My Golden Mile: a British Asian’s picture of home
Decades after leaving his hometown, photographer Kavi Pujara returns on a mission to reconnect with his South Asian roots and challenge the idea of what it means to be British.
As a kid in 1970s England, Kavi Pujara was attacked and beaten up for his Indian heritage. His family were living in Leicester and were amongst the tens of thousands of people expelled from East Africa during a wave of anti-Asian discrimination. Starting a new life wasn't easy and Kavi faced constant racial prejudice and violence. He became introverted and rejected his heritage. But Kavi found an escape - photography and a move to London where he met Bjork and Afrika Bambaataa on the dance floor at an Indian club night. It was a world that celebrated his South Asian culture, helping Kavi embrace his dual identity. Years later, when he started hearing echoes of the racist and anti-immigrant views that shaped his childhood, Kavi wanted to shine a light on migrant voices - and faces. So he returned to Leicester with his camera and a mission to document the Asian community living and working along the city's most famous street, the Golden Mile, and challenge what it really means to be British.
Presenter: Asya Fouks
Producer: Tommy Dixon
Get in touch: outlook@bbc.com or WhatsApp +44 330 678 2707
Photo: Kavi Pujara. Credit: Kavi Pujara
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