Southall Feature 08th July 2023

So uthall in West London is a vibrant neighbou rh oo d with rich S ou th Asian influences, c omplemented by a diverse mix of c o mm u n it i es fr o m ar o u n d th e globe

As you wander through the streets, you'll encounter women g r a c e f u l l y a d o r n e d i n I n d i a n attires, while the tantalising aroma of street food stalls selling snacks and Indian sweets fills the air The rhythmic beats of Bhangra music permeate the surroundings, creating a joyful ambiance The streets are bustling with activity, fuelled b y t h e t h r i v i n g l o c a l e c o n o m y , which adds to the energetic charm of the area

A visit to Southall promises an u n f o r g e t t a b l e e x p e r i e n c e t h a t s h o w c a s e s t h e m u l t i c u l t u r a l tapestry of the community

During the 1950s, Southall's local factories and proximity to Heathrow Airport attracted a large i n f l u x o f A s i a n i m m i g r a n t s Consequently, the town became home to the largest Punjabi community outside the Indian subcont i n e n t , e s t a b l i s h i n g i t s e l f a s a major hub of South Asian culture T h i s v i b r a n t c o m m u n i t y h a s e a r n e d S o u t h a l l t h e n i c k n a m e "Little India"

What sets Southall apart is its d i s t i n c t l a c k o f t y p i c a l c h a i n e s t a b l i s h m e n t s t h a t d o m i n a t e many high streets across London T h e m a j o r i t y o f b u s i n e s s e s i n Southall are independent enterp r i s e s , p r e d o m i n a n t l y A s i a n -

owned, contributing to a vibrant and diverse local economy From restaurants to religious places and parks, libraries and cinema, the S o u t h A s i a n c u l t u r e d e f i n i t e l y shines through Even the main railway station embraces the cultural diversity of the community by displaying signs that are bilingual in English and Gurmukhi Southall boasts a diverse array

of dining options, with a particul a r e m p h a s i s o n P u n j a b i , S r i

L a n k a n , P a k i s t a n i , a n d S o u t h

Indian cuisines Restaurants like t h e S a r a v a n a a B h a v a n a n d t h e Kulcha Express offer a variety of authentic Indian cuisines that are a class apart Additionally, you have the option to pamper yourself with an Indian head massage or a henna tattoo Curated for the diverse community, Southall Library offers a wide-ranging assortment of books i n v a r i o u s l a n g u a g e s , i n c l u d i n g

Punjabi, Gujarati, Hindi, Urdu, Tamil, and Somalian takes pride

i n i t s r e m a r k a b l e c o l l e c t i o n o f dual-language books specifically curated for children In addition, the library provides a selection of

Safe Secure Simple

a u d i o v i s u a l m a t e r i a l s i n b o t h English and Asian languages For t h o s e l o o k i n g f o r a d e d i c a t e d study space, there is a separate area available, equipped with a diverse range of Asian-language newspapers, magazines, and local c o m m u n i t y i n f o r m a t i o n resources S o u t h a l l h o u s e s p r o m i n e n t religious institutions like Sri Guru S i n g h S a b h a G u r d w a r a , J a m i a Masjid Islamic Centre, Shree Ram Mandir St Anselm's Church and Oshwal Mahajanwadi among others The residents actively engage in social, cultural, and charitable i n i t i a t i v e s t h a t p r o m o t e u n i t y , support newcomers, and preserve cultural traditions

The town hosts various festivals throughout the year that celebrate different cultural traditions and provide a glimpse into the rich heritage of the community i n c l u d i n g V a i s a k h i , D i w a l i , E i d a n d C h r i s t m a s T h e f e s t i v i t i e s

a r o u n d t h e s e o c c a s i o n s a l s o

a t t r a c t v i s i t o r s f r o m a c r o s s

L o n d o n a n d b e y o n d , f o s t e r i n g unity and understanding among diverse communities

Southall has also served as a backdrop for several Bollywood movies over the years Movies like Bend It Like Beckham, Namastey London, Jab Tak Hai Jaan, London Dreams and more prominently,

P a t i a l a H o u s e a n d p o r t r a y t h e

u n i q u e a t m o s p h e r e , t r a d i t i o n s ,

a n d e x p e r i e n c e s o f t h e S o u t h

Asian diaspora in Southall

In the year 2020, the Southall postcode area had a total population of 385,000 residents Among them, 40 4% identified as Asian,

3 5 9 % i d e n t i f i e d a s W h i t e , a n d

10 5% identified as Black In terms of religious affiliation, 35 2% of the population identified as Christian,

19 3% identified as Muslim, and

14 2% reported having no religious affiliation

R e g a r d i n g r e l i g i o n , S i k h i s m was the most prevalent religious affiliation in 2011, with 35 4% of t h e p o p u l a t i o n i d e n t i f y i n g a s Sikhs Islam followed with 24 9%, H i n d u i s m w i t h 1 8 6 % , a n d Christianity with 12 9% Only 2% of residents claimed no religious a f f i l i a t i o n , t h e l o w e s t f i g u r e among all areas in London

The vibrant district in Ealing shines with an abundance of gold jewellery stores, vibrant sari vendors, and a myriad of sweet shops and street food stalls that offer an i r r e s i s t i b l e s e l e c t i o n o f t o o t hi n d u l g i n g d e l i c a c i e s S o u t h a l l offers a comprehensive range of amenities that cater to the needs of individuals from India, ensuring they feel a sense of familiarity while residing in London

Arial view of Gurdwara Sri Guru Singh Sabha, Southall

Palace Shopping Center

Bilingual station signage at Southall Station

sea m en o n B r i t is h me r ch an t s h ip s , and i nd i v i d u als se eki ng p r o f ess i on al qualificat ions such as civil servants or st udents R e f e r r e d t o a s L i t t l e I n d i a , Southall is situated in the far west of London, originally belonging to t h e r e g i o n o f M i d d l e s e x b e f o r e L o n d o n ' s e x p a n s i o n a i m e d a t fostering economic growth The name 'Little India' stems from the s i g n i f i c a n t p r e s e n c e o f S o u t h Asians within the district

The substantial wave of Punjabi migration began in the 1950s due to l a b o u r s h o r t a g e s i n t h e U K following the Second World War

The British administration actively e n c o u r a g e d r e c r u i t m e n t f r o m a c r o s s t h e C o m m o n w e a l t h T h e majority of these migrants were men from India and Pakistan After a p e r i o d o f a d j u s t m e n t a n d a c c l i m a t i z a t i o n , t h e y b e g a n t o s e t t l e p e r m a n e n t l y a n d subsequently invited their friends, spouses, and children to join them M a n y o f t h e s e m i g r a n t s f o u n d employment in the manufacturing, textile, and service sectors

G r a d u a l l y , S o u t h a l l e v o l v e d i n t o t h e l a r g e s t S o u t h A s i a n community in London, solidifying

its status as a vibrant hub of cultural diversity

T h e R W o o l f R u b b e r Factory located in Southall, W e s t L o n d o n , h o l d s a s i g n i f i c a n t c o n n e c t i o n t o t h e i n i t i a l w a v e o f i m m i g r a n t s f r o m t h e Punjab region of India to Britain During this time, the working conditions at t h e f a c t o r y w e r e e x c e e d i n g l y c h a l l e n g i n g , with Indian workers being s u b j e c t e d t o s t r e n u o u s labor while receiving lower w a g e s c o m p a r e d t o t h e i r w h i t e c o u n t e r p a r t s i n s i m i l a r positions W i t h t h e r i s e o f t h e A s i a n workforce, the alarming reality of exploiting migrant workers became more apparent and conspicuous This led to a surge in calls for f u n d a m e n t a l r i g h t s s u c h a s s c h e d u l e d t e a b r e a k s , w a g e increments, an end to mandatory overtime, and improved working conditions Asian workers initiated t h e p r o c e s s o f o r g a n i z i n g t h e m s e l v e s , v o i c i n g c o l l e c t i v e demands, and actively participating i n v a r i o u s s t r i k e s a n d demonstrations

In November 1965, a significant event unfolded as approximately 6 0 0 A s i a n w o r k e r s i n i t i a t e d a strike, demanding improved safety m e a s u r e s w i t h i n t h e w o r k p l a c e This strike persisted for a duration of seven weeks During this time, w h i l e t h e m a n a g e m e n t o f t h e

factory undermine the strike, they ultimately failed

This strike served as a pivotal moment in the history of the Asian c o m m u n i t y i n S o u t h a l l a n d i t s a f t e r m a t h m a r k e d a s i g n i f i c a n t t u r n i n g p o i n t , i n s p i r i n g A s i a n workers to fight for their rights and assert their presence in the labor movement

Five years later, in the 1970s, S o u t h a l l b e c a m e a s i t e o f c i v i l unrest marked by acts of racism In 1 9 7 6 , 1 8 - y e a r - o l d G u r d i p S i n g h C h a g g a r f e l l v i c t i m t o a r a c i s t attack carried out by infiltrating skinheads While enjoying a night o u t w i t h f r i e n d s , C h a g g a r w a s fatally stabbed T h i s i n c i d e n t i g n i t e d a powerful response from the youth i n S o u t h a l l , l e a d i n g t o t h e emergence of a significant antiracism movement Young people t o o k t o t h e s t r e e t s t o p r o t e s t

against Chaggar's murder

A l t h o u g h S o u t h A s i a n r e s i d e n t s h a d a l r e a d y e n d u r e d r a c i a l a b u s e , segregation, and violence, t h e r e a l i z a t i o n t h a t s u c h a b u s e w a s r e s u l t i n g i n a c t u a l d e a t h s h e i g h t e n e d tensions

F o l l o w i n g C h a g g a r ' s death, the Southall Youth M o v e m e n t ( S Y M ) w a s established Their primary objective was to engage in d i r e c t a c t i o n a g a i n s t politically motivated racist acts, particularly targeting

t e a c h i n g p o l i t i c a l h i s t o r y a n d celebrating their cultural music

A few years later, the National Front made a decision to hold a public meeting at Southall Town H a l l , w i t h t h e i n t e n t i o n o f asserting their presence and agenda w i t h i n t h e c o m m u n i t y T h i s a n n o u n c e m e n t c a u s e d g r e a t d i s t r e s s , l e a d i n g t o w i d e s p r e a d protests in the streets

immigration and the rise of the National Front However, despite the community s stance, the police maintained that Chaggar's killing w a s n o t r a c i a l l y m o t i v a t e d I n r e s p o n s e t o t h e p r e v a i l i n g circumstances, the SYM occupied a building and transformed it into a safe haven for young people while

Southall’s Finest, an Instagram forum presenting regular insights o n t h e t o w n r e c a l l s t h a t “ t h e protestors who held their ground, many of them being from India, were very familiar with the tactics of Gandhi, and sat down in the Broadway (Southall High Street) to protest peacefully ”

“However, the police who are supposed to help, protect and serve pulled up peaceful protestors, in s o m e c a s e s d i s r e s p e c t i n g t h e i r r e l i g i o n b y p u l l i n g o f f t h e i r turbans ”

Protest at the Southall Broadway

People take to the streets to protest against Gurdip Singh Chaggar's murder

Source: ndian Worker s Southall

Source Indian Worker s Southa l

Where food meets perfection: Saravanaa Bhavan offers a gastronomic adventure

Indian cuisine is one of the m o s t p o p u l a r c u i s i n e s i n B r i t a i n a n d i s o f t e n j u s t r e f e r r e d t o a s ' h a v i n g a curry' A s v a s t a s I n d i a a n d i t s culture is, every significant r e g i o n h a s i t s o w n s i g n a t u r e d i s h e s a n d restaurants here try to offer many such popular items under one menu. S a r a v a n a a B h a v a n ( a g l o b a l c h a i n o f I n d i a n v e g e t a r i a n r e s t a u r a n t s ) a d h e r e s t o t h i s s p e c i a l f o r m u l a , b u t w i t h a g u a r a n t e e o f a u t h e n t i c t a s t e a n d q u a l i t y o f f o o d They have seven branches i n t h e U n i t e d K i n g d o m itself and in an interview with Asian Voice, one of the E x e c u t i v e D i r e c t o r o f S a r a v a n a a B h a v a n , M r s . S a s i r e k a V i c k y ( W e l l k n o w n a s R e k a ) t o l d u s h o w t h e y h a v e b e c o m e o n e o f t h e b e s t f a m i l y I n d i a n v e g e t a r i a n r e s t a u r a n t s i n L o n d o n , serving more than 70,000 customers each month and d i s h i n g o u r m o r e t h a n 25,000 Masala dosas each month

1How does your restaurant blend in with the history of Southall?

The restaurant site that we took over was formerly a well known pub named ‘Glassy Junction’ We thought the Southall neighbourhood would enjoy our food, so we established ourselves here We weren't doing well in the initial stages, but now we are serving about 25 to 30,000 people in Southall It originally had 130 seating facilities which has now reached 200 as the demand is high

2What are the most popular dishes on your menu?

The credit definitely goes to the mix of food items on the menu There are varieties of starters and main courses in our Indo-Chinese section, as well as we offer South Indian dishes So if you ask me what attracts the Punjabi community to our restaurant, they definitely love the variety of dosas we offer, especially the crispy or ghee roast ones and Channa Batura They also love the Indo-Chinese dishes, which has traditional Indian taste with a Chinese twist

3What sort of customers do you mostly attract?

Our customers are mostly of Indian-origin I've often seen people getting absolutely addicted to our food, to the extent that they don't want to cook at home!

There are so many compliments from customers, whenever I go and talk to them Many students make social media videos about our food, which shows how much they like it British Asians, especially youngsters, love our food and visit us frequently Mostly our customers, take a view of a second home food, where they eat or take food home when they are not able to prepare food at home

4How difficult is it to maintain the quality and taste of your food across all the 7 branches?

Our skilled chefs travel from India to this country and they work in a controlled environment where they aspire to maintain brand taste and quality We oversee the consistency and quality in the main kitchen, and our directors or operations managers visit each branch to sample the food to make sure it meets the necessary standards This guarantees the same quality and taste in your food wherever customers visit

5Do you offer any gluten-free or any allergen-free food?

We do have Gluten free items in our menu and so are vegan options However, as we always warn our customers that the possibility of cross contamination is always possible

6How has the restaurant coped with the changing trends?

The menu has 200 dishes Last time we updated our menu, we added pizza dosa and chettinad

dosa We have also introduced mocktails and cocktails, which are a huge hit among the customers We have refurbished the interiors and also increased the seating capacity in the restaurants

7How would you describe the ambience of your Southall restaurant? What sets your restaurant apart from others?

We are mainly a family oriented restaurant, known for our quick service Our service time is 30 to 40 minutes, which can be reduced to 25 on some occasions The ambience is relaxed and family friendly

Our portions are quite subs t a n t i a l a n d t h e y a r e v a l u e f o r money We offer unlimited chutneys and sambhar at no extra cost, so customers can order about four to five types of chutneys and sambhar, with just one dosa

As compared to other restaurants, we have an open kitchen where customers can see their food b e i n g p r e p a r e d D u e t o s e a t i n g c a p a c i t y , o u r r e s t a u r a n t h a s a s h o r t e r w a i t i n g t i m e , a n d c u stomers can get a table within 10 to 15 minutes of arriving, even during busy times

O u r a v e r a g e p r i c e i s a b o u t £ 11/12 per head, which is reasonable in this economy We haven't increased the price of our dishes by more than 5% in the last three years The volume of customers dining with us every day, helps us to keep the prices low

Many people travel considerable distances (often two to three hours) to come and dine at our

restaurant or grab a takeaway on their way back, after shopping in Southall

8Where do you source your ingredients from and how do you ensure they are fresh and meet the UK standards?

We source more ingredients from India, since we have to maintain the highest standards for ingredients We have our own sources and storage facilities in South India We ship the ingredients here and make sure that they are all freshly produced We even import coconuts which add authentic taste to our chutneys Many restaurants use desiccated coconut, but we don’t We get two containers of ingredients every month, providing the required supplies to our UK branches

9What were the biggest challenges in your restaurant journey and how did you overcome them?

We require a minimum of five chefs in each of our restaurant branch to maintain the quality of food The UK government's mandate that our chefs need to meet a specific level of English proficiency to come here, has been a challenging endeavour for them

Our chefs are all highly skilled and experienced at culinary subjects; but apart from their own mother tongue, they mostly don't know any other languages So, it

has been difficult to persuade them to study English, pass the exam, and then obtain work visas to join the UK branches

10Do you have private dining or space?

We have a modest banqueting space for small gatherings

The restaurants can handle large group bookings to celebrate special occasions, but we do not have private dining rooms for groups

However, we have one private location at Platinum Louge, Ilford, where the banqueting hall can seat around 250 people

We also provide private catering services

Subhasini Naicker Saravanaa Bhavan (Southall Branch) 97 South Road, Nr. Southall Railway Station, UB1 1SQ

L-R: Mr Sujeevan (Operations Director) Mr Vicky (Managing Director), Mr Shiva Kumaar (Brand Partner), Mrs Reka (Executive Director), Ms Revin ( Director)

Southall - A welcoming home

Virendra Sharma MP

“ When I mov ed to S outh all in 1968, mo st of the people h ere w ere either Indian or P akistani becau se So uthall w as w e ll k no w n a cr o ss S outh Asia for being a welc o m i ng h o m e L ate r, t h is attracted mo re eth nicities to m ove to S outh all as they felt they would be co mfortable living in a com munity w ith o ther S outh Asian m igrants, inclu ding Afg hans, So malis, Bang ladeshis, and Nep alese

It wasn’t all w elcoming arms t h o u g h , a nd a s I n d i ans b ec am e a l arg e r e th n ic m ino rity in Sou thall, m any s trug g led to fi nd em p loym ent, regularise their immig rat io n s ta tu s a nd w i th h ousing issues Th ey needed sup port of some kind

This led to the founding of the IWA (Indian Workers Association), and I am proud to have worked closely with the IWA throughout their journey and to this day This o r g a n i s a t i o n m a s s i v e l y helped migrants to stand on two feet and to live independ e n t l y T h e I W A h a d i t s obvious advantages, it create d a l a r g e c o m m u n i t y i n S o u t h a l l , b r o u g h t p e o p l e together in times of struggle, made them more confident and supported them in their new area of residency

More recently I’ve seen new organisations run by young people doing the same work the IWA did before Now

t h e r e a r e m o r e r e l i g i o u s buildings being built, a posit i v e t h i n g a s p e o p l e h a d another part of their identity back in their motherland now in Southall While having more religious buildings is a good thing, it fragmented the community, where o n c e t h e r e w a s o n l y o n e option, now there are many pathways often divided into different faiths The options are wider, and the support is greater, but it is concerning how separated people can now be S o u t h a l l h a s a l s o changed economically quite a lot; Southall’s percentage of people claiming unemp l o y m e n t b e n e f i t s h a s decreased by a considerable a m o u n t s i n c e I ’ v e b e e n e l e c t e d , h o w e v e r , d u e t o Covid this number skyrocketed to a peak of 11 5% in 2021 Since then, I have been w o r k i n g w i t h b u s i n e s s e s a n d l o c a l g o v e r n m e n t t o reduce this number and get us back on the right path, and as of the end of 2022, it is 6 2% Southall and Ealing’s economy has also changed

as places like the airport and local industry have provided h i g h - q u a l i t y , w e l l - p a y i n g jobs

But as online shopping has thrived and high streets h a v e s u f f e r e d , I k n o w Southall needs help to keep shopping alive Now people a r e t r a v e l l i n g a l l t h e w a y into central London to buy

The

s h o p l o c a l l y B y s h o p p i n g locally, we can all reduce our use of fossil fuels and our C O 2 e m i s s i o n s , b e c a u s e #smallbizbigimpact

complex evolution of linguistic forms of Punjabis in Southall

c l o t h e s ; t h i s i s p a r t l y because of changes in taste and fashion, and the lack of b i g - n a m e b r a n d s i n Southall Southall is a community, it should be a place where residents are able to do the things they want to live their lives Good jobs locally should mean popular a n d s u c c e s s f u l l o c a l b u s inesses that attract shoppers, m o n e y b e i n g m a d e a n d spent in Southall grows the economy People too often travel out of Ealing Southall to buy the things they need when we already have some amazing local businesses To counter this, I have been giving awards to local businesses and shops to share these success stories, and hopefully encourage more people to

I k n o w p e o p l e l o c a l l y w a n t b e t t e r p o l i c i n g ; w e need more beat officers to minimise dangers Just last w e e k I c h a l l e n g e d t h e M e t r o p o l i t a n P o l i c e Commissioner on the topics of responsiveness to crime, a n t i s o c i a l b e h a v i o u r , a n d domestic burglaries Only a few days ago, I was talking to a newly married couple w h o h a d j u s t b o u g h t a house, sadly their house was b r o k e n i n t o , t h e c o u p l e reported the crime as they a r e s u p p o s e d t o d o , t h e police said that they would come to investigate, yet they never did By ignoring these deeply personal crimes the Police create a separation between themselves and the p u b l i c , e r o d i n g t r u s t a n d leaving people unwilling to call the police, as they think it is pointless As an MP I don’t want that, I want trust i n o u r p u b l i c s e c t o r a n d public services

1 3 y e a r s o f T o r y

G o v e r n m e n t h a s e r o d e d trust in services, been an assault on the strength of o u r c o m m u n i t i e s a n d s t r e t c h e d o u r h e a l t h s e rvices We need a Labour victory for Ealing Southall and for communities just like it across the country ”

It is co mmo nly believed that as child ren o f imm ig rants mature, they tend to ad opt the sp eech p atterns of their locally- born friend s rather than th ose of their parents

Ho w e v er , D r L a v an ya

S ank ar an, K i ng ’ s C o lle g e

L o nd o n and P r o fe ss o r

De v ya ni S h arm a Qu e en Mary, University o f L ond on d i sc o v e red th a t th i s p h enom enon is more intricate th an com mo nly perceiv ed The ev olu tion of lang uage across different g enerations occurs grad ually and entails a com plexity that surp asses initial expectations

O v e r t h e p a s t s i x

d e c a d e s , t h e d e m o g r a p h i c

l a n d s c a p e o f t h e S o u t h a l l community has witnessed a s i g n i f i c a n t t r a n s f o r m a t i o n as South Asians have transitioned from being a minority group to a majority, currently constituting over 60 percent of the local population One can observe the emergence of evolving ethnic speech patterns that correspond to gradual changes within the community over a span of fifty years, reflecting shifts in British gender r o l e s a n d c l a s s p o s i t i o n s

Surprisingly, this does not i m p l y t h a t t h e y o u n g e s t g e n e r a t i o n c o m p l e t e l y

abandons ethnic linguistic forms In fact, they exhibit strong and noticeable usage of such forms “ I n t e r g e n e r a t i o n a l transmission of exogenous and local dialect traits in i m m i g r a n t c o m m u n i t i e s can be of central importance t o u n d e r s t a n d i n g t h e dynamics of dialect change over time Characterised by their multilectal participation in distinct communities in contact, an intermed i a t e g e n e r a t i o n i s o f t e n responsible for the incremental stages of language a c q u i s i t i o n a n d d i a l e c t c h a n g e ” , D r L a v a n y a t o l d Asian Voice “ I n S o u t h a l l , f o r instance, Punjabis from the o l d e r s e c o n d g e n e r a t i o n closely resemble the firstgeneration’s non-native use of t-retroflexion However, they simultaneously control n a t i v e l i k e t - g l o t t a l i n g , reflecting a robust bidialectal ability It is the younger s e c o n d g e n e r a t i o n w h o exhibit focused reallocation in the form and function of t-retroflexion This 20-year l a g c o r r e s p o n d s t o m a j o r c h a n g e s i n d e m o g r a p h i c s a n d r a c e r e l a t i o n s i n t h e community over 5 decades”, she further added

Mr Sharma fighting to protect jobs in the constituency

Mr Sharma at Local Gurdwara Sri Guru Singh Sabha, Southall

Festivals play a signi fic ant r ol e i n c e le b ra t i n g a n d s h ow c a s i n g t he c u l t ur a l t ra d i t i o n s , c u s t om s , a n d v a lu e s o f a c o m m un i t y They b ring pe ople together, fosterin g a s ense of be lon ging and uni ty w hi le providi n g a n o p po r t un i t y t o express joy a nd gratitude

S o u t h a l l , l i k e a n y diverse community, participates actively in celebrating an array of festivals Diwali, H o l i , E i d , M i l d - u l - N a b i , Christmas and Easter are among the various festivals c e l e b r a t e d w i t h g r e a t vigour Vaisakhi, however, is one festival that is celebrated with extra pomp

During early April, the streets of Southall undergo a remarkable transform a t i o n a s t h e y a r e adorned with a kaleidoscope of colours marking t h e j o y o u s o c c a s i o n o f Vaisakhi, the most significant day in the Sikh calend a r T h e a t m o s p h e r e i s filled with excitement as revellers gather, forming queues at numerous food stalls offering free traditional Indian cuisine The air reverberates with the l i v e l y b e a t s o f P u n j a b i music, encompassing both v i n t a g e f o l k s t y l e s a n d e n e r g e t i c b h a n g r a , e m anating from speakers

T h e f e s t i v i t i e s a r e a testament to the rich cultural heritage of the Sikh c o m m u n i t y , a n d p e o p l e come together to honour and rejoice in this auspicious occasion The event creates a joyful and spirited ambiance, inviting individuals from various backgrounds to partake in the f e s t i v i t i e s , s a v o u r t h e d e l e c t a b l e f o o d , a n d immerse themselves in the vibrant Punjabi music that fills the air

Recently, in the past week, hundreds of ecstatic d e v o t e e s c e l e b r a t e d t h e R a t h a Y a t r a w i t h g r e a t f a n f a r e i n S o u t h a l l T h e y a t r a w a s o r g a n i s e d b y

Shree Jagannatha Society

UK (SJSUK), which is assoc i a t e d w i t h U K ’ s o l d e s t

Hindu temple, Shree Ram

Mandir According to Dr C h e t a n S h a t a p a t h y , T r u s t e e a n d C o m m u n i c a t i o n s - I nC h a r g e , S J S U K , “ t h e M a n d i r b r i n g s t o g e t h e r the entire community of Hindu devotees wedded to Sanatana Vaidika Dharma, from across regions and communities of the Indian subcontinent It also sees s e v e r a l S i k h d e v o t e e s drawn to the worship of the deities, thus serving as a bridge between communities ”

“The Ratha Yatra provides an opportunity for the entire populace of the local area of Ealing, and devotees drawn from all parts of London and across the UK, to mingle freely with the Lords, seek bless-

A celebration of the rich South Asian heritage

ings in person, and wipe a w a y t h e i r r e s i d u a l b a d Karma by pulling the chari o t s ” , h e s a i d a b o u t t h e Ratha Yatra “ A l s o , t h e a n n u a l

Shobha Yatra organised by Shree Ram Mandir in association with many other organizations in the UK on t h e o c c a s i o n o f S h r e e

K r i s h n a J a n m a s h t a m i , i s an occasion where all communities come together in a joyous procession on the streets of West London’s S o u t h a l l , c r e a t i n g a n atmosphere of gaiety”, Dr Chetan added

According to Southall’s finest, “all festivals are celebrated with lots of colour,

hustle and bustle and of course food in Southall, m o s t i m p o r t a n t l y t h e sweets The British neighbours are quite welcoming to a certain extent especially those who've lived in Southall for a long time know they'd be welcomed in their neighbours home and vice-versa ”

Nagar Kirtan in Southall

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CEO and Senior Director Ajay

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1

Unde rst anding t he p roj ec t: Here the company will obtain information about your property and they may have to pay a visit to the site to understand any specific requirements/intricacies if required.

2

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3B ri efi ng a and M Measu ri ng: Once the deal is struck with the client after personal contact, we will now come to measure and photograph the property. At this point they inform the client about additional services that may be required (Thames water/Party wall/drainage survey etc.) advising on layout and portraying in the design.

5 A Appl i cat ion r re sul ts: Once the application has been submitted following up to decision from the council, they will stay in communication amending plans according to planning officers’ comments. Following decision, the application will continue as usual or appropriate measures will be taken from re-applying or appealing.

4

Dr awings a and s su bmissi ons: Within a maximum of 1-2 weeks, the proposed drawings that are required to be submitted to the local authorities will be ready, include any final external changes (Windows/doors/roofs etc.) to be submitted to the council.

6 Su bmit ti ng t to b bu il di ng c co nt rol : Finalizing internal layout before going ahead and achieving (Structural engineer) steel calculation and submitting to building control. Meanwhile all other regulated department-based certificates/agreements are achieved in order to reduce delays in commencement.

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“ “ “

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DILIP RAITHATHA

JAGIR SINGH

Ajay Modhwadia CEO and Senior Director

Niraaj Modhwadia Director

Bringing the roots and heritage of Punjabi culture to the stage

T aj i n d e r S i nd r a i s a r en o wn e d wr i te r , a c to r , a n d d i r ec t o r f r om t he v i b ra n t c o mm u n i ty of Southall W ith an impressive portfolio, he has acted in and di rec ted Bollywood films suc h as "London 2 Amritsar" and "London De H ee r," es ta bl is hi ng h imself as a prominent figure in the i ndustry H e is the f ou n de r o f t he P un j a b i T he a tr e A c a de m y , c el ebrating the roots and heritage of Punjabi c ulture

A s k h i m a b o u t t h e artistic and cultural scenario in Southall now and back when he was growing up and he’ll tell you how the definition of intimacy has changed in the community “Earlier, the community needed intimacy a n d w a n t e d t o c o m e t o g e t h e r o n d i f f e r e n t occasions Now it's more a b o u t f a m i l i a l i n t i m a c y W i t h t h r e e - f o u r g e n e r ations of a family settled in the town, they don't really need to go out and mingle i n t h e c o m m u n i t y ” , h e said H e i s i n s p i r e d b y Channi Singh, OBE, the godfather of Bhangra in the West However, the story and the community

Tajinder Sindra

of Southall are his main driving force “It's more of t h e c o m m u n i t y a n d t h e story of South Hall that inspires me to convey the stories I do”, he said Mr Sindra is particularly passionate about representing the story of the s t r u g g l e o f S o u t h a l l ’ s S o u t h A s i a n c o m m u n i t y f o r t h e i r r i g h t s a n d h e doesn’t want to settle with describing the events that o c c u r r e d H e w a n t s t o s h o w c a s e t h e p e r s o n a l accounts of the people in the heart of it His docum e n t a r y , ‘ M e a n d m y S o u t h a l l ’ a t t e m p t s t o achieve the same

When he came to the UK, he was asked by an i m m i g r a t i o n o f f i c e r ,

From Punjab to Southall: The musical legacy of a community

Anusha Singh

Mus ic is integral to the fabri c of a co mmu nity , p romoting cultural expression, so cial coh esio n, emotional w el l- b e i ng , ec o n o m ic g ro w th , a nd e du c at io na l enrichment

S o u t h a l l b o a s t s a remarkable musical legacy, particularly within its South

“Why UK?”, to which he r e s p o n d e d “ I w a n t e d t o see the gora people who r u l e d m y c o u n t r y ” T h e officer immediately said, “Welcome to my country” and this is one of the main reasons why he has always felt welcomed in the UK a n d w a n t s t o r e p r e s e n t Southall’s culture and traditions so that people can feel welcomed in the community

Mr Sindra is particularly proud of his part in reviving Punjabi Theatre in the UK after a gap of 15 years and has collaborated with both the Indian and UK government to bridge the gap between the two countries through his stories

A s i a n c o m m u n i t y T h e town thrives with a dynamic music scene that showcases a multitude of gifted a r t i s t s s p a n n i n g d i v e r s e g e n r e s s u c h a s P u n j a b i , B o l l y w o o d , a n d B r i t i s h Asian fusion music

The town has presented to the world, talents like

“I spent hours reading the credits on the record sleeves in the racks In 1976, I appeared on an album by B i r m i n g h a m - b a s e d s i n g e r

A S Kang and two years l a t e r , w e p r o d u c e d m y mother’s first album From then on, the shopkeepers warmed to me a bit”, he explains

C h a n n i S i n g h O B E , t h e godfather of Bhangra in the west, Kuljit Bhamra MBE, H a r t i n d e r D h a m i , Jagwinder Singh Dhaliwal, J a y S e a n a n d A s h K i n g among others

“T he So uthall co mmun i ty a lw ay s s u p p o rt ed u s from the very start”- Channi S ingh

C h a n n i S i n g h w h o b e c o m e t h e f i r s t P u n j a b i music artist to be appointed an OBE by Queen Elizabeth II for his services to Bhangra music, charity and commun i t y w o r k m o v e d t o S o u t h a l l f r o m P u n j a b i n 1976

Mr Singh recalls noticing the fewer links the Asian community, particularly the youngsters, had with their cultural heritage, and using his passion for music to promote the Punjabi culture He formed his own Bhangra band, Alaap, in 1977

T h e b a n d b e c a m e r e s p o n s i b l e f o r c h a n g i n g the entire face of Punjabi music across the world and achieved much to be proud of We created history by breaking barriers and opening doors for Bhangra music in the Western world and receiving countless awards for extraordinary achievements and invaluable service and contribution to the Asian music industry ”

Mr Singh takes pride in being the first British Asian m u s i c a r t i s t t o c o m p o s e and direct music for big b a n n e r B o l l y w o o d f i l m s i n c l u d i n g F e r o z K h a n ’ s

‘

Y a l g a a r ‘ a n d ‘ J a n a s h e e n ’ a n d K C B o k a d i a ’ s ‘Shaktiman’, and credits the S o u t h a l l c o m m u n i t y f o r

their unwavering support

“It was all possible due to where it all started for me and my band over 45 years ago In Southall The c o m m u n i t y a l w a y s s u pp o r t e d u s f r o m t h e v e r y start and that support is what led to our global success and us being credited a s P i o n e e r s o f m o d e r n Bhangra music ”

“I a m a S ou th a ll b oy t h ro u gh a n d t h r ou gh ”Kuljit Bhamra

K u l j i t B h a m r a , M B E , composer, record producer and musician has been living in the town since 1968 a n d c a l l s h i m s e l f a “Southall-boy through and through ”

H e h a s h a d a s t r o n g connection to music since his childhood “My mother had studied Giani (proficiency in Gurmukhi) and was called upon regularly to sing hymns and recite verses from the Sikh holy b o o k i n S o u t h a l l g u r dwaras ” , he said

“ I n 1 9 6 9 , T a r s e m

P u r e w a l , e d i t o r o f t h e S o u t h a l l - b a s e d P u n j a b i n e w s p a p e r D e s P a r d e s asked my mother to conduct his wedding and then sing a few songs afterwards at a reception party I was 10 years old and accompanied her on the tabla ”

As a self- taught musician, Kuljit would frequent the Bina Musicals located on The Green to buy his i n s t r u m e n t s , a l o n g w i t h

three main records stores in Southall: ABC Music on

T h e B r o a d w a y , I n d i a n

R e c o r d H o u s e o n S o u t h

Road and Virdee Stores on The Green

“In 1983, when I prod u c e d S o u t h a l l - b a s e d b a n d s P r e m i a n d H e e r a , people began to show their appreciation for my music S i n a R a d i o , n o w S u n r i s e Radio had been set up by A v t a r L i t , a n d m y s o n g s were played back-to-back, twenty-four hours a day It was thrilling to hear my music being blasted out of c a r s t e r e o s a n d g r o c e r y shops”, he further added K u l j i t , w h o h a s b e e n involved in ‘Bend It Like B e c k h a m ’ h a d h i s f i r s t experience of theatre was in 2002 as on-stage percussionist in Andrew LloydWebbers Bombay Dreams Later in 2015, he co-orchestrated for the musical vers i o n o f ‘ B e n d I t L i k e Beckham’ “I was elated to see Southall recreated on stage in the west end Some of the issues that we chall e n g e d a s a c o m m u n i t y then are probably no longer relevant in today’s time ” Speaking of the evolution South Asian music has s e e n i n B r i t a i n , K u j i t s h a r e s“ M y B r i t i s h upbringing in a family with s t r o n g P u n j a b i t r a d i t i o n s has allowed me to have an o b j e c t i v e v i e w o f h o w music is created and perceived by various cultures around the world “

“The idea of ‘if someone plays an Indian instrument, they must only play Indian music’ is absurd to me Our c u l t u r e h a s b e a u t i f u lsounding instruments that should be used in all types o f m u s i c o n a l l s t a g e s around the world by people of all cultures, but many of us are scared that our cult u r e w i l l d i s a p p e a r a s a result “

“Our music will grow further and become more p o p u l a r w h e n w e a l l o w others to play our instruments”, he further adds

Channi Singh OBE

Kuljit Bhamra MBE

ROB BLACKBURN

Bollywood's love affair with Southall

Southall has been a significant hub f or film product i on i n Bri ta i n since th e e arly 1920s, mak ing inva lua bl e cont ributi ons to t he i ndu st ry th roug h i ts stud ios, cre ative ta lents, and cinema culture

T h e e s t a b l i s h m e n t o f Southall Studios in 1924 by G B S a m e l s o n m a r k e d a t u r n i n g p o i n t , w i t h t h e production of the first film titled "It Is Never Too Late to Mend" in 1925, directed by Alexander Butler Film production continued until the late 1950s, with over 65 films produced during this period

I n p a r a l l e l w i t h t h e growth of Southall Studios, t h e t o w n w i t n e s s e d t h e construction of four cinemas that became part of its c u l t u r a l f a b r i c T h e D o m i n i o n C i n e m a , d e s i g n e d b y a r c h i t e c t F r e d e r i c k E B r o m i g e , opened as a state-of-the-art v e n u e a n d l a t e r t r a n sf o r m e d i n t o a s u c c e s s f u l a r t s a n d c u l t u r a l c e n t r e after its demolition in 1981

The Century Cinema, origi n a l l y k n o w n a s t h e Southall Electric Theatre, opened in 1910 and became the first cinema to showc a s e B o l l y w o o d f i l m s I t c l o s e d i n 1 9 8 0 a n d w a s t r a n s f o r m e d i n t o t h e T u d o r R o s e B a r a n d

N i g h t c l u b T h e P a l a c e

C i n e m a , f e a t u r i n g a d i s -

tinctive Chinese style exterior and art deco interior, opened as the New Paragon Palace in 1912 and was later r e n a m e d t h e H i m a l a y a C i n e m a , w h i c h n o w s c r e e n s B o l l y w o o d , Punjabi, and Tamil films

Finally, the Odeon Cinema, d e s i g n e d b y a r c h i t e c t G e o r g e C o l e s , o p e n e d i n 1936 and now serves as a superstore

During the late 1950s, t h e D o m i n i o n C i n e m a became a venue for public meetings and music shows o r g a n i z e d b y t h e I n d i a n W o r k e r s A s s o c i a t i o n (IWA) The vibrant cinema culture in Southall attracted a diverse audience, and the traditional popcorn was r e p l a c e d b y s a m o s a s a n d masala chai The popularity of Hindi movies brought

a u d i e n c e s f r o m a c r o s s London, leading to the rise of a prosperous business community catering to this new customer base

H o w e v e r , i n t h e l a t e

and film packages This had a significant impact on cinema attendance, and by the 1970s, the number of video m a c h i n e s o w n e d b y t h e B r i t i s h A s i a n c o m m u n i t y rivalled that of households in Japan

Despite these changes, Southall continued to be a s i g n i f i c a n t l o c a t i o n f o r f i l m m a k e r s , p l a y w r i g h t s , a n d s c r e e n p l a y w r i t e r s f r o m t h e l a t e 1 9 8 0 s o n w a r d s N o t a b l e f i g u r e s s u c h a s H a r w a n t B a i n s , Gurinder Chadha, Kwame K w e i - A r m a h , S h a k i l a M a a n , F a t i m a S a l a r i a , Melanie Sykes, Gita Sahgal, C o l i n P r e s c o d , H O

ing Brit Asian community a n d t h e u n i q u e b l e n d o f cultures

(Kajol) house as well as her father’s (Amrish) store was set in Southall

1970s, cinema halls faced challenges with the rise of h o m e v i d e o t e c h n o l o g y S p e c i a l i s t I n d i a n v i d e o s h o p s e m e r g e d , o f f e r i n g rentals of video machines

N a z a r e t h , F a r o u k h

D h o n d h y , F a r i s K a r m a n i have made Southall central t o t h e i r w o r k G u r i n d e r C h a d h a , i n p a r t i c u l a r , g a i n e d p r o m i n e n c e i n B r i t i s h c i n e m a w i t h h e r

1 9 8 1 f i l m " I ' m B r i t i s h B u t , " w h i c h s h o w c a s e d the underground Bhangra scene and went on to produce iconic films like "Bend I t L i k e B e c k h a m a n d "Bride and Prejudice " Southall also witnessed significant television interest in the 1980s and 1990s C o l i n P r e s c o d p r o d u c e d films on Black communit i e s i n B r i t a i n , i n c l u d i n g "Southall: A Town under S i e g e , " d o c u m e n t i n g t h e u p r i s i n g s o f 1 9 7 9 " A F e a r f u l S i l e n c e , " d i r e c t e d by Faris Karmani and prod u c e d b y H O N a z a r e t h , h i g h l i g h t e d t h e w o r k o f Southall Black Sisters in a m o v i n g d o c u m e n t a r y o n v i c t i m s o f d o m e s t i c v i ol e n c e O t h e r d o c u m e nt a r i e s , s u c h a s J o a n B a k e w e l l ' s " H e a r t o f t h e Matter" and Gita Sahgal's "Provoked," brought attent i o n t o i m p o r t a n t i s s u e s like the Rushdie Affair and domestic violence

The year 1999 saw the p r o d u c t i o n o f " S o u t h a l l Stories," a TV documentary e x p l o r i n g B r i t a i n ' s A s i a n community with a focus on Southall It depicted three generations of immigrant families as they witnessed social changes across the country

Additionally, films like " D i l w a l e D u l h a n i a L e J a y e n g e " ( 1 9 9 5 ) , " P a t i a l a House" (2011), and "Jhoom Barabar Jhoom" (2007) featured Southall as a backdrop, showcasing the thriv-

Bollywood's fascination with Southall continued to g r o w , l e a d i n g t o i t s f r equent use as a setting for films Stars like Shahrukh Khan, Shabana Azmi, and Preity Zinta became regular fixtures on the streets of Southall Notably, there are p l a n s t o p r o d u c e a f i l m about the Southall Uprising in 1979, featuring Akshay K u m a r a n d K a t r i n a K a i f Bollywood s close connection to London is evident t h r o u g h t h e n u m e r o u s f i l m s s h o t a g a i n s t i c o n i c landmarks such as Big Ben, t h e R i v e r T h a m e s , t h e London Eye, Westminster Abbey, and Tower Bridge This affinity can be traced b a c k t o t h e 1 9 5 0 s w h e n Indian immigrants flocked to London in search of a better life, and Bollywood films were screened in areas like Hounslow, Upton Park, and Southall

Southall's rich cinemati c h i s t o r y s h o w c a s e s i t s e n d u r i n g s i g n i f i c a n c e i n British film production, the i n f l u e n c e i t h a s h a d o n Bollywood's representation of the British Asian experie n c e , a n d t h e p r o f o u n d impact it has had on the local community and culture As the film industry evolves, Southall's legacy as a vibrant and integral part of British cinema remains firmly established

J o h n A b r a h a m a n d

Bipasha Basu’s Dhan Dhana

Dhan Goal (2007) used the b a c k d r o p o f S o u t h a l l i n L o n d o n f o r t h e f o o t b a l lbased film John Abraham plays the role of a soughta f t e r f o o t b a l l e r b y t h e struggling Southall United Football Club Bipasha Basu played the role of his love i n t e r e s t a n d o n e o f t h e

player’s sisters Reportedly, t h e s e t t i n g f o r S i m r a n ’ s

A k s h a y K u m a r a n d Anushka Sharma’s Patiala House (2011) was shot in Southall The film’s locations include the Oval and L o r d ' s , C o v e n t G a r d e n , H a r r o w a n d S o u t h a l l I t also examines the fallout of t h e S o u t h a l l r i o t s i n t h e S e v e n t i e s A k s h a y K u m a r told Evening Standard back t h e n t h a t , " S o u t h a l l i s a mini-India - it reminds me of a famous market I used to live on in Bombay, it's wonderful and oozes chara c t e r , c o l o u r a n d c h a r m The food, the people, the amazing stores, what's not to like?

"We extensively shot in S o u t h a l l a n d d u r i n g t h e b r e a k s , I w o u l d d i s g u i s e m y s e l f s o I c o u l d w a l k around the area, so I am q u i t e f a m i l i a r w i t h t h e s t r e e t s , t h e t e m p l e s , t h e

corner shops London is a c i t y o f d r e a m s , j u s t l i k e M u m b a i " P r o d u c e r s a l s o r e c r e a t e d S o u t h a l l B r o a d w a y o n a M u m b a i film set

B o l l y w o o d h i t t h e streets of London with zest and pomp with the cast of J h o o m B a r a b a r J h o o m ( 2 0 0 7 ) T h e f i l m s t a r r e d Abhishek Bachchan, Preity Zinta, Bobby Deol and Lara Dutta

D i r e c t o r S h a a d A l i Sahgal explained his purp o s e f o r s h o o t i n g i n London He said:

“ M y i n s p i r a t i o n f o r J h o o m B a r a b a r J h o o m (2007) was to explore the h e a r t s o f I n d i a n s i n Southall

“We wanted to shoot at m a j o r L o n d o n l o c a t i o n s which are very crowded but thanks to careful planning and coordination we mana g e d t o a c h i e v e f a n t a s t i c results ”

Amitabh Bachchan in Jhoom Barabar Jhoom

Dhan Dhana Dhan Goal

Akshay Kumar while shooting for Patiala House in London Dilwale Dulhania Le Jayenge

Southall FC has a great deal to contribute to the inclusion of ethnic minorities in football

As Asian Voice celebrates Southall, we speak to Southall FC CEO, Aatish Sharma about the football club and its legacy among ethnic minorities

The historical landmark of Himalaya Palace Cinema

Shefali Saxena

How does the Southall FC serve as a prominent and imperative part of the Southall region? What kind of legacy is associated with it?

Southall Football Club is committed to supporting and driving the community of Southall in a positive direction Established in 1871, Southall FC has represented the community for over 150 years, currently p l a y i n g i n t h e I s t h m i a n S o u t h C e n t r a l Division Our mission is to continue to progress through the football pyramid and provide an equal opportunity for people in Southall to excel and participate in sports

The Historic legacy of the club has always b e e n a b o u t u n i t i n g c o m m u n i t i e s o f Southall From the time the club was formed to the present day, it has always tried to bring everyone together Known for once having one of the largest semi-professional stadiums in the country, hosting cup finals, c e l e b r i t y m a t c h e s a n d c o m m u n i t y initiatives, Southall FC has always been a pillar for the community and aims to once again reach its historic heights and beyond 2 How has the club contributed to the inclusion of ethnic minorities over the years?

O v e r t h e y e a r s S o u t h a l l F C h a s contributed to diversity and inclusion in the game Most notably a former player of the c l u b ; J u s t i n F a s h a n u w a s t h e f i r s t professional footballer to be openly gay As well as being one of the first footballers with a £1 million transfer fee In recent years the club has worked with local organisations in Southall, to provide activations for children in football The club’s vision is to build facilities in Southall which will serve one of the most diverse communities in the world Currently, there is a complete lack of any sports facilities which has made it difficult

for everyone in Southall to p a r t i c i p a t e i n t h e g a m e Southall FC has a great deal to contribute in the inclusion of ethnic minorities in football T h e n o n - e x i s t e n c e o f a d e q u a t e a n d a f f o r d a b l e f a c i l i t i e s p r e s e n t s a m a j o r barrier for participation We urge everyone to support us in our mission to provide the people of Southall with the f a c i l i t i e s a n d o p p o r t u n i t i e s they deserve, so future generations do not miss out

As the CEO of the club who belongs to the South Asian community, I'm sure many youngsters look up to you Please describe your journey and story of making it so far Personally, my journey has taken many turns but this mission to provide for the c o m m u n i t y a n d f u t u r e g e n e r a t i o n s o f Southall is something I hold dear After participating in a number of sports whilst g r o w i n g u p , m y f a t h e r S a n j e e v S h a r m a ( C h a i r m a n o f S o u t h a l l F C ) i n s t i l l e d a fighting spirit in me He gave me a love for f o o t b a l l f r o m t h e v e r y b e g i n n i n g a f t e r playing for professional clubs and academies in his career I was lucky to have someone in my life who pushed me to excel and go above and beyond for me to train, no matter how far But one thing was always missing, somewhere to train locally After a brief year in America, I returned to support my father in the quest to push the club through the leagues and to rebuild a stadium along with facilities for the community The journey is proving to be successful from the onset, having secured promotion in the 2021-22 season and finishing in a respectable 10th in o u r f i r s t s e a s o n i n t h e I s t h m i a n S o u t h Central League Our project to build the sports facilities in Southall has progressed

greatly and I invite all to join us on this journey

4. While Cricket is the favourite game of British Indians, football has its separate fan base and charm in the community What makes the game so relevant for us?

F o o t b a l l i s r e l e v a n t f o r the South Asian community, as it is for the majority of p e o p l e a r o u n d t h e w o r l d from all works of life and backgrounds

B e i n g t h e b i g g e s t s p o r t o n t h e p l a n e t f o o t b a l l h a s s h o w n c o u n t l e s s t i m e s i t s power to unite communities and transcend all social barriers This is best exemplified by the 2022 World Cup which brings a unique sense of unity for all nations The aim of Southall FC is to harness the positive power of football and combine the world's biggest sport with the largest ethnic community and represent our community on the biggest stage

5

As the CEO what is your vision for the club in the next five years?

The vision over the next 5 years is secure promotions to continue our ascent in the football pyramid, with our Manager Max Howell and his coaching staff guiding us forward In the next 5 years, we aim to be p l a y i n g i n S t e p 2 o f t h e N o n - L e a g u e Pyramid which is very achievable with the s u p p o r t o f t h e S o u t h A s i a n c o m m u n i t y g l o b a l l y O u r m a i n o b j e c t i v e t o b u i l d c o m m u n i t y f a c i l i t i e s a n d a s t a d i u m i n

Southall will have been completed and be fully operational with youth academies and sports events such as cup finals taking place

The future is bright, with the support of the community and the professionalism that h a s b e e n b r o u g h t t o S o u t h a l l F C W e welcome all to get involved and unite to drive the Southall community forward

In M idd lesex, wh ich is now a part of Greater L o n d o n, t h ere o nc e s to o d t h e P ar ag o n P ala ce C in em a, e sta bli sh ed in th e e arly

1 91 0 s In th e late 1 92 0s , Uni ted Pi cture

Th eatres L td (U PT) took ownership of the cinema and d ecid ed to demolish it in ord er to construct a new cinem a on th e site

Renowned architect George Coles was commissioned by UPT to design the circuit's first new cinema, distinguishing it from their other acquisitions The result was the Himalaya Palace Cinema, which opened its doors on November 30, 1929 However, UPT faced financial challenges and was acquired by Gaumont British Theatres Ltd in April 1930, with Gaumont assuming operations of the Palace Cinema from July 1930

The Palace Cinema stands out for its u n i q u e a r c h i t e c t u r a l s t y l e i n s p i r e d b y a Chinese temple, making it a distinctive and b e l o v e d l o c a l l a n d m a r k T h e e x t e r i o r features ornate tiling and a vibrant red pagoda roof adorned with dragons Inside, the Chinese influence continues but with a more restrained approach

It was an important part of Southall and w a s a c o n v e n i e n t s p o t f o r f a m i l i e s o r mothers who didn't know how to drive or wanted to catch a bus all the way to Feltham to have quality time either with their friends or with their children showing them a piece of art and their culture

Without having to drive miles away and pay extortionate prices for a ticket like you w o u l d h a v e t o e v e n n o w a t p l a c e s l i k e Cineworld, Palace Cinema was a saviour Children could scream and cry and you wouldn't be judged for it like in a normal cinema

The Cinema closed in 1982 and was converted into an indoor market It reo p e n e d i n 2 0 0 1 a f t e r r e s t o r a t i o n , a n d showed Bollywood films adding occasional independent films History repeated itself w h e n t h e H i m a l a y a P a l a c e C i n e m a w a s shut- down once again to make way for an indoor market

Maintaining close ties with the South Asian community

S outh all Travel, a pro minent travel comp any h eadquartered in the U nited Kingd om, was founded in 1 984 in Sou thall, a town situated in the L ond on Boro ugh of Ealing , S outh all T ravel co ntinues to operate a physical store i n S o u th all , L o nd o n , w h ic h se rv e s a s a d ed icated cu stomer serv ice centre

This establishment offers personalised assistance, facilitates travel discussions, and e n a b l e s i n - p e r s o n b o o k i n g s , p r o v i d i n g a t r a d i t i o n a l a n d f a c e - t o - f a c e a p p r o a c h t o customer service for those who prefer such interactions

Originally established by Kuljinder Bahia with the aim of catering to the travel needs of the South Asian community in the UK, S o u t h a l l T r a v e l i n i t i a l l y f o c u s e d o n providing flights to India, Pakistan, and other South Asian countries Through its c o m p e t i t i v e p r i c i n g , e x t e n s i v e a i r l i n e n e t w o r k , a n d p e r s o n a l i s e d s e r v i c e , t h e company swiftly gained popularity among the South Asian diaspora

As Southall Travel solidified its position as a leading travel agency specialising in South Asian destinations, it expanded its operations to encompass a broader range of services These included holiday packages, hotel bookings, travel insurance, and other t r a v e l - r e l a t e d s e r v i c e s , e n a b l i n g t h e company to cater to a wider customer base

Recognising the increasing significance of the internet, Southall Travel launched its website in the early 2000s, empowering customers to conveniently browse flights and holiday packages online This digital p r e s e n c e f a c i l i t a t e d t h e c o m p a n y ' s r a p i d g r o w t h a n d s u c c e s s , a s i t e x p a n d e d i t s operations beyond South Asian destinations t o i n c l u d e o t h e r p o p u l a r t o u r i s t s p o t s worldwide To offer comprehensive travel

options, Southall Travel forged partnerships with major airlines, hotels, and travel service providers

At the core of Southall Travel's approach is its commitment to customer satisfaction a n d p e r s o n a l i s e d s e r v i c e T h e c o m p a n y p r i d e s i t s e l f o n b u i l d i n g e n d u r i n g r e l a t i o n s h i p s w i t h i t s c l i e n t e l e , e n s u r i n g t h e i r c o n t e n t m e n t a n d f o s t e r i n g r e p e a t b u s i n e s s E m b r a c i n g t e c h n o l o g i c a l advancements, Southall Travel invested in s t a t e - o f - t h e - a r t r e s e r v a t i o n s y s t e m s a n d o n l i n e b o o k i n g p l a t f o r m s , a l l o w i n g customers to effortlessly browse and secure their travel arrangements from the comfort of their homes

In addition to catering to individual travellers, Southall Travel recognised the need to serve corporate clients To address this, the company expanded its operations to p r o v i d e c o m p r e h e n s i v e c o r p o r a t e t r a v e l solutions, including customised itineraries, group bookings, and specialised services for business travellers

Maintaining close ties with the South Asian community in the UK has always been a priority for Southall Travel The company a c t i v e l y e n g a g e s i n c o m m u n i t y e v e n t s , sponsors cultural programs, and supports c h a r i t a b l e i n i t i a t i v e s T h i s u n w a v e r i n g commitment to community engagement has solidified Southall Travel's reputation and positioned it as a trustworthy travel partner

industry have contributed to its success and enabled it to remain competitive in a rapidly evolving market

Valuing customer feedback and reviews, S o u t h a l l T r a v e l a c t i v e l y e n c o u r a g e s i t s customers to share their travel experiences a n d p r o v i d e s a d e d i c a t e d p l a t f o r m f o r l e a v i n g r e v i e w s o n i t s w e b s i t e T h i s commitment to transparency and customer satisfaction has reinforced Southall Travel's reputation and cultivated trust among its clientele

During the challenging period of the C o v i d - 1 9 p a n d e m i c , S o u t h a l l T r a v e l prioritised customer welfare and promptly refunded over £110 million to customers whose travel plans were impacted, ensuring f u l l r e f u n d s f o r a l l c a n c e l l e d p a c k a g e holidays due to the crisis

Looking to the future, Southall Travel

a s p i r e s t o e x p a n d i t s r e a c h f u r t h e r a n d c o n t i n u e p r o v i d i n g e x c e p t i o n a l t r a v e l s e r v i c e s T h e c o m p a n y p l a n s t o e x p l o r e emerging travel trends and adapt to evolving c u s t o m e r p r e f e r e n c e s T h r o u g h i t s dedication to innovation, customer service, a n d c o m m u n i t y e n g a g e m e n t , S o u t h a l l

Travel is positioned for sustained growth and success in the travel industry

I n c o n c l u s i o n , S o u t h a l l T r a v e l h a s evolved from a modest travel agency serving the South Asian community in the UK to a leading travel company offering a wide range of travel services to destinations worldwide T h r o u g h i t s c u s t o m e r - c e n t r i c a p p r o a c h , t e c h n o l o g i c a l a d v a n c e m e n t s , c o m m u n i t y e n g a g e m e n t , a n d c o m m i t m e n t t o s u s t a i n a b i l i t y , S o u t h a l l T r a v e l h a s established itself as a trusted and respected name in the travel industry

2 4 / 7 , 3 6 5 d a y s W e h a v e c o n s i s t e n t l y e x c e e d e d c u s t o m e r e x p e c t a t i o n s , c r e a t i n g u n f o r g e t t a b l e journeys around the Globe

S o u t h a l l T r a v e l ' s c o l l a b o r a t i o n s w i t h major airlines, hotels, and tourism boards have enabled the company to offer a diverse range of travel options These partnerships allow Southall Travel to provide exclusive deals, discounted fares, and unique travel experiences to its customers The company's s t r

Jaymin Borkhatria, C CO of Southall Trav els said, “I a m t h r i l l e d t o s h a r e t h e remarkable success story of Southall Travel As the CCO, I am immensely proud of our a c h i e v e m e n t s O v e r t h e years, we have grown from s t r e n g t h t o s t r e n g t h , solidifying our position as a leading travel company “ O u r s u c c e s s c a n b e attributed to our unwavering commitment to exceptional service, innovative solutions, a n d p e r s o n a l i s e d

e x p e r i e n c e s B y l e v e r a g i n g c u t t i n g - e d g e t e c h n o l o g y a n d a p a s s i o n a t e t e a m i n

“We owe our triumph to o u r l o y a l c u s t o m e r s , d e d i c a t e d e m p l o y e e s , a n d t h e t r a v e l i n d u s t r y a s a w h o l e T o g e t h e r , w e h a v e o v e r c o m e c h a l l e n g e s a n d e m b r a c e d o p p o r t u n i t i e s , allowing Southall Travel to flourish in an ever-evolving landscape

“

L o o k i n g a h e a d , w e remain committed to delivering excellence, forging new partnerships, and expanding our global reach ”

e l

Aatish Sharma