‘My story’ with Dr Waheed Arian – from fearing for our lives to saving lives

This year’s theme for South Asian Heritage Month (18 July to 17 August), is ‘stories to tell’. My story is a reminder that more than 100 million people in the world are displaced. With lack of access to basic amenities and healthcare, their memories may be similar to mine as a young boy – filled with conflict and war.

Ketan Dattani: The Road to an Inclusive, Diverse, and Equitable World

“Growing up in a city like London meant that from an early age I was exposed to many different beliefs and ethnicity. Growing up in a diverse community has allowed me to see people for who they are without focusing on what religion they practise or what country they come from or what colour their […]

Scotland’s First National British Indian Army (BIA) Memorial

Artists impression of Scotland’s First BIA Memorial Did you know that ‘The British Indian Army (BIA)’  played an instrumental role to protect Britain and contributed more than 4 million personnel and many other resources during both World War 1 & 2? The BIA was made up of personnel mainly from modern day countries  such as […]

The Gurkha Museum – The Savage Wars of Peace

A virtual lecture to mark the 78th anniversary of VJ Day The war in the Far East ended abruptly, violently and chaotically following the nuclear bombs at Hiroshima and Nagasaki.  While the Imperial Japanese Army had been defeated in Burma and was losing the war in the Pacific, her army in Malaya, Hong Kong, French […]

The Gurkha Museum – The most recent Gurkha Victoria Cross – Rambahadur Limbu

A Selfless Bravery – Rambahadur Limbu VC Action The story of Rambahadur Limbu often focuses on his courageous actions on November 21st 1965 when his bravery led to his being awarded the Victoria Cross, the most recent Gurkha to have been so rewarded.  His selfless bravery is better appreciated when placed in both the context […]

The Gurkha Museum – The First Gurkha Victoria Cross – Rifleman Kulbir Thapa

A Selfless Bravery – Kulbir Thapa’s Victoria Cross (VC) Action It was during the First World War that the appellation ‘Bravest of the Brave, Most Generous of the Generous’ was first used in reference to Gurkha soldiers. The actions of Rifleman Kulbir Thapa, the first Gurkha soldier to receive the Victoria Cross, stands as a shining example.   In September 1915 elements […]

Diaries of a 90’s kid

My dad was just a teenager when he arrived in Bradford in the 1970s. With the support of extended family he found work, learnt the language, and a few years later returned to Pakistan to marry my mum. I was born in the 80s, the second girl in a house of five children. We found […]

Mahomed Gama

Mahomed Gama (1895 - 1965). He was born in old Mirpur, in the erstwhile princely state of Jammu & Kashmir. He served in the Mercantile Marine with the Peninsular & Oriental Steam Navigation Company. He served on the SS Medina, which transported King George V for his Dehli Durbar Coronation to India. Mahomed Gama, had war service as a fireman in the First World War on the SS Khiva from 1917 to 1918. The SS Khiva transported American troops from New York to various ports in the UK including: London, Plymouth and Liverpool. He was a recipient of the Mercantile Marine War Medal and the British War Medal (also known as the General Service Medal). The scholarly giant on the South Asian presence in the UK, Dr Rozina Visram in her book 'Asians in Britain 400 Years of History' wrote 50,000 'lascar' لشکر seafarers served Great Britain in the First World War.

Mahomed Gama (1895 – 1965). He was born in old Mirpur, in the erstwhile princely state of Jammu & Kashmir. He served in the Mercantile Marine with the Peninsular & Oriental Steam Navigation Company. He served on the SS Medina, which transported King George V for his Dehli Durbar Coronation to India. Mahomed Gama, had […]