The Bharatiya Vidya Bhavan (The Bhavan), one of the UK’s foremost institutions for Indian classical arts and culture, has issued an urgent appeal to Hammersmith and Fulham Council to reconsider newly announced parking control changes within CPZ D (Controlled Parking Zone refers to a designated area in the UK where on-street parking is regulated to manage traffic flow and prioritise parking for local residents) and launched a petition to turn their decision around.
Established in 1973 and based on Castletown Road since 1978, The Bhavan has been a cornerstone of London’s cultural life for nearly five decades, welcoming around 1,000 students, teachers, performers, and visitors each week.
The new restrictions extending enforcement from 8:30am to 10pm, seven days a week, with a one-hour parking limit, pose a serious threat to its smooth functioning. Many students and visitors carry instruments, costumes, or travel with children, making driving essential. The Bhavan warns that these changes could significantly impact attendance at its classes, performances, and workshops, many of which last well over two hours.
Organisation has urged the Council to reconsider the restrictions, particularly the extended evening and weekend hours and one-hour limit and to provide exemptions for cultural and community institutions.
“The Bhavan has always been an inclusive space where everyone is welcome”
Speaking to Asian Voice, Executive Director of Bharatiya Vidya Bhavan, Dr MN Nandakumara MBE, reflected on The Bhavan’s enduring role at the heart of London’s Indian cultural landscape. He said, “The Bhavan has always been guided by the principle of inclusivity, welcoming everyone, regardless of creed, colour, or religion to anyone with an interest in Indian art and culture. That is the very foundation of The Bhavan. We are open to all, a centre where people from all walks of life can come together and participate in our activities. Indian art and culture are universal, they do not belong to any single community or faith. Through our programmes and performances, we have sought to share this universality and, in our own small way, strengthen the cultural ties between India and the UK.”
Speaking about The Bhavan’s students and wide range of classes, Dr Nandakumara said, “Before Covid, we had around 850 students attending regularly. After the pandemic, numbers dropped by about 20% as people were still cautious about mingling, but it has been gradually recovering. At present, we have around 750 students. In addition to classes, we host concerts every weekend, our auditorium can accommodate about 300 people, and with two concerts a weekend, that’s nearly 600 attendees. Each year, around 80 to 90 programmes take place here, alongside regular classes. We offer 23 different subjects under one roof, covering South and North Indian music and dance, instruments, Bengali music, archaeology, yoga, and other disciplines from across the Indian subcontinent.”
On the proposed parking rules, Dr Nandakumara said, “Until now, parking restrictions applied only on weekdays from 9am to 5:30pm, with free parking in the evenings and at weekends. The new proposal extends enforcement to seven days a week, from 8am to 10pm, allowing only one hour of parking. This will severely affect everything we do at The Bhavan. Our students often carry heavy instruments like sitar, tabla, veena, violin, or mridangam, and many elderly or disabled visitors rely on being able to park nearby. Most of our programmes last at least three hours, so a one-hour limit is completely unworkable. It will impact our students, audience members, and even our existence as an institution.”
Highlighting the wider implications, he added, “Over the years, The Bhavan has welcomed more than 1,500 to 2,000 visitors every week, contributing greatly to local businesses and employment. The restrictions would not only disrupt our cultural and educational activities but also affect the local economy. The Bhavan has a rich legacy, inaugurated by Lord Callaghan, Lord Mountbatten, and Harold Macmillan, and visited by King Charles and many UK leaders. These new rules threaten to undo decades of goodwill, growth, and community contribution.”
On the petition that is now gathering public momentum, Dr Nandakumara said, “We have shared the petition across Facebook, Instagram, TikTok, and other platforms, and people are responding positively, supporting our case. For nearly 50 years, these parking arrangements have never been an issue, so it is unclear why such drastic changes are being introduced now. We only recently received notice that the restrictions would be implemented in November, which has caused great concern among our teachers, students, and the wider community. If this goes ahead, it will deeply affect The Bhavan, the largest Indian cultural institute outside India, and the thousands who depend on it.”
Reiterating the institution’s inclusive and unifying role, he said, “The Bhavan has always been an inclusive space where everyone is welcome, we celebrate Christmas and Diwali alike, and our yoga and language classes include many European students. We have never had any conflict or controversy, only focused on art, culture, and education. We are appealing to our patrons, local MPs, and supporters, including Baroness Usha Prashar and Seema Malhotra MP, to help us prevent these restrictions. The Bhavan provides employment and support to many teachers and students. Hammersmith and Fulham should feel proud to host the largest cultural institute of its kind outside India. At a time when UK–India relations are strengthening, it would be truly disheartening to see an institution like ours suffer from a policy that can still be reconsidered.”
Asian Voice firmly stands with Bharatiya Vidya Bhavan in its appeal to Hammersmith and Fulham Council to review the proposed CPZ D parking restrictions that threaten this vital cultural institution. We urge our readers and the wider community to also support The Bhavan’s cause and help preserve its legacy of art, education, and inclusivity.
