Gravesend South Asian Heritage Month
Gravesend South Asian Heritage Month celebrations were marked at the Studio, Woodville on Wednesday 23rd July. Produced by Cohesion Plus working in partnership with Kent Equality Cohesion Council and supported by Arts Council England.
Dignitaries in attendance included the Mayor of Gravesham Cllr Jenny Wallace, Joanne Holmes DL and Anne Millington DL who were on hand to present the inaugural Dev Sharma Community Award. The awards were presented to Carol Gosal and Daya Sharma for their longstanding service to the community through their work in mental health, wellness and women’s empowerment.
Audiences were able to watch a short section ‘Goodnight Maharajah’, a play chronicling the story of Maharajah Duleep Singh – the last King of Punjab and youngest child of Maharajah Ranjit Singh, which was produced by Sunya Theatre Company
As part of the evening, attendees were able to watch the premiere of three new films produced by Cohesion Plus which once again celebrated the positive contribution made by local residents of South Asian descent.
The first film covered the journey of the local Eid Community Mela which begun in 2023 and was organised working in partnership with local community figures. The celebrations are some of the largest in Kent and one that brings Muslims and non-Muslims alike together to enjoy a full programme of on stage, culturally diverse performances from artists of Indian, Pakistani, Syrian and Bangladeshi descent. Co organisers Bilal Farooq CEO of Kent Muslim Hands and Khawar Khurshit of Gravesham Skills Centre were awarded a special community award to mark their hard work and efforts for the event, working in partnership with Cohesion Plus.
The second film told the story of the largest Kabbadi Tournament held in the South East and organised by local Kabbadi Club, a club run by volunteers for well over 20 years. The film showcased the immense impact the sport has on both British born players as well as those from India and Pakistan who are invited to play internationally on large scale platforms annually. The Kabbadi Club were also recipients of the special community award, marking their vast contribution towards sports and culture.
The third and final film showcased the practice of ‘Seva’ (selfless service) and the long held tradition across three generations of the Birring family. The film captured the individual stories of the elder and younger members of the family, highlighting the differences in lifestyles and also the connecting practice of seva with the Gravesend Guru Nanak Dabar Gurdwara serving at the backdrop. The family also received a special community award for their prolific efforts and service to the local community.
In addition there was a special World War 2 exhibition commemorating the contributions made by the Commonwealth and specifically soldiers of South Asian descent. The families of those soldiers were also in attendance and they had the opportunity to tell their stories.
Gurvinder Sandher MBE DL, Artistic Director commented, “It was a pleasure and honour to host these celebrations once again in Gravesend. The event really serves as a vehicle to honour the many unsung heroes in the local community who have worked tirelessly and often without thanks, making vast contributions to the town and its many communities. I am equally proud of the films we produced this year, highlighting Gravesend as a truly special borough that homes so many exceptional individuals. The evening was a wonderful way to bring people together shining a light on untold stories and heroes. I am very thankful to those who took the time to attend and support the event and our work”.
