South Asian Heritage Month : Ammamma's journey

South Asian Heritage Month first took place in 2020 and runs from 18th July to 17th August each year. SAHM seeks to commemorate, mark and celebrate South Asian cultures, histories and communities. It seeks to understand the diverse heritage and cultures that continue to link the UK with South Asia. South Asia consists of the countries of Afghanistan, Bangladesh, Bhutan, India, Maldives, Nepal, Pakistan, and Sri Lanka, all of which at a point in time were part of the British Empire.?

In the UK today we are lucky to have a very diverse and multicultural population, with influences from many parts of the world including South Asia. As we get into South Asian Heritage month, I wanted to take the opportunity to learn more about my colleagues in the UK here at Klaviyo, their connection with South Asia and how that manifests itself in today’s society.?

I met with Niranjini M. (known as Ninja to her friends and colleagues) to talk. Ninja started the story with her Grandparents on her mother’s side who were both born in Sri Lanka. They went on to have 8 children in total who grew up in a time where political unrest against the Tamil and Sinhalese people in Sri Lanka was growing which would eventually lead to a civil war in the country. In the early 60’s Ninja’s grandfather was presented with an opportunity to move to the UK through his employer at the time, American Express. He had applied to a role in London, not expecting to be successful but to his complete surprise he was chosen for the job and so embarked on the move to the UK - this was really the moment that changed things for generations in the family. Soon he was joined by his eldest son, his wife (Ninja’s grandmother) and then the rest of the siblings aged from 7 to 16 including Ninja’s mother aged 11 at the time. The family settled in a house in East London in what was a huge change for them - only one of the siblings could speak English so it meant raising children in a whole different culture while they adjusted to new schools was very challenging at the time.

From 1932 to 1961 the number of South Asians in the UK grew from 7,000 to over 100,000. As people established themselves in the UK, the community and community spirit grew. The local Patel Shop ran by Indian Immigrants from Kenya became a key part of that community in East London and was frequented regularly by Ninja’s Grandmother (Ammamma in Tamil) helping her to acquire lentils, rice and vegetables for cooking at home. The "Patel Shop" was a term used back in the day to refer to Asian shops that were run by Gujaratis (whose surnames were often Patel). The humble carrot became very popular with carrot paal curry often featuring on the menu. Exotic vegetables like speciality greens, moringa, mullangi, okra all arrived in the UK much later. Food is a huge part of South Asian culture, a legacy passing down through generations. Any high street in the UK, whether it’s shops or restaurants, you’ll see how South Asian shopping and cuisine has woven its way into UK culture as a whole.

All of Ninja’s Aunts and Uncles established themselves in the UK aside from one who sadly passed away at a young age. Ammamma still lives in the same house in East London today with many stories about raising a growing family that now extends to 15 grandchildren and 14 great-grandchildren! One memory that is fondly looked back upon was what used to take place in the family living room in East London. In the early 70s, many affluent South Asian families sent their children to be educated in England. Doctors, nurses, dentists, lawyers - they all flocked together to create the first disapora families. A diaspora is? a large group of people with a similar heritage or homeland who have since moved out to places all over the world. These individuals were more often than not still single at the time of coming to the UK but sooner or later they would meet a partner and then talk would move to getting married. Ammamma often hosted makeshift wedding reception celebrations in her living room where the bride and groom would celebrate coming together sitting on the typical 70’s family sofa over a plate of sandwiches. Ammamma would decorate the room, including a large homemade peacock from silver foil that would form the backdrop of the sofa and a homemade mandapam (traditional pillared hall or pavilion for ceremonies). As the times changed and ceremonies similar to the ones in Sri Lanka came to be here in London Ninja and her siblings would often visit families in different houses all over London with their mother and her sisters who were brought in to do bridal hair and makeup. The OG MUAH artists!

Ninja’s family history in the UK is similar to countless other families that over the last 100 years have made the UK their home . 6.9% of the UK population identify as Asian / Asian British (source : 2011 UK census) of which those of South Asian descent are the vast majority.?

We should celebrate and promote our diversity in the UK and South Asian Heritage Month is a great opportunity to focus on people that have helped shape what our country is today across many parts of our culture including food, sport, music, literature, art, design and entertainment to name just a few areas.?

South Asian Heritage Month aims to transform how people connect with South Asian culture and identity in three simple ways; Through the celebration of arts, culture and heritage, the commemoration of South Asian history and ultimately through education.

You can read more about South Asian Heritage Month here : https://www.southasianheritage.org.uk/ including a list of associated events across 2022 : https://www.southasianheritage.org.uk/events-information

Thank you again Niranjini M. for allowing me to share your story and Zeeshan Khan for your support as ever with all your KRG related initiatives.