As the saying goes, “Like mother, like daughter.” In the case of creative talents, this couldn’t be more true. The influence of a mother’s creativity can leave a lasting impact on her children, shaping their own artistic endeavours and passions. In this journal I explore the profound impact my mother’s creative legacy has influenced me and how Sohavi was truly born. Roots to routes explores my late mothers life journey from birth in Kenya to India as a teenager and eventually returning to Kenya in her 20’s , to marry my father Sardar Tirlochan Singh Dhamu, to emigrate to London from Nairobi in October 1973 and live out the rest of her life. Despite experiencing loss and trauma, she endured difficulties n her younger years and made the best of her life in my fathers trusting hand, he led her to a new life in London.
Growing up in in Bristol and now based in Windsor, I was captivated by motorsport—its roaring engines, split-second decisions, and the unyielding pursuit of perfection.
What does it mean to me? ‘Roots to Routes’ means bringing our history to light and telling it as it truly was. My mother’s journey from Karachi, Pakistan to the Liverpool docks is something we didn’t discuss until I was in my late thirties, prompted by my 8-year-old son’s project for Windrush. Hearing my […]
Kent Saheli Group (KSG), a charity based in Kent, celebrated Teeyan with 700 women attending at Fort Gardens, Gravesend on Sunday 21 July 2024. Teeyan, also known as ‘Teej’ or ‘Teeyan Da Mela,’ is a traditional festival that celebrates the monsoon season and women’s sisterhood. Women from various parts of the UK gathered to celebrate […]
South Asian and interested in podcasting? This is for you. We made history with with the first ever South Asian Podcasters Meet-Up in the UK! This was literally the first time podcasters had come together in any UK podcasting industry event. I was told it was the “Most Attended Meet-Up” at the The Podcast Show […]
I am a dedicated psychotherapist who has carved a path of compassion and understanding in a field where my community’s representation has historically been limited. Growing up in a South Asian community where discussing feelings was often overlooked, I understand firsthand the challenges of seeking emotional support in such an environment. This personal experience fuels […]
My story begins with my grandfather, who plucked up the courage to travel aboard at the age of 22 and start a new life in the UK. I don’t think he would have thought that he would see three generations thereafter flourish and live an Anglo-Indian life in Great Britain. Beginnings in Siyod Vanmali Patel […]
Ripon Ray I grew up in Tower Hamlets, an area of East London which was known to be one of the most neglected areas in the UK. I only mixed with the Bangladeshi community, both at home and my school, Stepney Green Secondary. I always felt like a Bangladeshi living in Britain, though East London […]
My first recorded writing was my scribbles in my grandad’s diary that proclaimed “Book is god.” Who knows what was going on in my head to write that? When I discovered that tattered diary and found my writing, I realised decades later, it’s on brand for me. I grew up in a family with limited […]
Getting diagnosed with stage 3 bowel cancer at the age of 39 was a real shock. I’m a GP, active mother of two and always been fit and healthy. I don’t have a family history of cancer or any risk factors, so how could it happen to me? As a doctor, perhaps I played down […]
South Asian Heritage Month dates changed to "July" from 2026 — Learn more here →
