NRI DIARY

OTHER STORIES RELATED TO NRI DIARY London Diary India Calling Race Relations The world: Show Your Stripes Business: Overseas Kickstart Fashion: A Rustle On the Ramp Living: An Indian Yule Looking Glass American Round Up Weekly Round Up Education: Top Class The Arts: For Art's Sake Culture: Temple in Bloom

How British must an Asian be to show that he/she is British? Do clothes, lifestyle preferences and language matter? Or is the right attitude the answer? Even as the debate rages, it would appear that the British Asian is being asked to wear his patriotism on his sleeve.

The statement by Home Secretary David Blunkett that immigrants must integrate better by learning English and giving up some of their customs and traditions like forced marriages and female circumcision, drew flak from Asian leaders. Blunkett said whatever was unacceptable among the English should also be unacceptable among Asians.

DIFFERENT STROKES: Two faces of British society

The statements have evoked a gamut of reactions. Asian leaders are hotly professing their patriotism, claiming that they are as British as they are Muslim or Hindu and do not need lessons in nationalism and culture. Lord Nazir Ali challenged: "If you do not speak English, it does not mean you are not proud of being British."

"I am happy in Southall. I am safe here. We have our people around and nobody can attack us." Paul Singh, Taxi driver

"I ate a samosa just now, and I wear a saree. That does not make me any less British." Shabnam Koffer, Student

"Pledging will not stop people from going and fighting in Afghanistan if they want to." Saptarshi Ray, Media personality

Prime Minister Tony Blair has tried to defend Blunkett against the growing backlash from his own Labour Party members by saying that the home secretary was "perfectly right" to open a debate on naturalisation and immigration. Blair's office has also supported his statement that race issues should be dealt with sensitivity rather than by being politically correct.

The anger in the ethnic community has been further stoked by a new report on the Oldham, Burnley and Bradford riots this summer, alleging polarisation between the Whites and ethnic minority communities.

The report of the Ministerial Group on Public Order and Community Cohesion also recommended that newcomers to Britain swear or affirm allegiance to show their "clear primary loyalty" to the nation, as is done in Canada. Home Office Minister John Denham who chaired the Whitehall group said, "We have not made a commitment to a formal oath of allegiance but we do want a debate to take place."

Chief executive of the Joint Council for the Welfare of Immigrants, Habib Rahman, reacted saying that an oath of allegiance would be "divisive". The debate will give credence to the racists and all the racial prejudices in this country, he added.

Ted Cantle, author of the report on the race riots has called for a national debate on a shared British identity while stressing that this must include a universal acceptance of the English language and a respect for the law.

Gurbux Singh, chairperson of the Commission on Racial Equality commented, "The report has brought into sharp focus the problem of segregation in society. It has also highlighted that poor housing and unemployment are to blame for the ills. I believe the issue of language is also important. All British citizens should speak English but that doesn't mean that Urdu or Punjabi should not be spoken. I speak Punjabi and I speak English."

" It doesn't matter what you wear. What matters is your attitude." YaKub Bhatti, Senior citizen

"We have no problems. We have known each other for 30 years and are comfortable here." Des and Litt, Friends

Certain sections of society believe the report is directed at Pakistani Muslims. The report does state: "In Southall and Leicester in particular, it was clear that there was a pride in the community and this was evident among the residents. It was also notable that diversity was seen as a positive thing and this was shown in schools where for instance pupils learned about different religions and cultures and on streets where festival of all faiths were celebrated."

Southall and Leicester have predominantly Indian populations.

The report also points out that where high levels of poverty and unemployment are found, community cohesion was unlikely to be evident. The areas where riots struck are poverty-stricken ones, and areas where the far-right British National Party (BNP) has been gaining strength. Though Pakistanis are in large numbers in these areas, they are also prevalent in cities such as Birmingham, Slough, Leicester and Glasgow where no riots have taken place. The report says, "In many, but not all cases, trouble arose (in Bradford, Oldham and Burnley) after months of racial tension and widely reported racial attacks-both Asian on White, and White on Asian; the disorders themselves took place either in or in margins of areas inhabited predominantly by Pakistani and Bangladeshi communities."

NRI DIARY

THE DEBATE RAGES # Should newcomers to Britain pledge allegiance to show "clear primary loyalty" to the UK? # Should immigrants give up some of their customs and traditions to integrate better? # Should learning the English language be made mandatory for all immigrants? # Should ghettos be blamed for the riots? # Should mono-faith schools be banned?

John Denham has explained that the recommendations are aimed at the local governments, and at other local agencies and organisations. "Young people of all communities must be included (for developing policies which meet their needs), as must women-Muslim women in particular, whose voice has not been heard clearly so far."

Some second generation Asian youths blame their insecurity on British society. "You do feel safer in an area where there are more Asians. But the area should not be unwelcome to others," says Saptarishi Ray.

Shaid Mallik, member of the Commission for Racial Equality puts it bluntly: "We too oppose forced marriages like the British oppose paedophilia." What the Asians want he says is equal opportunities and status.

It is feared that the report, which blames polarisation of society for the riots, may in turn create greater polarisation because it gives an opportunity to the BNP to garner support for its far right policies, directed at the moment against Muslims. Its leader Nick Griffin's reaction to Blunkett made this obvious. He said that the home secretary was making "noises because he has seen the very large votes the BNP has had in recent elections and he is trying to shore up the working class votes".

The issue of single faith schools were also brought into focus and became hot topics of discussion in various newspapers. Single faith schools have been functioning in Britain for hundreds of years and have always maintained a good record. However, there are allegations that in some areas, mono-faith schools have 100 per cent students of one particular faith, which the report says should be discouraged.

The report also criticises the police for discouraging community-policing initiatives and for tolerating virtual no-go areas in respect of tackling drugs. The report suggests that in Burnley, some of the rioting could in fact have been the result of a 'turf war' between drug gangs rather than a racist attack.

Poverty, unemployment, poor housing, and polarised societies living in fear of attacks from the other are responsible for the riots. However, some Asians are wondering if blaming their culture and "polarised" lifestyle has anything to do with recession and rising unemployment. After all British Asians have suffered at the hands of Idi Amin, the former despotic ruler of Uganda, and have been blamed by far right activists for bagging White jobs and businesses.

Can immigrants be forced to assimilate into British society? Should ghettos be blamed for the riots? The average British Asian has the answers worked out. Most Indians who are permanent residents here and are about to apply for citizenship do not see anything wrong in affirming allegiance to show their "clear primary loyalty" to Britain. "You take the pledge in America and Canada, so I don''t see any reason why the same can't be done in Britain," says Kevin Rego, a PR manager.

However, 26-year-old second generation British Asian Saptarshi Ray argues, "Pledging is not going to stop people from going to fight in Afghanistan if they want to or supporting Pakistan in a cricket match against England. What is the point in taking such a pledge? Why is there a problem if Asians support their home country when nobody minds Australians here doing the same?"

Another matter of contention was Blunkett's statement that immigrants had a duty to ensure their children and grandchildren grew up with a British identity. Says Raina, a student, "What is a British identity? Should we stop eating samosas and not wear salwar kameez? Should Urdu not be spoken?" Shabnam Kofer, an economics graduate adds, "I agree that everyone should learn English. It's important that in this country we should adapt to the culture here but not give up ours either."

Many Asians are happy and secure living in ghettos. Says Paul Singh in broken English sprinkled with Punjabi, "I am happy in Southall. I am very safe here. We have our people around and nobody attacks us. Everyone is safe here: Asians, English, Blacks..."

Some are critical of the orthodox Asian. Senior citizen Yakub Bhatti, who strolling with his grandchild down Southall's High Street said, "Indians and Pakistanis are very orthodox. They don't want to change their ways even after leaving their homelands. They don't like to mix with other communities. It doesn't matter what you wear. What matters is your attitude."

Des Collaracott and A. Litt took a pose for India Today to show the solidarity in British society. "We don't have any problems. We have known each other for over 30 years and are very comfortable here."