How ugandan Asian settled in Hemel Hempstead

30 Ugandan families settled

When Uganda Asians were expelled from Uganda in 1972, New Town Commission of Hemel Hempstead decided to settle 30 families. A committee was formed with help of following organisations. Salvation Army, Hemel Hempstead Lions Club, Churches Together and New Commers Club specially was formed to welcome Uganda Asians. I was approached by late Mr. Bhagwat to assist in settling the Uganda Asians. New Town Commission provided houses in different areas of the HH. The families were given food ration for couple of weeks and were invited into our homes, to make them comfortable. Major Ward the Salvation Army Major visited each home with Nalu Bhagwat & Usha Sheth for any assistance required by the Uganda Asians. The local industries such as John Dickinson, Kodak, Addressograph Multigraph, Kent Brush, Box factory offered jobs to both man & women. Majority of Uganda Asians never worked in factories, and ladies were housewives. In Uganda only the head of the family worked and fed rest of the families, but the Asian ladies started working in the factories to meet both ends. Because of my assistance in helping the Uganda Asians I was inducted into Lionism by Mr. Bhagwat. And I am still member of the HH Lions Club.

Eastern Cultural Society

In order to preserve the Indian Culture, Religion & Language, Eastern Cultural Society was formed in 1974. Mr. & Mrs. Brahmbhatt and Mr. Toprani started Gujarati Classes for younger children. These were run at the Barncroft School once a week. They selflessly ran these classes for 33 years. Cultural and religious programs were run regularly by the committee of Eastern Cultural Society. June Street who was Chief Executive of Dacorum Council of Voluntary Service was keen in assisting the Ethnic Minorities. ECS affiliated with DCVS. Dacorum Multicultural Association was formed to meet the needs of the ethnic minorities. Margaret Turk, Peggy Boteng, Linda Hay, June Street, Vasanti Churry, Sarla Pimplekhare, Manjari Patel helped us in various ways to progress ECS. With the help from them, Dancing Classes, Cookery Classes, English Language Classes, were run. ECS are thankful to all who assisted over the years. Vasanti Churry was employed by Age UK to assist our elderly to run Luncheon Club, and the Saffron Club. With the help Peggy Boteng to combat Racism in early eighties, Hemel Hempstead Anti Racism Council was formed. With DMA getting less active, Communities Together organisation was formed, where representatives of Dacorum Bourgh Council, DCVS, Police, Age UK, Citizens Advice Bureau, Education were present to share information from each organisation. Mr. & Mrs. Brahmbhatt & myself were involved in most of the committees.

Dacorum Indian Society

ECS decided to rename the organisation to Dacorum Indian Society in year 2000. DIS with help of Dacorum Borough Council received grant of £2000. They also appointed an ethnic minority worker Santoshni Parera. With the help of the grant and Santoshni Parera and my chairmanship a number of activities started. Such as Music Classes, Yoga Classes, Cookery Classes, Karela Club to grow fruits & vegetables in an allotment provided by DBC. Santoshni Parera also helped Mrs. Brahmbhatt & Myself to join the Dacorum Interfaith Network in year 2000 initiated by Paul Sanford. I am still representing DIS at DIN. DIS raised over £10,000 towards the Gujarat Earthquake in 2001. DBC gave regularly couple of thousand pounds to carry out above classes plus IT & Bollywood Dance Classes. Music teacher was Anil Bhagwat who taught table, keyboard, harmonium to preserve Indian Culture. DCVS also helped to provide computers with Gujarati fonts in Library for teaching Gujarati. As a result of my effort to assist Asians Sudha Brahmbhatt & I received ‘volunteer of the year’ award from DCVS in form of plaque. Linda Haye also nominated me to get an invitation from the Queen to attend the Garden Party. Anil Padania Ghansyam Patel & I received Melvin Jones Award from the Lions Club.

Conclusion

DIS would like to thank all the organisations that helped Uganda Asians over the years, and as a result managed to `retain the Indian Culture, Religion, and the Language. Chiman Sheth