| Description | An interview with Nirmala PATEL, a married woman with one son, one daughter, who is a Chef, born in Kenya and now living in Birmingham. Nirmala PATEL’s father was a Electrician, born in India and her mother a Housewife born in India. In the interview, she talks about …
'PATEL, Nirmala MS2255/2/092 Logged by Lorraine Blakemore
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I was born in Kenya….born 16th December, 1952. Parents born in India, moved to Africa in 1940s. Describes father’s background and working life.
2.33 Mother’s family was well-off.
3.40 Discusses siblings.
4.30 Father was very violent towards the family.
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Continues to discuss parents' relationship.
1.09 Father wanted to become an engineer. Worked as an electrician in Africa.
3.03 Disruption of education because always moving around as a child.
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Story about mother farming.
Talks at length about the lifestyle in Africa.
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I started school when I was 7 in 1960. It was mostly Asian girls….in the first few years I struggled a lot because I was dyslexic….it was difficult to make myself go to school….
2.24 Then in 1966 my father retired….he had this feeling he wanted to go back home….Describes going back to India.
4.16 He decided to uproot us again and come to Britain….
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When I came to Heathrow airport in 1966….completely another world….what kind of people are these….Within 2 weeks I was put in school, it was an all girls' school….the whole school was English….
1.33 In those days it was very racist times, they didn’t like to sit next to us…even in the buses they would not sit next to us….
2.59 We had to come to Birmingham or Leicester to get the herbs and spices that we needed….there was one shop in the Stratford Road called Keems….probably started in late 50s, you’d come once every 6 months or so….
4.17 Because I had learned English in Africa, the teacher realised that I could do the exam….
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Took O’levels then did a fashion course in Gloucester. Didn’t complete course because needed to care for mother.
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I left school when I was 17 in 1972.
47” Got a job in Debenhams in the boutique.
58” Worked at DHS for 6 months.
1.05 Worked as occupational therapist’s asst. for special needs…describes her role.
4.19 I was really getting into the job and then my marriage was arranged and I moved to Birmingham…
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I was 20 in 1974…there were so many different suitors before…Since the age of 14 or 15 he was trying to get me married off and I wanted to study….But this time we didn’t know my husband’s family or anything about him….Recalls how she met her husband and his background.
4.43 Wedding day.
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Continues to describe wedding ceremonies.
1.16 In Birmingham I didn’t know anybody and that was very hard. Within 3 weeks I found out my mother-in-law didn’t like me….Explains difficulties encountered.
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I was working in Cadburys at the time and we paid the deposit for this house, it was just being built. My daughter was 4 months old when we moved in…
Story about returning to India for a holiday in 1991.
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Explains mother-in-law's attitude.
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Discusses the teachings of an Indian guru.
3.01 We hired a cultural centre in Stratford Road….and we meet every Sunday morning….
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Continues to discuss the teachings of the guru.
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1.17 There are many temples here in Sparkhill, there are 3 or 4. As soon as you go there they will say “who are you?….People are so set in their ways….
Husband has changed since joining the group.
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In 1979 when my daughter was just born…we thought the area was quite good, we chose the house because it is near to the park….Difficult as a new mother.
2.22 I was getting depressed just sitting at home. The health visitor suggested I send her to a local nursery and then I had 2 hours a day….I felt as if I’d just become free….
4.09 When my son was about 3 years old I had more time, both of them started to go to Lee Bank, so I went to NOW course (New Opportunities for Women)….
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I was always interested in the cookery dept. and became friendly with the teacher….that’s how I started getting into catering courses….and became a professional chef…This was 1990…we started the first Asian Day Centre at Highgate….
1.32 I recently got a job back there at the Shakti Day Centre….I work for Environmental and Consumer Services….
2.30 Friends from all races and backgrounds.
3.41 Attended a course in meditation.
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Continues to describe meditation course.
1.04 Daughter also suffers from dyslexia.
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Son and daughter’s education.
3.25 My daughter says, “I am British”….It’s strange because most of the Asian girls would say, “you’re not going to pick my future husband”,…I’ve got very mixed feelings about it….
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Coping with dyslexia.
2.00 When I moved from Gloucestershire, I missed it terribly. Birmingham was such a fast life…but now I think it’s a lovely place….
3.46 A lot of the neighbours moved out….but we still meet….Story about particular neighbour.
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