The groundbreaking UK South Asian Digital Archive (UKSADA) project has its roots in a community-led exhibition, ‘Rebuilding Lives: 50 years of Ugandan Asians in Leicester’, in 2022. Produced by the local arts organisation Navrang Arts, and featuring oral histories alongside photographs and loaned or donated objects, this told the story of the Ugandan Asian expulsion from Uganda in 1972, its impact on individuals and communities, and on the city of Leicester to which several thousand of those expelled came to make their home.A 360 degree view of the exhibition is available at Rebuilding Lives Exhibition 360 Viewer – Leicester Museums.
By any measure it was a resounding success. Over 167,000 people visited the exhibition during its run at Leicester Museum and Art Gallery, which was extended by several months due to its popularity. At the request of South Asian communities across Britain, versions of the exhibition were also displayed in Loughborough, Peterborough and York, along with touring exhibitions for community venues. Then in May 2023 ‘Rebuilding Lives’ received a national accolade as one of two winners of the best Temporary or Touring Exhibition at the Museums and Heritage Awards.Leicester Ugandan Asian exhibition wins national award – BBC News
What has this to do with UKSADA? Pleasing as it was, the award also served to highlight the temporary nature of the exhibition, and the absence of a comprehensive and accessible archive of the rich heritage of South Asians in Britain, who made up 9.6% of the population at the 2021 Census.UKSADA’s definition of ‘South Asian’ embraces Afghanistan, Bangladesh, Bhutan, India, the Maldive Islands, Nepal, Pakistan and Sri Lanka. Materials that have already been gathered are scattered across many locations, and are not necessarily easy to find. UKSADA will signpost them, while digitising and archiving oral histories, photographs, correspondence, newspaper items and other documents, and audio-visual recordings. It also aims to raise awareness about the cultural heritage of South Asian communities through exhibitions, educational resources and events, and to collaborate with individuals, organisations and community groups to expand its collections and reach.
The project was launched in October 2024 with an exhibition, ‘Stories That Should be Told’, at the Phoenix cinema and arts centre in Leicester. Oral histories collected for this invited interviewees to reflect on their own experiences, covering such aspects as the challenges faced by news arrivals, their achievements, what it means to be South Asian today – and why South Asian stories should be told. ‘Because we’re British, you know’, said Bradford-born Jasbir Kaur Mann, in response:’ we are members of this society, and our background, our culture, has an equal right in this country; it’s not second rate. We bring the richness, and if we’re going to bring the richness, then we have to tell our stories. And our stories are powerful stories’.
Others saw an understanding of their history as vital to the sense of identity of young South Asian people, and their place in the multicultural tapestry of contemporary Britain. This included the need for future generations ‘to recognise the sacrifices and difficulties that we went through in this country. Because I feel like future generations will be used to just being born here’.Nethmini Athukorale, born in Nicosia, Cyprus. The importance of demonstrating what these generations can achieve, ‘if they believe in themselves’, was also emphasised. In the words of Rani Joughlah-Sheilds, who was born in Essex: ‘I can only go from my parents, from what they’ve achieved, to maybe family, sort of friends that we know, but, you know, they’ve worked really hard… They have a strong sort of work ethic, and they want to succeed’.
The project launch was hosted by the BBC’s Kamlesh Purohit, and featured a keynote speech by award-winning filmmaker Ruhi Hamid, who reflected on the power of storytelling in preserving cultural legacies. Pippa Virdee, Professor of Modern South Asian History at De Montfort University, also spoke of the role of digital archives in ensuring the accessibility and longevity of community stories. The formal proceedings concluded with a panel discussion of why South Asian stories should be told, before the unveiling of the exhibition and opportunities for networking.
As a mark of the importance attached to the project locally, the launch was attended by Colonel Richard Hurwood, representing the Lord Lieutenant of Leicestershire, Leicester City Mayor Sir Peter Soulsby, the Lord Mayor and Lady Mayoress of Leicester, Bhupen and Usha Dave, and Leicester East MP Shivani Raja.
Nisha Popat, Chair of UKSADA, who came to Britain at the age of nine, later reflected on the launch of a project ‘very close to my heart… As someone who has navigated the balance of British and Asian identity, this archive is both a personal and collective effort. It will reflect the journeys of countless individuals whose stories deserve to be remembered. Inspired by our work on the 50th anniversary of Ugandan Asians, we realized the need for a centralised archive to capture the diverse histories of South Asians in the UK. Because if we don’t tell our stories who will?’.LinkedIn – (25) Post | Feed | LinkedIn
This is an ambitious project that will start small and grow gradually, focusing initially on the East Midlands. Every member of the project team is a volunteer, each bringing to it their own skills and experience, but sharing a firm belief in its value, and a commitment to preserving and celebrating the diverse heritage of South Asian communities in the UK – not just for South Asians but for everyone. It is also intended to be a collaborative effort to which everyone is invited to contribute, whether by sharing a family story, volunteering some time to work on the archive, or helping to fund its future development.
To get involved – or simply to see how the project is developing – visit https://uksada.co.uk
