South Asian Heritage Month, which had its inaugural year in 2020, runs from 18 July (the date that the Indian Independence Act 1947 gained royal assent) to 17 August (the date that the Radcliffe Line was published in 1947) every year. It seeks to raise the profile of British South Asian heritage and history in the UK through education, arts, culture and commemoration.
We will be helping to celebrate South Asian Heritage Month this year in a number of ways, including two online events and one in-person event:
Exploring Manchester’s Histories: Sikhs in the City
Wednesday 5 August, 6-7.30 pm (online)
Join Gurtek Singh and Maya Sharma for an exploration of Manchester’s Sikh communities.
Gurtek will share his own family experiences, from when his grandparents (and others) first put down roots in Manchester and begun to build their community. He will also draw on our archives (and other), sharing photos and records which bring community histories to life.
The session is partly aimed at teachers and educators: as well as learning more about Sikh heritage we will look at ways of bringing these histories to life in work with young people. will also be interesting to anyone who wants to learn more about the experiences of Sikh communities in Manchester. We also welcome members of the Sikh community, bringing their lived experience and personal histories.
Book your place at https://sikhs-in-the-city.eventbrite.co.uk
Exploration of Family, Migration And Connection – with author Shahnaz Ahsan and Ananna’s Young Women’s Group
Online. On Friday 7 August between 11-1pm we will be exploring themes of family, migration and connection with Shahnaz Ahsan, author of Hashim & Family, and Ananna’s Young People’s Group, part of Manchester Bangladeshi Women’s Organisation.
You can read our review of Hashim & Family here and book your place for the event at https://family-migration-connection.eventbrite.co.uk
The Roles We Play
We have an exciting roundtable event on 12 August 6-7.30 pm in the Performance Space at Manchester Central Library, with trailblazing South Asian women in the arts and chaired by Safina Islam, Head of the AIU Centre and Trust.
We’ll be joined by:
- Sabba Khan – Architectural Designer, Visual Artist and Author of The Roles We Play
- Fehmida Master – Author, Poet, Activist, Founder and Publishing Director of Master House Publishing
- Nasima Begum – Poet, Producer, Creative Practitioner, Young Identity Trustee & Coordinator at Ananna
- Arry Nessa – Creative, Community Enabler and Founder of APNA South Asian Womens Art Centre and Gallery
You can book your place for this in person event at https://roles-we-play.eventbrite.co.uk
We will also be sharing blog posts from our team and from some of the organisations we work with, including Crescent Radio and the Anamika Cultural Group, as well as linking to other activities and events taking place during the month. Be sure to follow us on Facebook, Twitter and Instagram – @AIUCentre.
