| Description | An interview with Harish MEHRA, a married man with two daughters, who is a Strategic Planning Officer, born in Punjab, India and now living in Birmingham. Harish MEHRA’s father was a Businessman, born in India and his mother a Housewife born in India. In the interview, he talks about …
'MEHRA, Harish MS2255/2/040 Logged by Lorraine Blakemore
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I was born in a small village in the Punjab…. On 7th July, 1951. Early education near the village. Performed very well at school and won a place at college.
4.21 A number of my relatives were here in Britain and there was a fascination….I started putting pressure on my father….At that time the immigration rules were very strict, about 1972-3…
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So the only way to come to this country was for marriage purposes or to come illegally….Uprising in the Punjab at that time.
52” Uncle arranged a visa for France.
2.08 Problems with agents in France to arrange passage to UK.
4.15 Was asked to leave hotel but helped by another man.
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Describes the time in Paris.
3.03 Agents used different means to bring people to Britain. Some used helicopters, some used boats….but what actually happened to me and some other 40 people was….We were smuggled to Amsterdam….treated quite well there…stayed for about a month….
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From there one day we were asked to leave…and the van took us to a ship…In the ship we were placed at the bottom of the ship…
1.46 The next day it carried on and in the evening we were asked to come out and when I saw outside it was water everywhere and that frightened me….At the end a boat came and we thought we would be deported immediately…We were transferred….I don’t know where we arrived…We were asked to get into a van and taken to a garage….
4.16 Arrival in Birmingham. I was disappointed that my uncles didn’t like me arriving here…
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I lived for some time in Smethwick with my brother and one of my uncles….Describes his experience.
1.36 I think I arrived in this country on 27th March, 1973 and got a job in April of that year….I wasn’t happy at the bakery….the Asian boys who worked there knew that there were those who were illegal immigrants and teased me….
2.30 Father died during the first year Harish was in England.
3.45 Misunderstanding in family home so moved to one of his brother’s friend’s house.
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Moved to uncle’s house and lived there for some time.
There was always the threat that someone may turn against me and I can be deported….they tried to control me…Even to go on the buses, I used to fear that the bus conductors were these policeman looking for me….
1.21 Gave earnings to brother to send back to India.
1.58 Bought a house jointly with brother.
Brother returned to India and married. When he came back to Birmingham refused to formally acknowledge the joint ownership.
4.07 Moved back to uncle’s house. Worked in chemical factory. Decided to get married.
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Story about arranging a meeting with a prospective bride.
2.10 Conflict with family who informed immigration about him.
2.40 Immigration people came to the shop and asked about me…I was taken to a police station on 27th November, 1976 and from there….took me to the airport…Eventually I was taken to Winson Green Prison for about a month and then deported to India…1977.
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Describes his experience waiting to be deported.
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Continues to describe experience.
2.28 The British authority said that they will make permanent those illegal immigrants who came to this country in 1972…
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Stayed with mother in village in India.
2.02 Married in 1978. Difficulties and wife returned to England
3.46 I came back to this country on 20th October 1978…To get back my passport was a big struggle…
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Problems in India with officials.
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Lived with In-laws.
1.32 Daughter born in 1979. Marriage difficulties and custody battle for child.
3.10 Began writing and sent articles to newspapers.
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When I was free I started doing some voluntary work teaching English as a Second Language at Summerfield Community Centre…I was interested in becoming a marriage counsellor….in 1980…That was a stepping stone for me to become a social worker…. Details reasons for wanting to become a social worker.
2.33 Got admission to study at Birmingham Polytechnic and qualified in 1984.
3.00 Job arranged in Coventry after qualifying.
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Working as a marriage guidance counsellor.
1.02 The client group I was dealing with….were Asian clients and Afro-Caribbean clients…It was a very new concept for Asian people to come to marriage guidance counsel….they don’t want other people to know they have got marriage problems, and we haven’t got that kind of system back home….
3.06 Became a union member at the factory.
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Worked in Hillfields area of Coventry from 1984-6. Experienced racism.
1.43 Worked as senior social worker in Sandwell social Services from 1986-89. Story about incest case.
Details another 2 cases.
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Continues accounts.
3.17 In 1989 moved to Northampton for work. Daughters were only Asian girls at the school.
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Story about bullying.
1.21 A job came up as an area manager in Education Welfare Service in Birmingham…
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Being a single parent.
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Daughters’ education and qualifications.
1.42 I think it’s interesting to talk about having only 2 daughters….I have made it very clear that….if we want another child it will be our decision, but if my relatives are saying we should have male child the answer is no from me, because of my convictions and principles…
2.44 Wife’s occupation.
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I was the first black area manager in education… discrimination at work.
1.24 Completed MA degree in 1991.
1.38 I was struck that many Asian pupils were being excluded from school on a permanent basis and that was a new phenomenon….it triggered me to do a doctorate….I finished in March, 1998 at the University of Birmingham…
Difficulty of publishing writing.
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Politics at work.
1.09 Applied for and got a job as strategic planning officer in Equalities.
1.35 Published several books. Details them.
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Continues to detail books.
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Continued.
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Book is currently being published about racism in education.
2.12 If I look back at the last 20-30 years since I first came to this country I have seen a number of changes….If you look at the concept of marriage….That has affected many Asian young people…they are shunning the arranged marriage…
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Rationalist who doesn’t believe in any kin of God.
2.03 Born and raised as a Hindu.
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Discrimination against girls.
1.15 Defines himself as an Asian Punjabi Indian.
2.56 How the business of Asian people has drastically changed over the past few years….
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Changes in Birmingham.
Relationship with neighbours.
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Transport system of Birmingham.
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Health concerns. Diploma in alternative therapies.
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Personal health regime.
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Health care in the city.
4.00 Asian music in Birmingham.
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2.39 Asian film and video.
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1.34 We are going to start a magazine very soon on the website in Punjabi. I think that will be accessible to the whole world…Now even I have computer in my own home….
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