Writing British Asian Cities: History, memory and the postcolonial William Gould

The texts

The main arguments South Asians at the margins of the ‘British’ historical narrative? South Asians at the margins of the ‘British’ historical narrative? The nation state and British Asian histories The nation state and British Asian histories Thick/thin history and periodisation Thick/thin history and periodisation History, changing spatial dynamics and ‘multilocality’ History, changing spatial dynamics and ‘multilocality’

South Asians at the margins of the ‘British’ historical narrative Relatively few ‘academic’ historical approaches to the subject that connect to the grassroots oral histories. Relatively few ‘academic’ historical approaches to the subject that connect to the grassroots oral histories. Marginalisation as a result of the colonial project – Ansari Marginalisation as a result of the colonial project – Ansari Migration often linked to key crises for Britain specifically – Ramdin. Not much analysis of ‘decolonisation’. Migration often linked to key crises for Britain specifically – Ramdin. Not much analysis of ‘decolonisation’. The narratives of ‘success’ or ‘failure’ – Brown and Lahiri The narratives of ‘success’ or ‘failure’ – Brown and Lahiri

The nation state and British Asian histories Some texts ‘embrace’ the framework of the nation state – Ramdin, Lahiri/Thandi. Others complicate it – Burton, Brown. Some texts ‘embrace’ the framework of the nation state – Ramdin, Lahiri/Thandi. Others complicate it – Burton, Brown. Nation, minorities and ambiguous citizenship. Fixed identities. Nation, minorities and ambiguous citizenship. Fixed identities. The national idea and imperial power - Visram The national idea and imperial power - Visram Reconnecting Britain and the Empire – Visram and the questions around sovereignty – Ramdin. Reconnecting Britain and the Empire – Visram and the questions around sovereignty – Ramdin. Maintaining the nation/empire, ‘racial’ conventions and sexuality – Burton and Visram Maintaining the nation/empire, ‘racial’ conventions and sexuality – Burton and Visram Yet, the nation still frames most of the texts. Yet, the nation still frames most of the texts. National imagination and uneven historical topography. National imagination and uneven historical topography.

Thick/thin history and periodisation Cultural history/political history ; thick history vs. ‘long durée’ Cultural history/political history ; thick history vs. ‘long durée’ The ‘decolonisation’ phase? The ambiguities of ‘freedom’, subjects and citizens, both in South Asia and Britain. The ‘decolonisation’ phase? The ambiguities of ‘freedom’, subjects and citizens, both in South Asia and Britain. The centrality of the Second World War? The idea of ‘post war’ The centrality of the Second World War? The idea of ‘post war’ Balancing the longer colonial past with thick historical research using existing oral history resources. Recovering silenced voices. Balancing the longer colonial past with thick historical research using existing oral history resources. Recovering silenced voices.

History, changing spatial dynamics and ‘multilocality’ Interrogating difference between ‘home’ and ‘away’, ‘Empire’ and ‘metropolis’ – Burton Interrogating difference between ‘home’ and ‘away’, ‘Empire’ and ‘metropolis’ – Burton Changing the old paradigm of ‘centre and periphery’. Reconnecting these histories back to the subcontinent - Brown. The importance of vernacular histories Changing the old paradigm of ‘centre and periphery’. Reconnecting these histories back to the subcontinent - Brown. The importance of vernacular histories Possibility of connecting specific urban histories to broader political and cultural histories; histories of urban anthropologies? Possibility of connecting specific urban histories to broader political and cultural histories; histories of urban anthropologies? Our city meetings. Comparing transformations from secular to religious discourses in different cities. Linking Asian Youth Movements and left movements in each city. ** Linking research to oral testimonies. Our city meetings. Comparing transformations from secular to religious discourses in different cities. Linking Asian Youth Movements and left movements in each city. ** Linking research to oral testimonies.