Council Leader backs South Asian Heritage Month
The Leader of Charnwood Borough Council is supporting South Asian Heritage Month which gets underway on July 18.
Cllr Jewel Miah is the first Asian Leader of Charnwood Borough Council and he has shared his story as part of the commemoration and celebration of South Asian cultures, histories and communities.
The month-long event aims to improve understanding of the diverse heritage and cultures that link the UK with South Asia and the theme for this year is Stories To Tell.
Cllr Miah was born in Bangladesh and came to Loughborough with his mother to join his father when he was three years old.
Cllr Miah said: “I am proud that Loughborough is a diverse community that welcomes people from all backgrounds and cultures. It is a great place to live, work and visit and part of that reason is its diverse communities.
“I am also clearly very proud of the contribution the Asian community has made to Loughborough, whether that’s through creating community spirit, adding to the cultural side of life in Loughborough or adding to the local economy by working and creating businesses.
“I came to the town as a young child and remember we were one of the first few Bengali families.
“From that time the Asian community has blossomed and developed to become integral to the Loughborough community. It has helped make our town a more diverse place and in turn people from other ethnic, cultural and religious backgrounds have been able to make Loughborough their home.
“I have lived in Loughborough all my life and as well as working I used to be involved with voluntary work in the community, often helping people access services.
“From there, stepping into politics seemed like a natural progression because it was all about helping people.
“I was proud to be elected as the Leader of the Council earlier this year, but it doesn’t really matter what your background is. Being a councillor means you are committing to helping people and have their best interests at heart.
“I wish everyone involved in South Asian Heritage Month the very best and I would encourage people to get involved or take the opportunity to find out more about Asian culture. It is strong and deep in Loughborough.”
One of the key local events taking place during South Asian Heritage Month (SAHM) is the Loughborough Mela which is being held in the town centre on Sunday, August 13. There will be live music, dancing, performances, food and various activities to celebrate different cultures in the borough.
For more information, visit the dedicated Facebook page www.facebook.com/LoughboroughMela
Events are also being held across the country for SAHM, including some which can be accessed virtually. For more information, visit the SAHM website www.southasianheritage.org.uk
South Asian Heritage Month celebrates cultures and histories from the countries of Afghanistan, Bangladesh, Bhutan, India, The Maldives, Nepal, Pakistan and Sri Lanka.
ENDS