Sikh Family History Project Revisited - Group Oral History Recording

Track Index:

00:00 Introductions

06:58 Daljit praises the work of those involved in SFHP.

08:17 The group explain more about how they each became involved. Fiona worked as a researcher for Phil and put forward initial project ideas with Kanta. Funding came from Manpower Services Commission (MSC) and was ‘relatively easy’ to access.

10:05 Martin remembers Colin Barnett NW TUC organiser and Head of MSC. Set up the ‘Anti -Racism Programme’. Helped secure money for Sacred Trinity Centre using MSC funds.

11:40 Daljit remembers his first impressions of Phil and Fiona. Despite initial fears, ‘They made us feel really wanted’.

13:13 Parvinder explains her involvement. Applied for the opportunity and was happy to contribute a different perspective as a Sikh from India via East Africa. Describes the work she did with Jaswinder, sharing the stories collected.

14:57 Kanta remembers drafting job descriptions and the project outline.

15:38 Phil remembers researching recording equipment. ‘In those days we used to use heavy reel to reel machines’.

15:59 Martin remembers Bill Williams’ contribution and the difference between remembering Sikh and Jewish heritage.

17:10 A by-product of the project was the book ‘The Sikh World’ written by Daljit Singh and Angela Smith.

17:32 Raj remembers how the team operated as a family with everyone pitching in. Daljit remembers what it felt like to be elevated from youth/ community worker to researcher. In awe of people like Bill ‘A big man’. Kanta remembers having ‘at least 6 sessions with him’ listening to interviews, so she could understand what makes a good interview and accompanying interpretation.

20:01 Daljit describes people’s lack of understanding about the ‘importance’ of heritage early in the project.

20:45 Raj remembers receiving advice and support from the wider team. Kanta describes the importance of developing trust and relationships.

22:00 Daljit remembers enquiring about the project at Moss Side MSC. Was told the post would go to the President of the Gurdwara. ‘There are always people who want to jump on the bandwagon’.

23:00 Martin asks about tensions between the 3 Gurdwaras. Kanta mentions the money ‘wasted’ through rivalry and Martin remembers ‘the fighting’. Daljit thinks the SFHP project avoided rifts because staff was drawn from a much wider circle. Raj feels internal politics persist. Insider knowledge was helpful to navigate participation. Phil describes initial concerns about the project’s capacity to engage.

26:26 Today, the community unites for events despite temple politics. Daljit describes moving ‘sideways’ to navigate relationships. Kanta points to the success of the SFHP’s work in schools, which facilitated ‘positive identification’. Martin’s work with Sacred Trinity pioneered methods to tackle anti-racism which were more widely adopted.

28:48 Daljit’s drafting of the Sikh statement on the environment led to Eco-Sikh. Having the ear of outsiders helped people to feel heard.

29:15 Martin remembers that young people were reluctant to follow Sikh traditions. Daljit: ‘The same debates keep coming up time and time again’. Feels the project had an impact because it valued lived experiences. Raj describes the current polarisation of young people. Parvinder observes that it’s the same for many religions. The project facilitated exploration of these issues.

33:33 Daljit describes Kanta’s ‘vision’ for the project. Oral history was an incidental way of finding out about Sikh faith and culture. The group discuss observed differences in a range of UK settings. Parvinder: ‘You enrich what you’ve got with other stuff…’

36:58 Phil introduces the notion of community pride. Many people had photos taken in bus drivers’ uniform. Some migrated out of choice, others by necessity. The project highlighted nuanced experiences.

38:31 The project raised awareness of the Sikh community. Influenced the focus of oral history. Led to the ‘Roots’ Black History project and others.

40:40 Martin observes that Sikhs are ‘used to dealing with pluralism’. Daljit stresses the significance of differing cultures.

44:00 Kitty’s remembers concerns about being an outsider; Irish roots helped her empathise. Also attracted to the theory of Sikhism and the project’s aims.

46:14 Kanta discusses the overwhelming task of turning collected material into a narrative. Phil remembers that having someone to write up the project was not included in the original proposal. It came later, with learning from a concurrent project co-managed by MCCR, investigating the needs of 2nd generation South Asians. Kanta recalls that the findings of that project caused controversy and were supressed.

49:11 Daljit: ‘We were a product of this system’. Describes anti-racism campaigns in schools and how they were at odds with over-riding structures that did not embrace diversity. Kanta recalls prejudice between minorities.

50:52 Martin organised an inter-faith conference in Assisi. Daljit remembers headlines about the murder of Ahmed Iqbal Ullah at that time. The group discuss racism in schools. Kitty who was an art teacher recalls her experiences. Martin describes tension caused by the ‘highly simplistic definition of racism’. The work of SFHP and Sacred Trinity attempt to address this.

56:31 Jasminder Kandola briefly joins the conversation and introduces herself.

58:22 Kitty felt enthused after her first meeting with Daljit and Raj. Everyone working together on something ‘useful’.

59:18 Daljit saw a need for more constructive models of co-existence. Stresses the importance of BAME role models.

1:00:41 Parvinder welcomed the opportunity to do work that ‘valued me and my people’.

1:01:17 Phil values what the project achieved in spite of ‘rocky’ relationships within the team. Likens it to a family. Raj and Jaswinder described as ‘diplomats’. Discusses the production of a video about Sikh heritage.

1:06:11 ‘I was the only ethnic minority community worker with Social Services’. Trying to convince colleagues to undertake development work with BAME groups ‘really tested your patience’. Hopes the project had an impact. Phil remembers it was hard to get senior managers interested. Lack of engagement on both sides with Kanta sometimes accused by communities of ‘snooping on behalf of Social Services’.

[Jasminder returns to work and does not re-join the conversation]

1:11:53 Raj recounts her transition from housewife to project worker. ‘It spurred me on to do more’.

1:12:52 Martin values the opportunity provided for people of faith to narrate their lived experiences. ‘It has shaped everything I’ve done ever since’.

1:14:57 The whole project provided learning for Kanta. Staff brought their own skills and ideas despite lacking formal qualifications.

1:17:55 Jo asks about the project outputs. Parvinder describes oral histories (audio and written versions), exhibitions and sharing events. Daljit claims the AIUET has continued the project’s anti-racism education agenda. Kanta highlights the potential for such projects to build capacity within communities.

1:21:20 Martin describes how the project united disparate people and communicated complex themes. More information about Eco Sikh.

1:24:00 Raj describes the exhibitions developed for educational venues. The team also trained social workers and the police, liaised with Sikh families and tried to instil young people with a stronger sense of identity.

1:27:40 The project moved from ‘the community representative’ model to greater complexity and diversity. Led to new ways of working.