Upendra Kapadia is very ‘naïve’ to criticise Dineshbhai’s article of the 29th August. Those who were in East Africa in 1965 did not know what was happening in Britain concerning mass immigration. Before 1965 there was an open door policy where Commonwealth citizens were allowed to come to Britain. There was no visa system. Thousands of immigrants came from Pakistan, Punjab and Bangladesh and even Africans started coming to Britain. Most of them were unskilled and did not speak English. Majority of them being Muslims they tried to change the corporate culture of the British society.
I came to Britain as a junior research fellow to Leeds University in 1965 and I was shocked to see how they lived in Bradford in run down areas. I never heard of Halal meat in India. Unlike Hindus they formed their own community with mosque, halal meat shops and lived very close to each other and formed their own community.
I would like to know whether Mr. Kapadia has shared a house or flat with Muslims. By attending multi-cultural meeting and eating somasas you cannot say we know them. I had the opportunity to share university residence with Muslim students and had problems facing me in the common kitchen. They used to take the grill and keep it in their room since they did not want others to use it inorder to prevent contamination with non Halal meat.
How about Muslim countries and they should accommodate them in Kuwait, Saudi Arabia, and United Arabic League. I would like to ask Mr. Kapadia and his friends whether you are willing to take Syrian Muslims. There are looking for 6000 families to accommodate them. Hindus and Jains will say we are vegetarians and we will not allow them to cook meat and they may not fit in our society which is true. Charity starts at home.
Arun Vaidyanathan
By email
