MULTI-CULTURALISM REALITY OR MYTH?

29 August 2002

A couple of stories caught my eye in the British press recently. The first was a piece in the Guardian newspaper about the possibility of traditional Hindu ceremonies and the scattering of ashes being performed at Apperly Bridge on the River Aire in Yorkshire. The idea had been put forward by Bradford's Hindu cultural society. They say that although most of the 6000 strong community in the city still travel to India for the purpose of cremation, younger Hindus who have weaker tTies with India are less likely to want to make the journey to Banares or Haridwar. There is also the problem of cost for the poorer members of the community.

Considering that the British Raj built churches and left graveyards dotted all over India, especially in hill stations like Simla, Shillong and Mussoorie, it seems only right that the converse should be acceptable now. Already in many places Christian churches have been de- consecrated, due mainly to falling church attendance and in our own city of Southampton two former Christian churches are being used as Gurdwaras by the local Sikh population. It remains to be seen just how far Britain has become a multi-cultural country. If this request is turned down by Bradford city council then we still have a long way to go.

Staying with Bradford, the other story was about the aftermath of last year's rioting in the mainly Asian suburb of Manningham which left over 150 policemen injured and caused £27 million worth of damage. Many of the rioters who were arrested and brought to trial were sentenced to between 4 and 6 years in jail but white youths who rioted the next day in the city's Ravenscliffe area received maximum sentences if 18 months. The relatives of the British born Asian youths have been holding peaceful demonstrations to protest at the uneven handing down of sentences.

The riots were part of a larger problem. The northern towns of Oldham and Burnly also experienced rioting at about the same time. These are all places of higher than average unemployment and have also been targeted by the openly racist BNP ( British National Party) in an attempt to stir up racial tension. Asians first settled in these towns in the 50's and 60's mainly to work in the then thriving textile industry. This sector of the manufacturing economy has now almost collapsed, ironically due to cheaper imports from Asia. Something urgently needs to be done in terms of employment and living conditions if these towns are not to go on fire again.