Julie Begum, Activism and The Bengali Community in London
The presence of Bengalis in Britain can be dated back as early as the seventeenth century through their work as lascars on European ships. However, the largest waves of migration occurred after the Second World War up to the 1970s as Britain clamoured for cheap labour in its factories across the Midlands and London and the British Nationality Act gave people in the Commonwealth the right to claim British citizenship. Many Bengalis came to escape war, poverty and to give their families a chance at a better life, and many settled in the heart of East London.
When I sat down to speak with Julie Begum, a British Bengali activist who has spent the past three decades immersed in grass-roots anti-racism campaigning, I was completely inspired by the passion she had for preserving Bengali heritage. Begum grew up at a time where the National Front, who placed their headquarters a stone’s throw away from Brick Lane, were emboldened; racists were throwing faeces through letterboxes and the Bengali community were ghettoised. With the rise of violent hate crimes, including the death of Altab Ali whose name now stands memorialised with the creation of Altab Ali Park in Whitechapel, there was a great mobilisation by the minority community and allies as they marched and protested through London towards Downing Street. Begum recalls this all too well as she remembers her and like-minded friends taking up every opportunity to organise against far-right extremists and bigots — many of which were protected by the police.
Police brutality and institutional racism was (and, unfortunately, still is) commonplace in Britain and British Bengalis bore the brunt through generations of political and economic scapegoating. Hate crimes were rarely prosecuted, police officers, at the least, often dismissed requests for protection and, at the most, partook in violence against the community as they protested against discrimination. At a time where the leader of the Conservative Party, Margaret Thatcher, proclaimed that “people are really rather afraid that this country might be swamped by people with a different culture”, there was little push towards real community cohesion as immigrants became further otherised. Thatcher went on to win the election only a year after these words were televised — words that spread the same inflammatory sentiment in regards to immigration through the same political party today.
As it became apparent that Bengali heritage wasn’t going to be accepted by the larger society anytime soon and newer generations were at risk of forgetting their roots in order to assimilate, Begum saw that the cultural contributions of her community were not being celebrated. This led to her co-founding the Swadhinata Trust: a community-focused organisation that aims to preserve Bengali culture and share its rich history with the world. The trust has arranged seminars, workshops, exhibitions and more in order to educate London’s own Bengali community as well as the larger community about crucial parts of Bangladeshi history and local history about the establishment and plight of Bengali Britons in Tower Hamlets. From local walking tours to projects like Brick Lane 1978 - The Turning Point, these programs are moments where diverse backgrounds and experiences can be appreciated and critical junctures can be remembered.
The importance of knowing one’s birthplace or heritage is a stedfast way in which one can become confident in their identity, aiding their awareness of their place in society and how to socio-politically mobilise against institutionalised racism and xenophobia. Julie Begum has hope that the younger generations will carry this torch towards progression by firmly knowing their roots and challenging any threats to a more fairer and equal society.
By Asia Khatun