Skip to content 
Search

Latest Stories

Portrait of London’s women

by Amit Roy

WHEN the mayor of London, Sadiq Khan, and Tate Britain came together to commission a group of young artists to paint the portraits of 20 iconic women “who have played a


crucial role in London’s history but have been largely overlooked”, Jasmin Kaur Sehra’s choice of a subject was author and activist Mala Sen.

Sen, who lived in Balham, south London, died at the age of 63, of cancer while on a visit to Mumbai in 2011. She was the author of Bandit Queen: The True Story of Phoolan Devi, which was adapted into a film, directed by Shekhar Kapur, in 1994.

Her portrait was unveiled recently in Brick Lane in the heart of the Bangladeshi settlement in east London by the artist herself.

Sehra told Eastern Eye: “It was an absolute honour to have created this piece.”

She added: “I painted her in the style of a vintage Bollywood poster, dissecting her story with mini illustrations surrounding her portrait. I also painted night jasmine flowers which are native to Bangladesh, as symbolism for blooms in dark times as well as butterflies

showing beauty and freedom.

“The three words I wrote in Bengali are ones I thought described her perfectly

– powerful, courageous and fearless. She broke a lot of barriers as a south Asian woman. She was an incredible woman who was selfless and powerful in many respects. I do hope

my artwork did her story justice.

“It’s very rare that we speak about, or even know about revolutionary women such as Mala. I knew I had to create this piece, not just on a personal level, but for the wider community.”

According to organisers, Sen “was a lifelong campaigner for women’s rights. She was an active member of the British Asian and British Black Panther movements and through her book, Bandit Queen, raised awareness of the victimisation of women in rural India”.

Sen was “particularly active in the East End, exposing the poor conditions of Bangladeshi sweatshop workers who often had to share beds in dormitories, as they didn’t qualify for

accommodation. She played a key role in establishing the Bengali Housing Action Group, which helped turn Brick Lane into a safer, more welcoming area for the Bangladeshi community.”

Explaining the genesis of the project, called LDN WMN BehindEvery- GreatCity, Justine Simons, deputy mayor for culture and creative industries, said: “As we mark 100 years since the first women secured the right to vote… these 20 artworks in 20 different

locations across the capital bring inspiring art to Londoners and visitors to our capital and provide a high-profile platform for exceptional artists, too.”

Maria Balshaw, director of the Tate art museums and galleries, said: “We are delighted that members of Tate Collective London team were invited to curate this exciting initiative, highlighting the creativity of emerging artists and celebrating exceptional women”.

The Tate Collective added it was “passionate about art accessibility for young people, especially the making of art which engages in new and exciting ways and encourages people who feel excluded from the art world”.

Also featured in the project are NoorInayat Khan, the British Indian spy executed

by the Nazis in 1943; and Calcutta- born suffragette Lolita Roy.

More For You

Court to review teen's sentence in Bhim Kohli case
Bhim Kohli

Court to review teen's sentence in Bhim Kohli case

THE seven-year prison sentence handed to a 15-year-old boy convicted of the manslaughter of 80-year-old Bhim Sen Kohli is to be reviewed under the UK’s Unduly Lenient Sentence (ULS) scheme.

The Attorney General’s Office confirmed on Friday (5) that the teenager’s sentence will now be considered by the Court of Appeal.

Keep ReadingShow less
Dalai Lama hopes to live 'beyond 130 years'

Tibetan spiritual leader the Dalai Lama attends a prayer meet held for his long life at the Dalai Lama temple in the northern hill town of Dharamshala, India, July 5, 2025. REUTERS/Anushree Fadnavis

Dalai Lama hopes to live 'beyond 130 years'

THE Dalai Lama said on Saturday (5) he hopes to live until he is more than 130 years old, two decades longer than his previous prediction, following his assurance to followers that he would reincarnate as the spiritual head of the faith upon his death.

The Nobel Peace Prize winner was speaking during a ceremony organised by his followers to offer prayers for his long life, ahead of his 90th birthday on Sunday (6), and as China insists it will choose his successor. The Dalai Lama told Reuters in December he might live to 110.

Keep ReadingShow less
UK heatwave by mid-July

Daytime temperatures meeting or exceeding set thresholds of 25°C

iStock

Met Office warns of potential third UK heatwave by mid-July

Key points

  • Met Office forecasts rising temperatures by mid-July
  • Possible third heatwave after record-breaking June
  • High pressure system likely to bring hot air from the Atlantic
  • Yellow rain warning and flood alerts issued in parts of Scotland and Cumbria

Possible heatwave to return by mid-July

The UK could experience its third heatwave in a month by mid-July, the Met Office has said. Forecasters expect rising heat and humidity during the second weekend of July, following two weekends of unusually warm weather in late June.

June was officially the hottest on record in England, and the return of high temperatures could mean another heatwave for parts of the country. However, the Met Office cautioned that it is too early to confirm how hot conditions will get.

Keep ReadingShow less
crypto

Two men have been jailed for defrauding investors of £1.5 million through a fake crypto investment scheme. (Representational image: iStock)

iStock

Two jailed over £1.5m crypto investment scam

TWO people who duped investors of £1.5 million by selling fake investments in crypto have been jailed for 12 years, the Financial Conduct Authority (FCA) said.

Raymondip Bedi, of Bromley, and Patrick Mavanga, of Peckham, conned at least 65 people by cold-calling them between February 2017 and June 2019. They operated companies including CCX Capital and Astaria Group LLP.

Keep ReadingShow less
Manchester Police probes over 1,000 child sexual abuse suspects

Photo for representation. (iStock)

Getty Images/iStockphoto

Manchester Police probes over 1,000 child sexual abuse suspects

GREATER MANCHESTER POLICE is now investigating more than 1,000 child sexual abuse suspects, following years of public criticism and institutional failings in tackling child sexual exploitation.

A new report by His Majesty’s Inspectorate of Constabulary and Fire & Rescue Services (HMICFRS) has revealed the force has made “significant improvements” in dealing with group-based sexual abuse and related crimes.

Keep ReadingShow less