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 one such story by Surendrabhai Patel from Vaso Alindra about his journey to the UK from Uganda.
Surendra Patel,
Vaso Alindra
First of all may I congratulate Asian Voice on 44 years of your publication. We have been fortunate to know what is happening in U.K. and the areas we all come from through your publication. Time and time again you have enabled us to connect by organising various events.
I normally do not write to you but especially feel that our contribution in the British way of life is remarkable and needs to be told especially to the younger generation.
I came like many others in difficult circumstances. My three brothers, mother and I were all born in Uganda. My mother's father came to Uganda around 1900. We all had a good life there but had to leave Uganda in 90 days. The banks were closed we could not get any money out and were strip searched to ensure we were not taking anything valuable. The degrading way i had to leave Entebbe airport was a big blow for me. Our elderly parents suffered too much because they had to up root everything and had to settle in U.K. after so many years.
My first job was in the U.K., like many others. I wanted to bring better time for myself and my family and took that challenge in an adverse situation.
I think the young generation need to know how we all progressed. First of all we gujaratis are blessed with a two prong quality. The way i can express this is by quoting two names Gandhiji and Sardar Patel, both of them opposite in their approach but with common goal in getting us independence. These two qualities help us to get respect and our hard work helped us in arriving where we are today. I always says to young Gujaratis that we have made a tremendous contribution in the freedom struggle. We have not known our own strength.
Personally for me faith in Karmic belief and working hard with perseverance and tenacity was the way forward. I am blessed to have a wife who is nursing manager and taking good care of elderly citizens. She and her friend do group wedding every year averaging around 100 couple in Puttaparthi near Bangalore I have two sons. My elder son gained a first class Masters in Chemical Engineering from Downing College, Cambridge and always brought first class! My younger son has a masters in Aeronautical Engineering from Imperial College, London. I have property oriented companies and have done well, I find it a little awkward to write all this but feel that the younger generation need to know about faith and understand that their effort delivers reward but that faith and family is the basis of all. It has allowed us to overcome the most difficult times.
We must focus on prosperity but not only wealth, in all facets of life and in keeping balance with nature. We must especially help people (Samaj), temples and charities. My abundance of reward has come in my life due to my parents, my teachers (learned persons) and my elders. I count myself as the happiest man in town.
