Southall to host interactive exhibition showcasing the history of dissent by British Indian women

Southall, often called Little Punjab or Little India – will host an interactive exhibition by a leading British Indian community group – the Platform for Indian Democracy – showcasing the history of women’s dissent in the British Indian diaspora this weekend. Additionally, a panel of inspirational British Indian and South Asian women will speak on Saturday.

The exhibition, being curated by Megan Drabble, who has worked with Go Live Theatre projects, Young Roots and Young Vic Theatre, will focus on four key periods in the history of women’s dissent, featuring inspirational women such as freedom fighter Vijaya Lakshmi Pandit, activist Sheila Sengupta, who worked to help women who had been traumatised by the violence which accompanied, and social reformer Kamaladevi Chattopadhyay, who worked relentlessly to improve the socio-economic standard of Indian women.

The exhibition also delves into the contributions of British Indian women, including the Southall Black Sisters and protests in London against the Citizenship Amendment Act.

As guests move through the exhibition, they can read about these critical histories, go through questions and prompts to contribute to the exhibition and start conversations with those around them. Each area is designed to immerse attendees in history in unique ways, such as with headphones allowing visitors to listen directly to stories from women affected by Partition.

Throughout the exhibition, links will be highlighted between women in the British Indian Diaspora and women in India, e.g. their methods, issues, and songs. The exhibition space also includes a section modelled after the Shaheen Bagh protests in India, providing a platform for reflection and collective memory.

Speaking about the exhibition, Drabble, who studied Dalit theatre and politics in India, said: “I wanted to dedicate a space for guests to explore a history of protest unique to the Indian Diaspora. This isn’t taught in schools, colleges, or most degree courses. South Asian women’s contributions remain largely untold. 

So, I feel it is important that this exhibition exists as an educational and explorative space for all ages to engage with this history. 

The vision, ideas, and legacy of the women of the Indian Diaspora very much lives on today, which is why it is really important for me that guests are given the space to think about their own experiences and ideas as they go through the exhibition. 

With moments to add to the existing body of history and build a collective memory of women’s protest in the Indian Diaspora.

Explaining the exhibition’s theme, Raul Lai, Coordinator of Platform for Indian Democracy, said, “Protest is integral to India’s history. From standing up to colonial oppression to establishing an independent India, built on the values of justice, liberty, equality and democracy.

This legacy of protest and dissent followed our families as they left India, with the British Indian community fighting for these same values in the UK. Throughout our history, Indian and British Indian women have been at the forefront of pushing forward progressive change in many different ways. 

We at Platform for Indian Democracy wanted to celebrate this inspiring legacy, and make us think about how we can ‘take up space’ in our own communities like those who came before us did.”