Skip to content
Search

Latest Stories

Asian women & cars: Artist explores the Road to Independence

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 of stories by females who benefited from learning to drive.

For the project, artist Dawinder Bansal collected stories and photographs of migrant Asian women showing their experiences.

The inspiration for Asian Women & Cars, commissioned by Multistory, came after Bansal looked through old family photo albums.

Although she noticed many images of her father and brothers with cars, there was only one featuring her mother.

Throughout her life, Bansal said her mother had always wanted to learn how to drive – but never did.

In exploring women’s experiences, Bansal discovered they often found resistance when it concerned driving lessons.

For instance, one Asian woman featured in Bansal’s film, who came to the UK in 1958, was expected to wed at a young age. When married, her family did not see a reason why she should learn to drive.

“It was very much a time when it was expected that a woman should be dependent on a man,” Bansal explained.

It was only in rare cases that women told her that their families had been supportive of their driving aspirations.

“Driving is a powerful thing – it is physical movement and being able to do anywhere and being able to do what you want and be completely independent,” Bansal said. “It wasn’t something that was encouraged at that time.”

Another individual, who is deaf, featured in the film spoke of her disability and how it affected her growing up.

Despite her hearing loss, she fought to go to university and driving was one of the things that she wanted to learn. However, when she started taking lessons, relatives and friends of the family questioned her motives.

“For instance, her father’s friend asked her father: ‘why are you letting your daughter drive? You should just marry her off,’” she said. “That was the attitude back then.”

Today, many south Asian women drive, and attitudes have seemingly changed. Young women are encouraged to pursue university, build a career and be independent.

Bansal’s project, which is part of the part of Blast Photo Festival, aims to celebrate “the first generation who battled against patriarchy and traditional family structures to gain independence.”

Does she believe those traditional values still exist?

“I think there are some families that do still have those traditional values, where the roles are very divided,” she mused. “Once, women were encouraged to be resourceful in the home, but not outside the home as that was seen as the man’s world.

“But British Asians have been settled into the UK for quite a number of years and largely, things have changed.”

Bansal, who learned to drive when she was 24, is encouraging others to submit their stories and photographs to the project. As well as interest in the UK, she has received entries from Australia and India.

Her aim is to include historical images, but also feature contemporary experiences.

“I firmly believe that today’s photographs are tomorrow’s historical archives and records,” she said. “In 100 years, I know this archive will be of great value to future generations.”

The Asian Women and Cars exhibition is showing at The British Muslim School, West Bromwich, until June 29.

People can also submit their photos and car stories to www.asianwomenandcars.com

More For You

Apple

Developers can also tap into Apple Intelligence for privacy-protected, on-device features, even offline

Getty Images

Apple rolls out major updates across iPhone, iPad, Mac, Watch, TV and Vision Pro

Highlights:

  • New “Liquid Glass” design unifies iOS, iPadOS, macOS, watchOS, tvOS, and visionOS.
  • Apple Intelligence expands with Live Translation, visual search, and fitness features.
  • iOS 26 introduces call screening, message polls, and Apple Games app.
  • iPadOS 26 brings a new windowing system and productivity tools.
  • macOS Tahoe includes the biggest Spotlight update to date.
  • watchOS 26 adds sleep score and FDA-cleared hypertension notifications.
  • visionOS 26 enhances spatial experiences with widgets, Personas, and 3D content.

Apple unveils updates across its ecosystem

Apple has released significant updates for iOS, iPadOS, macOS, watchOS, tvOS, and visionOS, each now available as a free software update. The releases introduce a new design language called Liquid Glass, alongside expanded Apple Intelligence features, and a wide range of enhancements to apps and services.

A new design with Liquid Glass

For the first time, Apple’s operating systems share a unified design. Liquid Glass, a translucent material that reflects surroundings and refracts light, is now integrated across apps, icons, and widgets. The design aims to deliver consistency across iPhone, iPad, Mac, Apple Watch, and Apple TV, while maintaining unique elements of each platform.

Keep ReadingShow less
Modi & Trump

Donald Trump and Narendra Modi shake hands as they attend a joint press conference at the White House on February 13, 2025.

Reuters

India, US to discuss trade issues after tariff hike

INDIA and the United States will hold trade discussions in New Delhi on Tuesday, officials and Indian media reports said, as the two countries look to resolve a tariff dispute.

India currently faces high US tariffs on most of its exports and has not yet been able to reach a trade deal that would ease the pressure.

Keep ReadingShow less
Starmer

Starmer, who has faced negative coverage since taking office in July 2024, defended the appointment process.

Reuters

Starmer: I would not have appointed Mandelson if aware of Epstein ties

PRIME MINISTER Keir Starmer said on Monday he would not have appointed Peter Mandelson as UK ambassador to Washington had he known the extent of his links with convicted sex offender Jeffrey Epstein.

This was Starmer’s first public statement since dismissing Mandelson last week. The prime minister is facing questions over his judgement, including from Labour MPs, after initially standing by Mandelson before removing him from the post.

Keep ReadingShow less
Dhanush & young son Linga
Instagram Screengrab/life_of_aakash/redgiantmovies_

Dhanush stuns fans as young son Linga joins him for impromptu dance at 'Idli Kadai’ audio launch

Highlights:

  • Actor-director Dhanush performed live with composer GV Prakash at Chennai event.
  • Youngest son Linga joined his father on stage, dancing alongside him.
  • Dhanush recounted childhood memories that inspired the story of Idli Kadai.
  • The film, featuring a star-studded cast, is set to release on 1 October.

Dhanush delighted fans at the Idli Kadai audio launch in Chennai with a touching father-son moment, performing the film’s hit song Enjami Thandhaane alongside music composer GV Prakash. The actor’s youngest son, Linga, joined him on stage, creating a heartfelt moment that resonated with audiences. Dhanush also shared personal childhood memories, revealing how his love for idlis inspired the upcoming film.

Dhanush & young son Linga Dhanush stuns fans as young son Linga joins him for impromptu dance at 'Idli Kadai’ audio launch Instagram Screengrab/life_of_aakash/redgiantmovies_

Keep ReadingShow less
Trump

Trump said the suspect had been arrested earlier for 'terrible crimes,' including child sex abuse, grand theft auto and false imprisonment, but was released under the Biden administration because Cuba refused to take him back.

Getty Images

Trump says accused in Dallas motel beheading will face first-degree murder charge

US PRESIDENT Donald Trump has described Chandra Mouli “Bob” Nagamallaiah, the Indian-origin motel manager killed in Dallas, as a “well-respected person” and said the accused will face a first-degree murder charge.

Nagamallaiah, 50, was killed last week at the Downtown Suites motel by co-worker Yordanis Cobos-Martinez, a 37-year-old undocumented Cuban immigrant with a criminal history.

Keep ReadingShow less