Celebrating South Asian Heritage Month: Rishi shares his family story

In our second South Asian Heritage Month blog , Rishi Chopra, Senior Alumni Manager, tells us about his family’s migration to London, their favourite Indian festival and where to find the best curry in Britain.

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Rishi Chopra, Senior Alumni Manager:

Today, millions of Hindus the world over will celebrate Raksha Bandhan, the festival that honours the sacred bond between brother and sister (whether that relation is biological or spiritual). Amongst all the Indian traditions it’s up there as my family’s favourite.

It goes something like this: my elder sister will tie a decorated bracelet around mine and my brother’s wrists. This red and golden thread, a symbol of her protection, is called a ‘Rakhi’. In exchange, we’ll offer her gifts (usually cash); then, together as a family, we’ll sing this holy hymn and feast on any manner of sweet treats (usually chocolate – but that’s just a Chopra thing).

We’ve been celebrating this ceremony ever since I can remember.

Back to the beginning

Raksha Bandhan originated thousands of years ago in the northern Indian state of Punjab. When men went to war, their sisters tied a thread to protect them and in turn received money to help maintain the household. This tradition has persisted over time to reinforce sibling bonds within Hindu families.

Punjab is also the birthplace of my parents. Mum and Dad grew up in Jalandhar, a city twinned with the London Borough of Hounslow.

Following the Second World War and the breakup of the British Empire, Indian migration to the United Kingdom increased through the 1950s and 1960s. After marrying in 1964, my folks immigrated to Ealing, West London to begin their post-colonial pursuit of prosperity.

They landed in a London gripped by Beatlemania with an England football team soon to make history in ’66 – the heady “Swinging London” years of British pop culture.?

Finding their way

But for migrants arriving from India and the Commonwealth countries, ‘diversity and inclusion’ wasn’t a thing back then. White nationalist marches calling for immigration bans were commonplace. And in some quarters, discriminatory messages would appear on accommodation and employment notices.

Ethnic minorities had to fight for their rights in society. The microaggressions my generation face today pale in comparison to the macroaggressions our parents suffered back then.

While they were condemned for the colour of it, we are forever grateful for their thick skin.?

Like many others, my parents worked hard to adapt, integrate and focus on the opportunities afforded to them by the UK. Dad – named ‘Ravinder’ meaning ‘Sun’ in Sanskrit – qualified as an aeronautical engineer; Mum – named ‘Usha’ meaning ‘Dawn’ – began her teacher training, eventually becoming Area Education Manager for the London Borough of Southall.

The best curry in Britain

Southall claims to have more Indians living within its boundaries than any other London borough, and probably more than any other area of the UK.

Some of the country’s finest curry houses can be found there. So, if you happen to be in London, forget Brick Lane. For fuss-free and full-on flavour, check out Taste of Punjab . Their butter chicken and bhatooras (fluffy deep-fried leavened sourdough breads) are an insanely indulgent experience.

Then again, ask most British Asians and chances are they think their mum is the world’s best chef. I’m no different. Usha is a wizard in the kitchen, adept at weaving different cuisines into a single dish: her minced lamb prontis combine Italian ragù and English cheddar into an Indian flatbread made of whole wheat flour, aromatic spices and herbs. It’s the stuff of legend.

Blending with the locals

Compared to some, ours is a fairly anglicised Asian family. English was always the main language in the household so I have only a basic grasp of our mother tongue. Which is one of the reasons why at school I got teased by being called a ‘coconut’. (To anyone unfamiliar with this term, comedian Romesh Ranganathan explains it far better than I could).

Earlier this year, my partner Caroline and I became parents for the first time to a lovely baby girl called Eliza Usha Chopra. Caroline is white British. Raising a child of mixed heritage will no doubt have its joys and challenges; but we hope the foundations laid by Eliza’s forebears means she can grow up embodying the best of both East and West.

And perhaps one day, she’ll celebrate her own Raksha Bandhan ceremony.