Featured image sourced from Unsplash created by Matt Briney as part of the Unsplash license

Every year since 2018, from the 18th July to the 17th August the UK has celebrated the diverse cultural heritages brought by its South Asian communities.

The dates were chosen to coincide with the anniversaries of two landmark events. On the 18th July 1947, the Indian Independence Act gained Royal Assent from King George VI. This act separated India into two distinct countries: India and Pakistan. On the 17th August 1947, the Radcliffe Line was published, determining the border between India, West Pakistan (now Pakistan) and East Pakistan (now Bangladesh).

The countries which make up South Asia are Afghanistan, Bangladesh, Bhutan, India, the Maldives, Nepal, Pakistan and Sri Lanka. Britain has a vast community of citizens whose heritage stems from these countries, making up an estimated 5% of the total population.

Map of South Asia sourced by Picryl public domain Library of Congress

This year’s theme is:

‘Stories to Tell’

That means that we’re thinking about those moments and experiences that have shaped the lives of our South Asian peers, and how their heritage has influenced their identities and their culture.

We’ve compiled a collection of resources including eBooks and documentaries to showcase South Asian writers and performers, and give our students an opportunity to listen to the stories they have to tell.

Get Involved

If you’d like to explore the wider community, why not take part in one of the UK’s South Asian Heritage events? Click here to visit the South Asian Heritage website and discover events across the country!

EBooks and Documentaries

And if films and documentaries are more your thing, here are a few playlists that we think you’ll enjoy:

Insaaf: Exploring South Asian heritage through public information films