Aisha Sembhi

July 18th marked the start of South Asian Heritage Month (SAHM), an annual month-long celebration of heritage and culture within the South Asian diaspora.

The aim of SAHM is to “commemorate, mark and celebrate South Asian cultures, histories, and communities.” SAHM was launched in the House of Commons in 2019, following a collaboration between London-based South Asian groups, including City Sikhs, Faith Forum for London, and The Grand Trunk Project. 

The South Asian subcontinent is often reduced to just India, or the ‘Indian Subcontinent’ of India, Pakistan, and Bangladesh. However, the region comprises a diverse history and an abundance of unique cultures across Afghanistan, Bangladesh, Bhutan, India, Maldives, Nepal, Pakistan, and Sri Lanka.

This year’s SAHM theme is ‘Stories To Tell’, encouraging British South Asians to explore identity, gender, faith and family.

Why does SAHM fall between July and August?

Unlike traditional awareness campaigns, SAHM falls across two months. The month of celebration starts on July 18, marking the anniversary of the 1947 Indian Independence Act.

The act split the British provinces of India, the area of colonial rule by the British Crown, into the two independent countries of India and Pakistan. This, in essence, brought about the timeline to end imperial rule in the Indian subcontinent.

August 17th marks the final day of SAHM, the anniversary of the establishment of the ‘Radcliffe Line’ in 1947. This line set the historic border between India, West Pakistan and East Pakistan (now Bangladesh).

South Asian Independence

The drawing of the Radcliffe Line is known as the Partition of India, which encompassed a change in borders and reallocation of assets within the region. The Partition was based largely on the concentration of religious groups — the majority of Muslim districts were given to Pakistan, and the majority of Hindu and Sikh districts went to India.

Religious disparities were apparent between Muslim, Hindu, and Sikh groups throughout the Indian subcontinent during the mid-twentieth century. The Partition resulted in one of the largest refugee crises in history, as many who now found themselves as part of religious minorities within their newly established dominions fled across borders. 

The period between July 18th and August 17th also encompasses several anniversaries of independence, including Maldives Independent Day (July 26th), Bhutan Independence Day (August 8th), Pakistani Independence Day (August 14th) and Indian Independence Day (August 15th).

 

How can I get involved in South Asian History Month?

There are in-person and online events across the UK every single day throughout SAHM. Events can be found on the South Asian Heritage Month website. If you’re hosting your own event or hear of one local to you, you can register it online.

Engaging in a book or watching a documentary may not be considered as actively ‘doing the work’ to learn about your South Asian peers and their heritage. However, if you are unfamiliar with South Asian cultures or new to SAHM, these resources can be a good place to start!

Recommendations for South Asian History Month

You should watch:

  • Bend It Like Beckham (2002) — A cult classic bound to win over even the harshest of critics, Bend It Like Beckham follows Jess Bhamra (Parminder Nagra), the football-obsessed daughter of British Punjabi Sikhs, and her quest to dominate ‘the beautiful game’ against her parent’s wishes. The movie portrays ‘anti-Indian’ sentiment in sports, and hints to LGBTQ+ diversity within the British South Asian diaspora.
  • Netflix’s Never Have I Ever (2020-2023) — Mindy Kaling’s Never Have I Ever is a must-watch for all. Devi Vishwakumar (Maitreyi Ramakrishnan) is an Indian-American high school student who is determined to rebrand herself, following the death of her father and subsequent anger-induced episodes.

You should read:

  • Empireland: How Imperialism has Shaped Modern Britain (2021), Sathnam Sangehra — Of course, South Asian culture and heritage are more than the history of the empire. However, Sanghera’s Empireland is a must-read for those interested in contemporary history and the influence of South Asian histories upon much of modern Britain.
  • The Henna Wars (2020), Adiba Jaigirdar — The Henna Wars follows an LGBTQ+ love story between two minority ethnic friends in a predominantly white area and outlines the differences between cultural appropriation and appreciation. Perhaps a read for younger readers, but still one that provides insight into the cultural significance of ‘henna’ or ‘mehndi’.

You should listen to:

  • BBC Asian Network — The BBC is home to the Asian Network, a music station aimed at people “with an interest in British Asian lifestyles.” Its continuous output comprises Bollywood classics, as well as contemporary British Asian underground music. The station also promotes Asian-centred BBC podcasts, such as Brown Gal Can’t Swim and Bats, Bails & Biryani. 
  • Brown Girls Do It Too — Another BBC commission, Brown Girls Do It Too is “a podcast about the sex lives of British Asian women – the fantasies, the failures, and every F-word in between.” Hosts Poppy and Rubina smash one of the most strenuous taboos in South Asian culture with a candid insight into relationships, ‘eldest-daughter syndrome’, safe sex, and more. 

You should follow:

  • Brown Girl Magazine (@browngirlmag) — With over 170,000 followers on Instagram, Brown Girl Mag has established itself as a social leader for the South Asian diaspora. Its first-ever print issue is currently in the works. In the meantime, you can read news, blogs, and features documenting South Asian stories on browngirlmagazine.com. 
  • Diet Paratha (@diet_paratha) — Co-opting the name of fashion watchdog ‘Diet Prada’, Diet Paratha documents “the best in South Asian talent and creativity.” While South Asian representation in the arts is low, Diet Paratha platforms creatives from the diaspora and on the subcontinent. It often features photographers, models, designers and other creatives in similar industries. 

You can also join the SAHM volunteer community, offering roles in workshop delivery, communications and partnerships management.

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Featured image courtesy of Dhivakaran S via Pexels. No changes were made to this image. Image license found here. 

Aisha is a BBC Journalism Researcher, covering news, politics, and pop culture (and, wherever possible, the blend between the three!).

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