British Asians have come a very long way since their arrival in the UK. They worked hard and achieved so much to reciprocate the warmth and hospitality of the British people renowned for their open, fair and law-abiding way of life.
Paid subscribers of Asian Voice are invited to send in their journey report (up to 600 words narration) with at least 2 photographs (one when they arrived in the UK and another with their family members at the moment).
These life stories will be published without any charge in Asian Voice as a service to celebrate ABPL's 44 years as well as to put on record our sojourn for the knowledge of our younger generation as well as neighbours.
Here is another story this time by Bhupendra M Gandhi about his early life in East Africa before moving to the UK.
I was born in 1938 in the most beautiful city, Dar es Salaam, Arabic word which means “Gateway to Heaven”. Like most East African Asians, I came here in 1968 before the Labour Government of Jim Callahan introduced restrictions on East African Asians who were legally British citizens holding valid British passports.
I was educated at Indian Primary and Secondary School in Dar up to “Higher School Certificate” standard, equivalent to our present day “A” level, the highest education standard available at the time, as there were no colleges, universities. Most students with aspiration of University degrees were going to India, mainly to Mumbai (Bombay) where many of my friends acquired medical qualifications and later on became GPs here in Britain as well as migrated to US, Canada and Australia.
Our generation was unique, influenced by Gandhi, Sardar and Nehru and the struggle for independence by British colonies. We were extremely ambitious, our parents who were mostly educated to “Metric” standard in India were most supportive, although very few could afford to send their children to UK where some qualified as Charted Accountants and Pharmacists.
My father retired from Government Service in 1947 and opened his business, the famous “Sunrise Store”, a mini supermarket selling everything, mainly food delicacies, from bread to butter, cheese and tinned food but no alcohol or meat. Even eggs were considered non veggie food! We were famous for introducing “Bread and Butter” in Indian homes, especially on Sunday evenings when ladies were given night off from cooking! If for some reasons bread were unavailable, due to bakery machinery breaking down or lack of electricity, it used to cause a mini riot!
My interest from childhood was in accountancy and journalism. I used to write profoundly in Africa Samachar and Nutan Africa in Gujarati published from Nairobi and in “Standard” local English paper published locally.
I studied accountancy at evening classes at Dar University and qualified as an accountant that enabled me to obtain high post in Tanganyika Civil Service, UN Trust Territory governed by Britain under UN mandate after the WW1.
Our lives were tranquil, peaceful beyond imagination. It was golden era. Dar was indeed heaven on earth with warm waters of Indian Ocean washing the shoreline. There was no TV, even radio was a luxury and it only became household item when India became independent. “All India Radio” was popular beyond belief. Couple of my short stories, plays were broadcasted that gave me an aura of self-confidence, an added prestige to my writings!
So when we were forced to leave Tanzania, it was with heavy heart, knowing well that our lives would be completely different. Most of us were in well paid jobs, someone of importance. I have even met President Nyerere several times in my capacity as “Senior Accountant” in Civil Service with Ministry of Health, as well as Audit and Exchequer. We were VIPs in Tanzania and overnight we became ordinary people when we came to Britain, some were even forced to work in factories, as there was plenty of overtime. We were in a hurry to buy home and settle down, put our roots. As we say, the rest is history. We are sentimental dying breed, as so many of our generation have already departed!
If you have a similar story you would like to share please send it and any pictures to CB Patel, Publisher/Editor, Asian Voice and Gujarat Samachar at Karma Yoga House, 12 Hoxton Market, (Off Coronet Street) London N1 6HW, or you may write to CB Patel at [email protected]
