Mohammed Sheraz audio interview

00:00 Details place of birth, father’s migration to the UK, reasons for migration and listening to messages recorded on cassettes sent from family.

00:57 Father’s life as a textile worker and own understanding of environment whilst growing.

01:51 Majority Asian population within Rochdale communities, playing games, diverse ethnic makeup of friend group at school.

03:24 Memories of being only a few of the Asians in school, using language in different spaces, speaking Pahari-Kashmiri at home, Urdu at the mosque and English at school.

05:07 Racial tensions at school, recalls hiding in the cellar with family from the threat of the National Front party. Inter-racial tensions between Pakistani, Bengali and Mirpuri communities.

07:35 Growing up in the 1980s and the influence on fashion from pop culture, experiencing the Rochdale Carnival every Sunday, memories of the Rochdale Mela bringing together people from different backgrounds through food and activities.

09:54 Celebrating and receiving money from family during Eid, traditional food served at Asian weddings.

10:44 First job delivering newspapers, and then later finding a job to support own lifestyle and didn’t want parents to work as they go older.

12:09 Recalls community activist activities, participating in the one million man march protesting the Iraq War. Discusses Islamophobia and the different ways in which discrimination was enacted in the 1960s and 70s to now.

13:44 Identity as a Pakistani growing up because Kashmiri identity was not acknowledged. Kashmiri youth Project became their link with the Kashmiri community.

14:18 Realising the difference between Pakistani and Kashmiri cultural identity when visiting village in Pakistan. Corroborates self-identification as British-Muslim-Kashmiri living in Rochdale.

14:59 Discusses importance of cultural heritage with next generations and understanding the sacrifices and hard work of the older generations. Rochdale Council acknowledging Kashmiri identity on official documentation.