From 18th July to 17th August, South Asian Heritage Month (SAHM) celebrates and commemorates the rich heritage and history of British South Asians in the UK through the arts, culture and education.
Bellrock Group are proud to celebrate the cultural heritage of our people. We honour a variety of cultural and religious observances throughout the year as part of our ‘Belonging at Bellrock’ series, aligning with our Diversity, Equity, and Inclusion strategy.
The 2024 theme for SAHM is ‘Free to be me’ and people are being encouraged to share their stories and connections to and about their South Asian culture. Our colleague Carley Bright, General Manager for Bellrock Workplace Services Account with LGIM, and committee member of the DE&I steering group, shares her personal story about her South Asian heritage and what SAHM means to her.
Carley’s story…
Back in the early 1900’s my great grandfather’s family moved to India, to help build the railways. My grandmother Noeline was born in 1936, second generation in India. By all accounts they had a good life there with hired help and custom clothing.
In around 1957, my grandmother met my grandfather to be, Dallas, at a dance in India. I have some wonderful photographs of my grandparents during this stage of their lives – it fascinates me to think who their friends were, who they were with and what they were doing. They were both rather stunning! My grandmother was even named Miss Lucknow, where they lived.
They married in a church in Lucknow and spent time living in Thailand for my grandfather’s work. Looking to put down roots, they boarded a boat while my grandmother was pregnant and sailed to the UK where my great aunt June was living, settling in Stoke on Trent. They went on to live in London and eventually ended up in Kent and had my mum and uncle here in the UK. I’m second generation South Asian in the UK.
They experienced a lot of racism and I think because of that it meant that our South Asian heritage wasn’t something that was ever talked about. They didn’t volunteer much information about our South Asian culture, and I didn’t always feel brave enough to ask questions, so a lot went unsaid. It wasn’t until I completed a DNA test during covid that I learnt that we have South Asian heritage as part of our make-up. I was always led to believe that our family only lived in India and not that our family were ever Indian.
Now I’m a mother myself, and I have a partner with Asian heritage, as does my sister, it’s really important to me to be open with my daughter and nephews about our culture and our roots – and to be proud of where we come from too. The first time I was ever comfortable enough to wear a sari was at my sister’s pre-wedding Mehndi. It was wonderful being able to embrace that side of my family’s history and my sister’s future with her Asian in-laws.
As I’ve grown up, I’ve found out more about my heritage from speaking to my family and asking questions, and it has been enlightening.
Even now, I’m learning new things about my beloved grandparents as more stories are shared amongst the family. Sadly, some of the stories are coming to light after my grandmother and grandad have passed on. One such amazing example, that I only found out at my grandfather’s funeral, is that my grandmother and grandad took in an Asian man and his daughter Maureen. They lived with them for a number of years! It’s testament to who they were. It all happened because my grandad was on a break at work one day and stumbled across a gentleman crying. Asking if he was okay, he found out that he had lost his wife and one of his daughters in a train accident in India and just didn’t know what to do or how to cope and help his daughter. Wanting to help, Dallas and Noeline kindly took them in, and Maureen grew up for a time with my mum and uncle. I was wowed by this – such a beautiful offer of kindness.
Although it’s desperately sad that I can’t talk to my grandparents about their lives anymore, sharing stories and memories is what will connect us to them for generations to come.
”SAHM has afforded me the opportunity to learn more about my background, to share my story and to celebrate and reminisce. As part of Bellrock’s DE&I steering group it’s important that I lead by example; that I’m brave and take responsibility to talk about my heritage – that I’m ‘free to be me’. It will hopefully encourage other people to get involved, to share their stories and celebrate who they are.
Carley Bright General Manager for Bellrock Workplace Services Account with LGIM, and committee member of the DE&I steering group
