Indier i Storbritannien (engelska)

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South Asians in Britain
Adnan Jamil G1
Vittra Södermalm
2014-02-18
Today, the British Indians are a minority group in the United Kingdom. They
propagate almost 5 percent of the population, which are about three million
habitants (according to the calculations in 2011)
1
. And 9 percent of the foreign
born people in London are from India.
2

The minority group, British Indians; either they are Indians (from India),
Pakistani (from Pakistan) or Bangladeshi (from Bangladesh). The culture and
lifestyle is very common between the tribes, except for the religion. The Indians
are mostly Hindus or Sikhs, while a big part of the Pakistanis and Bangladeshis
believe in Islam. There is also a part of Christians.
3
The religion is the biggest
attribute that make separations in the minority group. The religion creates a
different point of view and different opinions of things in life.

History

In the 19
th
century India had a population of two million, while Britain’s
population was about 16.6 million, then how come the British Empire controlled
India for 200 years?
4

The answer may be superior weaponry, strong profit motivation, Eurocentric
Confidence and a more stable Empire.
Already in the end of the 17
th
century the British Empire had a big influence on
India. They had their company; “the east Indian company”
5
, which traded
products like: tea, spices, cotton, saltpetre, gunpowder and opium
6
.
In 1857 the British Kingdom took direct control over the Indian government, this
was called the British Raj and it lasted almost hundred years. This created a very
complex relationship between the two nations, and influenced each other’s
culture and lifestyle. A lot of Indians, from all classes immigrated to United
Kingdom during the colonization. They returned after several years, with British
wives and children.
7

The immigrants had not many possibilities for economic sources, there were few
jobs. The Asians employed in different economic efficacies, which showed
adaptability and inventiveness. A lot of Indian sailors settled in British harbors and
port cities. Other Indians had other works like some opened cafés and Indian
restaurants, some wealthy immigrants also worked with importation from India.

1
www.en.wikipedia.org, ethnic groups in the United Kingdom, 13-02-2014
2
www.articles.timesofindia.indiantimes.com Indians take over London By: Kounteya Sinha, 20-05-2013
3
www.en.wikipedia.org, British Indian, 11-02-2014
4
www.asianhistory.about.com By: Kallie Szczepanski
5
www.sv.wikipedia.org, Brittiska Indien 8-02-2014
6
www.en.wikipedia.org East India company 16-02-2014
7
www.bl.uk Asians in Britain, introduction

Those who did not find employment used their creativity to sustain their selves,
for example they were hawkers, street musician, sweepers and even as beggars.
After the First World War another group of working class Indians arrived who
worked as entrepreneur. They lived in the slums, with only a bag of clothes as
belongings. They travelled a lot to build clients and sell things on credit.
The early settlers build up clubs, societies and holy buildings as gurdwaras
(Sikhism) mosques and temples. Despite they were officially British, they were not
threated as British citizens and equality was delusive.


Influence

The colonial relationship between south Asia and Britain caused influence on each
other’s culture and lifestyle. The Indian textile, design and decorative art were
very popular among the British craftsmen and wrights and also the British
consumers.
South Asian scientists and scholars contributed to a great amount of discoveries
and inventions. For example, Fredrick Akbar Mahomed, his revolutionary theory
of the cause for high blood pressure changed our understanding for hypotension.
Nothing significantly has been added to his theory; he died by the age of 35.
8

Still today we can thank Indians for a lot of inventions and discoveries; for
example Jawed karim, the Cofounder of YouTube, Sabeer Bhatia – founder of
Hotmail.
9
Several South Asians had also received the Nobel Prize, inter alia
Amartya Sen (1998, economic science) for his theories about economic and social
justice. And Venkatraman Ramakrishnan (2009, Chemistry)
10


Celebrities

There are many famous south Asians, for example Faran Tahir. Faran Tahir is a
very famous Hollywood actor; you have seen him in movies like Elysium (2013),
escape plan (2013), Iron Man (2008) and even the series “Dallas”.
11

Jay Sean Is another Britasian celebrity, he is a singer, songwriter and rapper. He
has gain the title of the most successful male artist in UK.
12

Amir Khan is a very familiar name; he is a Britasian professional boxer and has
been world champion two times in lightweight boxing. He is the youngest British
Olympic Boxing medalist, when he won silver at the Athens Olympic games
2004.
13



Culture & lifestyle

There are about nine thousand Indian restaurants in the United Kingdom, which
shows that the Indian cuisine is very popular among the people of UK. The most

8
www.bl.uk Asians in Britain, culture and intellectual life
9
www.southasian.com Famous desis 2012
10
www.en.wikipedia.org Venkatraman Ramakrishnan 14-02-2014
11
www.imdb.com Faran Tahir
12
www.en.wikipedia.org Jay Sean 11-02-2014
13
www.en.wikipedia.org Amir Khan 17-02-2014

famous Indian Dish in Britain is “Chicken Tikka Masala”. Over two million Brits eats
at an Indian restaurant every week, while three million cooks an Indian based
meal at home.
The most famous (and oldest) Indian Restaurant is on regent Street in London, it
opened in 1926.
14
The most famous Indian chef in Britain named Hari Nayak, his
signature is featured in his famous cookbook “Modern Indian cooking”. Hari has
created the generation of Indian cooking, in a book with Daniel Bolud.
15

The common British south Asians everyday food is diversified, most people eat
Western food at home, because it is cheaper and easier, faster too cook. While if
it is a family dinner or some kind of festival, traditional south As...