From the Belgrave Road to the Golden Mile: the transformation of Asians in Leicester Pippa Virdee De Montfort University 17 March 2008

History of migration Post-war labour shortage 40s & 50s – Afro-Caribbean Early 60s – Pakistani and Gujarati Late 60s & early 70s – East African Asians

Country India5691,82711,51018,23520,84124,677 Pakistan ,3051,1551,854 Bangladesh ,051 East Africa181,6306,83518,62217,16818,843 Total6363,56619,80538,16239,16446,425 Source: Bonney, 2003 and National Census South Asian Migration into Leicester, according to place of birth

Religion: Census 2001 LeicesterEngland & Wales Christian No religion Hindu Muslim Religion not stated Sikh Other religions Buddhist Jewish0.20.5

Leicester wards since 2001 Hindus – Latimer, Belgrave and Rushy Mead Muslims – Spinney Hill and Stoneygate Sikhs - scattered

Distinguishing features Large East African presence High number of “twice migrants” Home of the Jain community Multicultural ‘role model’ Will become the first “minority white city” Associated problem of ‘white flight’

Transformation of the city 1960s-1970s – Reputation for racism Hostility of the local press Involved in the revival of the city 1980s-1990s – model of successful multiculturalism Present – new wave of migration 10,000 Somalis via the Netherlands Polish migrants

Themes of the workshop The Leicester Role Model Narrating Asian Leicester Migration, Food and Integration Sport and Ethnicity in Leicester Religion, Identity and Dance

Themes and issues Branding and marketing of Leicester by the city council Role of festivals Diwali, Navratri, Belgrave Mela, Caribbean Carnival, and Pride Mardi Gras

Diwali celebrations on Belgrave Road

Themes and issues Great diversity in the religious landscape Role of the city planning policy Active participation by the migrant community in local government

Further research… Focus has been on the economic and political contribution of South Asians Reflects the entrepreneurial background of migrants Minorities within minorities and the intra- relationship Relationship with the ‘homeland’ Complicated by the ‘twice migrants’ Impact and incorporation of new migrants

Key texts J. Herbert, Joanna, Negotiating Boundaries in the City: Migration, Ethnicity, and Gender in Britain, (2008) R. Bonney and W. Le Goff, ‘Leicester's Cultural Diversity in the Context of the British Debate on Multiculturalism’ International Journal of Diversity in Organisations, Communities and Nations (2007) G. Singh, ‘Multiculturalism in Contemporary Britain: Reflections on the 'Leicester Model‘’ International Journal on Multicultural Societies (2003) P. Panayi, ‘The Spicing up of English Provincial Life: The History of Curry in Leicester’ in A. Kershen, Food in The Migrant Experience (2002) G. Singh and J. Martin, Asian Leicester (2002) M. Banks, Organizing Jainism in India and England, (1992) V. Marrett, Immigrants Settling in the City (1989)