| Description | An interview with Sultan Mahmood HASHMI, a widower man with three daughters, two sons, who is a Retired journalist, born in British India and now living in Birmingham. Sultan Mahmood HASHMI’s father was a Veterinary doctor, born in British India and his mother a Housewife born in British India. In the interview, he talks about …
'HASHMI, Sultan Mahmood MS2255/2/140 Logged by Simon Cotterill.
01
Smethwick midwives having difficulty understanding some Asian women. Offering to help them. Getting interview at Smethwick Technical College.
02
Having the name Sultan.
03
False Start.
04
1957 - the only Asian living on Golden Hillock Road, Sparkhill. Teaching at Loxton Secondary Modern Boy's School.
The mosque replacing his house in Sparkhill.
05
There only being one mosque in 1957. Not purpose built. Asian community's lack of confidence at this time.
2.15 English people's mystified reaction to mosque. Complaints about mosque.
3.36 Halal meat shops. Only one in Birmingham. Asians from Coventry having to travel to buy their meat.
4.30 Getting Halal meat shops to place advertisements in newspaper.
06
Shops understanding what advertisements were.
07
Lack of social and cultural life in Asian community. English amazement towards eighteen to twenty people living in house.
1.30 Birmingham becoming more built up. Distances seeming longer.
2.15 Letters from home read to whole community no matter what.
08
Some young, adventurous Asian went to pubs. Looked down upon.
28" 'People living thousands of miles away were in need of money'.
1.10 Meeting girls in pubs not the done thing.
09
15" Shocked at no baths in houses. Always had baths in Pakistan.
Relieved that Asian women were not brought at that time. Using Greenland Public baths, and next door library.
3.31 Asian people always wanting two baths, one with clean water. The bath attendant accepted this.
3.46 How Asians spoke about English people.
3.52 'Didn't understand how these people could rule over us, because they are so dirty'.
English people never cleaning mugs properly.
5.05 Working at the school. Free milk.
10
Teachers bringing packets of sugar to work in briefcases.
1.33 20th February 1956 - Being the first Asian teacher.
Sent to a really tough school. Being seen as a trial for all other potential Asian teachers.
3.00 Being asked to check the qualifications of the second Asian applying to be a teacher.
11
Having some problems with slang, colloquialisms, etc.
1.10 Not knowing 'dinner' meant main meal of day. Having to do 'dinner duty'.
3.00 English people judging night by time not sun.
Having to translate English for other Asians and Asian for English people.
12
0.25 Sales girls disliked Asians speaking posh English. Schools did.
1.38 Used to tell boys he didn't understand to: 'Say it again and say it in proper English'.
14
20 "Wives and children began coming after the second immigration act in 1962.
39" Sikhs normally brought wives. But most Pakistanis didn't until after the act.
Then feeling was : 'If they don't come now they may never be able to come and join us'.
1.30 Problems for Pakistani women on arrival. English. Shyness. Very protective husbands.
2.55 Education was not for women.
Reasons for husband not letting women work.
15
Parents not letting girls go out.
1.30 Main concerns were earning money, not integration.
2.10 How modern Asian life is still different.
16
False start
17
35" Telephone marriages
1.40 Never cared about gardens. This annoyed English people.
2.42 Nowadays gardens are kept beautifully.
4.00 1960 - Living in Selly Oak. Always chose to live in posh areas. Posh neighbours not as friendly as he would have liked.
18
20" Worked in school for sick children inside Orthopaedic Hospital, Bristol Road in 1970s.
1"13 Why Asian men walk ahead of wives.
Importance of trying to make friends when he first arrived.
Surprise at a local girl having more than one boyfriend.
19
15" 'Some ways of the English that appear not very nice were in fact full of wisdom'.
ENDS |