Oral history

[Guest guest]

Source: http://www.indiaabroaddaily.com/2001/03/28/28hindus.html

 

UK project to record impressions and experiences of Hindus in

Britain

London

March 28, 2001 11:35 Hrs (IST)

 

 

A study center here has launched a project that will record the

impressions and experiences of Hindus in Britain, especially

older generations. "The project -- `Life of Hindus in Britain --

will mark the beginning of an important process of documenting

that which makes pluralistic United Kingdom a multi-ethnic and

multi- cultural democracy," Indian High Commissioner in Britain

Nareshwar Dayal said at the launch at India House Tuesday.

 

The project, established by Oxford Center for Vaishnava and Hindu

Studies (OCVHS), would be a reference point for future studies by

scholars and for the community, he said.

 

"The experiences of the people who came here to find a home away

from their homes are an integral part of the achievements and

aspirations, destiny and development of the contemporary British

society," Dayal said.

 

Liberal democrat Lord Addington said the project would give an

opportunity to the younger generation of Indian youth who want to

gain deeper understanding of their religious and cultural

heritage.

 

"This will enable them to consider vocations as representatives

of their community, enabling them to convey their community's

concerns, culture and values with sensitivity and accuracy," he

said.

 

The project aims to capture stories of first generation Hindus in

Britain and record them for posterity. It involves interviewing

leaders and elders from the Hindu Britons.

 

"This is a vital means by which Hindus, and especially the Hindu

youth, can learn about themselves and their community. It is a

chance for them to engage with their own history, explore issues

of identity and begin to interpret their tradition," OCVHS

director and project manager Shaunaka Rishi Das said.

 

Kim Knott of Leeds University, who is the project's research

coordinator, said her extensive work on the Hindu community in

England encouraged her to establish an archive for scholars,

researchers and members of the community.

 

"I am delighted that the OCVHS is undertaking such a project.

There is a danger that a significant portion of history may be

lost forever, if we fail to record the recollections and

contributions made," Lord Dholakia, a member of the center’s

patrons board said.

 

A major portion of the project is being funded by a grant of

86,200 pound from the heritage lottery fund (HLF).

 

Expressing gratitude to the heritage lottery fund for the

generous grant, chair of the OCVHS Library and Archive Committee

Dr Gillian Evison said "The recollections of British Hindus will

be valuable in recording the changing face of Hinduism."

 

There are an estimated 400,000 Hindus in Britain. The majority of

these people hailed from Gujarat and arrived here from Africa in

the 1960s and 1970s.