Stories from the South Asian Pioneers - The Herbert

Stories from the South Asian Pioneers
Chanan Singh (top row second right) travelled with friends from Coventry to meet Sardar Ajit Singh (uncle of Shaheed Bhagat Singh) when he visited Shepherd’s Bush, London, 1947
The Coming to Coventry book is available from The
Herbert priced £10.99 (incl P&P). To order your copy
please call The Herbert shop on (024) 7683 2386.
Introduction
www.coming2coventry.org
This exhibition is a result of a partnership
project between The Herbert and the Asian
Mental Health Access Project. The project is a
development of previous work to record and
celebrate the history of Coventry’s South Asian
community. Through these activities we realised
that many early migrants were passing away and
taking their memories with them. We felt that
it was important to record these stories before
they were lost forever. The Coming to Coventry
project has focused on the pioneers who arrived
in the city from the 1940s to the 1960s.
During the project we spoke to over 60 people
and collected more than 600 photographs and
artefacts. This exhibition includes only a small
selection but there are many more in the Coming
to Coventry book. The full collection is kept at
The Herbert where it will be preserved for future
generations and made available for public use.
It will be accessible to anyone doing a school
project or personal research - or maybe you
know one of the participants and would like to
hear their stories.
The project website www.coming2coventry.org
is always changing. It also contains information
about the project, archive fi lm and educational
resources.
Karachi
Arabian Sea
PAKISTAN
Gujarat
4
5
2
Bombay
3 Kashmir
Delhi
INDIA
Madras
Indian Ocean SRI LANKA
1
Calcutta
Bay of Bengal
arts media museum history centre
Assam
6
BANGLADESH
7
BURMA
Migration has played an important role
in Coventry’s history for many years.
During the later 1800s the city attracted
labour from all over Britain to meet the
needs of the cycle making industry. In
the fi rst half of the 20th century the
growth of the motor and engineering
industries demanded large numbers of
new workers. Most of these people were
from other parts of the country, but in
the 1920s and 1930s a few South Asians
were starting to arrive. Their numbers
increased quickly from the 1950s.
Most of the Asian migrants came
from the Punjab. The other main
communities were from Gujarat and
the Sylhet region of Bangladesh. A few
people also came from the North West
Frontier province in Pakistan, Tamil
Nadu in southern India and Sri Lanka.
Most people arrived in the hope of
earning some money and returning to
their homeland. Many years later they
are still living in Coventry and have
made a major contribution to the city.
This exhibition gives an insight into
their experiences.
Passports belonging to Gurmid Kaur, Motasem Ali and Akbar Khan.
Origins of the Coventry
South Asian Community
India
1 The Punjab State -
Sikhs and Hindus
5 Gujarat State -
Hindus and Muslims
Pakistan
2 Punjab Province -
Punjabi Muslims
3 Mirpur border area -
Kashmiri and Mirpuri Muslims
4 The North West Frontier Province -
mostly Pathans
Bangladesh
6 Sylhet - Bengali Muslims
7 The maritime East Indian areas -
Bengali Muslims
Major areas of
immigrants to Britain

www.coming2coventry.org
Mohinder Singh and family outside Coventry Cathedral, 1962.
arts media museum history centre

Everyone wanted to go abroad,
make money, and improve their
living conditions. Everyone who
migrated here in the early days
planned to only stay here for four
or fi ve years to earn money and
then return back to India. Th en
the circumstances changed, people
started calling their families and
children over. Slowly, slowly,
everyone started to settle here.
Karam Singh
Nirmala Dhami (centre) at Heathrow airport meeting her future
son-in-law for the fi rst time,1968.
Poem by Awtar Johal describing his journey to England by ship, and his
fellow passengers who were heading to Coventry
Passport photograph of Sumetra Dharmgir Gosai when she
travelled from Gujarat to join her husband in Coventry, 1954.
When we reached home there
was no one here, my husband
was sitting in the pub. When
the taxi driver knocked on the
door, we could not understand
a word he was saying. Th e taxi
driver suggested that there is
a pub here and they must be
in the pub. He went inside
to look for my husband and
asked around if anyone had a
family coming from India. It
was when my husband got back
from the pub he let us in.
Gurmid Kaur
Professional photo of Gurmeet Kaur taken when she fi rst came to Coventry, 1959.
This article appeared in the Coventry Express in 1963. Many new
arrivals had to cut their hair in order to get jobs.
Bharti Patel arriving in England aged 19, 1960s.
Mohinder Johal took this picture on a visit to see the new
Coventry Cathedral in 1963.
Arriving in Coventry
www.coming2coventry.org
Mohan Lal in the Memorial Park shortly after his arrival in Coventry, 1951.
He came to join his father Anant Ram who settled here in the 1930s.
arts media museum history centre
It was very, very cold, not like
now. 1962 was one of the worst
winters, nearly four months
of snow, nobody had central
heating - people had coal fi res,
certainly no central heating.
It was only in the sitting
room, and life was quite hard
… I felt like going back!
Anis Jamall
Anis Jamall at Heathrow airport, 1968. He came to join his brother
who was working as a doctor.
South Asian migrants arriving in
Coventry from the 1940s to the 1960s
came for various reasons. Some had lost
their homes and land when India was
partitioned in 1947. Some wanted to
improve their education. The majority
were looking for work and planned to
return home with their savings as soon
as possible.
Most people had not travelled before
and the long sea journey or fl ight was
an adventure. On arrival in Britain
they faced new challenges. Only a few
educated migrants spoke English and
the language barrier made everyday
tasks a struggle. It was hard to get used
to the cold weather and winter clothes
like coats, scarves and gloves.
Most early settlers were men, either
single or with a wife and children left
behind. People often joined fellow
villagers already settled in Coventry
who were able to give them some help.
It was only as the men started to bring
their families over that the community
became established.
Sarwan Singh (second from right) in his home village in Nawanshahr just before he came to Coventry in 1954.

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Gurbachan Singh (bottom left) and family, before his children came to Coventry, 1954.
Akbar Khan on his day off outside his house on Arthur Street, 1958.
arts media museum history centre

People would get together and
the children would play. Th e
ladies would be knitting or
sewing - they would make a
lot of clothes for themselves
with bits from the market.
Th ey would bring wool and
share patterns, share knitting
needles and sometimes they
would knit things together.
Nishatro Kaur
Th ere was a lot of jam and
bread. We passed our time eating
a lot of this. We didn’t know
how to make chapattis then. We
ate jam for most of our meals.
Th en slowly we learned how
to make chapattis and daal ...
Th en when our friends’ wives
came over, we jumped with joy.
Sadhu Singh Virk
Taraben Patel, Kashiben Patel and Sumetra Dharmgir Gosai
outside the house they jointly owned, Rudge Road, 1959.
www.coming2coventry.org
arts media museum history centre
Once there was a house on sale
in the paper ... But the agent
said to me, ‘Sorry, gentleman,
I can’t sell this house to you’. I
asked the reason. He said, ‘I’ve
got no objections but the owner
of the house does not want to
sell to a black man’. I felt bad
... But in India, I had seen
even worse discrimination than
this. Lower caste people were
treated in a very bad way.
Ram Krishan Prashar
The Khans in their family home on Broad Street, 1960s. Shiv Kaur in her back garden, Welford Place, around 1967. Sisters Gurjinder and Balvinder Brahach were born in Coventry in the
1960s.
The Johal sisters and neighbour playing out, Lewis Road, around 1963.
Sohan Singh Cheema with family and neighbours in the back garden at
Sparkbrook Street, around 1954.
Harminder Singh outside his family home,
St George’s Road, 1960s.
Home Life
Indian fashion has recently become popular
on the high street, but this 1964 Coventry
Express article notes it as a new trend.
This article on the poor living
conditions of early migrants appeared
in the Coventry Express in 1963.
Nirmala Dhami and family, Paynes Lane, around 1961. Mrs Dhami passed her driving test in the Hillman Minx.
Gurmeet Kaur with her
sister-in-law, 1960s.
New arrivals in Coventry often struggled
to fi nd somewhere to live. There was a
housing shortage and many landlords
would not let properties to black or
Asian people. A lot of migrants lived
in houses owned by other Asians who
had arrived several years earlier. Some
households contained 20 single men
renting beds on a shift system.
Most South Asians ended up in areas
like Hillfi elds and Foleshill where
housing was cheap but basic. Outdoor
toilets were shared with neighbours.
Many homes had no bathrooms and
people used the public baths instead.
It was a shock for migrants who had
expected better living conditions in
England.
At fi rst, it was hard to fi nd familiar food
and people had to manage with what
they could get. A few pioneers set up
businesses to meet the demand for
specialist foodstuffs. There was a similar
situation with traditional clothing. As
women arrived to join their husbands,
the community was able to resume a
more familiar way of life.

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Darshan Singh and Chanan Kaur Sandhu in a picture taken specially to send to relatives in India, 1957.
arts media museum history centre

When I came here I started
a job at the GEC. I came
from Bangladesh and I got
my education from there ...
Language was the big hurdle
in getting the jobs. People
came from all parts of Bengal.
Most of them were uneducated
- they did not have any
qualifi cations from back home.
Mohammed Motasem Ali
Many young men went back to India to avoid National Service. Mohan Lal began his National Service in 1955 and
met only one other Asian recruit during his training.
Mohinder Ghag (left) at the Courtaulds Club Christmas party, 1958.
Many Coventry fi rms held social functions for workers and their families.
Mrs Lal–Sarin acted as an interpreter and later became the fi rst female,
Indian magistrate in Britain.
I started with Jaguar in 1962
as a clerical worker ... In
the factory side there were a
lot of Asians working there.
Th ere wasn’t anybody in the
offi ce. People used to look at
me strangely at the time …
Sucha Singh Bains
Mohammed Raham was a stores assistant at Dunlop who swapped his
overalls for Pakistani national costume on special religious festivals.
The small Asian community in Coventry during the Second World War
were involved in war production and experienced the Blitz.
The Taj Mahal, Curry Mahal and Himalaya were among the fi rst
curry houses in Coventry. Mohammed Motasem Ali left GEC to
open the Himalaya restaurant in The Precinct in 1966.
Factory workers at Alfred Herbert, 1960. Asian people worked long hours as they were expected to send money home
to their families in India.
Working Life
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Workers at GEC in the 1960s. It was one of the few places where Asian women worked outside the home or family-run businesses.
Factory workers at Dunlop,1960s. Many educated people found
themselves in manual jobs as their qualifi cations were not recognised.
Mohinder Johal and Bhajan Singh Atta (standing) enjoying a lunch break
whilst working on the railway line between Rugby and Nuneaton, 1962.
Ram Piara used his time off from Courtaulds to start his own
business. The opening of his new factory, Crabmill Lane, 1969.
Workers at Sterling Metals went on strike after Indians were
redeployed to the Nuneaton factory in 1959.
arts media museum history centre
As Britain recovered from the Second
World War there was a labour shortage.
Engineering fi rms in Coventry wanted
workers, especially for the hard and
dirty jobs that were diffi cult to fi ll.
Many Asian men worked in foundries
at Sterling Metals, Dunlop, Dunn and
Alfred Herbert. Some people who
spoke better English got easier factory
jobs or worked in an offi ce. They still
faced discrimination from employers,
colleagues and the unions.
Wages were low and a six or seven day
week was often the only way to make
a decent living. Some people boosted
their income by starting a business
which fi tted around their main job.
Most of them sold Asian foodstuffs and
clothing door to door or at community
gatherings. In time they opened grocery
stores, restaurants and small factories of
their own.
A few Asian professionals, like teachers
and dentists, enjoyed higher standards
of living. Other people saw the benefi ts
of education and encouraged their
children to study hard and get good jobs.
We had to work long hours
until late. At 8am I saw my
children off to school and then
went to the shop and worked
there until 9pm, as customers
used to drop in until that time.
Surjit Kaur Takhar

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arts media museum history centre
Mohan Lal with his regiment during his National Service, 1955.
Indian Workers Association on May Day, 1940s.

Th ey [the IWA] used to have a
meeting once a month, we used
to go - I was a member. All the
people were social and friendly.
Th ey used to help men with
problems, legal, social, etc. Babu
Cheema used to help people,
accompany them to the solicitors,
etc. Nanta Ram used to help
as well. I helped if I got time.
Mahindar Singh
Ceremony to lay the foundation stone of Guru Nanak Prakash
Gurdwara, 1965.
The Vicar of St Paul’s Church and a Pandit (a Hindu priest) at Crabmill
Lane, 1970s.
Visit to Coventry by Gandhi’s grandson to celebrate India’s Republic Day, 1963.
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Mrs Pandit (Nehru’s sister) visits Coventry and is received by the Lord Mayor together with Indian guests, 1960s.
An Indian Workers Association meeting, Trinity Hall, Coventry, 1946.
Coventry members of the Indian Workers’ Association celebrate
India’s Republic Day at the Craven Arms Hotel, 1965.
The Executive Committee of the Indian Workers Association, Coventry, 1945. Hajji Iqbal Khan (centre) presents a charity collection to the Lord Mayor, 1970s.
Visit by Prakash Singh Badal, Chief Minister of Punjab, to Guru Nanak Prakash Gurdwara, 1960s. Dr Sarvepalli Radhakrishnan, the President of India, with
the Lord Mayor of Coventry, 1963.
Political & Cultural Activities
arts media museum history centre
Yes, there was a small masjid
(mosque). I think it was built
in 1962 or ’63. Our Muslim
community collected money and
built the masjid. It was the fi rst
masjid - it was not as big as it is
now ... Our young children used
to go there to help - they used to
say, ‘Look, our masjid is being
built’. Afterwards they collected
more money and built a big
place ... No doubt we have built
many masjids all over the place
but we have lost peace of mind.
Fatima Begum
An Indian Workers Association meeting, Coventry, 1946.
Migrants arriving in Coventry built a
sense of community by getting involved in
political and cultural activities. The Indian
Workers Association had begun in 1938 as
a political group campaigning for Indian
independence. When this was achieved
it focused on fi ghting discrimination. Its
members joined protests on immigration
and employment issues and some were
also active in the trade unions.
Educated members of the Indian Workers
Association helped people with literacy
problems. Other private individuals
did the same. They read and replied to
personal and offi cial letters on behalf of
people with more limited language skills.
Acting as unoffi cial interpreters they also
accompanied them to appointments with
doctors, schools and other organisations.
Religion played a part in maintaining
community identity. To begin with
religious activities took place in homes or
hired halls. Once people decided to settle
in Coventry permanently they adapted
buildings as places of worship. From the
early 1960s they raised funds to construct
new mosques and temples.
We used to talk against the
English people. Th e leader was
a Congress member. Th e British
were against the Congress, so
they made their own association
which we called Mazdoor
Sabha or Workers Association.
We didn’t call it Congress
Association because, back in
India, people who said they were
Congress would get arrested,
and we didn’t want that to
happen in England so it was
called the Workers Association.
Ujagar Singh

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Tajinder, Balvinder and Gurjinder Brachach, Welford Place, 1967.
arts media museum history centre

It was to Tony’s house that I once
disappeared to watch television
as a fi ve or six year old, and my
family sent out a search party to
look for me – I think we got our
own television (black and white
of course) not long after that!
Kuldeep Dhami
A Coventry Express article from 1965. It describes the challenges faced
by schools with Asian students who needed to learn English.
Kuldeep Dhami with friends from Frederick Bird School, Christmas, 1967.
Childhood friends Nishatro and Bindi, Oliver Street, 1954.
Th e fi rst time that my dad saw
me, he tried to give me a hug
or hold me but I didn’t want to
know. I was crying and saying
I wanted to go to my papa in
India, which was my nana
(grandfather) in India. I didn’t
want to know him, he was very
disappointed. We were met from
the ship and brought down to
Coventry to Oliver Street.
Nishatro Kaur
Kuldeep and Amrik Dhami in India before moving to Coventry,
1955-56.
Girls at John Gulson School learning to sew. Taken from a 1963
Coventry Express article on integration in local schools.
www.coming2coventry.org
Ragini Gosai-Patel with her father outside the family shop, Queen Mary Road, 1965-66.
Jitey Samra (third from left) with her cousins and grandfather Bir Singh
Bassi who came to visit in the summer holidays,1968.
Five friends from Eagle Street, 1960. Back (left to right) Macken, Lehmber, Babu. Front (left to right) Balbinder and Kinderjit.
Alfred Herbert annual outing to Wicksteed Park, 1967. Outings and Christmas parties provided by their parents’ employers were the
highlight of many children’s year.
John Gulson School had high numbers of Asian pupils and pioneered ways to integrate the new arrivals.
Childhood Memories
arts media museum history centre
As the migrants brought their families to
join them the children had to adapt to a
new life. The young ones did so quickly
but it was a bigger challenge for older
children. After a long separation some
did not remember their fathers and it
took time for relationships to develop.
In the 1950s there were few Asian
children in Coventry schools and they
mixed mainly with white classmates.
For the fi rst time they experienced
traditional school dinners and nativity
plays. Their friendships with white
children introduced them to each other’s
cultures. They sometimes brought the
children’s parents together as well.
Some Asian parents also learned English
by following their children’s school
work.
The children played in parks and on
streets and bombsites across Coventry.
Many enjoyed outings and Christmas
parties organised by their parents’
employers. Not all of their time outside
school was spent playing. Asian parents
often expected older children to gain
work experience and a little money by
taking weekend jobs.
Kalbant Sandhu with a toy given by the family’s West Indian lodger.
School life was brilliant … We
had school dinners as at this
time my parents had a shop
and couldn’t provide lunch at
home … it was a shilling a
day! … I think I was the only
child at our school who enjoyed
liver and onions! My favourite
puddings were semolina or
apple crumble and custard.
Raj Gosai

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At the Savoy cinema, Radford Road. Seated (left to right), the Assistant High Commissioner of India,
the actress Miss Sharma and the Lord and Lady Mayoress, about 1962-63.
Bhajan Singh Atta and workmates at the fair, Hearsall Common, 1958.
arts media museum history centre

I remember once, Christmas
time, dad bought us a tape
recorder - you know, one of
these reel-to-reels … and we
just thought it was incredible.
… Th ere were times you’d
come in after holidays and
people would say, ‘What did
you get for Christmas?’ and
there wasn’t an awful lot you
could say because you didn’t get
anything for Christmas. But
this year, when we said we got
this, everybody went, ‘Wow!’
Sohan Singh Nagra
Taken from the article ‘Wed In A Mosque’ which appeared in the
Coventry Express in 1963.
It was a school, it was a big
hall. Th ere wasn’t a gurdwara
in Coventry at the time, so
they got the holy book and did
the ceremony here. My uncles
had arranged it all. We had
a lot of family, relations and
friends here, so there were a lot
of people. After the ceremony
they had the reception in the
pub close by in Red Lane. My
husband had only brought
seven people with him … He
did a party when he got back.
Surinder Kaur Sahota
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The fi rst Asian cultural evening at Foxford Comprehensive School, 1972. A fashion show and traditional dance demonstration raised
awareness of Asian culture among students and their families.
Amrik Singh Sohal and Dorothy Sohal on their wedding day, 1960. Mrs Farmah at the mandir, 1964-65.
Family and friends after an Akand Path (reading of the Sikh holy book) to mark the birth of Kulwant Sandhu, Smith Street, 1964.
Anant Ram getting into his car after his son’s wedding reception which was held at an Indian owned café in Hillfi elds, 1962.
Wedding guests outside Red Lane School after the marriage of Kundan Singh and Surinder Kaur, 1963.
Events & Celebrations
arts media museum history centre
I did some research at
Leamington library and got
some English plays and picked
some stuff from there. I had a
friend with me who was very
much interested and had his
own ideas. Th e plays were for
Asian people, they were done
in Hindi … Th e plays were
arranged twice a year, once on
the Diwali celebrations, and at
that time we used to have big
audiences ... Th en we produced
some singing programmes and
got Indian and Asian singers.
Mohinder Singh Johal
(Left to right) Bhajan Atta, Harmesh Singh, Balwant Singh and Karnail
Dhanda at the Railway Club, 1960s.
The majority of Asian migrants came
from the Muslim, Sikh and Hindu faiths.
In the early years there were no places
of worship and few people observed
religious festivals. Most did not have
a fi xed date and people were not sure
when they fell due. Many were working
too hard to celebrate them anyway.
Like other religious ceremonies most
marriages were originally held in private
houses. Because the community was
small they were modest affairs with
few guests. Hired rooms in pubs and
schools gradually became more popular
venues. Once people decided to settle
in Coventry permanently they adapted
buildings as places of worship. From
the early 1960s they raised funds to
construct new mosques and temples.
As religious festivals like Diwali became
more generally celebrated, plays and
musical entertainment were organised
to mark them. Some Asians shared
festivities at home with their English
neighbours. They also became familiar
with Christmas, bonfi re night and other
events traditional in Britain.
Party to celebrate the fi rst birthday of twins Balvir and Jasvir Shergill, Leicester Causeway, 1963.

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arts media museum history centre
Bhoota Singh and Harbajan Kaur on their wedding day, 1972.

On the fi rst day of my arrival
here, you know when any
man from India comes here
fi rst time they say, ‘Let us go
and make him drink a glass of
beer!’ My father and some of
his friends took me to Coventry
White Lion pub which has now
been closed. I had never tasted
beer in my life … I ended up
drunk on my very fi rst day.
Mohinder Singh Johal
Film set of Shaheed Uddam Singh, Warwick Castle. Anand Prakash
and crew, 1971.
Indian Cultural and Welfare Society poster, 1959.
Article in Coventry Standard when the Indian Cultural Society hosted a visit from the actress Shashikala, 1961.
Balwant Dhami with friends in the pub after work. The Royal Albert, 1953. Mr Johal (right) celebrating the night before a wedding, 1960s. Actor Sunil Dutt being presented with fl owers by Joginder Singh’s
daughter in the family’s back garden, Lythalls Lane, 1968.
Performance at Edgwick Primary School, late 1969.
We started the Indian Cultural
and Welfare Society as there
wasn’t anything like that where
10 or 15 of us could go to. We
made a collective decision to
start a cultural society and
library. We got Punjabi Hindi
literature from India. We used
to pass these on to people after
reading it ourselves – I would
take them to work … in Jaguar.
Janak Raj Chhibba
Social Life
Mr Johal (right) entertains guests at his home in Queen Mary’s
Road, 1966-67.
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Johnny Walker (comedy actor) and Shashikala at the Hippodrome, 1960.
The Indian Cultural Society with the famous actress Vijayantimala on her visit to the Savoy, 1959.
arts media museum history centre
My mother-in-law used to stay
at home to look after the young
ones … Th ey were only once a
week on Saturday or Sunday
and we used to get the chance
to dress up. Sometimes seven or
eight ladies used to get together.
If some guests came … we used
to say, ‘Let us go to the pictures’.
Sawarn Kaur Kullar
Chuhar Singh gets an autograph from actor Raj Kumar outside the Ritz
cinema, 1966. Raj Kumar was promoting his latest fi lm, Waqt.
When the early migrants arrived they
had little time and few options for leisure
activities. The pub became an important
focus as a place where people could get
together. However, not all pubs were
welcoming. Some Coventry landlords
refused to serve Asian customers or made
them drink outside.
Other migrants wanted more cultural
activities. A small group formed the
Indian Cultural and Welfare Society and
made books and magazines available.
They also organised screenings of Indian
fi lms in hired halls or cinemas. As more
families settled in Coventry the demand
for entertainment grew. By the later
1960s the Ritz and Palladium cinemas
had been bought by Asians. They became
a key part of community life. Famous
Bollywood actors sometimes visited and
other social events took place there.
Some Asian people joined in with British
social life. They went to mainstream
cinemas, fairs and social events at work. A
few professionals joined societies and put
on events to promote Indian culture to
English audiences.
Indra Bilee (middle) with dancers on either side. Indra was a famous Punjabi actress. The Hippodrome, 1970. Rattan Kaur with cousin Gurmeet Kaur who was visiting
from Dundee. Newdigate Road, 1962-63.

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Manjit Kaur (left) and her mother Gurbax Kaur entertaining visitors, 1960s.
arts media museum history centre
Balwinder Singh’s engagement party, 1967.

I have been playing kabaddi
from the very beginning, since
1962. I played my very fi rst
match here in England versus
Pakistan. In 1963 we invited
a team from Birmingham
and played against them …
after that the tournament was
held in Birmingham. Our
team travelled in one van, the
fans went in their own cars.
People were very enthusiastic
to go and watch the match.
Deep Singh
Birmingham vs Gravesend at Hadley stadium, Shaheed Uddam Singh tournament, 1972.
Kabaddi tournament at the Radford Aerodrome, about 1965.
Hockey match near Frankfurt in Germany, 1968. Travelling to Germany for a hockey tournament, Easter 1968. Left to
right, Ujager S Sohal, Amrik Dhami, Mohinder Johal.
Coventry and Southall kabaddi team compete in the Shaheed Uddam Singh tournament at Coventry Butts stadium, 1978.
Dilbagh Johal (third from the right) in Broad Heath School rugby team, 1964-65. Sohan Cheema (front row, fi rst from left) in the Coventry
volleyball team, 1968.
Th e Sports Scene
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Gurdial Singh Johal (second left on front row) in the tug of war team of
Shera Punjab Gurdwara, Smethwick, 1968.
Coventry Express hockey report, March 1964.
Coventry Express cricket report, May 1963.
Coventry Express football report, January 1964.
Chuhar Singh, (top row, fourth from left) at an Indian Youth Club football match, about 1964-65.
arts media museum history centre
I was quite healthy at that time
and started playing rugby for
the school team. I encountered
a lot of discrimination, because
I was the only Asian chap
playing for the school team.
Rugby is something which is
teamwork … So if you don’t
get the ball, you can’t score!
Chuhar Singh Jandu
Coventry Express report on a boxing match, March 1965.
Many of the migrants to Coventry
were young men in their teens or early
twenties. Some were keen sportsmen
in their home country and wanted to
continue their interest. Sport became a
way of building community identity as
well as a pastime.
The game of kabaddi was popular in rural
Punjab where many migrants came from.
It was played in Coventry from the early
1960s and tournaments were later held
against teams from other towns. Asian
volleyball and hockey teams were also
formed and some travelled to Europe for
international matches.
Young men who had been to school in
Coventry were introduced to rugby and
football. They set up their own teams
and played against Indian sides from
neighbouring cities. It was one way of
avoiding the racism they sometimes
faced in mixed games. Some Asian
people became enthusiastic supporters
of Coventry City FC. They bought season
tickets and later followed them to their FA
Cup victory in 1987.
I met Labh Singh Gill in the
Indian Workers Association
meetings. He asked me if there
was anyone who was a volleyball
player. Back then, there were
hardly any youngsters around at
the time, so we joined together
… we started playing volleyball
at the Memorial Park.
Sohan Singh Cheema

www.coming2coventry.org
arts media museum history centre
Kabaddi tournament in Punjab, about 1969-70.

When we went to school we
had to write a report about
our summer holidays but we
had nothing to write about.
So we used to say to mum,
‘What can we write in the
report when we haven’t been
anywhere?’ Th en mum used to
say to dad, ‘Let’s just close the
shop for two weeks and take
the children on holiday’. Th at’s
how it started – the fi rst time
we went away was in 1967.
Ragini Gosai–Patel
The Gosai family and friends enjoy a short fl ight on their holiday in Great Yarmouth, 1967. This was the fi rst time the Gosai children had been on a plane
and the trip was an expensive treat which cost £2.50 each.
Mohan Lal (second left) and friends on holiday in Germany with the owners of the guest house, 1961. Mr Lal booked his trip through Butlins and travelled
using his Indian passport.
As usual, our family outings
and holidays were focused on
visiting our extended families
that either lived in other cities
or in Coventry … One of the
best holidays (1968) we had
was when we went to visit
our relatives in Scotland …
Amrik, who drove us, took
detours to see King [ Robert ]
Bruce’s Cave, Gretna Green and
Hadrian’s Wall … I remember
drinking lots of whisky!
Kuldeep Dhami
www.coming2coventry.org
Mr and Mrs Lal-Sarin and family on their fi rst English holiday, 1963.
Nirmala Dhami about to fl y from Heathrow to India, around 1964. The Gosai family at Butlins, around 1969. Kuldeep Dhami at Robert the Bruce’s Cave, Scotland, 1969.
Mohinder Singh and family on Blackpool Tower, 1960s.
Anant Ram on holiday, Easter Monday 1941. This photograph
was made into a postcard and sent to his family in India.
Anis Jamall at Kew Gardens, 1965.
Mr Nagra (centre) with his wife and friend on holiday in Bournemouth, around 1970.
Holidays & Outings
arts media museum history centre
At fi rst few Asian families in Coventry
had the time or money to go on holiday.
If they did travel to other parts of
Britain it was usually to see friends and
relatives. Many felt isolated from their
extended families and it was important
to maintain contact. For children, school
visits offered a rare opportunity to
explore different areas of the country.
In the 1960s a small number of Asian
families started to take holidays. Like
other people at the time they had
more money to spend than before.
Some hired caravans or went camping.
Holiday camps such as Butlins offered
attractions like music, dancing and
children’s entertainment. It was often
necessary to make bookings in a false
name to avoid prejudice against Asian
customers.
As air travel became cheaper a few
people had holidays in Europe.
However, this was rare and trips abroad
generally meant a visit to relatives in
their home country.
Tarsem Singh and Nirmal Sumra, Blackpool, around 1961.
Holidays were advertised in
the papers, like the Coventry
Evening Telegraph … My name
was Sam Smith when I made the
bookings. But when we turned
up, they were quite surprised to
see Asian faces. But they couldn’t
do anything about it because
we had bookings. Th ere used
to be a lot of discrimination.
Dharmgir Manigir Gosai.

www.coming2coventry.org
arts media museum history centre
Dharmgir Gosai in Egypt, en route to India, 1964.
Coventry market, 1980s.

In the
beginning I did
[miss home] but
I did not think
of going back
because we had
to do so much.
We had to make our name in the
society. We had to bring up our
children, so much work to do. But
now I want to go, I miss my friend
there, I want to go and see her. It
would be nice if we were together
now, because the children are too
busy. Sometimes I do feel lonely but
I am used to this now. Loneliness is
a big disease in this country. Before
we go to somebody’s house here we
have to ring, because everybody
lives so far ... In India we could
go any time - it is diff erent here.
Chand Lal-Sarin
Th is is our
home and
country now.
I always reply
to those people
who ask me
where I come
from, my reply is ‘Coventry’.
Look, we have been living in
Coventry nearly 53 years, while
we had spent only 20 years of our
life in India. Whenever we go
either to London or Leicester, we
run back to home - Coventry.
Mohinder Singh Ghag
Coventry has
always been
accepting of
other people.
In Coventry
you see people
come from all
religions, all castes, all corners of
the world … Th e host community
has got the feeling like they adopt
everybody, accept everybody …
Although there are some people
who don’t but the vast majority of
the people are nice in Coventry. It
has changed drastically - everyone
is mixed with each other.
Sucha Singh Bains
In the end I can
say that we are
enjoying an easy
life here. We
are very happy
here. When
we look back
at our conditions in India, we
think we have done the right
thing by migrating here. Our
children got a good education
and are doing good jobs here.
Mohinder Kaur Kullar
It was a
diff erent
country,
diff erent
language,
we had to
conform and
tolerate the conditions we were
put through … Th ere was a sense
of unity. None of the old men are
alive now. Th is generation has
everything but their hearts are not
happy. Th is government system is
good, we have had no problem.
We settled here, grew old here,
two, three, four generations have
settled here. We came here because
we had to … I do remember my
home, that was my birthplace. I
keep going back and forth. All of my
family is here. I went there for two
months but I was unwell the whole
time. My wife was happy amongst
her own brothers and sisters.
Akbar Khan
After working hard to build a new life
many of the early migrants feel that
the effort was worthwhile. There were
numerous struggles on the way. Many
people had to settle for work that did not
make the most of their abilities. Even
qualifi ed professionals in better jobs
faced discrimination. Their children and
grandchildren have achieved successes
that were not always possible for them.
Most of the pioneers now have a more
comfortable lifestyle than the one they
left in their homeland. As people have
become wealthier they have moved to
bigger houses in the suburbs. However,
many of them miss the strong sense of
community they enjoyed when they fi rst
arrived in Coventry.
Some Asian people remain in Foleshill
and Hillfi elds, close to the shops and
places of worship they established. They
have now been joined by more recent
migrants from other parts of the world.
Coventry is still a place where people
come in the hope of a better life.
For a long
time I had an
Indian passport
- I did not
want a British
passport. But
we have very
close relations with England, we
speak English ... Our children are
born here, they are brought up
here and we use all the facilities
here. Jawaharlal Nehru also used
to say that we should be loyal
to the people and place where
we live. At the same time, we
should not forget our roots.
Ram Krishan Prashar
A New Home...
www.coming2coventry.org
The Herbert and the Coming to Coventry Project team
would like to thank the following for their help and support
with this project.
The participants, without whose
contributions and support the project
would not have been possible:
Ajit Singh Sarnia
Ajmer Bains
Akbar Khan
Amrik Dhami
Anis Jamall
Arfi k Mian
Avtar Singh Bhachu
Awtar Singh Johal
Aziz Uddin
Bashie Bains
Bhag Singh Kullar
Bhagat Singh Johal
Bhajan Singh Atta
Chanan Kaur Sandhu
Chanan Singh
Chand Lal-Sarin
Chuhar Singh Jandu
Daljit Kaur
Daman Lal-Sarin
Darshan Singh Briya
Darshan Singh Sandhu
Deep Singh
Dharmgir Manigir Gosai
Fatima Begum
Gurbachan Kaur
Gurbax Kaur Sanghera
Gurdial Singh Johal
Gurmid Kaur Khatkar
Isher Singh Sidhu
Jagat Singh Nagra
Janak Raj Chhibba
Jitey Samra
Joginder Singh Ghatora
Kabul Singh Heer
Kalbant Sandhu
Karam Singh
Kewal Singh
Khatiza Khalifa
Kuldeep Dhami
Kundan Singh Sahota
Mahindar Singh Sanghera
Manjit Singh Sangha
Mehar Singh Jandu
Mohammed Abdul Bari
Mohammed Mofossir Ahmed
Mohammed Motasem Ali
Mohan Lal
Mohinder Kaur
Mohinder Kaur Kullar
Mohinder Singh
Mohinder Singh Ghag
Mohinder Singh Johal
Naginder Singh Shergill
Naranjan Kaur
Naranjan Singh Cheema
Nirmal Kaur Sumra
Nirmala Kaur Dhami
Nishatro Kaur
Prem Lata
Ragini Gosai-Patel
Raj Gosai
Raj Kumari Farmah
Ram Krishan Prashar
Ram Piara Farmah
Sadhu Singh Virk
Sarbjit Bassi
Sarban Singh Sanghera
Sarwan Singh Gill
Sawarn Kaur Kullar
Sawarn Kaur Sanghera
Sohan Singh Cheema
Sohan Singh Nagra
Sucha Singh Bains
Sukhbant Sandhu
Sumetra Dharmgir Gosai
Surinder Kaur Sahota
Surjit Kaur Takhar
Ujagar Singh
Ujager Bassi
V. Sagar Sharma
arts media museum history centre
Coming from Coventry Photography
Project:
Shahida Begum
Jodie Worwood
Nadia Sultana
Mariom Lahrajab
Saiful Hussain
Ajmal Fatiwala
Maariyah Navsarka
Salim Akbar
Tasnim Khanum
Fatima Ownis
Mona Ali
Baaizeed Rahman
Jasmine Heir, Coventry Children’s Fund
Ravinder Dhaliwal, photographer
Shaukat Hussain, Anne Horleston and
Pervina Kaur, John Gulson Primary
School
Individuals and organisations:
Surinder Kaur Sanghera
Surinder Kaur Deo
Arthur Astrop
Kulwinder Sandhu
Cathy Hunt
Eleanor Nesbitt
Coventry Evening Telegraph
Coventry Local Studies Library
Richard Shenton, Moving Archive
Central England (MACE)
Joga Singh and Sunder Singh,
Macrojuice Ltd, project designers
Ania Bas, project photographer
Brian Bowlay-Williams, Coventry and
Warwickshire Partnership NHS Trust
Karen Hundal-Sandhu, Nasreen Akhtar,
Najeeba Durrani and Jaskiran Basi,
Asian Mental Health Access Project
Javed Iqbal, Muslim Resource Centre
Beant Singh Giddy, Indian Community
Centre
Mohammed Kasem, Bangladeshi
Community Centre
Mahendra Soni, Age Concern
Shabbir Usmani, Gosford Day Centre
Guru Nanak Prakash Gurdwara, Harnall
Lane

‘Hobbies’
‘My mum and her hobby’
‘Group Hug’
‘Kick Boxing Girl’
‘Me and my dad’
This is my brother playing PS2. He likes to laze around in a mosque hat before he goes to the mosque.
Salim Akbar
This is my mum in her garden, she likes to cut the grass. The photo shows what she does in her spare time.
Saiful Hussain
All my friends stand together. My friends are all funny and always say ‘peace man peace’
and do the V peace sign. Jodie Worwood
This photo shows one of my sister’s hobbies which is kick boxing. None of the boys want
to fi ght her because she is so hard, only the hardest boys fi ght her. Maariyah Navsarka
We are decorating our house and I liked
helping my dad. Shahida Begum
‘My Street’
www.coming2coventry.org
‘Although she’s Islamic
she’s a tomboy’
‘India and England’
‘Hey you, get off my bike’
I took this picture to show where I live. Baaizeed Rahman
I just wanted to take a picture of my room. Mona Ali My brothers and my little sister in our house. Nadia Sultana
‘My Room’ ‘My Family’
Coming from Coventry
arts media museum history centre
I took this picture to show Islamic people wear English clothes, play games too. You can tell Shahida is
Islamic because of her skin colour. Mariom Lahrajab
To show that I like India and England, I live two different worlds. Ajmal Fatiwala
My little sister always steals my brother’s
bike, so he got furious and pushed her off.
Fatima Ownis
The Coming from Coventry photography
project aimed to explore the effects
of migration on the identity of
young British Asians. The Herbert
commissioned photographer Ravinder
Dhaliwal to work with a group of Year
6 pupils from John Gulson Primary
School. The pupils attended an after
school club for six weeks and were
encouraged to explore their identity
through the lens of a camera. They were
taught basic photography skills and were
given a series of disposable cameras. The
children kept an image diary noting why
they had taken each photograph and
what it meant to them. This display is
only a small selection of the many great
photographs taken by the children.
I took this picture because it shows
‘Relaxing in D Sunset’ something normal (my sister’s
clothes and towel out on the washing line) and a gurdwara and some toys to
show that there are children in the house. I’m nearly always in the garden and
the washing out is always in the way. Tasnim Khanum