How have South Asian communities in Britain fought for rights, dignity and belonging - and what can that history teach us today?

Laurie Taylor explores the overlooked histories of labour struggle, resistance and political activism among South Asian communities in Britain. From early anti-colonial networks to the strikes and campaigns of the 1970s and 80s, the programme traces how successive generations confronted discrimination while shaping British society.

He is joined by Taj Ali, writer and historian whose forthcoming book 'Come What May, We’re Here to Stay' (publishing in September) charts more than four centuries of South Asian presence in Britain. Drawing on oral histories and archival research, he traces a long tradition of workers campaigning for better pay and conditions, communities organising against racism, and alliances forming across movements. Ali reflects on tensions within the labour movement and on moments of solidarity, including the Grunwick dispute and links forged during the miners’ strike.

Also joining the discussion is Aleena Din, Simon Research Fellow from the University of Manchester. Her research focuses on Huddersfield as a local site of resistance, where communities responded to racism, fascism and deindustrialisation. Through archival work and “witness seminars,” she reconstructs networks of support while also revealing the disagreements and competing ambitions that shaped them.

The programme highlights how these struggles unfolded not only in major cities but also in smaller industrial towns, challenging London-centric accounts of race and activism. It also brings into focus the role of women, from grassroots organising to leading disputes such as Grunwick, where South Asian women challenged both racism and sexism at work.

Producer: Natalia Fernandez Editor: Robyn Read

Thinking Allowed

Episodes 20

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