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Lalit
Dandiker was one such Asian Indian - a manager in the government-owned
and run, East Africa Railway company. Following Kenya's independence,
there was a backlash and resentment against Asians, for their accrued
wealth, higher education and better living conditions.
It
was similar to what occurred under General Amin in Uganda and is
occurring now to white farmers in Zimbabwe. It was an unpleasant
time of fear and persecution for many Hindus.
Migration
to the UK
As
many were British passport holders, like many other Asians, they
first thought of the protection and safety of their family and took
themselves to the UK, via India.
For
many, migration meant being away from their loved ones, from
their way of life and culture.  |
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Untold Stories |
The
journey, by steamship across the Indian Ocean back to Bombay, was
sometimes perilous, in high seas and bad conditions.
Most
were apprehensive and uncomfortable about going to the UK, whilst
leaving their families back home. For many, migration meant being
away from their loved ones, from their way of life and culture.
There
was uncertainty whether they would succeed in a country they did
not know or understand and about which their basic information came
mainly from books.
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Lalit
Dandiker came to the UK from Kenya
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The
first Gloucestershire Hindu immigrant, Mr Ramjibhai Popat arrived
in Cirencester in 1951 to work for a major he had known in the British
Army. He came from London, where he had been living for two years.
His next move was into rented accommodation in Cheltenham in 1956,
to work as a cook at Cavendish House in The Promenade.
This
same year, the next wave of Asian migrants arrived in the county
- four men who worked for Dowty Rotol and who lived in a hostel
provided by the company. They later moved out and purchased a house,
12 Brunswick Street, as a syndicate. This was the first Indian owned
house in Cheltenham.
Patel
is a region in the state of Gujarat, where many Indian Asians
came from and so they took their surnames as being Patel on
arrival to the UK. |
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Untold Stories |
The
first female immigrant was Mrs Maniben Jasubhai Patel, who arrived
in February 1961, with her two children Naran and Savitaben. They
were later followed by other families including, Mrs Nandiben Patel.
Patel
is a region in the state of Gujarat, where many Indian Asians came
from and so they took their surnames as being Patel on arrival to
the UK.
As
is common in many other cultures around the world and in India,
people are usually referred by their Christian names and the village
or town they came from.
Since
the arrival of those early families, the Asian population has continued
to grow by both economic migration and natural increases throughout
Gloucestershire. The NHS, currently being short of staff, is actively
targeting people from the Indian subcontinent.
Communication
problems
Assimilating
to their new environment in the UK proved, for many Asians, to be
very difficult. Some of the original migrants including Mr Popat
were fluent English speakers, having learnt the language in India.
For
almost all the others this was not the case and communication and
language problems added to their burden and anxiety. Most slowly
learnt it while some, including Mrs Nandiben Patel, have never learnt
English at all.
The
simple process of buying food to eat and being able to read the
packaging, to avoid eating beef (the cow being a sacred animal and
therefore against Hindu custom and culture) proved to be problematic
for many.
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Dancers
entertaining in Gloucester city centre
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Many
of the early immigrants did not own or could not afford a telephone
and were unable to communicate with their loved ones back in India.
Their
only way of correspondence was via letters and parcels to home towns
which involved lengthy delays and slow feedback. Hindu centres in
Cheltenham and Gloucester are trying, with limited funds, to provide
slots for the teaching of reading and writing of the mother tongue,
Gujarati, and to provide English courses to the elderly.
The
conclusion is that not enough is being done, outside of major UK
cities and at local level, particularly in schools, to teach children
of their roots and language and at the same time, to encourage elderly
Asians to learn the English language.
Cultural conflict
The
first marriage within the Hindu community in Cheltenham was in 1962.
As there were no Hindu priests in the UK at that time, the marriage
ceremonies could only take place in a register office.
As
more and more people arrived, it was understood that there was a
need for priests and they were called over from India to perform
important annual cultural ceremonies, as well as marriages. Most
Asian families now have traditional Indian marriages alongside registry
office weddings.
Food
has a bearing on people and is the mainstay of most cultures. However
in the early years only basic food such as rice, lentils and some
inauthentic curry powder were available and then only from Cavendish
House at highly inflated prices.
This
eventually changed as some Asians recognised that there was a potential
market to serve.
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Hindu
women at a community event
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Men
came in vans from Birmingham and London, selling their Asian wares,
from meat and rice to Asian vegetables. Some even sold saris.
Now
the selling of Asian products is widespread and common, with both
Cheltenham and Gloucester having their own Asian shops where halal
meat is sold, together with competition from major supermarkets
and local shops.
There
has been an influx of people of differing cultures, as a result
of the growth in language schools, which can only enhance and
promote the diversity and contribution of cultures to the region.
This may explain the wider variety of foods on offer and traditions
being understood.
|
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Untold Stories |
The
increase of education establishments in Gloucestershire has brought
about what some believe to be a welcome change.
There
has been an influx of people of differing cultures, as a result
of the growth in language schools, which can only enhance and promote
the diversity and contribution of cultures to the region. This
may explain the wider variety of foods on offer and traditions being
understood.
There
is concern by many Asians at the spread of non-community harmony,
of disruption, of conflict by groups such as the British National
Party and the National Front. The increase in racial attacks is
the outcome.
Events
and festivities
The
1970s saw a time when Hindus in Gloucestershire were united in feelings
about their roots, heritage and culture. It was a time of change,
of celebration, of positive images.
Local
community halls, both in Cheltenham and Gloucester were hired for
annual religious festivities like Navratri and Diwali (the Indian
New Year).
They
were a time of joy, where there would be gatherings to discuss issues,
to dance, to play music, to sing and to eat, and for younger members
to fall in love.
Due
to the lack of a permanent facility, various halls throughout the
town and city were hired. The local host community, fascinated by
such a novelty, came to watch and join in and people were warmly
welcomed by the Hindu community. This helped to break down many
barriers.
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Hindu
dancer at an event in Gloucester Park
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The
elders quickly realised that there was a need to mobilise and consolidate
their efforts and so the Indian Association was born.
People
from across the communities joined in the efforts to find a suitable
locations, to purchase and to access funding and support, for these
religious events.
Later
still, famous Indian singers and dancers and groups came from India,
to perform for the local ethnic communities.
Both
Cheltenham and Gloucester Hindu associations purchased and imported
from India instruments such as tablas, sitars and harmonium (the
Hindu version of an accordion).
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A
traditional dandia stick dance
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In
order to express and convey Hindu culture, the Gloucester Hindu
Centre became involved with the Guildhall Arts Centre in Gloucester,
which regularly now shows Bollywood movies, and the New Olympus
Theatre to lay on events and theatre presentations.
The
Cheltenham Hindu Centre holds Asian plays at the former Shaftesbury
Hall and festivals at the Axiom Centre.
A local
Hindu dance group has also been created, comprising of young girls
who took part in folk dance festivals held at Ross-on-Wye and other
locations throughout the UK.
A
Place of Worship - The
Hindu Temple
From
the beginning, there was a call from local Hindus for a place of
worship. Religion is an important part of the culture in Gloucestershire,
as well as the celebration of traditional festivals.
The
elders and trustees of the Indian Association understood and acknowledged
this and as the president, Lalik Dandiker was appointed to take
on the task of finding funding for a suitable building and the inauguration
of deities from India.
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Dieties
in Cheltenham's Hindu Temple
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These
deities had to be carved by specialist craftsman and transported
to the UK by plane. Credit should be acknowledged to the late Charles
Irving, MP for Cheltenham, who was responsible for securing the
main funding of the building, via the borough council.
Finally,
in July 1986 the Hindu Temple was formally opened for worship by
the London-based Indian industrialist Sir Swraj Paul, in memory
of a departed daughter.
What
is notable is that unlike in some areas of the Indian subcontinent,
the Hindus and Muslims of Cheltenham and Gloucester live in
mutual harmony and respect for each other, the majority being
Gujarati-speakers, and entrenched friendships are formed.
|
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Untold Stories |
Many
local Hindu families donated wholeheartedly towards the funding
along with local authority grants. As the building was an old Victorian
redundant church, many Hindus devoted their time and efforts, voluntarily,
to redecorate and modernise the building.
Recent
refurbishment was carried out with the help of the National Lottery
Fund. Today its running costs are literally maintained by small
donations and help from the local council. The temple also has a
community centre attached to it. This space has allowed the Cheltenham
Hindu Community to have a sacred place.
At
the community centre there are many different activities that are
for the community. There is English lessons for the old, while they
also have coffee mornings for the over 75s. There are also lessons
in Gujarati for the children as well as a youth club.
Gloucester
has a smaller Hindu community which has nevertheless found rented,
shared premises and maintains its own local community centre as
the main focal point.
Current
and Future
The
current situation within Gloucestershire is that there are 350 Hindu
families with approximately 800 persons in Cheltenham and 80 families
with 250 persons in Gloucester.
At
both Hindu community centres there exists an attitude of continuance
of the development of their culture, but this is marred by the lack
of additional funding and resources.
There
is concern, as with each new generation, of the loss of Hindu culture
and customs, as the younger generation becomes more assimilated
and integrated within mainstream Western culture and attitudes.
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Many
younger Hindus cannot speak their mother tongue
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The
fear of the elder population is of the eventual loss of their ethnic
customs, language and traditions.
Already,
many Indian families are finding that their children are unable
to read and write and speak in their mother tongue Gujarati.
More
needs to be done in Gloucestershire, and this aspect needs to be
taken seriously and addressed fully at national level, if ethnic
cultures are to continue and survive.
What
is notable is that unlike in some areas of the Indian subcontinent,
the Hindus and Muslims of Cheltenham and Gloucester live in mutual
harmony and respect for each other, the majority being Gujarati-speakers,
and entrenched friendships are formed.
Maybe
there is a lesson to be learned from this for all communities and
cultures.
The
original migrants found the weather very different to that of India.
It was very cold, something that they where not used to. They had
also never experienced snow before.
The
children of these original immigrants have grown up in a very
different culture to that of their parents. Many of the second
generation have or are currently going out with a white girlfriend
or boyfriend as well as having English as their first language.
|
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Untold Stories |
The
people that first moved to Cheltenham also found the locals very
approachable, and when help was needed they where more than happy
to help.
The
children of these original immigrants have grown up in a very different
culture to that of their parents. These children have grown up in
British culture as well as the traditions of the Hindu community.
Many
of the second generation have or are currently going out with a
white girlfriend or boyfriend as well as having English as their
first language.
Their
diet has also become increasingly varied and now incorporates many
different national dishes as well as Indian.
The
second generation is more developed and integrated than their parents'
generation was. This can be seen by their progression up the employment
ladder.
The
children have gained degrees, as well as becoming managers in international
companies and starting up their own businesses.
»
See 'Ramjibhai Popat'
» See 'Maniben
Patel'
» See 'Nandiben
Patel'
» See 'Lalubhai
Patel'
» See 'Gulabbhai
Patel'
» See 'Lalit
Dandiker'
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