Birmingham Seminar Talk

Thanks to a collaboration with the Centre of Voices of War and Peace we were delighted to host our second seminar in Birmingham with another all-female guest speakers. Held at the Library of Birmingham, we invited our young community volunteers and the young students from Holly Lodge school to speak. The event was titled ‘Indian Identity from the Past to Present’ - our guest speakers included Dr Priya Atwal (Co-Curator of The Indian Army in the First World War: An Oxfordshire and Buckinghamshire perspective), Dr Jhutti-Johal (Sikh Identity, Past to present) and Sheetal and Shirin (South Asian Sisters Speak). We created this event as we wanted to explore how identity for the South Asian community has changed over 100 years and how the community identify themselves in the present day.

Speaking on our Journey from Home research, myself and my colleague Major Gogna were exploring identity through the letters we researched from the archives. We explored how the identity of South Asian servicemen has altered from 100 years ago to the current day. In some of the letters researched, the men explained they have different skin complexions and that they were struggling to fit in with their fellow British counterparts. Not only were they now alongside the British Army troops but also with other Sikh, Hindu and Muslim troops. These men had travelled from India to Europe not knowing what to expect. Everything around them was unfamiliar and not being able to speak the language caused a barrier for them as they had to rely on an educated officer to translate. The men that had come to fight the war were now questioning everything. 100 years ago men were writing questioning their identity and wanting a place to fit in as the environment they were in was unfamiliar and the desire to return back home was more fitting. 100 years on and now the roles have changed and it is the women questioning their identity and struggling to understand where they fit in today’s South Asian community.

The young women volunteering on our project discussed how they question their identity - they were surprised 100 years ago men were struggling. The British South Asian women on our project said it was sometimes a struggle for them to try and identify as British or Indian/Pakistaini as they feel that they are stuck in the middle.

Ria and Harleen (YP volunteers) spoke about why they wanted to be involved with the project - because they wanted to learn more about their history as they were never been given the chance before. They had never known a project where they would be learning research skills and learning about South Asian histories. They are not art or history students, our Journey from Home project has helped them learn about the realities of war and the stories of men from South Asian backgrounds. Our project was about inclusion of all and although most of our young volunteers have come from diverse background they were all learning the same history so that they can share with the wider community.

Ms Humphries (history teacher) spoke about how the project helped make a difference in learning within the South Asian community. 1.5 million Indian men fought in the First World War, but what about the other stories about the struggle these men faced? Ms Humphries explained that our project has enabled these young people to learn more about their histories and about the reality of the conditions that were faced by Indian troops. Many of the students had never left Smethwick, so to be involved in a project allowing them to learn more with experts and academics was an experience that they will not forget. Ms Humphries herself learnt more about the contribution and this has helped her understand the stories that are often not told in the books or taught in the curriculum.

All the volunteers have been involved in the research process and this was a great way of leaning more about the different cultures and an insight of the facts and figures that had been recorded. Seeing the UK war memorials first hand dedicated to South Asian soldiers was the highlight for her - never knowing about these memorials and now having the chance to being involved meant that our project had helped in uncovering more history. It is documented that by the end of the war approximately 47,746 Indian troops were dead or missing while approximately 65,126 were wounded. Some of the men’s stories make it to history while others do not.

We invited the young community volunteers (aged 5-10 years old) and they explained their artwork and why they like being involved in the project. Our youngest volunteer explained her art was of a mother and son who was going off to war. They both had butterflies glued to their bodies and this represented the butterflies we get when we are leaving a loved one. Another piece represented two soldiers whose faces were not painted and left blank - to signify any one of the soldiers fighting a war.

Dr Priya Atwal, presented her project along with a short film. When initially considering the Indian Army we do not think of their link to Buckinghamshire and Oxfordshire. This exhibition was focused on exploring the historical connections between the British Indian Army and the community of Oxfordshire and Buckinghamshire. Men from the Oxfordshire and Buckinghamshire Light Infantry served alongside Indian troops in Iraq (formally known as Mesopotamia) during 1914-1918. This was a project Dr Atwal had co-created alongside other senior academics and were working with the communities of Oxford to teach them further about the historical links for their community. A short film was created that documented how the project helped volunteers research for their mini exhibition to be launched later in the year. They also launched a campaign to encourage the South Asian community for any family stories that can be shared with the academics. The volunteers were able to have access to previously unseen military heritage collections.

Dr Jhutti-Johal, presented her work on Sikh Identity from past to present. This talk was not only about identity but also how the turban had changed over the years. The turban was worn by Indian troops during First World War, and in todays society it is worn by Sikhs. It is the identity for the Sikh community and in the First World War there were Sikh, Hindu and Muslim soldiers all wearing the turban. Although these men all wore the turban each faith tied it differently and these images of men in turbans have become more apparent during the Centenary of the First World War. Dr Jhutti-Johal is a senior lecturer in Sikh Studies and her work was able to explore the history of how a turban has created an identity for the Sikh religion but had also been a way for the British people to learn more the importance of the turban. Seeing men with turbans is becoming more common today not only in everyday life but also in the media. Referring to the book by J K Rowling The Casual Vacancy, there is a Sikh family featured where the father is wearing one. We are becoming more familiar with the image of Sikh men wearing a turban.

Sheetal and Shirin, ran a mini workshop with the audience. Their organisation hosts book clubs with books written by South Asian authors bring discussed and raising themes that effect the South Asian community. When our audience were asked how they identify themselves, many were not sure what to say. They discussed the pressures where, especially women, are not sure how they identify themselves. In their work they have discovered that many women are conflicted and how identity is becoming more confusing of knowing where they fit in today. Sheetal and Shirin explained that with their book club the theme of identity is more complex than ever. 100 years ago when men questioned their identity is was because they were leaving their homeland and coming to a country unfamiliar to them. Now we are questioning our identity as we are confused about where we belong.

The seminar was great for learning and understanding more about the theme of identity.  When researching for our project the theme of identity is often raised as it is more relevant to todays  South Asian community just as it was 100 years ago for South Asian soldiers.