even considers mobile photos [caption id="attachment_161610" align="aligncenter" width="750"] The winning entries also featured paintings at the Botanical Art and Photography Show.[/caption] BRITISH Asians are being encouraged to enter the Botanical Art & Photography Show, run annually by the Royal Horticultural Society.…
By Sarwar Alam England all-rounder Moeen Ali, who on Monday announced he was retiring from Test cricket to focus on his white-ball career, said he hopes his achievements can inspire the next generation of British Asian cricketers. The 34-year-old scored five centuries and took 195 wickets in 64 Tests, including…
Pioneering journalist, Yasmin Alibhai-Brown, has revealed how she almost gave up journalism six months ago after a torrid time of threats and abuse. The columnist with the i-newspaper was speaking to Eastern Eye ahead of her historic conversation with the BBC’s Ritula Shah for next week’s (29) event organised by…
THERE is, of course, a risk that some of the violent politics of Afghanistan will spill over on to the streets of Britain. Those refugees coming to Britain from Afghanistan will include people strongly opposed to the Taliban. If they set up opposition groups in Britain, supporters of the Taliban,…
TRAINEE DOCTOR DISCUSSES HER LOVE ISLAND JOURNEY, DATING AND FUTURE PLANS THE recently concluded series of Love Island will be remembered by many for the whirlwind entrance of Priya Gopaldas. The trainee doctor tore up the rulebooks usually associated with the massively popular reality TV show and became one of…
THE September 11 terrorist attack in the United States was a “landmark moment that dramatically shifted how the British public saw Muslims”, race activists said ahead of the 20th anniversary of the tragedy on Saturday (11). Nearly 3,000 people died in coordinated attacks in the US on September 11, 2001,…
Three flags fluttering above the pavilion of London's Oval cricket ground neatly symbolised the interchangeable identities of Britain's ethnic minorities at the fourth Test between England and India on Thursday. A British Union Jack flew highest in the middle, flanked by England's Saint George's Cross and an Indian tricolour, as…
ACTOR TONY JAYAWARDENA DISCUSSES HIS ICONIC ROLE SMASH hit theatre play East Is East has had an incredible run since it premiered in 1996 with multiple productions and a smash hit movie, which spawned a successful sequel. The Ayub Khan Din-written play has perhaps become part of British Asian history…
by NADEEM BADSHAH FOOTBALL may not have come home but the success of the men's and women's England teams has led to a boom in the number of young south Asian female players, according to coaches. Since the 2019 Women's World Cup, rising stars have emerged including England youth international…
THERE are not enough south Asians starring in TV adverts, according to leading actors. They believe progress has been made in making commercials more diverse, but said it is too slow. Some broadcasters feel there are more Asian-origin people cast in mixed-race relationships in adverts, but racial stereotypes remain common. It comes…
LAST week, the UK government confirmed that India would be moved from its red list to amber travel status. The change, which came into effect from last Sunday (8), means fully vaccinated travellers to the UK will no longer have to adhere to the mandatory 10-day hotel quarantine rule. The…
Rishi Sunak tops annual ranking of most influential Asians in the UK PANDEMIC heroes who went above and beyond their call of duty have been honoured in a special edition of the GG2 Power List, which ranks the 101 most influential Asians in Britain. Thirty Asian doctors, nurses and researchers…
AN award-winning former Tameside GP and leading NHS campaigner, Dr Kailash Chand OBE, has passed away at the age of 73. His son Dr Aseem Malhotra said on Twitter his father had suffered a cardiac arrest on Monday evening (26). Dr Chand was one of the most influential Asian doctors…
Back In Time for Birmingham, the latest 4x60 iteration of BBC Two’s popular living history series, which will follow a modern-day British south Asian family. BBC says the family will go “Back in Time” to experience what life in the city would have been like for the previous generations. Commissioned…
Royal Horticultural Society’s festival emphasises wellbeing benefits of activity THE RHS Hampton Court Palace Garden Festival was back in full blossom last week after being off for a year because of the pandemic. It added to my sense of occasion to get up at 5am to catch the 7.02 train…
POLITICAL analysts have detected a dangerous jihadi strain in the Conservative party first detected in Westminster. Those infected with this deadly mutation say: “We want all Covid restrictions lifted, no matter what the cost. Raising alarms about the 25,000 people a day testing positive for the Delta strain from India…
THERE have attempts and campaigns being run to increase representation of British Asian people in professional football, but still the figures remain low. According to a report by the Football Supporters’ Association (FSA) and Beyond Entertainment (BE) last year, British Asians make up seven per cent of the whole population…
England under-19 star Simran Jhamat has been backed to “inspire and the lead the way” for the next generation of female British South Asian footballers. Jhamat, who has played for teams like Liverpool, Coventry and Leicester, became the first Punjabi girl to score at competitive level for England's U17s when…
IT WOULD be ironic if Sajid Javid, who is back from the political wilderness as Matt Hancock’s replacement as health secretary, and Rishi Sunak, who succeeded him 16 months ago as chancellor, fight it out one day for the top job in British politics. Asian vs Asian for the post…
AS THE world watches the European Championships, Eastern Eye asked five football fans to reflect on their identity, what the game symbolises to them and their sense of belonging in the UK. They answered these questions: a. Do you believe the England football team is a symbol which belongs to…
‘WE NEED MORE FACTS AND A DISPASSIONATE ANALYSIS OF HIS ROLE’ DOES Sir Winston Churchill really matter to British Asians? After all, the UK has changed fundamentally in the 56 years since he died in 1965. However, I think that for an understanding of why the English think he was…
LAWYERS and police chiefs have warned British Asians that using the word “coconut” as a slur towards another person risks breaking hate crime laws. They said the jibe, often used towards BAME people by members of their own community, accusing them of shunning their heritage to get ahead, may incite…
By Amit Roy IQBAL KHAN says Ayub Khan Din’s East is East is “as relevant if not a more relevant play than it was in 1996”. He is directing a revival of the play at the Birmingham Repertory Theatre from September 4-21, before it transfers to the 890-seat Lyttelton…
YAN DHANDA always wanted to make a difference for the upcoming British South Asian footballers, and now being part of the Kick It Out Player Advisory Group - will give him that opportunity. He along with other British South Asian footballers such as Mal Benning and Anwar Uddin are part…
EDUCATION leader Hamid Patel, charity boss Javed Khan and period poverty campaigner Amika George are among prominent British Asians named in the Queen’s Birthday Honours List unveiled this evening (11). Patel, chief executive officer of Star Academics in Blackburn, a multi-academy trust which operates 30 free schools and academies, is…
By Amit Roy THE royal family can demonstrate it no longer has a problem recruiting black and Asian staff by giving senior jobs to suitably qualified candidates – ladies in waiting, personal secretaries, senior press officers and the like. Home Office minutes reveal that back in the late 1960s, “coloured…
BATSMAN Usman Khawaja is working with Cricket Australia to ensure more South Asian representation in his adopted country's cricketing ecosystem, about a decade after becoming the first muslim cricketer to wear the baggy green. When he made his international debut at the SCG, his home ground, in an Ashes Test…
FORMER England all-rounder Ravi Bopara is confident The Hundred will act as a launching pad to boost the game in the country. After getting delayed by a year because of the coronavirus pandemic, the innovative new 100-ball franchise-based tournament involving eight men's and women's teams will kick-off on July 21.…
LEADING comedians have come together to raise awareness about hepatitis C and its risk factors in British South Asian communities. Hep C, Ki? is a new campaign by Gilead Sciences and The Hepatitis C Trust, with the support of NHS England, that uses comedy to breakdown barriers of stigma and…
by LAUREN CODLING BRITISH INDIANS have spoken of their feelings of helplessness and anxiety about their families amid India’s devastating second Covid-19 wave, as the country continues to battle against the virus. In recent weeks, India has become overwhelmed by the spike in coronavirus cases which has stretched demand in…
MAYOR, WHO IS SEEKING RE-ELECTION, SAYS 100,000 JOBS WILL BE CREATED FOCUS ON HOSPITALITY AND LAUNCH OF ‘CURRY COLLEGE’ TO TRAIN CHEFS WEST MIDLANDS mayor Andy Street revealed the loss of his mother to Covid-19 has given him a personal understanding of the pandemic’s devastating impact on society. In an…
BRITISH INDIANS who have travelled to India in recent weeks have spoken of the financial difficulties they face returning to the UK, as some find themselves unable to pay for quarantine fees. Due to the growing number of cases of coronavirus in India and more than 130 cases of the…
SADIQ KHAN was elected as the first Asian Mayor of a major European city with the largest personal mandate for any politician in 2016. In the run-up to the mayoral elections next month, he has pledged his support to British Asians in London, claiming his policies “address the needs and…
By Amit Roy THE crucial contribution and valour of Indian soldiers in the two world wars are recognised in a book the Royal British Legion is bringing out to mark its 100th anniversary on May 15. Its author, Julie Summers, told Eastern Eye she had been inspired as a…
By Amit Roy IT WOULD be fair to say that Prince Philip was not very well known to British Asians even though, as the Queen’s consort, he was at the centre of the ruling establishment for more than seven decades. In marked contrast to his eldest son, Prince Charles,…
by LAUREN CODLING LONDON mayor Sadiq Khan has pledged his support to British Asians in the capital in the run-up to the mayoral elections next month, claiming his policies “address the needs and aspirations of the community”. The Labour candidate is currently contesting his second term in the mayoral election,…
As tributes pour in for Prince Philip, we reveal his legacy on British Asians By Barnie Choudhury Prince Philip crossed generational divides and helped south Asians to transform Britain, according to politicians, business, global and Commonwealth leaders. They also told Eastern Eye that the duke was wrongly characterised as racist,…
By Nadeem Badshah BRITISH ASIANS suffering with insomnia during lockdown have been urged against buying sleeping pills online from south Asia. Experts have warned of the potential health risks of buying prescription tablets, which have not been tested in the UK, from the internet. They have highlighted cases of…
By Amit Roy THE report from the Commission on Race and Ethnic Disparities published last week did not say racism does not exist in Britain. In fact, it said the opposite. But in hindsight, it would have been wiser if Dr Tony Sewell, the educational consultant who chaired the commission,…
By Sunder Katwala Director, British Future WHAT Britain needs is a conversation about race, not a shouting match. So, the public debate about the Race and Ethnic Disparities Commission has hardly got off to a good start. The commission’s announcement was greeted it with “inquiry fatigue” – did we…
By Sarwar Alam Wales and Aston Villa star Neil Taylor has urged the British Asian community to not let the current wave of racism in football to stop them sending their children to play the game. High-profile incidents of racism have recently taken place on the pitch and also on…
By Amit Roy THE BBC Breakfast presenters Naga Munchetty and Charlie Stayt triggered a “flaggist” row last week by poking gentle fun at the size of the Union flag in Robert Jenrick’s office when they were interviewing the secretary of state for housing, communities and local government. Perhaps Naga, who…
By Amit Roy IS THE British press racist, as Harry and Meghan alleged in their recent interview with Oprah Winfrey? The problem now is that far too many stories have been slanted against the Duchess of Sussex. Let me give some examples. Meghan’s half-sister, Samantha Markle, who keeps spewing poison,…
By Amit Roy FOR various personal reasons, I have known Prince Charles for a very long time – and there is one thing I can say with absolute confidence. There isn’t a hint of racism in him. To be sure, the interview given by Prince Harry and Meghan to…
By Amit Roy FOR some Tory MPs and right-wing commentators, it seems their highest priority is to get people back into pubs. That would indeed be nice, but perhaps Indians, Pakistanis and other British Asians, many of whom have underlying health problems and have much to fear from Covid-19,…
RDB: Mastered the northern desi sound at the turn of the century and continued to do so for well over 10 years. Growing up in the same community as these three brothers from Bradford, they were an inspiration and were the first artists within British-Asian music to market themselves as…
BRITISH Asian footballer Yan Dhanda has said that lack of action by social media companies over online abuse gives people 'the green light' to repeat it. "They're just adding fire to the hate and proving to the racist people they can get away with it," Dhanda told the BBC Sport.…
By Amit Roy THE BBC reports that the proportion of Pakistanis aged 80 and over refusing to take the vaccine in Bradford is 23 per cent. They are a danger not only to themselves, but to other members of their own families, as well as the NHS and the rest…
By Caroline Dinenage Minister for digital, culture, media, and sport. CONSPIRACY theories are as old as the hills. But with coronavirus forcing us to live more and more of our lives online, they are posing a grave new threat, particularly to Asian communities in the UK. It was Safer…
By CAROLINE DINENAGE, Minister for digital, culture, media and sport TACKLING MISINFORMATION ONLY WAY TO BOOST ASIAN UPTAKE, SAYS MINISTER CONSPIRACY theories are as old as the hills. But with coronavirus forcing us to live more and more of our lives online, they are posing a grave new threat, particularly…
by Mita Mistry BRAND new book Empireland is an utterly fascinating journey to go on. Told in Sanghera’s unique, witty voice, it illustrates how our past is everywhere; from how we think, live and travel to racism and the government’s response to the pandemic. But much of it remains untold.…
By Nadeem Badshah BRITISH Asians with a disability have been among the hardest hit during the coronavirus pandemic, experts have pointed out. Charities have highlighted the closure of face-to face-support services and how vulnerable people were feeling lonely after being isolated from loved and carers while shielding. The death…
AS 2020 drew to a close last Thursday (31), Eastern Eye asked some prominent people to reflect on the year and reveal their hopes for 2021. We asked them: a. What have you learned about yourself in the past year? b. How would you reflect on 2020 and what are…
A LEADING musician, community leaders, campaigners and choreographers are among Asians honoured in the Queen’s New Year Honours List, announced this evening (30). This year’s is the most ethnically diverse list yet, with 14.2 per cent of recipients coming from a black, Asian or ethnic minority (BAME) background. In total,…
By Nadeem Badshah BRITISH Asians have done the fewest hours of recommended exercise compared to other groups since 2015, new government figures show. People of south Asian origin were less likely than average to be physically active in all age groups between 16 and 74 years old in eastern England,…
Dr FARZANA HUSSAIN ANSWERS IMPORTANT QUESTIONS ABOUT THE COVID-19 VACCINE AND HOW IT CAN HELP US GET LIFE BACK ON TRACK FRONTLINE healthcare staff and the elderly were among the first group of people to receive the Covid-19 vaccine as the UK began its immunisation drive on December 8. The…
By Amit Roy BARRISTER and QC Marina Wheeler has given her support to the National Trust which is under attack from a section of the Conservative party for publishing a report on the colonial or slave trading links of nearly 100 of the houses that it looks after. She told…
By Nadeem Badshah THE number of British Asians taking apprenticeships has increased each year since 2015 while the figure has dropped among people from other backgrounds, new figures have revealed. Some 5.5 per cent of people of south Asian origin, 21,370 individuals, signed up for the training schemes in…
by LAUREN CODLING BRITISH ASIANS have been urged to take part in vaccination trials to protect against the coronavirus, as data revealed fewer than five per cent of volunteers were from the community. The participation call comes as phase three clinical trials of pharmaceutical firm Janssen’s Covid-19 vaccine began across…
By Shaun Bailey Conservative candidate for London Mayor WHATEVER our religion and whatever our background, we’re all learning to deal with lockdown and coronavirus restrictions. So it goes without saying that the new normal will affect the celebration of light and new beginnings. But that doesn’t mean Diwali and Bandi…
By Nadeem Badshah MORE British Asians are not letting the coronavirus lockdown ruin their love lives as dating and marriage services have seen a boom in people signing up. The “love lockdown” is over in some households, as websites and mobile apps have registered an increase in people turning to…
High-flying international CEOs do not often come in a more thoughtful and engaging form than Salman Amin, who heads up pladis Global and dominates the biscuit scene in the UK. His vast experience makes Amin a touchstone of wisdom and a clear voice in an uncertain time, especially because he…
By Amit Roy THE British Board of Film Classification (BBFC) is planning a “Bollywood takeover” for Diwali because its CEO David Austin is keen to establish a close working relationship with the British Asian community. “We are doing actually quite a bit for Diwali,” Austin told Eastern Eye in…
LEADING British Asians from the arts, film and television industries have raised concerns about race and the perceptions about minority communities in relation to a recent drama about ‘honour’ killing shown on ITV. Honour, shown on ITV on September 28 and 29, was based on the 2006 murder of Banaz…
LEADING British Asians from the arts, film and television industries have raised their concerns about race and the perceptions about minority communities in relation to a recent drama about honour killing shown on ITV. Honour, shown on ITV on September 28 and 29, was based on the 2006 murder of…
Businessmen, frontline healthcare staff as well as charity workers and volunteers are among Asians in this year’s Queen’s Birthday Honours’ List, whose publication in June was delayed in order to recognise “unsung heroes” of the coronavirus pandemic. Billionaire brothers Zuber Vali Issa and Mohsin Issa, who last week acquired Asda…
By Amit Roy GETTING prominent people to look back on their lives and asking them about what sort of conversation they would have if they meet their teenage selves – “If I could see me now” – has become a staple of British journalism. Undertaking this exercise, Shobna Gulati –…
The British billionaire Issa brothers and private equity group TDR Capital have agreed to buy the supermarket chain Asda from Walmart for an enterprise value of £6.8 billion and plan to roll out more smaller stores. The deal will enable British Asians Mohsin and Zuber Issa, who founded petrol station…
BRITISH Asians received the lowest income from work pensions compared to other groups, according to new government figures. Asians were also the least likely of all ethnicities to get an income from their occupational pension, leading to calls for more awareness to be raised about saving for the future. White…
By Nadeem Badshah NEARLY 90 per cent of British Asians believe that people from different backgrounds get on well in their local area, a higher percentage than other groups, research has revealed. Community leaders have welcomed the results of the government study, which found 86 per of people of south…
Asian staff in despair as select committee MPs question Davie by BARNIE CHOUDHURY SOUTH ASIAN staff have told Eastern Eye their boss is in denial about the extent of racism in the BBC. The director general, Tim Davie, appeared before MPs on Tuesday (29) for a marathon session about the…
TWO British Asian contestants were revealed as the latest line-up for the popular cooking show The Great British Bake Off. Makbul, a 51-year-old accountant from Greater Manchester, will be joined by Sura, a 31-year-old pharmacy dispenser from London, in competing for the Bake Off title. [caption id="attachment_114850" align="aligncenter" width="608"] Makbul[/caption]…
By Amit Roy EVER wondered what the priest is actually saying when he leads prayers in Sanskrit at Hindu religious ceremonies? Most people tend to repeat the words after the priest without understanding what they mean but now help is at hand. Prof Diwakar Nath Acharya, who is the…
by LAUREN CODLING THE mayor of London, Sadiq Khan, has condemned critics for blaming Asian communities for spikes in Covid-19, claiming some were using the virus as “a way to divide communities”. In recent months, local lockdowns have been implemented in areas in Leicester, Greater Manchester and Blackburn – cities…
Whilst there may not be as many Asian footballers playing in England as some people would like, there are still a few making an impact in the country. Quite why British Asians are generally underrepresented in professional football remains something of a mystery and it will hopefully be rectified in…
By Nadeem Badshah FEWER British Asian teenagers are going to university, with opposition MPs and business leaders warning that students are being put off by rising debt levels. The tradition in many Asian families of children getting a degree appears to be changing, with new government figures showing that 73…
By Dr Darren Henley OBE Chief Executive Arts Council England COVID-19 has had a devastating effect on people across the country, on businesses and on the wider economy. It is also severely impacting every element of the country’s cultural sector – with social distancing and lockdown measures bringing the work…
TWO British Asian men have featured on the list of 36 nominees elevated to the House of Lords. While Aamer A. Sarfraz, is a social entrepreneur and treasurer of the Conservative Party, was part of the dissolution peerages list, academic Prem Sikka was nominated by former Labour leader Jeremy Corbyn. Sarfraz…
By Mark Lyonette Chief Executive National Pharmacy Association (NPA) ONE of the striking features of coronavirus is the disproportionate impact it has had on black and minority ethnic groups. Many pharmacies in the UK are owned and operated by British Asians, and an estimated 43 per cent of pharmacy staff…
By Sarwar Alam Vikram Solanki’s appointment as Surrey’s head coach will help open the door for the next generation British Asian coaches, according to the National Asian Cricket Council (NACC). Solanki, 44, became the first British Asian head coach of a county cricket team after he was chosen to take…
By Sunder Katwala Director British Future thinktank BLACK lives matter. That has been the central theme of protests in America and Britain against racial inequality. The British demonstrations showed solidarity with those protesting the shocking killing of George Floyd in America, yet their main message was to highlight how much…
By Amit Roy EASTERN EYE was considering doing an interview with the Indian-origin entrepreneur Nirmal Sethia when he hit the national headlines last Monday (25) for quite an unexpected reason – there was panic in north London when a “big cat” was spotted in the garden of his spacious home…
By Nadeem Badshah THE lockdown has sparked a boom in families re-watching classic south Asian soaps and dramas, figures show. With filming for Bollywood films and serials being paused over the pandemic, fans have welcomed TV channels such as Star Plus, Colours Rishtey and Zee all replaying serials from the…
By Amit Roy A LEADING diabetes doctor has advised British Asians on how they can reduce their risks from Covid-19 by taking up NHS programmes aimed at dealing with the disease. The comments from Prof Partha Kar, national speciality adviser for diabetes for NHS England, follow the publication last week…
by LAUREN CODLING THE majority of pregnant women admitted to hospital with coronavirus are from a black, Asian and ethnic minority background, a new study has shown. According to the UK Obstetric Surveillance System (UKOSS), 55 per cent of pregnant women admitted to hospital with coronavirus over March and April…
By Amit Roy DURING the current pandemic, what more can be done to save the lives of British Asians? The government has finally recognised there is a disproportionate number of deaths from coronavirus among ethnic minorities. It has asked Prof Kevin Fenton, regional director of public health at PHE (Public…
by LAUREN CODLING BROADCASTER Adil Ray has called out the government and mainstream media’s “utter systemic failure” to communicate Covid-19 advice to British Asian communities. His comments follow the release of a new coronavirus advice video co-organised by Ray, and tailored to reach the Asian community. It was initiated following…
SCHEME BENEFICIARY SWAPPED LAW CAREER FOR ‘CREATIVE’ LIFE OF CHILDREN’S BOOKS by AMIT ROY NOW more than ever is the time for lockdown literature, and Rashmi Sirdeshpande is urging budding British Asian authors to respond to Penguin’s WriteNow scheme aimed at discovering “under-represented writers across the UK” – just as…
EXPERTS have warned the government to “act now” as new statistics showed a disproportionate number of British Asians have been affected by Covid-19. New data revealed a third of patients in intensive care were of BAME heritage, while the health secretary, Matt Hancock, confirmed last week that 19 NHS workers…
THE DIVERSE INTERACTIVE ACTIVITIES KEEPING PEOPLE ENGAGED DURING COVID-19 by ASJAD NAZIR VARIOUS individuals are demonstrating that self-isolation doesn’t mean solitary confinement by giving all those indoors during the lockdown ways to keep connected. From fitness and cooking classes to quizzes and Bollywood parties, technology is being used to keep…
By Shirley Cramer CBE Chief executive of the Royal Society for Public Health THE Royal Society for Public Health (RSPH) is monitoring the developing coronavirus situation and striving to share accurate information and advice in this unprecedented time. As the crisis deepens across the UK and around the world, we…
by LAUREN CODLING and S NEERAJ KRISHNA THOUSANDS of Britons “stranded” in India following the Covid-19 pandemic will be repatriated in the coming days, the UK government announced on Monday (30). The response comes after a number of British nationals stranded in India accused the UK government of “abandoning” them…
PROMINENT personalities from all walks of life – in the UK, India, and abroad, have paid tributes to Ramniklal Solanki, the editor-in-chief and founder of the Asian Media Group (AMG), who passed away on March 1 in India following a short illness. This is a small selection from the many messages received…
by LAUREN CODLING A CANDIDATE in the race for Labour’s deputy leadership has admitted the party “lost trust with voters” following its crushing defeat in the December general election. Tooting MP Dr Rosena Allin-Khan is up against fellow MPs Richard Burgon, Dawn Butler, Ian Murray and Angela Rayner in the…
By Amit Roy What was Ramniklal Solanki really like as a man? In all the years that I have known him, I can honestly say I have never heard him raise his voice or lose his temper. He always came across as gentle. If I had a camera to hand,…
by LAUREN CODLING BRITISH-ASIAN music star Riaz Ahmad has opened up about the inspirations behind his debut solo record as it was released in the UK last week. All At Sea, which Ahmad said took him around two years to write and record, touches on a number of themes including…
by NADEEM BADSHAH MINISTERS are failing to do enough to attract British Asians to teaching after new figures revealed they continue to shun the profession, unions and campaigners said. Just 0.6 per cent of teachers were of Bangladeshi origin in 2018 with the community representing 0.8 per cent of the…
PRINCE CHARLES named Katy Perry as British Asian Trust’s new ambassador at a gala dinner in London on Tuesday (February 4). Amid all the buzz the glitzy event generated, the move sparked online outrage as some people slammed it as a reflection of “white saviour complex”. Describing his meeting with…
by LAUREN CODLING BRITISH ASIANS need to be made more aware of pension schemes, experts have said, as new research showed ethnic minority pensioners are 24 per cent “worse off” annually than their white counterparts. The Measuring the Ethnicity Pension Gap report by The People’s Pension highlighted the average pensioner…
By Sarwar Alam A long-serving member of the Royal Air Force has urged the BAME community to explore the incredible career opportunities the organisation has to offer. Warrant Officer (WO) Balbir Singh Flora, who has been a part of the RAF for 42-years, says it feels like British Asians in…
By Amit Roy LONDON has many wonderful musicals, aimed primarily at American tourists, but there is a buzz this week among British Asians about Umrao Jaan Ada, which will be running for seven shows at Sadler’s Wells Theatre. Hoping to catch the musical, I once again watched the 1981…
By Nadeem Badshah FEWER British Asians are taking part in the arts compared to other ethnic groups, the latest government figures have revealed. Campaigners have expressed concern after data showed that 59 per cent of Asians aged 16 and older went to an exhibition or performed in a play…
by LAUREN CODLING A LEADING psychiatrist has warned that political disagreements between families on social media could have a detrimental effect on their mental health. The trend of users taking to social media to express thoughts on a “number of sensitive issues” has increased, Dr Vidya Narayanan, a researcher at…
by LAUREN CODLING A LEADING psychiatrist has urged the government to invest in more mental health support for gambling addicts as new figures revealed that the number of gambling-related hospital admissions has more than doubled in the past six years. The call for action comes weeks after NHS England data…
By Amit Roy ALTHOUGH David Cameron has been pilloried for calling the EU referendum, leading to a disunited kingdom from which Scotland might break away, I still make him the man of the decade – politically, at least, and very much from the Indian point of view. The decade has…
INTERNATIONALLY renowned choreographer Shobana Jeyasingh, entrepreneur Rishi Khosla and celebrity chef Nadiya Hussian are among prominent British Asians named in the New Year Honours List unveiled on Friday evening (27). Critically acclaimed choreographer Jeyasingh, whose work has toured across the globe, becomes a Commander of the Order of the British…
by NADEEM BADSHAH CAMPAIGNERS have called for action over the lower pay packets of British Asian workers in the civil service – when compared to other groups. Asian and white staff had the lowest average annual pay in 2019 of £27,200, followed by black staff (£28,400) and Chinese-origin staff (£29,500).…
by NADEEM BADSHAH BOXING icon Amir Khan has been praised for inspiring people from ethnic minority backgrounds to lace up their gloves and take up the sport. The former world champion will be among those featured in a new book on fighters from immigrant families of BAME heritage. Dr David…
by NADEEM BADSHAH MORE British Asians are studying art and design courses at university, but business degrees are still top of the class, figures show. The number of students of south Asian origin doing creative courses reached 6,480 in 2017-18 compared to 6,300 in 2016-17 and 5,975 the previous year.…
by LAUREN CODLING KENSINGTON PALACE has seen a surge of Asian visitors following its ongoing exhibition on Queen Victoria and her ties to India, a palace curator has said. Victoria: Woman and Crown follows the life of the monarch, starting from when she was a teenager to her later role…
by LAUREN CODLING DIWALI celebrations should be an opportunity for communities to unite, the mayor of London said during a special reception at City Hall on Thursday evening (24). Addressing guests, London mayor Sadiq Khan reiterated that the message behind Diwali was for good to overcome evil and light to…
by NADEEM BADSHAH THE number of British Asians who feel they are part of their neighbourhood has fallen sharply, government figures showed. Experts believe rising hate crime since the Brexit referendum and families moving to wealthier parts of the UK are the main causes behind the drop. Between 2017-2018 and…
By Nadeem Badshah MULTI-LINGUAL British Asians have been urged to use their skills more to get ahead in the jobs market after Brexit. People who can speak their mother tongue have been encouraged to mention it in interviews and on their CV as the UK looks set to forge…
AN inclusive stock image gallery dedicated to showing the diversity of British Asians has been launched this week. Developed by cultural consultancy group The Unmistakables, Despora is described as a collection of free-to-download images of second-generation British Asians. The idea was born after the group noticed the low scale of…
by LAUREN CODLING IT’S LEGIT – Instagram is taking over the world. The photo-sharing app has become one of the most popular social media platforms with around 500 million users accessing it on a daily basis. And within the Instagram world, a new breed of user has been born –…
Rishi Sunak, the chief secretary of the treasury, made great strides in his career this year which was reflected in his rise to seventh in this year GG2 Power list. Speaking to the BBC, Sunak reveled his delight at making in on the coveted annual list that showcases the 101…
A LEADING corporate boss, a prominent mental health advocate and a lawyer to the stars were among the winners at this year’s annual GG2 Leadership Awards in London last Thursday evening (10). Nitin Paranjpe, chief operating officer at Unilever, one of the world’s most renowned consumer goods companies, scooped the…
A LEADING corporate boss, a prominent mental health advocate and a lawyer to the stars were among winners at this year’s annual GG2 Leadership Awards in London on Thursday evening (10). Nitin Paranjpe, chief operating officer at Unilever, one of the world’s most renowned consumer goods companies, scooped the…
CHANCELLOR Sajid Javid has been named the most influential Asian in Britain for the second consecutive year, as the annual edition of the GG2 Power List will be unveiled this evening. Britain’s first Asian chancellor of the exchequer tops the ranking, while Priti Patel, Javid’s successor in the Home Office and…
By Nadeem Badshah BRITISH Asians are the least likely to receive government-backed Start Up loans for their business when compared to other ethnic groups, figures show. Experts have called for an investigation into any evidence of “discrimination” to ensure more Asian entrepreneurs do not miss funding for their firm. From…
by LAUREN CODLING SENIOR doctors have raised concerns over young British Asians showing increased risk of diabetes and heart disease, and urged more education from government on prevention. Research has shown that people of south Asian origin have an increased risk of developing diabetes and may be more likely to…
by NADEEM BADSHAH URGENT action is needed to tackle the type 2 diabetes crisis among British Asians after it emerged more younger people are being diagnosed with the disease, doctors said. One in eight people aged 18-40 years in the UK across all groups has the condition linked to obesity,…
by LAUREN CODLING ASIAN armed forces personnel have praised the military for “showing support to multi-faiths”, including continued efforts to celebrate religious festivals and the recent recruitment of a Sikh chaplain. Wing Commander Manjeet Singh Ghataora is an engineer in the Royal Air Force (RAF). Since he joined in 1999,…
By Nadeem Badshah BRITISH Asians risk suffering from severe health problems by buying unlicensed viagra from south Asia, experts have warned. Eastern Eye found versions of the impotence medicine from India with 10 pills sold online for around £40. Another firm was selling Kamagra, often exported from kamagra 100mg India, and…
NEW theatre play Stardust is a Bollywood-inspired musical that revolves around the theme of reincarnation. The latest production from British production company Phizzical has a multi-cultural cast and been a passion project for director Samir Bhamra, who has worked hard to bring it to the stage. Eastern Eye caught up with Samir during rehearsals…
The under-representation of British Asians remains one of football’s most unfortunate stats. It is a national crisis that has been festering for decades. Only three South Asian players have graced the Premier League, and with Wolves' Danny Batth set to become a top-flight captain next season, it's clear things need…
by LAUREN CODLING PEOPLE from an ethnic minority background experience lower levels of kindness in communities, new research has shown. According to data published by the Carnegie UK Trust last month, BAME respondents in England claimed that they felt they encountered less kindness. For instance, only 28 per cent of…
by LAUREN CODLING LGBTQ+ British Asians have warned that it will take time for attitudes in India to shift following the decriminalisation of homosexuality as Friday (6) marks a year since the law was changed. In spite of the ban on same-sex relations being lifted last September, Ash Kotak, an…
Racism in football could hamper the efforts to bring in more ethnic minority players into the game, said a prominent Asian player. Riz Rehman, the brother of former Fulham, QPR and Bradford defender Zesh, said racist incidents will hurt efforts undertaken to bring more BAME coaches and players. "It is…
by LAUREN CODLING BRITISH ASIANS contributing to their pension is at a record high, new government figures revealed last Friday (23). An all-time high of 751,000 of those within British Indian, Pakistani and Bangladeshi communities are saving for their old age pension, according to new statistics. In the past six…
By Nadeem Badshah A RECORD number of middle-aged people are “overqualified” for their jobs in Britain – because they are starting at the bottom of the ladder in a new profession. Figures earlier this year from the Office for National Statistics showed almost one in five 35-to-49-year-olds fit that bill…
By Nadeem Badshah FEWER than half of British Asian adults eat five fruit or vegetable portions daily, compared to around 56 per cent of white people, as experts warned the figures are a “wake-up call”. Some 47 per cent of people of South Asian origin in England had the…
by LAUREN CODLING SENIOR doctors have spoken of their concern for British Asian patients after the government decided to reconsider NHS health checks last Friday (16). The checks are currently offered to UK patients aged between 40 and 74 to spot the early signs of life-threatening conditions such as kidney…
By Nadeem Badshah THE move to add more texts from ethnic minority writers to the GCSE English syllabus has been welcomed by authors and academics, who have also called for more measures to “decolonise” the curriculum. Starting next month, schools will be offered more poems, plays and novels from…
by BARNIE CHOUDHURY Former BBC journalist “I HEAR you’re the most hated Asian in the BBC,” the national newspaper journalist said. It was December 2001, and I was at a Radio 4 Today Christmas party. “I was told by one of your Asian colleagues that you’re a sell-out, an Uncle…
By Nadeem Badshah FOOTBALL authorities must do more to tackle racist abuse at the grassroots and youth level and hand out tougher punishments to players who were found guilty, campaigners have urged. The Black, Asian and Minority Ethnic Football Forum (BFF) revealed players as young as seven have suffered…
By Sunder Katwala I cast my first vote just eight days after my 18th birthday, a coincidence of the timing of the April 1992 General Election. I was keen enough to stay up until 5 am on election night to find out whether John Major or Neil Kinnock would be…
A NEW podcast aimed at inspiring young women to talk openly about sex is set to debut on BBC on Thursday (25). Deep, Down & Desi: Brown Girls Do It Too will be hosted by Poppy Jay, Roya Eslami and Rubina Pabani and their podcast will cover all aspects of…
By Sunder Katwala “We had Allah with us as well,” England captain Eoin Morgan told reporters on Sunday, when asked whether the ‘luck of the Irish’ had played a part in England’s sensational cricket World Cup victory. He went on to pay tribute to the team’s “diverse backgrounds and cultures”…
By Sarwar Alam CRICKET chiefs in Britain have said diversity was key to the England team’s historic World Cup win last weekend as they spoke of securing the game’s future for the next generation of fans in the UK. An estimated 8.3 million people were glued to their TV screens…
by NADEEM BADSHAH CRICKET clubs are moving away from its booze culture and grounds are introducing prayer rooms and diverse menus in a bid to attract more British Asian stars. Previous research cautioned that drinking sessions were putting off some Asians from reaching the top of the game and the…
by NADEEM BADSHAH LEADING British Asian actors have backed calls for TV bosses and film directors to hire more ethnic minority performers and writers to tackle the lack of diversity in the industry. BBC presenter Anita Rani is the latest to highlight discrimination that British Asians face, arguing that “posh…
By NADEEM BADSHAH ANONYMOUS CVs and diversity among managers are needed to tackle racial discrimination in the Jobs market, campaigners said. A study showed that British firms appear more likely to discriminate than the Germans and Dutch with researchers sending the same CV to employers with different names. From looking…
by LAUREN CODLING ELDERLY Asians have been urged to speak out about their health concerns, as a new UK campaign was recently launched in Punjabi to “stress that language holds no barrier in raising awareness”. Malkit Singh Dhaliwal, 82, is fronting the Shout About Myeloma campaign which hopes to raise…
THE founders of a theatre group that staged East is East and Snookered won the top award at the fourth Eastern Eye Arts, Culture & Theatre Awards (ACTAs) last Friday (21). Sudha Bhuchar and Kristine Landon-Smith set up Tamasha in 1989 with the aim of staging contemporary theatre. From humble…
by NADEEM BADSHAH FIRE service chiefs have been urged to investigate the lack of diversity after figures showed only 0.6 per cent of firefighters in England are of Asian origin. Home Office data showed there were 203 British Asians in 2018, which makes up less than one per cent, compared…
It is fair to say that the internet has made the world a much more connected place. Since first being introduced in the late 1990s, it has advanced at a rapid pace around the globe. This has seen it spread to many countries and regions that once did not have…
THE FOUNDERS of a theatre group that staged East is East and Snookered won the top award at the fourth Eastern Eye Arts, Culture & Theatre Awards (ACTAs) on Friday (21). Sudha Bhuchar and Kristine Landon-Smith set up Tamasha in 1989 with the aim of staging contemporary theatre. From humble…
by NADEEM BADSHAH THE proportion of British Asian children visiting a museum or gallery has fallen to around 38 per cent and is lower than the national average, according to government figures. Just 37.9 per cent of people of south Asian origin aged 16 and over went to an arts…
by KEERTHI MOHAN INDIAN designer Gaurang Shah is set to bring the brilliance of his Jamdani creations to the UK with the opening of a label store in London in July. Located in Notting Hill’s Ledbury Road, the store will feature Shah’s unique collections that blend India’s centuries-old tradition of…
Image: Maxpixel Since the National Lottery was launched in 1994, lotteries have become part of weekly life in the UK. Now, players can take part in a wide range of lottery games from around the world on a daily basis as well as scratch cards and instant win games. But…
India a force to be reckoned with I was at the India vs Australia match. India definitely look like they will be the first team to get in the semi finals. India's batting is so strong. What I like the most is that in the game against South Africa, Rohit…
by NADEEM BADSHAH THE Women’s World Cup can inspire more British Asian girls to play football and tackle underrepresentation in the sport, according to coaches and campaigners. All of the games in the tournament are being shown on BBC TV for the first time, with radio commentary on TalkSport. The…
by RONNIE RUFF PASSIONATE Indian and Pakistan fans will descend on Manchester this weekend as two of cricket’s biggest rivals meet in what should be a World Cup classic. Set to be one of the tournament’s most watched encounters, up to one billion people from around the world are expected…
Sigma Pharmaceuticals founder and CEO Bharat Shah has been appointed a CBE in the 2019 Queen’s Birthday Honours List. Mr Shah, who founded leading pharmacy wholesaler Sigma Pharmaceuticals from the back of his chemist shop in Watford in 1982, received the award for ‘services to business, economic growth, exporting, independent…
by Barnie Choudhury Former BBC journalist WHEN I’m 80, I hope I will have earned the right to say what I want, when I want, and how I want. I hope friends, family and critics alike will forgive my oft idiotic, insensitive and ill-thought-out remarks. It’s not a crime…
by RITHIKA SIDDHARTHA HOME SECRETARY Sajid Javid on Monday (27) entered the race to be Britain's next prime minister, promising to "deliver Brexit" and pledging to heal the divide between communities. Javid, who campaigned for Remain in the 2016 EU referendum, is among 10 contenders in the race to be…
by LAUREN CODLING A NEW exhibition will explore the first generation of South Asian women who learned to drive in the UK – and the resistance they met while pursuing it. Asian Women & Cars: The Road to Independence is an art installation and film which features an array…
by LAUREN CODLING BRITISH MUSLIMS have been urged to donate to causes overseas during Ramadan, as a leading charity revealed details of its work with young Bangladeshi cancer patients. The UK charity, World Child Cancer (WCC), launched the Gift of Growing Up appeal in April. It aims to increase survival…
by Amit Roy NOT so long ago, the Tata-owned Jaguar Land Rover (JLR) was held up as the showpiece of British automotive manufacturing. But in the past few days, there have been credible reports that JLR might be sold or merge with the French group, PSA, owners of the Peugeot,…
by LAUREN CODLING BRITISH ASIANS should “take responsibility for their health”, a medical expert has urged, as it was revealed that deaths related to heart disease are on the rise in the UK. The British Heart Foundation (BHF) unveiled data on Monday (13) showing an increase in the numbers of…
CULTURE secretary Jeremy Wright praised Eastern Eye for its “vital role in supporting communities all across the country”. In a speech to the Professional Publishers Association (PPA) Festival in London on Thursday (9), the secretary of state noted the newspaper’s part in uniting communities and for also providing a fresh…
by LAUREN CODLING BRITISH SRI LANKANS have spoken of their concerns for the safety of their island country after the devastating Easter Sunday terrorist attacks which left more than 250 people dead. B Muraleetharan, the co-owner of M Wine Merchant in Tooting, south London, revealed that her husband was in…
by LAUREN CODLING AN INDIAN pharmacist and honorary consul of India for Wales has praised the armed forces for making an effort to be more inclusive, as he celebrated his recent promotion in the Royal Navy earlier this year. Raj Aggarwal, the first Indian recipient of an honorary commission in…
by Nadeem Badshah THE disproportionate number of British Asians doing fewer than 30 minutes of exercise a week can be tackled by sports organisations having a more diverse workforce, campaigners believe. They have also called for GPs to do more to promote physical activity after government figures showed nearly a…
by LAUREN CODLING AUTHOR Anita Anand admitted the challenges of revisiting the Amritsar tragedy for her new book, as she revealed that her grandfather “missed the firing by minutes”. Saturday (13) marks 100 years since the massacre in Punjab where hundreds of innocent people were brutally murdered by the British…
by LAUREN CODLING and NADEEM BADSHAH APOLOGISING for the Amritsar massacre would be a “reflection of the close relationship between the UK and India”, a British-Asian peer said, as Saturday (13) marks 100 years since the tragedy. Hundreds were killed in Jallianwala Bagh, a walled area in the Sikh holy…
ONE of Britain’s fastest growing companies won the top honour at Eastern Eye’s Asian Business Awards (ABAs) in London last Friday (22). Caretech was founded in 1993 by brothers Haroon and Farouq Sheikh, who grew it into a multi-million-pound business of residential care homes across the UK. The company was…
EASTERN EYE MARKS 1500 ISSUES WITH A MEMORABLE MOMENT FOR EACH YEAR SINCE 1989 THAT HELPED DEFINE A GENERATION by ASJAD NAZIR Eastern Eye has the longest running South Asian music pages in the world and has pretty much featured every artist in the last 30 years, from aspiring singers to…
A SOCIAL CARE enterprise run by two brothers won the top award at Eastern Eye’s Asian Business Awards (ABAs) in London tonight (22). Haroon and Farouq Sheikh, who founded CareTech in 1993, building the company into a multi-million-pound business of residential care homes across the UK, was named the Asian…
by LAUREN CODLING SURVIVORS of the violent division of India and Pakistan will be able to revisit childhood memories in a new virtual reality (VR) project put together by Oxford University students. South Asians who escaped partition – one of the largest forced migrations in history in 1947, when India…
by Gina Miller THE words of the notorious advertisement that Nigel Farage unveiled during the referendum campaign, depicting a long queue of people from overseas, supposedly if not actually waiting to get into Britain, are much in my mind as I write this – “breaking point.” It is not, however,…
by LAUREN CODLING THE co-founder of Pakistan’s first free comprehensive and state-of-the-art health care network has urged British Asians to engage with the service, as it provides life-changing treatment to thousands of people. Dr Abdul Bari Khan, a Karachi-born cardiac surgeon, co-founded the Indus Hospital in 2007. Prompted to act…
by LAUREN CODLING BRITISH ASIANS have been urged to engage with free programmes to prevent diabetes and cardiovascular diseases, as a new long-term NHS plan which promised to save up to 500,000 lives was announced on Monday (7). The 10-year plan includes doubling the Diabetes Prevention Programme (DPP) by 2023-24,…
by LAUREN CODLING A FORMER taxi driver-turned-playwright has revealed why his past career has helped him engage more with his work in the theatre. Ishy Din, 49, is the writer of Approaching Empty, the second part of a trilogy in collaboration with Tamasha Theatre Company. The drama takes place in…
MUSICIAN Nitin Sawhney, entrepreneur Vijay Patel and barrister-turned-restaurateur Nisha Katona are among prominent British Asians named in the New Year Honours List unveiled tonight (28). Sawhney, who most recently composed music for the Warner Bros/ Netflix film Mowgli, is an accomplished producer, songwriter and performer. He scored the music for…
by LAUREN CODLING A LONDON bus driver violently attacked by a passenger while doing his job and a British author told he “did not belong in the country” illustrate the pervasive racial hostility that ethnic minorities across the UK experience and endure every day. On Monday (17), a video emerged…
by LAUREN CODLING A NEW low-calorie diet designed to prevent diabetes has been praised by healthcare professionals, after results found almost 90 per cent of patients managed to send the disease into remission. The NHS announced last month that it would test out a new scheme, based on a low-calorie…
by Nadeem Badshah BRITISH ASIAN cancer patients who are suffering in silence need more support to encourage them to speak to their families about their illness, experts have urged. They have called for the government and mainstream health groups to reach out more to ethnic minorities diagnosed with the disease. Some are not telling anyone about their diagnosis,…
Aaron Rai won his first European Tour title at the Hong Kong Open last Sunday, making him the 12th Englishman to win on the European Tour and among the growing number of players of Indian descent making a mark on the game. However, before Rai was bitten by the golfing…
by VICTORIA ATKINS Minister for crime, safeguarding and vulnerability FORCED marriage is a terrible crime that can devastate lives and rob victims of their future. Along with female genital mutilation (FGM) and all forms of so called ‘honour-based’ violence, it is a despicable act of coercion against innocent people who…
THE GG2 Diversity Conference last Wednesday (24) featured speeches by a number of inspirational and passionate speakers including politicians, campaigners, entrepreneurs and senior executives. The conference is hosted by the Asian Media Group (AMG), which publishes Eastern Eye, Garavi Gujarat, Asian Trader, Pharmacy Business, the Asian Rich List and the…
The National Crime Agency is reportedly working to trace a total of 426 grooming gangs responsible for abusing an estimated 1,500 victims in Rotherham. The agency’s investigation into sexual exploitation between 1997 and 2013 has so far resulted in 13 convictions, reported The Independent. Codenamed Stovewood, the operation could cost…
Home secretary Sajid Javid has courted controversy for tweeting about "Asian paedophiles." Javid was tweeting about the case of grooming gang in Huddersfield that abused and raped girls as young as 11. Javid tweeted: "These sick Asian paedophiles are finally facing justice. I want to commend the bravery of the…
TWENTY members of a grooming gang have been found guilty of raping and abusing girls as young as 11 in Huddersfield. Between 2004 and 2011, the men plied the victims with drugs and drinks and then "used and abused at will" . The men have been convicted of more than…
by Nadeem Badshah BRITISH Asians looking for love have been urged to follow Priyanka Chopra’s lead by considering partners where the couple has a big age gap and who are in long distance relationships. The Bollywood actress, 36, got engaged in the summer to US singer Nick Jonas, 25, with…
By Asjad Nazir. POPULAR drama serial Ishqbaaaz continued its incredible run with a big trophy haul at the recent Star Parivaar Awards in Mumbai and added to its many achievements that has included recently reaching 650 episodes. Centre of that success has been its lead stars Surbhi Chandna and Nakuul Mehta, who have consistently…
By Nadeem Badshah Vulnerable people who have their homes taken over by drug gangs who befriend them need more help from communities, former police officers and campaigners have urged. British Asians with disabilities are among those being exploited by criminals who use the victim’s property to stash weapons and illegal…
By Sunder Katwala Director, British Future Immigration was at the heart of the EU referendum debate. So, it is surprising, two and a half years later, that nobody has any more information about what will and won’t change as a result. The government has sought to duck and to delay the…
By Sajid Javid Britain’s first Asian home secretary IT IS so lovely to see everyone here from (Indian, Pakistani and Bangladeshi) communities together, the very best of friends. While I am very proud to be the first Asian home secretary in our country’s history, tonight is not re-ally about me.…
By Amit Roy Sajid Javid paid an emotional tribute to “our parents and grandparents” at a dinner last Thursday (13) in London hosted jointly by the Conservative Friends of India, Pakistan and Bangladesh to celebrate his appointment as Britain’s first Asian home secretary. Addressing the largely British Asian audience, Javid said: “You…
by LAUREN CODLING BRITISH ASIANS have been warned to pay attention to their health by leading medical professionals, as a “diabetes epidemic” is predicted to trigger a rise in heart attack and strokes by 2035. The number of people suffering from potentially fatal medical conditions due to diabetes is predicted…
by Amit Roy MPS LEAD TRIBUTES AS FORMER PRIME MINISTER VAJPAYEE IS LAID TO REST. IT IS one of the civilised traditions of India that when politicians pass away, even their opponents come together to pay tribute to the departed leader. THOUSANDS of mourners in white funeral dress escorted the coffin of Atal Bihari Vajpayee, India’s former prime minister,…
by SUNDER KATWALA. NEW GENERATION CAN BENEFIT FROM EFFORTS OF ‘PIONEERING MIGRANTS’. THE days when spotting an Asian face on television was an event to announce to the whole household are long gone.This summer, the BBC has gone to town with its Big British Asian Summer, spanning themes from Bollywood…
More than half of British Asians have toned down their Asian identity to “fit in,” a ComRes survey for the Asian Network said. The survey, which had more than 2,000 British Asians as respondents, is part of the BBC’s Big British Asian Summer. The survey found that 54 per cent…
by LAUREN CODLING THE “hidden history” of Asian migrants who travelled on ships from the subcontinent will be explored in a new historical three-part series due to air next Tuesday (14). A Passage to Britain: 1933 Viceroy revolves around the stories behind immigrants who travelled to the UK on ships…
by NADEEM BADSHAH SUNLIGHT AND SUPPLEMENTS BEST WAYS TO PREVENT RICKETS AND OSTEOPOROSIS BRITISH Asians are being urged to make the most of the sunny weather as many in the community suffer from a lack of vitamin D. “Urgent action” is needed to advise the Asian community to take vitamin D…
SYAL AND AHMED IN SERIES OF SHOWS THE BBC announced a whole host of new shows on Tuesday (17) as part of their summer season celebrating Asian talent. The Big British Asian Summer will feature a range of titles featuring stars such as Riz Ahmed and Meera Syal. The shows, which…
by HOWARD ROBIN SUN, SEA AND ARCHITECTURE DRAW TOURISTS TO MODERN METROPOLIS IT’S the holiday destination of choice for many British Asians, a second home to countless Bollywood stars and a place where some 1.5 million people from the Indian subcontinent live and work. In little more than a decade,…
by Amit Roy AMONG Indians and Pakistanis and British Asians generally, couples still tend to get married rather than live together – in what was once known as “living in sin”. That old order changed once same-sex couples got the right to enter into “civil partnerships”. But the Civil Partnership…
by NADEEM BADSHAH ORGANISATION REBRANDS TO ATTRACT MORE BRITISH ASIANS THE Scouts are rebranding in a bid to attract more British Asian children to the great outdoors. The organisation, famous for camping trips, abseiling and survival skills, is focusing on teaching youngsters about job skills, teamwork and leadership along with outreach…
by AMIT ROY ROYAL ACADEMY EXHIBITION FEATURES WORKS BY FAMOUS AND NEW NAMES THIS year’s Summer Exhibition is the 250th in the two and-a-half century old story of the Royal Academy of Arts and, by common consent, is one of the best for a long time. [caption id="attachment_41297" align="alignleft" width="225"] Grayson…
by ANDY MARINO ONE part of the travel industry that has been making waves recently is luxury cruising. It has never been so popular, and bearing in mind the astonishing growth in numbers of both passengers and new ships, there are no signs of the sector slowing down. Leisure cruising…
by LAUREN CODLING LEADING Asian football coaches have welcomed initiatives to “address the inequalities” within the game after the Football Association (FA) was criticised for a lack of BAME (Black, Asian Minority Ethnic) coaches in the England set-up for this month’s World Cup. The responses come as England manager Gareth…
by SARWAR ALAM KHAN AND BARNARDO’S MAKE TEN FANS’ DREAMS COME TRUE AT RAMADAN BOXING star Amir Khan teamed-up with children’s charity Barnardo’s for their Fast For A Day campaign and invited 10 fans, from different faiths and backgrounds, last Saturday (26) to share a meal with him at the time of…
by LAUREN CODLING THE number of Asian students at Oxford University has risen ‘substantially’ in the last five years, a recent admissions report revealed earlier this month. Figures from the 2018 Oxford Annual Admissions Report showed 206 Asian students were admitted to the prestigious institute last year, a rise from…
“I have had diverse influences in my journey. Here is no particular order are 10 of them,” said poet Hussain Manawer. Avril Lavigne: She delivered one of the greatest-ever albums at a time when I was growing up in high school. She was bold, passionate, oozing with energy and vibes,…
Boxing superstar Amir Khan teamed-up with children's charity Barnardo's for their 'Fast For A Day' campaign and invited ten fans, from different faiths and backgrounds, to fast with him on Saturday (26) and share a meal with him when it came time to break their fast in the evening. Khan asked his 1.2 million followers…
by ANDY MARINO MIDLANDS MAN IS MAKING AN IMPACT THEY used to say there were two topics of conversation in Birmingham: cars, and the price of cars. Now there’s three. Bobby Singh is an estate agent who set up shop in the small West Midlands town of Oldbury. He wears a…
by NADEEM BADSHAH FOOTBALL GROUP’S FAR-RIGHT MESSAGES LEAD TO BAN AT PREMIER LEAGUE GAMES A GROUP of football fans with far-right links is sparking fear among British Asians who attend matches with their children, campaigners said. The Premier League has held meetings with police chiefs and warned clubs about the Football…
by Amit Roy THERE is a new place in town to drop in for a drink after work – the “Senate Room” at the Royal Academy of Arts, a unique organisation which is celebrating its 250th anniversary this year. It’s great this will stay open until 10pm. The expanded Royal…
By Sarwar Alam ECB action plan designed to widen south Asian appeal A NEW initiative by the England and Wales Cricket Board (ECB) aims to increase the game’s appeal among south Asians and “transform” the game in the community, with the project’s head, Lord Patel of Bradford, describing it as…
by ASJAD NAZIR NEW KID ON BLOCK REACHES FOR THE SKY WITH DEBUT SINGLE TALENTED newcomer K Zie announced himself with his acclaimed debut single This Could Be Love at the end of last month. The 21-year-old singer/songwriter from south London is quickly gaining a reputation as someone to look out…
[caption id="attachment_38415" align="alignleft" width="151"] by SUNDER KATWALADirector, British Future[/caption] SOMETIMES, the political feels personal. “That could have been me, my mum and dad,” Sajid Javid told the Sunday Telegraph last Sunday (29) of his anger at the government’s treatment of the Windrush generation. By Monday (30) morning, following Amber Rudd’s…
by LAUREN CODLING THE Royal Navy and Hindu communities should work together in order to increase recruitment, a senior officer in the forces has recommended. Surgeon Commander Manish Tayal has been working as a medical officer in the Royal Navy since 2004. A practising Hindu, Tayal headed up the Armed…
by ASJAD NAZIR KURAN DOHIL STARS IN THOUGHT-PROVOKING PLAY COCONUT MOST British Asians can relate to falling in love with someone considered the “wrong person” by their family and community. New theater play Coconut explores this with the story of a British Muslim female disconnected from her culture who falls in…
by LAUREN CODLING A CRITICALLY ACCLAIMED musician has said that Asian artists should be “joining forces” with others they admire to create more opportunities for themselves in the industry. Soumik Datta, 34, is one of the UK’s most prominent British Indian composers and sarod players. Born in west Bengal, Datta…
VARUN: LOVE ON HOLD? HE MAY be on a high professionally, but Varun Dhawan seems to have problems in his personal life and has reportedly parted ways with his rumoured girlfriend Natasha Dalal. If it is true, the hot right now actor just doesn’t have time to lament over a…
SONYA AURORA MADAN ON THE RISE, FALL AND RETURN OF 1990S BRITISH BAND ECHOBELLY by ASJAD NAZIR IN THE early 1990s, Sonya Aurora Madan was one of the first British Asian artists to make it big in the western mainstream with her band Echobelly. The singer/songwriter not only became a…
THE JOURNEY THAT LED TO AMIR KHAN FORMING ROCK ACT BLACK SIXTEEN by ASJAD NAZIR THERE aren’t too many British Asians who have decided to pursue a career in heavy rock. Singer, songwriter and musician Amir Khan has done exactly that and has gone a step further by starting the…
PRODUCER DAWINDER BANSAL REVISITS AN IMPORTANT DECADE FOR BRITISH ASIANS WITH HER BRAND NEW ART INSTALLATION A MAJORITY of second generation British Asians grew up in the 1980s with most laying the foundation for the multi-cultural melting pot we live in today. Art installation Jambo Cinema heads back to a…
RICHA’S HOME TRUTHS ACTRESS Richa Chadda hit out at women who opt to go on the casting couch and said she gets angry with women who are ready to sleep with producers. She said although it was a personal choice of women who do it, they make it difficult for…
by Nadeem Badshah UNIVERSITIES URGED TO DO MORE FOR DIVERSITY Top universities must do more to attract students from different backgrounds after a damning report highlighted a lack of “ethnic mixing”. Ethnic minority undergraduates are more likely to attend new universities in big cities while white students tend to go…
by Nadeem Badshah British Asians have spoken of their fears over going out in the evenings following the spike in acid attacks – and have called for tougher sentences. Communities have said they are also afraid to open their front door and leave their car windows open after eight people…
By Sairah Masud BRITISH ASIANS TAKE LEGAL ACTION OVER ‘DISCRIMINATORY’ DECISION A BRITISH Asian couple has issued court proceedings after their application to become adoptive parents was denied because of their cultural heritage. from Berkshire took their fight to court following several unsuccessful attempts, including a letter from the prime…
NOBODY expected the 2017 General Election to end up on a knife-edge, least of all the prime minister Theresa May, who asked for a resounding personal mandate and ended up losing the majority she started with. There is already good early evidence to suggest the Conservatives went backwards with ethnic…
A leading gastroenterologist, academics and several professionals across different fields are among the various Indian-origin achievers in the UK named in the Queen's annual Birthday Honours list released today. Parveen June Kumar has been conferred the prestigious Dames Commander of the Order of the British Empire (DBE) for services to…
Britain on Friday (9) elected two Sikh MPs as the general election results began pouring in with British Asian Labour Party candidates winning more seats than their rival Conservatives. Labour candidate Preet Kaur Gill won her Birmingham Edgbaston seat by polling 24,124 votes, defeating ruling Conservative party rival Caroline Squire…
By Rithika Siddhartha Prime minister Theresa May has said immigration has been good for Britain, but that voters were concerned about uncontrolled migrants arriving in the UK. May also said her government would set up a Commission for Countering Extremism as British authorities tackle home-grown jihadis who have been radicalised within the UK. In an exclusive…
By Jeremy Corbyn MORE than 100 years ago, the first MP from Britain’s Asian community served in Parliament for a multi-ethnic constituency. Succeeding generations have continued that tradition by contributing economically, culturally and politically to our society. That is why I am very proud to present our manifesto as one that…
[caption id="attachment_10282" align="alignright" width="275"] Tim Farron on the campaign trail supporting Amna-Ahmad, the party candidate in Sutton and Cheam which the Lib Dems held until 2015[/caption] By Sudhir Choudhrie SINCE becoming the Liberal Democrats’ adviser on India last year, I have had the pleasure of monthly meetings with the party’s…
By Reena Kumar Goodness Gracious Me actress Nina Wadia has urged budding artists to “get out there” and make their move in the creative world because British Asians are “in favour” right now. The former Eastenders star who was promoting her appearance in the new British romantic comedy Finding Fatimah,…
By Asjad Nazir PUNJABI cinema has had an impressive global surge in the past decade - and British actress Mandy Takhar has been part of that revival with challenging roles opposite big-name stars. The Wolverhampton beauty will next be seen in soon-to-be-released film Rabb Da Radio, which is a 1980s-set drama weighing up right against wrong. The musical…
THE prime minister David Cameron and chancellor George Osborne made impassioned pleas to the Hindu community to vote to remain in the European Union, in “the most important decison” for voters in a lifetime. Cameron visited the Bhaktivedanta Manor in Watford last Friday, while Osborne was at the BAPS Swaminarayan…
Ethnic minority Talent is increasingly Finding a place in mainsTream culture Eastern Eye’s inaugural Arts, Culture and Theatre Awards (ACTAs) on May 22 at the Royal Festival Hall appeared to fill a real void in the lives of British Asians. “I’m surprised no one thought of doing something like this…
By Reena Kumar Distinguished figures in the business world celebrated their rich contribution to the UK economy at the glittering Asian Business Awards last night (17) which is now in its 20th year. Hosted by the Asian Media and Marketing Group (AMG), publishers of Eastern Eye and Garavi Gujarat news weekly,…
British Asians have vowed they will protect David Cameron’s legacy as “Britain’s greatest prime minister” of recent decades. They made this pledge as political malcontents and the former prime minister’s enemies inside the Conservative party and far right lobbies sought to disparage his achievements. But the view that is likely…
Would you like to be an author but haven’t got round to writing your bestseller? Then Penguin Random House UK would love to read your 1,000-word synopsis. This isn’t a joke but a serious offer to Eastern Eye readers from Britain’s and probably the world’s biggest publishing house. But people…
Asian children with a disability are being encouraged more by their family to take up sport following the Paralympics in Rio, according to campaigners. Charities said the Games in Brazil and the London Paralympics in 2012 has helped change attitudes towards disabilities but a barrier remains in funding for activities.…
HIGH-ACHIEVING British Asians have revealed one of the keys to their success – waking up early. They told Eastern Eye they follow the idea that the early bird catches the worm, with many getting out of bed between 4am and 6am every day. Doctors, entrepreneurs and chefs said they use…
A DOCTOR, an optician and a pharmacist – just some of the members of England’s kabaddi team whose performance in the World Cup sparked a new interest in the ancient sport. The squad, made up of part-time players and university students, reached the quarter-finals of the tournament in October before…
BRITISH Asians, led by the Muslim, Sikh and Hindu communities, have embraced the season of goodwill by providing clothing, food and advice to those in need this festive period. Several initiatives have been taking place, from London to Iraq, where charitable organsiations have been collecting supplies to feed the homeless…
Urgent action is needed to tackle the number of British Asian gangs defrauding insurance companies of millions of pounds each year by staging bogus crashes, experts have claimed. Leading crime fighters said the so-called “crash for cash” scam is a problem in the Asian community, with dozens of crooks working…
Award-winning crime novelist Abir Mukherjee has called for a greater representation of Asian stories within the British publishing industry. With growing competition from Amazon and e-books, he says, traditional publishers are seeing an unprecedented amount of pressure on their business. “Part of the solution is looking at untapped markets. British…
Shankar Balasubramanian, a professor of chemistry and DNA expert at Cambridge University, has received a knighthood – the highest accolade from the Queen – in the New Year honours list. The 50-year-old, who was born in Chennai in India and brought to the UK by his parents a year later,…
A DOCTOR, an optician and a pharmacist – just some of the members of England’s kabaddi team whose performance in the World Cup sparked a new interest in the ancient sport. The squad, made up of part-time players and university students, reached the quarter-finals of the tournament in October before…