In this special blog post for South Asian Heritage Month, Policy Professional for the Department for Education, Anum Ahmed (English BA, 2014), reflects on her experience of her South Asian culture through visits with family in Lahore and Johannesburg as a child, and shares how she strives for diversity through her work, for example through amplifying the voices and experiences of young people from the Global South and Global North in the planning of the UN Climate Change Conference (COP26).
I have always felt a strong affiliation with my South Asian heritage, and I owe all of that to my immigrant parents. My mother was born in Lahore, Pakistan and my father grew up in Johannesburg during the time of Apartheid in South Africa. They both settled in London, married, and had me and my sister. Growing up in the diaspora, my parents introduced me to all aspects of our South Asian culture - the language, customs, food, fashion, and entertainment. Being able to speak Urdu fluently as a child meant that I could easily access my Pakistani culture. I knew every emotion being channelled through the dialogues of Pakistani TV dramas and Bollywood films. I could also sneakily understand, word for word, the tales of gossiping Pakistani aunties as they picked up their kids from school. But most importantly, I could build a meaningful relationship with my relatives in Pakistan.
Throughout my childhood, I was lucky enough to visit both Pakistan and South Africa. When visiting Lahore, I remember screaming with excitement as my uncle zipped through Modeltown's suburban streets with me on the back of his motorbike.
I recall breaking our fasts with steaming hot chapatti’s during Ramadan and searching for the perfect fabric in chaotic markets to make the most unique outfits to wear at family weddings. Oh and of course, I remember barely making it out alive on the roof, whilst eagles were circling the sky for raw meat, which was often laid out to ward off the evil eye. There was something about being in Pakistan that made me feel alive - there were no rules, only adventure! But as I grew older, I became conscious of the deeply entrenched socio-economic inequalities that existed in the country I loved. I witnessed acute poverty in a nation overburdened by the weight of post-colonial baggage.
I carry my South Asian heritage with great pride, and in doing so, I'm celebrating the resilience of all those who fought for liberation and envisioned an optimistic future.
The visits to my father's hometown of Johannesburg were like being embraced by a warm familial hug. I would meet not 10, but 70 relatives, who looked very much like me - it turns out I’ve taken after my dad’s side of the family. I remember dinner times being extremely special, we would all gather on the floor and tuck into delicious Gujarati food. Everything would be handmade, from the juices to the chutneys.
My most recent visit in 2017 coincided with the death of Ahmed Kathrada, a political activist who fought against Apartheid. Ahmed Kathrada was someone that my family and I really admired. He too was Gujarati and fought against the so-called "Ghetto Act", which sought to give Indian South Africans limited political representation and restricted where they could live, trade, and own land. In fact, my dad had to seek voluntary exile and moved to the UK because he was discriminated against in the workplace under the Apartheid regime. Exploring Johannesburg and listening to the stories of Apartheid from local friends and family gave me a very raw insight into the importance of racial and cultural preservation and how a nation can heal itself after years of oppression.
With all this being said, there’s no doubt that I carry my South Asian heritage with great pride, and in doing so, I am celebrating the resilience of all those who fought for liberation and envisioned an optimistic future. When I visit Pakistan and South Africa today, I am reminded of how important it is for people like me, living in the diaspora, to keep the beauty of our culture alive, which is something I am now making a conscious effort to do!
When selecting the right university for me, Queen Mary was my first choice, primarily because of the post-colonial literature modules offered to English Literature undergraduates. In my second and third year, I studied Iraqi, South African, Israeli, and Palestinian literature modules - each one sparked thought-provoking seminar debates.
It has been eight years since I graduated, and I am determined to use the skills gained through my degree to create more awareness about my family’s experiences of 1947’s Partition of India and Pakistan and South Africa’s Apartheid, which is why, thanks to fellow Queen Mary alumna, Unzela Khan, I was able to publish my late grandmother’s Partition story in MyLondon News as well as Sky News Digital.
As a Senior Policy Adviser in the UK Government, I make a conscious effort to ensure that I apply a South-Asian lens to my policymaking. I have introduced my colleagues to the wonders of mithai and pakoras but being your authentic self in the workplace is more than just that. It is about feeling empowered to examine, critique, and propose fresh ideas to better represent the needs of our diverse country. For example, last year, I delivered COP26, the UN’s climate change conference, and it was imperative that I gave diverse young people from Nigeria to Bangladesh a voice and strong platform to share their experiences and views, particularly those living on the frontlines of the climate crisis.
I will conclude by saying that South Asian Heritage Month is a crucially important time to reflect on who we are, where we came from, and what we can do to amplify our representation in society! It is time to peel off any layers of shame and embrace our grandparents’ sacrifices and struggles by carving out a more equitable future; one where we can truly own our South Asian heritage.